Total Forgiveness + Theology of Tragedy + National Children’s Grief Awareness Month

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I shared this resources with my prayer group. I pray that it helps you too.

Hello ladies! I think these resources will help you in your theology about some tough topics. I had to wrestle greatly on these topics and so I know everyone does as well. Eventually we all have to make a choice, to submit to God’s word and ways; or to reject it and become bitter about it from faraway or at the edge of the body of Christ so your heart is not completely exposed to people (though it is not hidden from the Lord.)

One of the reasons why I love to hear sermons and read Christian books is because of the testimonies that are in them. Learning the theology is great too but my first love is hearing the testimonies. It helps me to keep being faithful and moving forward in the valleys.
1. Forgiveness – Here are messages by pastor R.T. Kendall about forgiveness that he shared at Times Square Church. If you need to understand biblical forgiveness better, please listen to these sermons. When suffering and tragedy happen, we need to process our thoughts and feelings. And sometimes, we need help to forgive God, ourselves and others. I hope his messages help you. If you are not ready to listen, then save this email and when you are ready, you can reach for it easily.

Here is a list of his other sermons to TSC. They all look good and I look forward to hearing these too. I am sure there are many testimonies in there.   – https://sermons.tsc.nyc/?s=Kendall&speaker=&service=&category=&orderby=&order=

I remember pastor Tim of TSC once said this in his sermon (I’m paraphrasing from my memory) – that if any suffering or tragedy come into your life as a child of God, then always remember that it first went through God and Jesus before it was allowed to happen to you. (This thought gives me great comfort and confidence when I face my challenges and struggles. They may be an unexpected surprise to me but not at all to God.)

2. Tragedy – Cornerstone’s pastor Gary delivered a very good message on the theology of tragedy using Jesus’s teaching from Luke 13. Please listen to this message so you can have a good biblical understanding on tragedy.
https://cornerstonechapel.net/teaching/20211107/

Pastor Tony Evans is another pastor that I follow and learn a lot from. This is what he shared recently that I agree with as well from my bible studies and experiences on suffering:

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” But most people only quote the first half: “All things work together for good.” And the problem is that all things do not work together for good. The things that work together for good are those things in connection with those people who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Only when you are living your life according to His purpose—rather than your own—will He cause all the things in your life to blend together for your good and His glory. When you are committed to Him and seeking His purpose, He will mix all of the things in your life—the sweet and the bitter—and turn them into something divine.

For His kingdom, Dr. Tony Evans

3. November is National Children’s Grief Awareness Month. I only learned about it by reading this article written by a young widow involved in children’s ministry. She gives good advice from her experiences with her children and church work. She also has a book and blog if you want to lean in closer to learn from her testimonies. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/4-ways-help-grieving-children/
Please do not waste your pain. Stay in God’s will and in the body of Christ so that your suffering will become a sweet blessing to feed others.

“Prayer is the ascending vapor which supplies the showers of blessing, and the stream that flows through earth dry places.” — A.B. Simpson