So far the last few posts, I have considered trials.
Trials don't always automatically produce good results, even though that is why God allows them.
Many people instead of becoming closer to God, become bitter at others or even towards God.
We must remember that God's plan for us is good.
Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Joseph understood this when he revealed who he was to his brothers.
Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Remember when you are going through a trial it is temporary.
2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
We should try to find joy in the midst of the trial.
1thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Now remember I never said it would be easy and neither did God.
But He has promised to never leave you or forsake you, even in the midst of a trial.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Is God an enabler?
Recently I looked at Joseph and Jonah. Both of them went through trials. One at no fault of his own and one because of choices he made. Yet God helped both of them when they needed Him to do so didn't He?
However, God didn't stop either situation from happening. He let those trials happen and both drew closer to Him because of the trial. Problems usually force us to look to God and to depend on Him instead of depending on ourselves.
2 Cor 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Because God is in control, trials are circumstances that happen in God's plan for your life. It is how I handle the circumstance that decides if God will ENABLE me to come through it easily. I can use each trial to build my character in a godly way. Also I can use each trial to ENABLE my faith to get stronger.
Rom 5:3-4And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Will I allow God to be an enabler in my life? Will I let Him be in control of every situation and circumstance today? Will you?
However, God didn't stop either situation from happening. He let those trials happen and both drew closer to Him because of the trial. Problems usually force us to look to God and to depend on Him instead of depending on ourselves.
2 Cor 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Because God is in control, trials are circumstances that happen in God's plan for your life. It is how I handle the circumstance that decides if God will ENABLE me to come through it easily. I can use each trial to build my character in a godly way. Also I can use each trial to ENABLE my faith to get stronger.
Rom 5:3-4And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
1 Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Will I allow God to be an enabler in my life? Will I let Him be in control of every situation and circumstance today? Will you?
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Strife
Gen 13:8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
Pr 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Pr 17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Pr 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Pr 29:22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
Here is what websters 1828 dictionary says is some of the definitions of strife.
1. Exertion or contention for superiority; contest of emulation, either by intellectual or physical efforts. Strife may be carried on between students or between mechanics.
Thus Gods contended, noble strife, who most should ease the wants of life.
2. Contention in anger or enmity; contest; struggle for victory; quarrel or war.
I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon. Judges 12.
Why is it that some people thrive on strife and it makes others ill? I at one time in my life thrived on it. Now I am one of the ones it makes ill.
Why can't people just love each other the way we are commanded to and treat each other with respect? Why can't we keep ugly thought to ourselves? Why do they have to be shared with others? Why are we willing to quickly believe the worse of people we are called to love? I have alot of questions this morning and not many answers. But I do know that my Father in heaven has the answers. And I ask that you pray for me to find them today. I can't go on like this. I have to find my peace again. It has been gone since the beginning of July and I want it back. I will not stop seeking till I find it. Where my joy had returned, it has just as quickly vanished by unkind words. This should be a time of great joy for me. Yet it is not. I really need your prayers. Thanks.
Pr 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Pr 17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Pr 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Pr 29:22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
Here is what websters 1828 dictionary says is some of the definitions of strife.
1. Exertion or contention for superiority; contest of emulation, either by intellectual or physical efforts. Strife may be carried on between students or between mechanics.
Thus Gods contended, noble strife, who most should ease the wants of life.
2. Contention in anger or enmity; contest; struggle for victory; quarrel or war.
I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon. Judges 12.
Why is it that some people thrive on strife and it makes others ill? I at one time in my life thrived on it. Now I am one of the ones it makes ill.
Why can't people just love each other the way we are commanded to and treat each other with respect? Why can't we keep ugly thought to ourselves? Why do they have to be shared with others? Why are we willing to quickly believe the worse of people we are called to love? I have alot of questions this morning and not many answers. But I do know that my Father in heaven has the answers. And I ask that you pray for me to find them today. I can't go on like this. I have to find my peace again. It has been gone since the beginning of July and I want it back. I will not stop seeking till I find it. Where my joy had returned, it has just as quickly vanished by unkind words. This should be a time of great joy for me. Yet it is not. I really need your prayers. Thanks.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Jonah
Jonah 1:1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.
4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish." 7 Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?" 9 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land." 10 This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)
11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?" 12 "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you." 13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried to the Lord, "O Lord, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O Lord, have done as you pleased." 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. 17 But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
Ok Jonah is different from Joseph. Jonah caused his trial here. How? By disobeying God. BUT God was still with him and once he admitted he was the reason for the problems, God would help him again.
