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March 2001 Table of Contents
Off The Top Of My Head
His Strength, My Strength
By Jerry Evans
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me
No great success to show, no glory of my own
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He'll carry us when we can't carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect
©1988 Sparrow Song/Careers
Steven Curtis Chapman & Jerry Salley
I really was having a wonderful pity party concerning just how trying the past year had been. It seemed, at times, that nothing that we did at J&J Music was right. Every time we turned around there was another problem. I think there were times that I felt God had abandoned us and the best thing we could do was turn out the lights and go home. I thought we had faced every situation known to man when right at the end of the year we get the news that a former long time member of the family here at J&J, even after signing a non-compete contract, had gone to work for a competitor. What do we do? Where do we turn? God where are you in all of this mess?
Then as I'm sitting in church in Hickory, NC a young man steps up and shares the song mentioned above. Now the first line gave me no problem. We all know that and have said it with Paul 100's of times. Then came the second line. "I sometimes wonder, what can He do through me" Well, it was pretty obvious that there was very little that I could offer to this situation. Then came the chorus. "He'll carry us when we can't carry on" As you might have already guessed, by now I'm about ready to jump up in that quiet little Baptist church and yell "THAT'S IT." I've tried to do it in my strength and failed, and even through all of my failings, He carried me.
Now we're in a meeting with a group of Music Ministers and THIS HOPE, a wonderful new group of young men which if you haven't heard, you need too, is singing for us. Jeane Bope is sharing about them being home (in Alaska) for Christmas and a close friend of his sharing that his wife of many years had left him and moved in with another man in their small community. The hurt this man was going through was unbelievable. Jeane shared that after a lengthy discussion he began to leave and as he did the man said "Jeane, just remember 'His grace is enough.'" Jeane wrote a song with that message and THIS HOPE began to sing it. I looked over and saw my friend who has served so faithfully in his church for the past thirty years and just this past year his wife had also walked out on him. My heart wanted to cry out, "HIS GRACE IS ENOUGH," but I could tell just by looking at him with his arms lifted high and tears running down his face, he already knew it. Part of the song say's:
Sorrow filled his eyes, he started to explain
How he'd come to lose so much, he could not hide the pain
After hearing his story, I understood his tears
And I wondered if he'd make it without the ones he held so dear
Then I saw a glimpse of hope as he raised his head
Speaking softly, he smiled and said
His grace is enough for me
In my weakness His power is made complete
When it seems my strength is gone
He's the rock I rest upon
His grace is enough for me.
C. Jeane Bope, This Hope
I made it through the evening and got home to write this article, but the thought and 2 Cor. 12: 9 would not leave me.
2 Cor. 12:9 NIV
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
2 Cor. 12:9 KJV
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Cor. 12:9 THE MESSAGE
and then he told me,
"My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness."
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.
2001 has started with an incredible BANG and God is blessing in ways we could not even imagine. God is good. We're still as weak as we always were and with His help we will keep reminding you of that forever. The difference? Christ strength moving in on our weakness. You get the picture…….
Jerry
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