Some things we need to talk about.

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]Hey, hey y'all. I'm Tiffany and this is our small town life. Thanks for joining me today. Welcome if you're new. Welcome back if you're already one of us. So happy to have you here. Come and sit on the back porch with me for a little while. We're going to have a back porch chat today. If you're new to these, this is my way of inviting you to sit on my porch with me for a little while. I grew up spending a good bit of time at my grandparents house, you know, during the day when my parents were at work.

[00:00:30]or during the summer and I have very fond memories of their friends stopping by and sitting on the porch and them talking usually while they were shucking corn or breaking beans or shelling peas. And I've said before, I'll say it again that I think the world would be a better place if we'd all just sit on the porch with each other for a little while. So, this is my way of inviting you onto the porch with me. Today, I wanted to share a few things with you. Uh, first I wanted to say thank you. I went by the PO box today and there was some of the most beautiful sympathy cards and gifts and that really touched my heart as I've read through comments on videos where I've shared with you about my pawpaw passing away.

[00:01:15]Your kindness has really encouraged me.

[00:01:19]You have shown us love. You've shown us kindness in a time that has been very difficult. And I wanted to say thank you. Some of you have shared your own very personal stories with me and it's an honor that you would share those.

[00:01:35]And so I just wanted to make sure I took the time to say thank you. Uh I've said it. I wanted to say it again because today, like I said, I went to the PO box and and was looking at those cards and things. My heart was just really blessed and I wanted to say thank you.

[00:01:52]The other thing that I wanted to talk about today is so I try to be obedient when I feel like the the Holy Spirit is nudging me to do something or say something or share something because if I'll do my little part, he will do his. And this was just something that throughout the week I felt like I should sit down and share with you and talk about. And so that's what I'm going to do. and then I'll put it in his hands to put it in front of whoever needs to see it or hear it or whatever it might be.

[00:02:27]Justin, he usually shares a short little devotion before we go into our Sunday school classes on Sunday mornings. And this past Sunday, he was sharing something that really just worked in me and in my heart and something that I have continued to think about through the week. And as I was thinking about it and praying about it and studying on it, just felt like I should sit down and kind of share with you where my heart was on it and and what what I have learned or what I guess what I have gotten from this this week.

[00:03:06]So the idea or gist of it, I guess, is recognizing our weaknesses and not necessarily measuring oursel up to worldly standards, but instead biblical standards.

[00:03:22]And I this week keep coming to 2 Corinthians chapter 12. Specifically, I'm going to read to you verses 9 and 10. And I would say this is relatively familiar scripture, but this is Paul talking about the the thorn in his flesh and how he would ever feel inclined to boast. I guess it keeps him a little honest and talking about how we all have weaknesses and we all have needs and we'll face persecution.

[00:03:57]We'll face distress.

[00:04:01]We need to acknowledge that and acknowledge that in our weaknesses, in our weaknesses, Christ's strength can be made known.

[00:04:12]Um verse 9 says, "And he said to me," and then in red letters, "My grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weakness." Then Paul says, "Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities and reproaches and needs and persecutions in distress in distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

[00:04:44]The world tells us that we should hide our weaknesses, that we don't talk about those things, that in order to be successful or whatever you want to call it, that we should talk about the things we've accomplished, the things we have, the things that we can do.

[00:05:10]But here Paul says that he would boast of his weaknesses because in our weakness we can be made strong in Christ.

[00:05:23]This morning I was I was struggling a little bit y'all with all of my responsibilities and things I have on my plate. My patience was thin. I was overwhelmed.

[00:05:37]And the world would tell me not to talk about those things, not to show those things. But it was another, I guess, confirmation to me to sit down and talk to you about this today and say, I'm not perfect.

[00:05:51]I am weak. I make mistakes. I have struggles. I have needs in my life. I am not what this world would want to paint as a perfect picture of success or or whatever what whatever this world would say is perfect. I am not.

[00:06:17]And this tells me it's okay to acknowledge that that I don't need to measure myself to what the world calls successful.

[00:06:28]It's okay to acknowledge my weaknesses and even boast of my weaknesses in order to bring awareness to the fact that I am nothing, but Christ is everything. Maybe you are feeling like you're not meeting the mark or measuring up to what the world tells you you should be or do or say or or live by or whatever it is. But we don't have to meet the world's standards.

[00:06:53]We meet God's. I would dare say that we were not put on this earth with the purpose of driving a new car, living in a big house, having a big bank account, having a bunch of social media followers, but instead to have a relationship with God and to point others to him.

[00:07:17]Not saying those things that I mentioned are necessarily bad.

[00:07:21]They can be, but not all the time.

[00:07:24]That's another topic for another day, I suppose.

[00:07:29]But our purpose here isn't to check off all the boxes of what the world tells us we should be or do.

[00:07:36]We are weak. And in that weakness, we can be made strong in Christ.

[00:07:42]Maybe that encourages you a little bit today. What Paul was saying here, it still applies to me and to you. Petty came out here and got on the bike. Let's got them neighbors dogs stirred up.

[00:07:58]That's going to be all for today. Thank you for sitting on the porch with me for a little while. It sure feels nice to sit out here and talk with a friend.

[00:08:08]I love you. I appreciate you. And y'all, I mean that with all my heart. I'll see you in the next one. Bye y'all.