The Despres' Family and Ministry Blog- Overflow

Join us in Praying for Sienna

Posted on February 3, 2012 by greg

Each week we want to share specific prayer requests for folks to consider joining us in prayer as we walk through this ADOPTION JOURNEY with Sienna, some ministry requests maybe added along the way.

Endurance and clear direction on the path forward for Sienna’s many surgeries.

We learned a little over a week ago that Sienna’s cleft lip and palate is one of the most severe cases. In fact the doctor said on a scale of 1 to 10 this is an 11. Wow! Praise the Lord that we get to see not only soul transformation but physical transformation. We are not fully settled on place of treatment so please PRAY that the LORD will lead us to the place because once we start it will be a long road. To quote the doctor again, “You guys will be learning what scars are all about.” Oh Dear Lord give us strength and give Sienna strength and words!

Sienna is off and running…PRAY for continued attachment to all members of our family now that Mama is a safe place.

What used to be another appendage on Mama’s hip is now a blur at parties, walks to school and even Target . WE chose to pursue adoption because we believed there was enough love in our family to go around and then some. EVERY one in our family longs to experience deep attachment with Sienna. PRAY for much needed patience, servant hearts and unconditional love from all of us towards Sienna. PRAY that we embrace fully this picture of adoption because it is the picture of the gospel lived out daily before us.

Speech Therapy is under way and Sienna is being well cared for on that front @Speech Emporium of Cypress.

Lesa specializes in Cleft affected children. Her plan is 100% language and speech. She is a go getter and we believe she will help us reach that goal. The current homework are H’s and M’s. Just learning the proper placement of tongue and muscles is very difficult but trying to teach a person who has never spoken and doesn’t know English is double the effort. PRAY for Sienna to continue to understand English and then to work hard at learning the muscle movements to make the sounds that we so easily take for granted.

Posted in Family, Phriday Photos | 3 Comments

Lessons in Security from Shepherding

Posted on February 1, 2012 by greg

Something changed in the American psyche after Columbine high school, although it may not have cemented fully, the cement came pouring in after 9/11. Metal detectors in schools, bag checks at football games, increased terrorist alerts and the occasional heretic in American pulpits.

Jesus stood in the face of the multi-culturalism of his day and said, “I and the Father are one!” This was more than bold this was a death sentence. The elite religious establishment were just lambasted for being like thieves, robbers, murderers and even scared hired hands. Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. In saying that he really packs a theological punch check this out:

Our Union with Christ- My Sheep (John 10:14, 27)

Our Calling- My Sheep listen to my voice (John 10:27)

Our Identification- I Know them by name (John 10:14, 27)

Our Sanctification- They follow me (John 10:27)

Grace- I give… (John 10:28)

Our Security- No one will and No one can snatch them out of mine or my Father’s hand (John 10:28-29)

Our Election- My Father gives them to me (John 10:29)

God’s Omnipotence- My Father is greater than all (John 10:29)

Mission of God- I have other sheep that are not of this fold, I must bring them also (John 10:16)

Lessons in Security from the True Shepherd

The true shepherd has sacrificial love (John 10:11-13)
The true shepherd must bring diversity that leads to unity (John 10:16)
The true shepherd has a blast at being in community with his Father (John 10:37-38)

Lessons in Security from the Sheep

Sheep are known by the shepherd (John 10:14, 26-27)
Sheep have an amazing model to follow (John 10:11, 14-18)
True sheep listen, False sheep pay no attention (John 10:25-27)
Sheep enjoy abundant life and relationship with the shepherd (John 10:9-10)

Posted in From the Bible, Leadership | Leave a comment

Sienna is “2 Months Old” as a Despres!

Posted on January 28, 2012 by greg

Two months ago, Sienna was meeting us for the first time….

Nov. 28th, 2011 at the Civil Affairs Office in China

I have the best seat in the house for getting to watch her open up and start to live out God’s design for her precious life. Her smile lights up a room

Sienna's fan club at her big brothers' basketball game this week

She is starting to enjoy going places and is soaking in people’s mannerisms and language. She gets so excited to see her big brothers and sister when we go to pick them up from school or watch them play basketball. She loves to help clean and cook and set the table

Helping Mama make after-school snack!

We started speech therapy this week and are very encouraged that there are things that we can be doing to develop speech even before her lip surgery (at the end of March) and palate surgeries (beginning sometime this summer). This week we are focusing on “H” and “M” and vowel sounds. She makes most vowel sounds already, but we know there is quite a journey ahead.

