Looking Past the Thorns: Joy (12 of 13)
Series: Philippians
Robert Dawson
Philippians 4:4-9
Pastor Charles Swindoll and his wife Cynthia have had a marriage long battle/debate over bougainvillea. She absolutely loves the flower and wants them all over the yard. Charles is not convinced that having a yard full of bougainvillea is such a good idea. Sure, the blossoms are beautiful but buried beneath the plant's beauty is a very painful reality - thorns, long, wicked and menacing thorns.
One of the reasons the debate never ends is because they have a neighbor down the street who has bougainvillea growing all over the front of the house and whenever they drive by Cynthia likes to go a little slower, enjoy the blossoms and say, ''Look how beautiful the bougainvillea is this time of year.'' Without looking or hardly thinking Charles responds, ''Do you realize the size of those thorns? I mean they're huge!! They cover the whole bush and if you get too close they will grab you and hold you for half a morning!''
Swindoll says, When Cynthia looks at the bougainvillea she sees only beauty and blossoms. When I look at the bougainvillea I see only thorns and pain.
I know people like that, people who only see the thorns and struggles of life. I know people like that because I am people like that. We tend to notice in others what we ourselves struggle with. Some of you have thorn colored glasses as well.
We look at our lives and the world around us and despite all the beauty and potential we see only thorns and pain. People who only see life's thorns tend to be thorny kind of people - prickly and uncomfortable to be around. Painful at times. They reach out and grab you and when you finally wriggle free you are no longer aware of life's beauty. All you feel are thorns. All you see are thorns.
As believers…we are not supposed to be like that. We are called to be different.
Paul has already told us that our outlook on life and the actions that flow from i ...
Series: Philippians
Robert Dawson
Philippians 4:4-9
Pastor Charles Swindoll and his wife Cynthia have had a marriage long battle/debate over bougainvillea. She absolutely loves the flower and wants them all over the yard. Charles is not convinced that having a yard full of bougainvillea is such a good idea. Sure, the blossoms are beautiful but buried beneath the plant's beauty is a very painful reality - thorns, long, wicked and menacing thorns.
One of the reasons the debate never ends is because they have a neighbor down the street who has bougainvillea growing all over the front of the house and whenever they drive by Cynthia likes to go a little slower, enjoy the blossoms and say, ''Look how beautiful the bougainvillea is this time of year.'' Without looking or hardly thinking Charles responds, ''Do you realize the size of those thorns? I mean they're huge!! They cover the whole bush and if you get too close they will grab you and hold you for half a morning!''
Swindoll says, When Cynthia looks at the bougainvillea she sees only beauty and blossoms. When I look at the bougainvillea I see only thorns and pain.
I know people like that, people who only see the thorns and struggles of life. I know people like that because I am people like that. We tend to notice in others what we ourselves struggle with. Some of you have thorn colored glasses as well.
We look at our lives and the world around us and despite all the beauty and potential we see only thorns and pain. People who only see life's thorns tend to be thorny kind of people - prickly and uncomfortable to be around. Painful at times. They reach out and grab you and when you finally wriggle free you are no longer aware of life's beauty. All you feel are thorns. All you see are thorns.
As believers…we are not supposed to be like that. We are called to be different.
Paul has already told us that our outlook on life and the actions that flow from i ...
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