FINDING GLORY Wednesday

What a privilege it is to come together and share what is going on in our lives so that we might be encouraged by one another, learn from one another and pray for one another!

Today’s scripture and discussion question continue on the theme of sharing life and stories that bring glory to God.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort." 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-7

According to these verses, what do shared distress and comfort produce?

Your life experiences and challenges are unique to you but something about your personal circumstances and how God has met you in them will resonate with others in equally unique ways. Your personal stories of growth in your relationship with Jesus have the power to resonate with someone the way that no one else's will. This is both a responsibility and an opportunity. How do these verses inspire or challenge you to share more boldly what God is doing in your life?

For more information about Finding Glory Groups, visit http://www.findingglory.com/findingglorygrou.html.

Today's reflections are copyrighted excerpts from Finding Glory in the Thorns: Group Discussion Guide.

A Shout-Out for "The Grace Card"

Tonight at The Gideon we got to see a screening of The Grace Card (inspired by and modeled after the folks who produced Fireproof). This wonderful film opened in theaters in April and will be available next week on DVD (August 16).

Erin and I have met the star, Michael Joiner, here at The Gideon and got to hear some of his very funny clean comedy during the keynote at tonight's Awards Banquet. This guy is top notch on and off the stage. His performance in The Grace Card is gripping. It leaves you wondering whether you'd have the grace to love someone who wronged you, especially in the face of horrific consequences of sin. Michael plays a police officer whose heart and life spiral into bitterness and anger towards God after his young son is tragically killed.

Watch the trailer and then order your own DVD. Our support of films like this sends a strong message to Hollywood and is a valuable encouragement to Christian film-makers who are trying to influence the culture for positive values and Biblical messages.

By the way, if you haven't already heard from Facebook, our daughter Erin was the Grand Prize winner tonight in both the Songwriter category and Music Artist Talent Search. Her song Hope for the Broken will be one of the songs she'll record in Nashville in the next few months. As the winner in these categories, she's earned both songwriting and recording contracts. Some time later this year (or early 2012), she will head to Nashville to produce a 4 song EP produced by Grammy nominated and Dove Award winning producer Dave Moody.

There are too many stories to tell now and it's very late but I promise you'll hear more soon. God is being magnified here! It's been a tremendous privilege to see so much talent along with passion to share the Gospel message with excellence in culturally relevant and compelling ways. Pray for these artists, please. They need support, encouragement, resources, clarity of vision and AUDIENCES.