Foolishness

[00:00:07] Speaker A: Welcome to the weekday podcast of Sugar Hill Church, where we desire to help you know God and discover your purpose, whether you're exercising, driving, meditating, or just hanging out while you tune in with us today. Thanks. We hope these next five minutes help you feel encouraged and inspired for your day. [00:00:22] Speaker B: Hi everybody and thanks for joining me on today's weekday podcast. My name is Chuck Allen and I'm so grateful you're listening today. Well, Christmas has come and Christmas is gone. Some days it is easy to feel overwhelmed. You know what seems to happen this week? Aggressive drivers. Everywhere I turn, somebody sharing with somebody, including sharing with me sometimes that I'm number one, the thoughtless co worker. The anonymity of the sitting, the careless gossip that happens, the news of the latest shooting. It's easy to feel besieged, to look around and ask, what in the world? What difference can I make? You know, sometimes I think, if you're like me, please know you're not the only one with these feelings. Some of the greatest minds, greatest artists have wrestled with that question. I mean, Walt Whitman penned these words in 1892. He said, Owe me, O life. Of the questions of these recurring of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities filled with the foolish of myself forever reproaching myself for who more foolish than I and who more faithless? Of eyes that vainly crave the light of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renewed, of the poor results, of all of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me, of the empty and useless years of the rest with the rest me intertwined. The question O me so sad recurring what good amid these O me, O life. Wow. I mean, Walt Whitman. The sky is falling and if we're not careful, this post Christmas blues and the stress of getting back to work and getting in the routine of just endless frustration. But the answer you are here. Life exists in identity that the powerful plays go on and you can contribute a verse. I know I feel utterly inadequate to the challenges we face at times. Just like you do at times. But perception is not reality, friend. In Romans chapter 8, beginning as verse 35, the Scriptures say, who should separate us from the love of Jesus? Tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword, as it is written for your sake, we are killed all day long. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Yeah, we can feel inadequate, we can get desperate, but the reality is, as we face the challenges in our life this day. You, my friend, as a follower of Jesus, are more than a conqueror. Luke, who wrote the Gospel by His name in the book of Acts. He was an educated guy, a brilliant writer. He used an interesting literary device in the Acts of the Apostles named he wrote the story without a conclusion, without an ending. Why? How is this significance? Because, my friend, the powerful play goes on and you get to contribute a verse. Your life in Christ is becoming scripture and becoming is a process. Yet as I see the beauty in you, I for one cannot wait to read your chapter, your verse, your story. Today, head toward a new year with the overwhelming certainty and knowledge that God is writing a story in you, through you and for you that you might enjoy the beauty and the power of his day to day world. Yes, it can be frustrating and yet it can be overwhelmingly joy filled. Let him provide that joy and purpose in your life today. God Bless you friend. Thank you for sharing with all the weekday podcasts throughout this year and I'm grateful that you joined me today. God bless you. Go in peace. [00:04:24] Speaker A: Thanks so much for joining us today for the weekday podcast. Our prayer is that the encouragement you just heard would help you live more like Jesus today. We would love to see you at Sugar Hill Church for one of our gatherings each Sunday at 9, 15 and 11 and we're always streaming live at Live Sugarhill Church. Thanks again for joining us today. As always, if today's message encouraged you, share it with friends and family by tapping the share button. Have an awesome day.