South Roanoke United Methodist Church

The Gospel Lesson
Colossians 1: 8-20
“He has told us about the love you have from the Holy Spirit. Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we have continued praying for you, asking God that you will know fully what he wants. We pray that you will also have great wisdom and understanding in spiritual things so that you will live the kind of life that honors and pleases the Lord in every way. You will produce fruit in every good work and grow in knowledge of God. God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles come, but you will be patient. And you will joyfully give thanks to the Father who has made you able to have a share in all that he has prepared for his people in the kingdom of light. God has freed us from the power of darkness; he has brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. The Son paid for our sins, and in him we have forgiveness. No one can see God, but Jesus Christ is exactly like him. He ranks higher that everything that has been made. Through his power all things were made – things in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, all powers, authorities, lords, and rulers. All things were made through Christ and for Christ. He was there before anything was made, and all things continue because of him. He is the head of the body, which is the church. Everything comes from him. He is the first one who was raised from the dead. So in all things Jesus has first place. God was pleased for all of himself to live in Christ. And through Christ, God has brought all things back to himself again – things on earth and things in heaven. God made peace through the blood of Christ’s death on the cross.” 

The book of Colossians is one of my favorite books in the bible. It is a book that only has four chapters and yet in its pages, we are reminded of the source of true power. In chapter one, we are reminded the source of true salvation. In chapter 2, we see countless references on the where the strength of our faith comes from (2:7 – Keep your roots deep in him and have your lives built on him. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught, and always be thankful.); In chapter 3, we are remind that difference aren’t important, Christ is.. We are reminded how to treat others (vs. 12-14 remind us to be kind, get along, forgive, & love). Then in chapter 4, we are reminded on behaviors: Pray, be wise in our dealing with others (a good example for non-believers), communication (the way we share with others) and finally on service (even while Paul was in prison, he took the time to reach out to a group in need). 

I especially like that Paul – someone who was the worst of the worst as Saul, writes it. Christians new him by name, In Acts chapter 9 vs. 13 (But Ananias answered “Lord, many people have told me about this man and the terrible things he did to your holy people in Jerusalem) and yet God’s Plan was that someone was to reach out to him so that Saul would be given the opportunity to become Paul & he could then tell those who would not normally have the opportunity to hear, about Christ. 

Looking back to Colossians 1:11 – Paul reminds us that “We have the promise that as believers, we will have God’s strength so we will not give up when troubles come but will be patient”. This verse has been relevant in my life. I have had troubles, I have had to rely on Christ for my strength, I have had to be patient & I have seen rewards. 

Nine years ago – I was in a car accident. A tractor-trailer ran into my friend’s vehicle as he was coming home from another friend’s wedding & I just happened to be the passenger. The truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and didn’t wake up until the car flipped in the air in front of him. In the mean time, we were pushed down the interstate, (outside of his window we saw the grill of the truck and outside of my window – the dividing wall) hit the dividing wall, and flipped 1-½ times until we were sliding down the interstate, upside down. I lost consciousness briefly and remember hearing this horrible scratching of the roof meeting the asphalt and hearing my friend say, “Paula are you alright” When I looked at him – he was bleeding so if I looked like him I wasn’t. My injuries weren’t as visible – luckily a paramedic took the time to talk with me, insisted that I check into the hospital, and there was documentation that I had been in this accident.   

My troubles began later, my injuries were not visible but yet I was in pain. It was discovered that I had head trauma, facial stress, torn disk in my vertebrae, and my body had shifted on my left side, this was with my seat belt on – I firmly believe I would have not been in as good of shape had it been off, which had been the norm in my life at that time. With no insurance, mounting doctor bills and a body that was no longer mine, I was not able to continue to do the things of the past. To make matters worse, being a college student, away from home, my system was my friends & rapidly they disappeared, you see they did not want to be around someone like me – no longer the jovial, carefree person, I once was… 

During the course of that year, I was still involved with my church ministry. That had become my one constant & I knew that as a group we should do something for those less fortunate – I was now one of them, you see – so I wanted to help. 

We were to provide a program for the local Rescue Mission and at the last minute our speaker cancelled. Since it had been my idea, it fell to me. I immediately began having the clear understanding that I should share my struggles. As a private person, when God told me to share theses experiences, which had occurred over the past year and the continued struggles of my life to that point, I wanted to cancel the event, I was sick with fear because I wasn’t the type of person to share what was going in my life and surely not with a bunch of strangers. Well, it was the hardest thing for me to do, but by doing so God began to bring me out of the darkness and reminded me to find joy. 

As a child, I was taught I am weak but HE his strong yet as an adult when trouble hit, I wanted to get mad & walk away. You see, IT WASN’T FAIR – what I was going through, wasn’t fair. But that day I was reminded that God’s plans are greater then my tantrum. After that session, I would walk down the street and individuals (mostly homeless men & women) would holler hello – a reward for sharing, for our sharing had touched our lives. 

I have good days and bad. Unfortunately more days with discomfort or pain then days pain free. But I am reminded daily by family, my friends, and now my church that God moves. His plan is for us to be examples, realize that we will have troubles (In fact, we are promised of this in Acts ch.9 vs.16: “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."; referring to Paul) but our joy is to come from Him given to us through his love, his forgiveness, and his direction. 

In the low point, I met a person who told me I was wonderful in all my imperfections and I married him. There’s a reward.  

I now have two wonderful children, there’s a reward. 

I have a family, both of blood and of faith, who work on putting faith first, there is a reward. 

I still question, and at times, have days were I want to pout, were I feel as though I want to throw my hands up and quit, however those days are fewer and fewer. I am promised through scripture that my faith gives me a greater purpose and forgiveness not made available in any other fashion. This purpose and forgiveness has been made available through pain (Christ’s pain) so that I/we can have peace. 

Please Pray with me