Sienna and Miss Lesa--her Coach for speech

We look forward to celebrating Sienna’s 3rd birthday a month from today! Between now and then we will continue to enjoy new discoveries every day. Thank you for encouraging us and praying with us for Sienna to adjust to her new world here, and for our other kids with all of the transitions they have as well. They have been amazing and continue to do all they can to win over her affections

Our first child to sleep like this THankfully she is a good sleeper most nights!

Posted in Family, Phriday Photos | 3 Comments

The Power of Pithiness

Posted on January 26, 2012 by greg

Noun

pithiness- terseness and economy in writing and speaking achieved by expressing a great deal in just a few words

conciseness, concision, succinctness

terseness – a neatly short and concise expressive style

Here is proof that pithy is powerful:

Diamonds are forever.

Just do it.

Tastes great, less filling.

Good to the last drop.

Breakfast of Champions.

Does she . . . or doesn’t she?

When it rains, it pours.

Where’s the beef?

For today’s writing lesson, substitute editor for kibitzer (someone who butts into the affairs of others to give unasked-for advice) as you read this anecdote from The Joys of Yiddish:

With great pride, Benjamin Bernstein painted himself a sign to hang over his store:

FRESH FISH
SOLD HERE
DAILY

As Bernstein placed the ladder to hang up the sign, a kibitzer sang out, “What kind of cockamamy sign is that?”
“Why? What’s wrong with it?”
“‘Fresh fish,’ Bernstein? It would never occur to your customers that you sell fish that aren’t fresh–unless you advertise it!”
“You’re right.” Bernstein took his brush and painted out “Fresh.”
“Wait!” said the kibitzer. “What about ‘Sold’? Obviously you sell fish; you don’t give them away free.”
Mr. Bernstein painted out “Sold” and said “Okay?”
“No, why ‘Here’? Obviously, you don’t sell fish over there. . . .”
“You’re right!” And Bernstein painted out “Here.”
“That leaves ‘Daily,’” said the kibitzer. “I ask you, is that smart? If fish are fresh, they must come in and go out daily. Right?”
“Absolutely!” Bernstein crossed out “Daily,” leaving a sign that read only:

FISH

“Perfect,” said the kibitzer.
(Leo Rosten, The Joys of Yiddish. McGraw-Hill, 1968)

Three Thoughts on Why Pithy is Powerful:

Attention spans- Most folks have misplaced their relational listening tools somewhere.
Less is more- Not just attention spans but application gaps. We don’t already apply all we know. If we are required to consider less more will be completed.
You are OK and accepted- However I have seen folks lose friendships due to their inability to say less. Some people simply are avoided due to their verbosity.

QUESTION: When is it good to be pithy and when should there be more girth to your communication? In other words, is pithiness always better than an accumulation of words?

Posted in General, On My Mind | 2 Comments

6 Reasons to Have a New Understanding of Integrity

Posted on January 25, 2012 by greg

Dr. Henry Cloud in his book Integrity says, “Who a person is will ultimately determine if their brains, talents, competencies, energy, effort, deal-making abilities, and opportunities will succeed.” Our traditional understanding of character is that it involves morals and ethics, and is a safeguard against bad things happening. However, that’s not all there is to character. True character integration requires that a leader:

capture the hearts and minds of people they’re leading
see all of the realities in front of them, including blind spots regarding themselves, others, markets, customers, or other realities necessary to reach their goals
produce results congruent to resources and abilities
deal with losses and negative people and situations
create growth in their organizations, people, profits or industry
become part of a larger mission.

Integrity. It is more than simple honesty. It’s the key to success. A person with integrity has the — often rare — ability to pull everything together, to make it all happen no matter how challenging the circumstances.

This is a new idea of integrity, one that mixes leadership inspiration and leadership character together. It not only looks at the person’s individual character and choices but it also looks at a person’s relational “wake”. Do people around a leader exhibit inspiration or are they more in tune with the status quo? Is there a sense of trust and fulfillment or discouragement and bleeding?

Some leaders are good at details and others are good at vision. A visionary’s wake tends to be more like controlled chaos where clarity is not often understood but there is tremendous movement and motivation. A detailed person’s wake tends to be clean and confined but not adventurous. Perhaps their boat is not going fast enough beyond what they know is safe. Either way, integrity knows the difference and realizes the carcasses that can be strewn along the way. Integrity according to Cloud seems to be the ability to integrate all the leader knows of themselves in order to achieve the best for the organization. It is the power of wholeness in action.

