Copyright © 1999-2008 Emergency Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
Emergency Ministries is an IRS 501.c.3 organization
PO Box 9121*Spring, TX*77387
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| A WEEKLY (or so) ARTICLE BY CHAPLAIN SKIP - SINCE SEPTEMBER 1999 |
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© Emergency Ministries and Chaplain Skip Straus 1999 - 2008. All Rights Reserved. |
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Let's face it, whether volunteer or paid, we have really strange jobs. We want to go into burning buildings... we want to go out on a lousy night to help people torn up by alcohol and their cars... we want to go into the worst part of town to help a shooting victim. What does this mean? It means we have jobs that are stress. So, how do we deal with it? Well, you know the old saying,"If all else fails, read the instructions!" The "instruction book" for life is the Bible. There are many stress-relievers in God's Word. On this page, we will be looking at different verses each week. |
June 18, 2008
"Hopefully Suffering"
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Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."- Romans 5:3-5
(NIV)I was officiating at a funeral yesterday. Funerals are bittersweet; they are sad for those left behind and yet they are a celebration of the start of a Heavenly life for the person who gave their life to our REAL CHIEF. One of the things I talk about at funerals is how we all must suffer the sting of a thorn to appreciate the beauty of a rose.
Then, this morning during my time studying The WORD, I was reading Chapter 5 in the Book of Romans. This is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church at Rome. Each day, in my journal, I make notes on what I have read. And, I also ask the HOLY SPIRIT to show a me a special verse (or verses) that day. The three verses above are what was given me today.
I think I have already mentioned to you the challenges my family and I have faced of late. Some have resolved. Some have not. Some have worsened. But, through it all, I have sensed a peace about things. And, having read the SOG for Life, I know why... because I have hope.
Hope is a gift from our REAL CHIEF. It is a gift given to reveal HIS love for us. We all must suffer bad things in our life. But, HE wants us to understand that, through giving the situation to HIM, you will learn to persevere and that your Godly character will develop. As you take each situation in life, you are able to see the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel." That is hope. That light is GOD. HE IS OUR HOPE. HE is the reason we are hopefully suffering...
...On HIS Shift,
Copyright © 1999-2008 Chaplain Skip Straus and Emergency Ministries.
Emergency Ministries is an IRS 501.c.3 organization and donations are greatly appreciated.
PO Box 9121 * Spring, TX * 77387
It is my prayer that the verses we discuss help each of you as it has helped me deal with the amount of stress we are all faced to deal with.
If you are not yet saved, I have Good News for you. Jesus loves you very much and His Holy Spirit is drawing you to Him. To learn more, click here.
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The folks at the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation can also help if you have been involved in a Critical Incident.
Now you can post Prayer Requests and much, much more by registering with the all new Emergency Ministries forum board. Simply go to www.emergencychaplain.org/forum. Right under the EM banner, you will see a "Check Mark" that says "REGISTER". Click on that, get signed up and start posting on many topics.
Chaplain Skip writes STRESS RELIEF every week. STRESS RELIEF was distributed, via email by request, to over 500 readers every week. Cindy and I also get Stress Relief by riding our Harley. Check out our HARLEY Fun Page.