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2 Corinthians 11

I was recently asked to write my own eulogy. No, nothing is wrong. It was simply an exercise, one meant to sharpen focus. Envisioning the end of our lives, complete and accomplished, has a way of helping us prioritize what truly matters today.

Have you ever thought about your own? What would it say? What will you be remembered for?

At first, I was tempted to list all of my accomplishments—beautiful homes I’ve built, my incredible wife, or the amazing kids I’ve raised. But today, as I read Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11:22–28, I’m rethinking that impulse.

Paul’s version of a eulogy might read like this:

• A Hebrew

• An Israelite

• A descendant of Abraham

• A servant of Christ

• Imprisoned, beaten, often near death

• Whipped, stoned, beaten with rods

• In danger everywhere he went

• Hungry, cold, and exposed

• Sleepless and burdened

That list doesn’t exactly fill you with warm fuzzies. And yet—Paul says it’s the part he’s most proud of. Why? Because those were the moments of his greatest weakness, when he was most dependent on Christ. In that dependence, he was at his strongest.

Ironically, we’re taught the opposite. We’re told to find our strengths and exploit them. But Paul warns against this mindset. In verse 3, he says:

“I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.” (NLT)

He calls these success-driven philosophies different gospels—ones that may sound good but ultimately lead us away from Christ. And in verse 15, Paul gives a sober reminder:

“It is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”

So if you were to die today—what would your eulogy say?

God willing, we all have years ahead of us. But every day, we get to choose:
Will our legacy be a record of worldly achievements?
Or will it be a story of ridiculous love and dangerous witness?

2 Corinthians Chapter 9

In this chapter of 2 Corinthians, Paul is talking to the people at Corinth about generously giving and helping Christians in need.  He goes on that giving should start from within, not pressure or guilt.  A perfect example of this is that of a farmer.  If you plant a few seeds, you will get a small crop.  If you plant a lot of seeds, you tend to get a big harvest.  The more you give, the more blessings you will receive!

Paul’s meaning is more than just giving money.  Money is definitely something we should give and something so many people or organizations need, but they can also use our time, attention, and so much more.  Sometimes not all Christians have an abundance of one of these things, let alone all of them at once, but it is a reminder of what we should do with it when we do have it.

So often in my life I ask myself and God, “How much should I give, how much money should I donate, how much time can I spare today?”  Then the next question I ask myself, “Is that enough?  Am I being too cheap?  Should I have given more?”  But that isn’t the point here.  It isn’t dependent on the amount of these things necessarily as much as the real desire within oneself of wanting to give.

I am sure we have all been in line for coffee or at a restaurant and made the choice to “pay it forward”.  It feels good to do that doesn’t it??  It does to me.

One of my wife and I’s trips to Galena one Fall, we were on the way out of town and stopped at a breakfast place.  For 45 minutes we sat next to an older man and listened/watched him interact with the locals.  It seemed like he went there for the food and the comradery that he might not have had at home alone.  As we were leaving and paying our bill, I asked the waitress to put his on ours as well.  She asked us, “Are you sure?”  We said of course.  She proceeds to tell us that he recently won a million dollar scratch off ticket, and that yellow hummer outside was his!

Now, my wife and I thought that was pretty crazy, but we still insisted on paying.  Why?  It wasn’t because we thought he was poor and needed it, but he seemed like a nice man who was nice to others and enjoyed people.  And it was simply a nice thing to do, hopefully he paid it forward someday for the same reasons.

All that being said, here is what I am trying to get at…..

• Give willingly and happily, not out of guilt or pressure
• Generosity leads to abundance in life, not just money
• God will supply your needs so you can keep helping others
• We give because God first gave to us, through Jesus

(Based on 2 Corinthians 7:9–10)

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are not called to comfort without conviction, nor to grace without growth. In 2 Corinthians 7:9–10, Paul reminds us that godly sorrow is a gift—a divine catalyst that leads us to repentance and life. It is not shame for shame’s sake, but a holy stirring of the heart that moves us away from sin and toward the arms of our Savior.

Too often, we settle for worldly sorrow—the kind that mourns consequences but not the sin itself. This sorrow leaves us stuck in guilt, bitterness, and regret. But godly sorrow? It leads to transformation. It awakens us to the reality of our need for grace and produces in us a changed life, marked by holiness, humility, and obedience.

Now is the time to examine your heart. What needs to be surrendered? What relationships need to be restored? What habits or hidden compromises are holding you back from the fullness of life in Christ? Don’t resist conviction—welcome it as a sign of God’s deep love for you. His correction is never to crush, but to restore.

Let today be a turning point. Don’t delay repentance. Let godly sorrow run its course—let it purify your intentions, renew your spirit, and ignite your passion for righteousness. From it flows freedom, joy, and peace that the world cannot offer.

Walk boldly in the grace that repentance brings. Be an example of what it looks like to be shaped by truth and love. Let your life shout the testimony of a heart that was broken, healed, and made new by Jesus.

Godly sorrow leads to salvation and leaves no regret. So rise, repent, and rejoice—your Savior is waiting.