In Integrity, Cloud reveals six areas of character that will bring you results you haven’t been able to obtain. Together, these character traits will enable your talents and abilities to bring you the results that you know you should be getting, but sometimes aren’t.
In Integrity, you will learn about the kind of character that:

1. Creates and maintains trust
2. Is able to see and face reality
3. Works in a way that brings results
4. Embraces negative realities and solves them
5. Causes growth and increase
6. Achieves transcendence and meaning in life.

A leader can’t have one without the other and be whole. Integrity seeks to integrate all 6 of these for the benefit of the organization.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Do you know what you are good at?

Are you living according to your passions?

Integrity takes a long hard look at reality and through skill and integrating all that God has made a leader to be they begin to take the long, hard road of bringing an organization to places that it never has gone before…

Is this a new idea about Integrity for you? How does one have another hold them accountable to being a person of Integrity like this??

Posted in Leadership, Life Lessons | Leave a comment

Leading Like a Shepherd Leads

Posted on January 19, 2012 by greg

On Thursday mornings, very early (5:30 AM), several men wipe the sleep out of their eyes, some shower, some don’t, in order to learn what it means to be a leader like Jesus. Coffee drinkers welcome the smell of fresh brewed coffee and all welcome the thought that they will become better leaders at home, work and in the ministry. We want to lead more like Jesus, be led to Jesus and lead more to Jesus. It is all about Jesus, the greatest leader who ever lived. Our curriculum is the Bible. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, has given us some words concerning many of Jesus’ words, namely the “I AM’s” of Jesus. I am the BREAD of LIFE, I am the LIGHT of the WORLD, I am the DOOR to the Sheepfold, etc.

Our premise: Jesus was always on the OFFENSIVE, he was never on the DEFENSIVE. He regularly took the debate, the argument, the challenge, the fight to those who were the ones taking the focus off of HIM and onto RELIGION.

I have yet to meet a man that doesn’t want to become a better leader at home. Like me, they may not know all there is in order to get better. But we are better together! So we look at Jesus’ words and works in order to figure out how to lead better at home, lead better at work and lead better in the ministry. I figure that if we have strong spiritual homes and honest and hard work ethic at work then the ministry will be just fine. Health breeds health.

Five Sure Fire Principles on Leadership Like Jesus from John 10:1-10:

Leaders protect their families “the Flock”- the word Shepherd actually means “to protect”. The ratio of shepherd to flock is 1:1 so there is no other form of protection for the flock. This a great picture of the family. A parent can’t delegate the responsibility of protecting their family. They can delegate a ton of things but not ultimate protection. God gives parents great pictures all over the Bible to describe the nature of their work. Elders shepherd and lead the flock (I Peter 5:2). I wonder if this concept came from when Jesus told him to “Take care of the sheep” John 21:16.

Leaders understand those they lead “the Flock” (10:2-4)- It is the responsibility of the shepherd to know the needs of the flock. Sheep are not as experienced as the shepherd. Shepherds have the job of naming their sheep. Much like we would name our pets, the shepherds named their sheep. We give names according to characteristics. One of the best ways to lead in the home is to understand the nuances of your children and spouse. We have talked about this on several ocassions. We seek to understand if our kids are Lions, Otters, Labradors, or Beavers or we seek to understand their Myer-Brigg Temperaments. There is power in a name and their is power in understanding a person’s personality bent. We need to lead according to the bent of the flock. Knowing someone’s bent or personality can be intimate. Leaders will be allowed to lead only by their ability to relate personally not just by letting it be known that they are the leaders.

Leaders are first and foremost Modelers (10:3)- the danger in not leading is forming a community that has no shepherd. Jesus looked on the multitudes and in anguish due to their helplessness from within and their hopelessness from without that they are like sheep without a shepherd. What could be worse for a family than to be a family without leadership? True Jesus like leadership is one that models life for the flock. Setting examples creates an atmosphere of do as I do. It inspires the flock with courage and stories to remember. Leaders show what steps to take and often times what steps not to take because leaders aren’t perfect. No one is going to force the sheep to follow but a sheep would never dream to be separated from the shepherd.

Leaders know how to recognize the voice of the Stranger (10:5)- the text says the sheep will not follow the stranger’s voice but they will flee from them. I can’t help but think this implies the reality of the sheep actually being taught the difference. Leadership of the home discerns all the voices vying for the attention of the “family flock”. Often times the leader must discover all the new voices that are seeking to steal, kill and destroy the relational vitality of the flock. The sheep may not know better so a compelling picture of the true shepherd must be pursued and sought after. Once the leader understands the voice to be a strange voice then the job is to help lead the family/flock to decide to follow the true voice. It is all leadership and it is particularly difficult when there are teenage sheep around.

