What you know is what gets you through...

Today is a very bitter-sweet day around the Berg home... Today is Charleigh's (our youngest) 4th birthday which is amazing, however, it also marks 2-years since the passing of my stepdad ("Pop").

Charleigh & Pop

*A very random fact is that the picture above is the last picture we have of Pop... Yeah, he took it with his "Charleigh girl" at her 2nd birthday party!!

Though this post isn't about raising a family or teaching you some faith talk skills... It is about the reality of family!!  Pain is apart of this world and when it happens in our families it can do a lot of things.  Because of loss I have seen bitterness, arguments, divorce and even death BUT it doesn't have to be like that.  We have a choice to move forward through the pain.  Though I cannot give you a 'ten step program' on how to get through it, I know one key factor: God is Good...All the Time!!

This truth doesn't change the hurt, I know that too... Sometimes things hurt real bad!!  Though I do not know all the reasons 'why', I do know that God is king, I know that God is good and I know God loves me (and you)!!  I know that no matter what happens He is unchanging in his promises and Truth!!  I know that we will experience hardship and pain while here on Earth BUT I also know that I am called to love in this season as I prepare to live forever in a place with no pain-hurt-sin!!

In a letter written to a small community of believers in the city of Corinth over a thousand years ago, Paul writes:  

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.  For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.  Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.  We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it.  In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.  And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.  And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety."

May God pull you out of whatever you are going through... May you have a few things you "know"... May He use you to share your hurt in loving others... May we choose to praise Jesus in these times, even when we don't see a reason why... May we find peace in His love... May you love your families the way God loves us: unchanging... May we find rest from the pain today!!

Pop & Little Jeff

Jeff (Family Pastor of High School), also known as "surgeberg" on: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram