The Tree Church

The Tree Church with Guest Pastor Tim Moore from XCHURCH.

How is your soul doing? 

Our soul is the combination of our thoughts and our desires. The thing that distracts from our mental health is our comparison based culture. With the advent of social media it has become a window to our soul. You can fall into a trap of looking at everyone else’s life as better than the one you are living. It is a filtered reality. We try to present the best of ourself. It is not the whole story. 

We all have a sense of not being good enough. We can feel that we are living in someone else’s shadow. Our culture teaches us to hide our weaknesses and and show our strengths. We live filtered lives but we are not free. 

Comparison robs us of the Person and appreciation of the talents that God created.

2 Corinthians 11:21-23

21 To our shame I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also.

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.

24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

This is Paul’s list of accomplishments. He wanted us to know that the things that the world says make you great are not the things that impress God. The message of the cross is foolishness to the world but salvation to all those who believe.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?

30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

When we are weak He is strong!

You are wonderfully and remarkably made by a loving Father. He knitted you together in your mother’s womb. 

He gives us our mental, physical, emotional. He forms our personality out of us abundant love for us. We are all different! We are all unique and created in His image. We need to celebrate our differences and allow God to hone the skills that He gave to each of us for His glory!

Psalm 139:16-17

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

He starts with your purpose and the 100% He gave you. You lack nothing. We can bless others with the gifts He gave us. 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

He will take our shame and our failures and turn them into His glory! His power is made perfect in our weakness. 

We are so very thankful for your Spirit that resides in us to shape us and allow us to use it for Your glory. 

He sees the whole of us and still calls us His friend. He gives beauty out of our ashes.