Leaders know how to feed themselves (10:9)- the ultimate goal of the thief is to steal any bit of relationship one might have with the true shepherd. The goal is to steal the heart, soul, mind and strength of the sheep to look towards another. The True Shepherd provides enough security and peace so that the sheep can come in and out and feed. The shepherd does not feed the sheep, the sheep feed themselves. The leader understands this and seeks to feed their soul first before feeding others. Daily inputs into the pastures of God’s word will increase the shepherds ability to lead the sheep.

Posted in From the Bible, Leadership, Monday Insights | Leave a comment

Private or Public Prayer: Which Does God Like Best??

Posted on January 18, 2012 by greg

Does God answer more to prayer from those who pray in private or from those who pray in public, like in a group or a corporate setting?

This is a great question but I’m not going to give an answer because I don’t know an answer what I do know is the power of corporate prayer from II Corinthians 1:11.

Paul thinks every leader/minister should experience hardships/afflictions/suffering. In fact, in one place (II Timothy 3:12) he goes so far as to say,

“If anyone wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus they will be persecuted.”

Suffering is to the leader/minister/layman what butter is to buttered toast. Toast just doesn’t taste the same plain. This is not at all what the normal mainstream is thinking will make a person effective in ministry but Paul’s pulse beats to a different set of values. God’s values are totally different than what one might think.

Paul is in a difficult situation and needs deliverance. He knows that God works through the prayers of His people so:

1) ASKING- HE ASKS them to pray “You must also help us by prayer.” The asking shows dependence on God and He loves that.

2) PRAYING- Of course the Corinthians started praying, wouldn’t you pray? Of course, we are notorious for saying we will pray but end up forgetting (perhaps one argument for making prayer a reality in every small group and large group time).

3) GIVING- God pours out deliverance in the past, present and future. It is God’s blessing to Paul based on the prayers of many. God will work in God’s ways to achieve glory for Himself. Can you imagine what would happen if every time we prayed God answered in the exact way we prayed? We might consider how wonderful we are at praying instead of reveling in the great God of answered prayer.

4) SEEING- However, when God does answer our prayers people see it and encouragement is the outcome. Seeing is faith building not necessarily a pre-requisite for believing but certainly helps the process out.

5) THANKING- God gets thanks it says it right there in verse 11 “so that many will give thanks on our behalf,” Paul gets delivered and God gets thanked. Now that is the way it should be. We tend to take too much credit for work that only God can do and should get the credit for in the first place.

6) JOY- John Piper adds the dotted line of JOY. It is for this response of people to God’s work in the world that Paul lives for. It is his joy to see God honored and thanked.

Posted in From the Bible, On My Mind | 4 Comments

Fireworks, Bonding, and Fist Pumps

Posted on January 14, 2012 by greg

Sienna got the full New Year’s Eve Texas Experience and we got an over stimulated toddler. But the memories of spending time with the folks on the street was worth every bit of stimulated fallout. We love our street…and our street loves Sienna.

I wish you could see the fun we have on our street on July 4 and December 31…sometime after we experience the big artillery shells that make the loud noise and beautiful array of colors, I normally line the teenagers down the street and shoot Roman Candles at them…great fun! Burn holes in the clothes, fun and lots and lots of memories.

Just last night Sienna allowed me to kiss her all over her face before she simply fell asleep. About 10 minutes of kissing her cheeks, hands, feet, etc. We just sat there and were amazed that she would let me do that but still not willing for her to let me hold her. But we will take what we can get at this point…blessings upon blessings.

I think God has put it into every young girl the makings of a mom. Girls just nurture and Sienna is no different.

One of the great things about having teenage boys is what they teach Sienna. The latest lesson is fist pumps and explosion…You will have to trust us that what she portrays on video she triples in real life.

Posted in Family | 7 Comments

We All have ATTACHMENT Issues but We can Receive LOVE.

Posted on January 11, 2012 by greg

Everyone, no matter who they are, has attachment issues. We see movie stars, who appear to have it all– in and out of rehab facilities and marriages, workaholics working for the stuff they never got, men and women seeking voyeuristically a fantasy love that is destructive and teens who cut, dress inappropriately, eat poorly, verbally and physically bash the underdog…all because of struggling with attachment somewhere in their journey.

