Five Minute Friday • Strong

• Five Minute Friday • Strong – linkup

"My grace is sufficient for you
for my power
is made perfect
in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9
Two Sundays ago on July 4th, the second reading in the Revised Common Lectionary was 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. Pastor Maria said this has gotta be the Apostle Paul "asking for a friend."

but the Lord said to me, "my grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." …Therefore I am content with weaknesses…for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:9-10

Writing for five

Both #SaugusStrong and #SurfsideStrong have trended recently; it seems as if "place or event" + "strong" always relates to a disaster or a tragedy. The Apostle Paul tells the church at Corinth he is happy or content to be weak because in his vulnerability grace prevails—because of the strength of Jesus Christ. Can we think of situations where strong isn't necessarily a response to its opposite of weakness, vulnerability, or loss?

The world out there admires strong people. The world also criticizes women – and sometimes men – they perceive as too strong, especially if their overall style and presentation feels overwhelming.


• In the end I wrote for less than three minutes but I'm publishing anyway to showcase my interpretation of 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, and I especially like the effect of Kate's blog graphic.

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