So what does that mean to me? It reminds me that even when I finally admit that I am the reason for my trial, God still cares enough for me that if I repent and ask for His forgiveness then He is still there.
But I surely wish that my trials were never of my own making. Cause when they are, it is usually from disobedience to God. I don't want to be in disobedience but sometimes I am. And that saddens me alot.
4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish." 7 Then the sailors said to each other, "Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity." They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, "Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?" 9 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land." 10 This terrified them and they asked, "What have you done?" (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)
11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?" 12 "Pick me up and throw me into the sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you." 13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried to the Lord, "O Lord, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O Lord, have done as you pleased." 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. 17 But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.
Ok Jonah is different from Joseph. Jonah caused his trial here. How? By disobeying God. BUT God was still with him and once he admitted he was the reason for the problems, God would help him again.
So what does that mean to me? It reminds me that even when I finally admit that I am the reason for my trial, God still cares enough for me that if I repent and ask for His forgiveness then He is still there.
But I surely wish that my trials were never of my own making. Cause when they are, it is usually from disobedience to God. I don't want to be in disobedience but sometimes I am. And that saddens me alot.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Trials part 2
Over the next couple or so days I will be studying different people that God allowed to go through trials. And what I see I can learn from them.
First off let's look at Joseph.
Gen 39:20-23
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
39:21
But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
39:22
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
39:23
The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
What can I learn from this story? Well first off I can know that what others mean to harm me, God can use for good. I can learn that if I have the Lord with me, all I put my hand to will prosper.
This trial that Joseph went through was not of his own doing. It was all for God's glory. God had a plan. Joseph didn't know at the time what the plan was. But he trusted God to have one.
How many times when I am going through a trial not of my own doing, do I doubt God? ugh. Now I know that none of you reading this ever doubt God. But I have to be honest and say unfortunately I have sometimes. In my heart I know God is faithful and that I should never doubt He has my best interest in place. But sometimes in the midst of a trial, I struggle. I want results NOW. But again, God's timing is not always my timing. And I wonder how many times, when the trial takes longer then * I * think it should, is my doubt making it take longer? Probably so. Just a thought for you to meditate on today.
First off let's look at Joseph.
Gen 39:20-23
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
39:21
But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
39:22
And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
39:23
The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
What can I learn from this story? Well first off I can know that what others mean to harm me, God can use for good. I can learn that if I have the Lord with me, all I put my hand to will prosper.
This trial that Joseph went through was not of his own doing. It was all for God's glory. God had a plan. Joseph didn't know at the time what the plan was. But he trusted God to have one.
How many times when I am going through a trial not of my own doing, do I doubt God? ugh. Now I know that none of you reading this ever doubt God. But I have to be honest and say unfortunately I have sometimes. In my heart I know God is faithful and that I should never doubt He has my best interest in place. But sometimes in the midst of a trial, I struggle. I want results NOW. But again, God's timing is not always my timing. And I wonder how many times, when the trial takes longer then * I * think it should, is my doubt making it take longer? Probably so. Just a thought for you to meditate on today.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Trials
2 Cor 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
1 Pet 4:12
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world
Here are 3 (out of many) verses that tell us there will be trials and tribulations in our life. As christians why are we always shocked when we go through things?
Now don't get me wrong, I don't believe we should be looking for problems. But when we find ourselves in the midst of a situation we would rather not go through, why are we surprised? But there are some things we should ask ourselves in that situation. Is it a situation of our own making? Is it because of bad choices we made? Or is it a means for God to stretch our faith?
And if it is a situation of our making, we have a way out. We can go to God, repent and go on in the way we should have gone. We will still have consequences from our bad choice, but at least we will know we are right with God and that He will guide us through if we let Him. And either way, whether we caused the situation or it is beyond our control, God can still use it to stretch our faith.
Remember Ps 34:18 today when you are faced with a trial.
Ps 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
1 Pet 4:12
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world
Here are 3 (out of many) verses that tell us there will be trials and tribulations in our life. As christians why are we always shocked when we go through things?
Now don't get me wrong, I don't believe we should be looking for problems. But when we find ourselves in the midst of a situation we would rather not go through, why are we surprised? But there are some things we should ask ourselves in that situation. Is it a situation of our own making? Is it because of bad choices we made? Or is it a means for God to stretch our faith?
And if it is a situation of our making, we have a way out. We can go to God, repent and go on in the way we should have gone. We will still have consequences from our bad choice, but at least we will know we are right with God and that He will guide us through if we let Him. And either way, whether we caused the situation or it is beyond our control, God can still use it to stretch our faith.
Remember Ps 34:18 today when you are faced with a trial.
Ps 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
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