Because of health reasons my husband does not attend church with me some Sundays.  Friends will ask, “How is John?”  Being the honest person that I am – I say, “He is hurting, he didn’t sleep last night or not too good today.”  Wanting to be more positive and encouraging to their sincere concerns, I asked the Lord for something to say to encourage them and at the same time be honest. 

While reading one morning – I came across this verse. 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  (NIV) ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

There is my answer – “Alive and Grateful” his favorite saying. He has used that for years when asked how he is doing.  My friend Helen made this plaque to put on the mantle.

Here is the verse in The Message: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 The Message (MSG)

^16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

Outward perishing – inward renewed day by day!