Cheryl's amazing pumpkin roll started the evening off. We then began to discuss how these messages we've been digesting by Paul Tripp are ones that can bring change in our lives as we respond to God in the midst of life's trials. In his loving way, God uncovers our sin, refines us, all the while bringing love and restoration to us with no condemnation. God disciplines and refines us as we go through the trials that life brings our way. It is an act of his grace that he disciplines us in love as our Father, like Hebrews 12 says. "God disciplines those whom he loves." We can never be punished for our sins because all of that was absorbed by our Savior on the cross. God instructs and corrects us to see to it that we bear fruit for God. Overanalyzing events in our lives to try to always find cause or blame is dangerous. Rather, we should simply trust that God is in control.
Opening ourselves to others in a godly community setting means that we will suffer because we become vulnerable, involved, and concerned for the welfare of others. But we must always remember that He leads us by quiet waters and restores our souls like Psalm 23 says.
We must remember that we are pilgrims passing through this life to our REAL home. Thorns and thistles are on the way but we're headed toward the celestial city, like Christian and Hopeful from Pilgrim's Progress. We can walk through this life with our eyes fixed on our final destination!
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