"The Beautiful Hard"

 "In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8:13 KJV)

  "He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave. But it was the LORD'S good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD'S good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied." (Isaiah 53:7-11 NLT)

 To be totally honest, this title is not my own. I was watching the Golf Chanel yesterday, and a golfer who was making it out of Q School, getting his PGA Card, mentioned that the journey was hard, but it was a beautiful hard. Bing, my mind went off, and I felt that was going to be the title for this message. You must know something about golf, they say it is a lot like faith; a lot of trust and hope is what makes the winner.

 Anywho, there was something weird that happen last night, which I thought was rather interesting. I had a certain movie planned out to watch, but when I put in into my laptop, it gave me several issues, that made me take it out and get another movie. The movie I took out and watched had Rob Reiner in it; and when it was done, I came into the bedroom to see the news, that he and his wife had been killed in their home. Stanger things have happened, but it really caused me to take a pause. And when I say pause, I mean stop to pray for their family and those that will be torn from their loss.  

 Before I say anything else, I just want to mention the reason I felt this title was the one, as much as it might not seem right to use, according to some. Yes, the torment and anguish that Jesus had to bear was incredibly brutal, more than most men could have been able to take; but it was all planned out, and God had worked on every detail, for thousands of years. Hundreds of hints and passages that were written, as He announced the beautiful plan, from the very beginning of Creation!

 And yet, after thousands of years, God took a pause, like a giant deep breath, He was silent for over 400 years. When it came time for Him to speak, it was from the voice of a baby, being born in a manger! Wow, it truly was hard, but it was a beautiful hard...

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NLT)