Written with the assistance of ChatGPT

2nd Corinthians 4

Have you ever felt that there is no way you can keep pushing in your own personal ministry? If your answer is yes, you are not alone. 2nd Corinthians is famously known as the letter where Paul defends his ministry to those who were slandering his name and his heavenly work. Sharing Jesus can be difficult when you have a defense you are playing against, this was Paul’s case, but it can also be difficult when you are not seeing the fruit of your work. I am here to encourage you that your value and your success in personal ministry is not based on how many decisions were made for Christ, or how many lives were changed, or how many people you impacted. Your success in sharing the Gospel is doing just that… sharing it. That is what Jesus calls us to do. He does not call us to save peoples souls (He does that work), but He calls us to be obedient when the Holy Spirit tugs our hearts to share the gospel.
In verse 3-4 we read,

“If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”

Sometimes people do not respond to the gospel. It can be discouraging, but your success is in your obedience, not in their response.
Paul said that he was hard-pressed on every side but not crushed. Perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not forsaken. Struck down but not destroyed. Why did he and his ministry team have this perspective? Why did they always find the positive? The answer is in verse 14, “We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.” Their hope of heaven shifted their perspective on their current challenges.

Paul finished this section, and chapter, describing his present circumstances simply being a “light affliction” when compared to the glory that they will experience for eternity.

So, what’s the point here. When things are hard in personal ministry. When you are struggling breaking through to someone, when you are being persecuted, when it feels like you are being pressed from all sides, focus on eternity. It will shift your perspective and help you to continue to push through your negative circumstances currently. Don’t be ingenuine and deny that your life is hard. Rather, recognize that your circumstances are hard, and change your outlook by realizing they don’t compare to the blessing of spending eternity with Jesus.

Today’s Reading: II Corinthians 2

I’m sorry. 

I apologize. 

Can you forgive me? 

Two of the most challenging things that we can ask for ourselves and others to do is:  apologize and forgive.  

These two things take a level of maturity and understanding that cannot be comprehended until later in life. As an adult man, it’s hard for me to acknowledge my failure and to make amends for those.  Even though I cannot count each time that I have intentionally and intentionally harmed someone,  I attempt to reconcile. 

In our passage today, Paul is writing the second letter to the Corinthians.  One new nugget of wisdom and insight that I was revealed was he is apologizing for his tone in the previous letter and asking the congregation to forgive someone high in the church. He is asking for forgiveness ( apologizing) and he is also asking the church to forgive someone else. 

“And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When we apologize we have to understand that we have offended someone. Sometimes it is evident in the way that we have hurt someone… we have spoken to them in a harsh manner; our tone was too rough; or we have inflicted an injury in a way that you can see pain in the other person.  Sometimes it is subtle to us such as a slight phrase or word that injures the person.  I have been guilty of both forms.  As I grow, I have become more aware of my own actions and attempt to right my wrongs as soon as possible. 

Apologies have to originate with the offender. It is on them to create the apology and the understanding that they were wrong in the matter.  Sometimes the offender has to be made aware of your offense by the other party. Sometimes this is really hard for both parties to understand and reconcile with each other. But in the end, the offender is asking for amends. 

“Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭7‬, ‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Forgiveness is where the offended acknowledges the harm and hurt that was done to them and they have made amends with themself. This then releases the offended person from any anguish , anger, or malice to the person.  The forgiver doesn’t necessarily forget any of the ordeal, yet they chose to move from being a victim to becoming a victor in their self care. 

Both of these acts can be very challenging if we were trying to do them without God’s help. This is why it is a vital part of the Lord‘s prayer.

“and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We will offend and be offended, but with God’s love we are able to reconcile to each other and find peace.  

May we enter this week with hearts and eyes open to give grace and mercy in apologizing and forgiving each others.  

Be blessed 

2 Corinthians 1

It’s a relatively rare occurrence in my church, but every once in a while, someone will shout out, “Amen!” If you watch closely, you’ll notice some people cringe. Others just ignore it, unsure of what to do. Which one are you?

Of course, “Amen” isn’t a new word. We say it at the end of every prayer. I mean, it doesn’t count if you don’t say Amen, right? But have you ever stopped to ask why? Do you even know what it means?

Derived from Hebrew, amen means “truly,” “so be it,” or “let it be.” It’s more than a formal sign-off or a religious habit. Whether whispered at the end of a prayer, sung in worship, or shouted during a sermon, this little word carries weight. When we say it, we’re declaring: Yes—I believe this. May it come to pass.

So the next time you say “Amen,” pause for a moment. You’re not just ending a prayer. You’re affirming it. You’re sealing it, with faith that God will make it happen.

Psalm 40

This Psalm is a testament of God’s faithfulness and a cry for help in a time of need. It highlights a deep relationship with God. A relationship built on trust, gratitude, and dependence.

David was waiting patiently and faithfully for God, and He heard him. David was stuck in a low, dark place emotionally and spiritually and God pulled him out and put him back on solid ground with a fresh start.

• • God is always listening to those who wait on Him and He brings change out of our struggles.

David recognizes that God doesn’t just want religious acts, He wants a heart willing to obey. David offers himself fully, ready to live out God’s will.

• • God cares more about our obedience and that the road we choose to go down aligns with the path he has set for us.  He doesn’t want the tangibles, He wants the intangibles.

David doesn’t keep God’s goodness to himself but instead tells others. He strongly speaks about God’s faithfulness, love, and truth in front of the everyone he can.

• • This is a reminder that we should all share how God has worked in our lives and encourage all those around us from our experiences.

Despite his past relief, David admits he still faces trouble from his own sins and from enemies. He begs for God’s help and protection while confirming his continued trust and dependency on Him.

• • No matter how much help we seek and receive from God, we will continue to have challenges. But that’s ok!  It is ok to keep asking God for help and relying on him.  He would have it no other way.

Never forget what God has done for you.  Continue praying and when you come to those forks in the road don’t be afraid to ask for His help when you are uncertain or scared.  Always trust in Him when new changes come.  God wants us to rely on him.  IT’S OK!  He wants us to just as much as we need to, through the good AND the bad.  Go on deepening you’re relationship with God and don’t be afraid to share with everyone else the way God has worked in your life through the good and the bad times.