A great deal of our lives are shaped by our (healthy or unhealthy) attachments to our parents. Our view of God is often times determined by our attachment to our Dads.

from the NurtureCenter.com

One of my personal goals is to take my children out to breakfast each month on the day of their birthday. I ask the following questions:

Do you know that your mother and I love one another?
Do you know that your mother loves you?
Do you know that I love you?

Of course our kids give the same answers (with some work), “Gosh, YESSSSSS Dad! Are you going to ask me this every month?” and I say, “YES!” Every month.” Still I am an imperfect Dad that doesn’t love perfectly every time. My kids are Pastor’s Kids who live under an unspoken microscope.

At lunch today I shared this answer to the question everyone is asking, “How is Sienna doing?” My answer, “Sienna is rocking my world.” My understanding of the faithful and patient love of God is growing deeper. I see the fantastic mess of selfishness longing to raise its ugly head in my heart and soul.

Sienna most likely has no recollection of the loving embrace of parents. I doubt she even has a concept of “Dad.”

Just moments before she was THRUST into our arms...

She knows that I am called Daddy but that might as well be my name, like Squirrel, Horse, Cat or Dog. I am DAD! It is reality for her to be scared, insecure, timid, hidden…UNATTACHED! My response: Keep pursuing, not forcing, not trying to overdo it. She will receive my love in time.

I wonder if you and I experience the same kind of resistance to God’s love for us? Oh that we would fully receive God’s love for us and live in the freedom of that never changing.

QUOTES ON ATTACHING TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST:

Augustine said, “Give me someone who loves and he will understand what I am trying to say. Give me someone whose heart yearns, who feels the nostalgia of loneliness in exile, who is athirst and sighs for the fatherland eternal, give me such a one and he will understand what I am trying to say. But if I must explain myself to ice-cold indifference, he will not understand.” (on talking about receiving the love of God).

Brennan Manning said, “Religion is not a matter of learning how to think about God, but of actually encountering Him.”

Steps to Experiencing the LOVE OF GOD in the HEART:

God Will Never Disappoint Us: It is the ground of deep assurance – the assurance that our hope “will not disappoint us” (Romans 5:5).
It is Not the Same for Everyone but it is Available to Everyone: If all believers had the same experience of the love of God, Paul would not have prayed for the Ephesians that they “be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:18-19).
It is not like Electric Shock or the Experience of Elation from your Winning Team: It is more about knowing God and experiencing God through that knowledge. It is not only knowledge but it doesn’t come without knowing. That is why we pursue God through His word. Not like the Pharisees who search the Scriptures because they think that knowing God’s word will lead to eternal life (John 5:39).
It is ALL over the Bible (Based in our JOY): Consider 1 Peter 1:8, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” Here is an experience of great and inexpressible joy. Joy beyond words. It is not based on a physical seeing of Christ. But it is based on believing in Christ. Christ is the focus and content of the mind in this inexpressible joy.
It is ALL over the Bible (based in the TRUTH): In fact, 1 Peter 1:6 says that the joy itself is “in” the truth that Peter is telling us about the work of Christ. It says, “In this you greatly rejoice.” And what is “this”? It is the truth that 1) in “His great mercy [God] has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;” and 2) we will “obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away;” and 3), we “are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5).
NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST: The love of God is experienced in knowing and believing Christ THROUGH KNOWLEDGE, JOY AND TRUTH because, as Romans 8:39says the love of God is “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Nothing will be able to separate us “from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Newly a Despres

This girl moves at her own pace, with lots of fans cheering her on!

Baby steps in opening up

Posted in Family, On My Mind | 1 Comment

Developing a Theology of Suffering

Posted on January 7, 2012 by greg

The college and career ministry of CBC is working through the book of II Corinthians. The series is STRANGE MINISTERS…the theme verses are II Cor. 3:5-6 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

II Corinthians is more the heart of Paul while Romans is the mind of Paul. Romans is doctrine and II Corinthians is modelling a life that ministers through discouragement, defeat and dependency on God.

This is not the easy life! But easy is rarely better…suffering in the form of stepping outside of comforts is truly a powerful way to prove God-centeredness.

So if we were to develop a Theology of Suffering what questions would we need to ask? What would the outline be? I am presenting one here as a starter in hopes that it might lead me to a deeper devotion to the LORD and possibly help those who will read this, many thanks to Ken Williams.

