On this Lenten season

Wow, did I ever mess it up this month, but God is Good! He thirsts for those who thirst for Him, and I was parched and so He never left me, even though I deserved to perish in my sins. May I never be so philosophical and foolish again! I am comforted in knowing that regardless of what happens to my soul, the Devil will never prevail against Christ's Church, even if we all are sick enough to leave it. 

The Christian's Hardships

"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, 

so that our ministry will not be discredited.  

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: 

in great endurance; 

in troubles, hardships, and distresses; 

in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; 

in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger; 

in purity, understanding, patience, and kindness; 

in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love, 

in truthful speech and in the power of God; 

with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 

through glory and dishonour, 

bad report and good report; 

genuine, yet regarded as impostures, 

known, yet regarded as unknown; 

dying, and yet we live on; 

beaten, and yet not killed; 

sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; 

poor, yet making many rich; 

having nothing, 

and yet possessing everything."

2 Co 6.3-10