SCRIPTURE:
“Yet, it was good of you to share in my troubles.” (Philippians 4:14, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what does 'yet' refer to?
'Yet' refers to Paul's previous statement: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13, NIV)

Interpretations:
I asked myself the significance of Paul saying, “Yet, it was good of you to share in my troubles.”
In the devotional, "Where do you need S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H in life?", I had learned about where Paul had received his strength! Even though  Paul received His strength from the Lord, he still acknowledges that he needs the body of Christ to help him. This is evidenced by the word 'you' which is plural referring to the Philippians. He is so touched that he uses the word 'good of you' because they shared in Paul's troubles.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. It is wonderful to depend on Christ for strength in life and Christ uses His body to give us strength. To receive strength from the Lord, I cannot be away from His body of believers. It is through His body of believers that my troubles can be shared. More than that I should not think that others have Christ in them so they will be okay in life and therefore use it as an excuse not to share in their troubles. On the contrary, Jesus wants me to share in the troubles of others as Jesus  wants others to share in my troubles.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING S.H.A.R.E:
It is because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that Kevin Leibach, the former staff volunteer of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) made such an impact in my life as he shared in my troubles. Everyday, he was always on the 5^th floor of the William Pitt Union during his breaks. Kevin would be there to help me through my issues by praying with me and quoting Scripture especially Jeremiah 29:11.  Not only that whatever he was able to do he would.  Since then the Lord has used so many others to help me to grow a lot in Him and also have wonderful experiences in InterVarsity that I  had done ministry with IVCF for six years! He shared in my troubles and so many others have since then that the names could go on an on.

What it also taught me is that Jesus uses His body of believers to share in my troubles and as I yield to the help Jesus gives me, I can do everything He asks me to do with the strength He gives me.

I also learned that the Gospel is all about sharing in the troubles of others. Jesus did that exceptionally by sacrificing His own life to share in the troubles of humanity. Jesus shed His precious cleansing Blood to redeem humanity from the trouble it is in. This trouble was caused by sin and Jesus acted to share in the troubles of humanity because of His love for me and everyone else. Jesus is the first One to share in the troubles of others and He did it genuinely and loving.

Jesus reminds me, "I want you to trust in my in your times of trouble, says the Lord, so that I can rescue you and you can give me the glory!" (Psalm 50:15, TLB)

Jesus has rescued me time after time especially when I was in bondage to sin and captive to my own ways. Jesus used His own blood to cover over me and save me by His grace. Thank you Jesus.

Through the months and years, Jesus has used His Word mightily in my life, prayer mightily in my life, and those who loved Jesus so much to make an impact in my life from my mom, to my beloved dad who is with the Lord now, to Rohit & my other brothers, to Kevin, to Elizabeth, to Pastor Hugo, Pastor Bucknell, to Ryan,  to Edwin, to Marie, to Sara, to Becky, to Jonathan, to Brad, to Josh, to David, to Kristen, to Josh, to Rachel, to Bryan, to Lydia, to Pastor Ed, to Cathy, to Antonia, to Heather, to Nelson, to Zela, to Steve, to Keng, to Tom, to Andrew, etc.  All of them and more have shared in my  troubles through the months in different capacities.

I want to do the same for others and share in their troubles as much as the Lord Jesus gives me the ability to. You should too.

But to truly share in the troubles of others, I need to first draw my nourishment from Christ and receive my strength from Him. For He is the head of the body and He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. That means my relationship with Jesus will also determine how much I share in the troubles of others. It starts with Jesus. I want to imitate Jesus to share in the troubles of others as He has shared in my troubles by dying for my sin and coming back to life to save me. With Jesus on my side, I can share in the troubles of others as many have shared in my troubles time after time. As you read through the previous devotionals, you will see how others have shared in my troubles. You too can share in the troubles of others.

I ask you now dear friend how do you share in others troubles?
Dear friend it is awesome to know that we can share in other people’s troubles by making their load light. I am reminded of the passage in Galatians 6:2 that talks about ‘carrying one another’s burdens and so fulfilling the law of Christ.’ Friend, maybe you are faced with trouble right now and need a helping hand and wish there was someone out there who can visibly give you a hand. I want you to know that Jesus is there and loves you so much. He sends His children to bear in other people's troubles and share them.  I want to share in your trouble as much as I can to make your load light.

Whatever you are going through, you can email me, call me, or we can set up a time to meet together so I can listen to what you are going through, look at God's Word together, and pray to the Lord of Heaven and earth. Even if you just need someone to listen to, I am there. Also, whatever I am able to do, I would love to help out. You need not go at it alone. Yes, there is the Lord’s strength to get you through but I believe He uses His children to help others too. I just want you to know that I am available if any of you need help. Of course, I am hoping there are others too that are willing to give a helping hand. My number is 412-720-4579 if you want to get in touch with me and my email is reddy4HisGlory2004@yahoo.com.

Friend, you may not be the one who is in trouble or troubled but there is someone who is troubled that you know of and the Lord has called you at such a time as this to help them out. You can pray with them, listen to them, or if it is in your capability directly help ease their troubles. It is so Scriptural to carry one another’s burdens. You can also be the one to give them the Word of God.

Never think you cannot help someone else in need. Regardless of what they are going through, just your presence there could help them through it even if you do not say a word. One thing I have learned is not being judgmental in the situation. Kevin and Elizabeth never were judgmental including my former staff worker Kent Walley. They worked with me where I was and helped me through the issues. Pastor Hugo, Edwin, and Marie have done the same recently.

I was helped so much because they [Kevin & Elizabeth] shared in my troubles that I never wanted them to leave Pitt because for me they were like angels. I am reminded of the series ‘Touched by an Angel’. The Lord could use someone at one place for a specific time and then move them on to other places to help others. I believe that’s what Kevin, Elizabeth, and Kent are doing. Kevin and Elizabeth continue to work with international students and Kent has gone to become a pastor in South Carolina.

Right now I am thankful for the time I have been able to be on Pitt campus and continue to be on Pitt campus. Until the Lord moves me on to another area, I desire to serve you all to the best of my ability and share your burdens too.

He uses us in our weaknesses and His strength is manifest in us as we yield to Jesus, our Lord and Savior.. Jesus has used my mommy so much in my life and continues to use my mommy to bless me and guide me. I thank the Lord for my mommy and all those He has put in my life to help me especially my church cell group of Oakland International Fellowship and Pastor Hugo Cheng!

I share this with you because you never know whose life you will touch in a mighty powerful way for the honor and glory of the Lord. I have always had high ambitions to be a lawyer but after how I was helped, I wanted to minister to others students with the love of Christ and have put law on hold. The good thing is I am able to take classes and learn legal studies on my own even as I work and minister.

 You can be that person to make an impact on someone’s life because you cared enough to share their troubles with them and pray with them. May you see the Lord Jesus work in your life to help others recover as you depend on His Holy Spirit to guide you and lead you! Amen!

Sometimes what our friends do for us can be a big deal depending on our need! I hope your friends can count on you for help when they need it. If you call yourself a friend of someone, I hope you can be there to help them no matter the inconvenience just as the four friends helped the paralytic and students from InterVarsity graciously offered unexpected help to me.

"Savior Helps All Recover Everyday!" (S.H.A.R.E)/”How do you share in others troubles?”

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!

If you want to be a soldier in the Lord's army, you can become it right now. Now is the time of Salvation! You do not have to wait but can pray this prayer and give your life to Christ to serve Him daily! There is no draft but coming to Christ is voluntary. He loves you so much and wants you to come to Him! He will take care of you, guiding you and leading you!

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. "The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us." I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving me! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!