Author: Phil Rehberg

cross suffering

Do You Think Suffering Is An Opportunity?

Posted on by

The Apostle Paul said, “I want to know Christ–yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Phil. 3:10, NIV). Notice that Paul wanted the good and the “bad” because both were part of knowing Christ better. He loved Christ and knew that in him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3, NIV) and that he was the source of Paul’s restoration into the image of God. Therefore, he was eager to be remade in the image of Christ’s suffering and death, knowing this was a requirement for transformation and deeper communion with Christ. The word for “participation” in Philippians 3:10 is the same word used for “fellowship” in the New Testament. We have fellowship with Christ when we suffer. It did not matter to Paul what his experience was as long as it meant that Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

He Collects Our Tears – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

Posted on by

You keep track of all my sorrows.You have collected all my tears in your bottle.You have recorded each one in your book. Psalms 56:8 (NLT) We hate to suffer alone, and sometimes we forget that we never suffer alone if we are in Christ. The Psalmist knows that God sympathizes with his people. He remembers our sorrows like entering them in a written ledger, or like collecting tears in a bottle. He is fully aware and doesn’t forget. He saves them up like an investment account and God makes sure they will pay off later. Thus, in the verses after today’s verse he says: “My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised” (Psalms 56:9-10). Remember that God has actually tasted deep suffering: as the Son he was persecuted and executed. He Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

He Will Carry Our Cares – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

Posted on by

Cast your cares on the Lordand he will sustain you;he will never letthe righteous be shaken. Psalms 55:22 (NIV) This verse is very similar to a well-known New Testament passage, 1 Peter 5:7 which reads: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (NLT). Is it easy to cast our cares on him? It sounds like we should be throwing our anxieties on him like we would throw our backpack on the floor when we are done with a hike. We don’t want to carry it anymore so we throw it down and let the ground support the backpack. We never worry about whether the ground can support our backpack; we are fully confident in its strength. It carries the weight of 100-floor skyscrapers so it can carry the weight of our backpack. Likewise, God can carry the weight of our anxieties. It is not Continue Reading →

Weekly words of encouragement

God Hears – Weekly Words Of Encouragement

Posted on by

Evening, morning and noonI cry out in distress,and he hears my voice. Psalms 55:17 (NIV) It is easy to forget that God actually hears the words we speak to him. When I pray I sometimes realize that I am unconsciously thinking that I am sending words upwards and I hope that they penetrate into heaven and that God hears them. But God promises that he hears us. And by “hear” we mean that he gives weight to our words and that they have an effect on him. He is the good Father who listens. Does not God dwell in our hearts through his Spirit? Are we not united to his Son? How could he not hear us? Let us be aware of how we view God when we pray and encourage ourselves that he is listening. Without faith it is impossible to please God! (Heb. 11:6) God Will Show Us Continue Reading →

eating

Honoring God In Our Eating

Posted on by

I confess anxiety about discussing the topic of eating. People easily feel condemned or embrace self-rejection, but we should be motivated to healthy eating by love for God and others. During the holiday season we are especially tempted to unhealthy eating. God cares about our bodies and wants us to take good care of them. He loves the physical world he created and the human body is the marvelous pinnacle of his material creation. When we eat too much and become overweight then we are harming our God-given bodies. The same goes for the habit of eating unhealthy food. You can find endless studies about the negative health effects of being overweight or eating unhealthy including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and an increased probability of neurological disease. Being overweight is also hard on the bodies’ joints and hinders needed exercise. Proverbs warns against gluttony (overeating): “A companion of gluttons shames Continue Reading →