We Always Have Joy

When we launched out to start The Branch, our main focus was helping hurting people. We didn't consider everything else that comes along with pastoring. I think we were "blissfully ignorant". Oh my, how we have learned that there is so much more that goes along with the role of helping to lead a body of people.

There have been decisions that we have had to make that haven't been the easiest, and my heart was heavy this morning. My good friend, Pastor Scott shared a Scripture with me that I found helpful, that I thought I would pass along.

2 Cor. 6:4-10 "In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything."

WOW! There is so much is these verses, I don't think I can really add anything to it! I am so thankful that God always has a word for us. I hope this passage blesses you as much as it did me.