Suffering from God’s Perspective vs. Our Perspective: Overcoming an extremely comfortable bias from our culture called “The American Dream.”
Jesus’ Teaching on Suffering: Matt. 5:3-11, 10:28, 16:24-25, 19:23-24, Mark 10:29-30, Luke 12:49-53, 14:26-27, 33, 21:12-19, John 12:24-26.
Paul’s Teaching on Suffering: Phil. 1:29, II Tim. 3:12, II Cor. 1:3-9, II Cor. 11:23ff
Purposes of Suffering: Share in Christ’s suffering (Phil. 3:10), To make us rely on God, not ourselves (II Cor. 1:9), So that Jesus maybe revealed in us (II Cor. 4:10-11), So that our faith maybe proved genuine (I Peter 1:7), To keep us from going astray (Ps. 119:67), To discipline us for our good (Heb. 12:10), To set us up for comforting others (II Cor. 1:4), To prepare us for an eternal glory (II Cor. 4:17).
Results of Suffering: Some of what was put in #4 especially in II Cor passages but also: UNCONDITIONAL RESULTS–> After we have suffered God will restore us, make us strong, firm and steadfast (I Pet. 5:10), God uses is for our good (Rom.8:28), It builds perseverance, character, hope and maturity (Rom. 5:3-4, James 1:3-4), We are blessed with a great reward (Matt. 5:10-12, I Peter 4:14). CONDITIONAL RESULTS–> If we suffer for what is right (I Pet. 3:14), If we are persecuted for righteousness (Matt. 5:10-12), If we are insulted for the name of Christ (I Pet. 4:14).
God’s Comfort in Suffering: He is Deliverer, Fortress, Guide, Helper, Hiding Place, Hope, Horn of Salvation, Joy and Delight, Mighty Rock, Refuge, Shade on our right hand, Shelter from the Storm, Sherpherd and Overseer, Shield, Source of Strength, Stronghold.
Our Normal Response that is OK: Jesus’ Response–> Deep distress (Mark 14:33), Overwhelmed with sorrow (Matt. 26:38), Troubled in heart and spirit (John 12:25, 13:21). Paul’s Response–> Anguish of heart (II Cor. 2:4), Anxiety (Phil. 2:28), Fear (II Cor. 11:3, 7:5, 12:20), Grief (II Cor. 12:21). David’s Response–> Agony (Ps. 6:2), Anguish (Ps. 6:3, 31:10), Distress (Ps. 4:1, 18:6), Fear (Ps. 34:4), Groaning (Ps. 22:1), Weeping (Ps. 6:6).
Approaching God in Suffering: Acknowledge His name (Ps. 91:14), Ask Him to strengthen us according to His word (Ps. 119:28), Be still before the Lord (Ps. 37:7), Cast all your anxiety on Him (I Peter 5:7), Cast your cares on Him (Ps. 55:22), Call on Him (Ps. 17:6, 91:15), Cling to Him (Ps. 63:8), Commit yourself to our Faithful Creator (I Peter 4:19), Commit our way to the LORD (Ps. 37:5), Consider all His mighty deeds (Ps. 77:12), Consider Christ who also endured suffering (Heb. 12:3), Cry aloud to Him (Ps. 3:4), Dwell in the shelter of the Most High (Ps. 91:1), Fix your eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:2), Love Him (Ps. 91:14), Meditate on His works (Ps. 77:12, 143:5), Praise His name in Song (Ps. 69:30), Pray (James 5:13, Ps. 69:13), Rejoice in His salvation (Ps. 13:5), Remember Him when downcast (Ps. 42:6), Set our hope on Him (II Cor. 1:10), Take refuge in Him (Ps. 5:11, 7:1, 11:1), Trust in Him (Ps. 25:2, 31:14, 14:1), Wait for the Lord (Ps. 27:14), Wait patiently for the Lord (Ps. 37:7, 40:1), Wait quietly for His salvation (Lam. 3:26).
How to Relate to Those Who Cause Our Suffering: Be on our guard (2 Tim. 4.15), Bless them, (Lk. 6.28, Rom. 12.14, 1 Pet. 3.9), Do good to them, (Lk. 6.27,35), Don’t be afraid of them (Mt. 10.26,28), Don’t curse them (Rom. 12.14), Don’t fear their threats (1 Pet. 3.14), Don’t repay evil for evil (Rom. 12.17, 1 Thess. 5.15), Don’t repay insult with insult (1 Pet. 3.9), Don’t resist them (Matt. 5.39), Don’t take revenge (Rom. 12.19), Forgive them (Lk 23.34, Acts 7.60), Love them (Mt. 5.44, Lk. 6.27-28), Turn the other cheek (Lk. 6.29)