Life is Tough- So What!

       Do you ever throw yourself a pity party?  I used to do it quite often; every time I faced a time of trouble, felt tribulation or grief and sorrow came my way.  Basically, any time my life wasn’t okay, I would spend some time wallowing in ‘woe is me’ mentality.  It took me far too long to get a better perspective on suffering and trials.  These are some of the important things I finally learned and try to remember when faced with difficulties.

Whether or not you are a good person or born again, pain, suffering and trials are a part of all human life.

…even though you have to suffer various kinds of trial for a little while, 1Pt. 1:6 ISV

(In prosperity or adversity consider:) God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. Ec. 7;14

so that no one should be drawn aside by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to them. 1Th. 3:3

Tribulation was assured to happen by Jesus, but so was peace in Him.

I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. Jh. 16:33

Pain, suffering and trials can produce better character in us.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame... Rom. 5:3-5 (also Jm. 1:2-4)

God is sovereign and can do or allow in our lives what He wants to.

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Ps. 115:3 (both ESV)

I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2

The things He allows are for a good reason even if we don’t know that reason.

…the trying of your faith works patience. Jm. 1:3

in every way having been troubled, but not having been hemmed in; having been perplexed, but not utterly at a loss; 2Cor. 4:8

There is always some one worse off than me.

- logical conclusion

Going through tough times is far easier with the Lord than getting mad and ignoring Him.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Ps. 23:4

…He is our merciful Father and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our suffering… 2Cor 1:3,4

This mortal life is only meant to prepare us for our eternal one.

Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2Cor 4:16-18 ASV

       The person that we are is dying every moment of every day of our mortal lives.  This is not our home (1Pt. 2:11), but what we do here will determine our final destination- heaven or hell (Jh. 3:16-18).  Our soul, the person inside our flesh can be renewed every day, for though we suffer trials for short (or seemingly long) times, they are still only temporary and what we can physically see now.  The things we can’t see, like how wonderful and perfect life will be with Jesus, forever without sadness, fear, death etc. should hold more weight, for they are glorious and forever!!!

Pain, trials or suffering again?  So what!  It’s only temporary and vanishes quickly when compared to the thousands of years in perfection with Jesus…  

                                                                                     ...and then forever more!

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are 

not worthy to be compared

with the coming glory to be revealed in us.

Rom. 8:18

Conviction of Time

                                                                Time reading my Bible? _________ hrs

                                                                I think it’s good to think about these things

                                                                             some times, don't you?

                                                                               As newborn babes,

                                                                   desire the sincere milk of the word,

                                                                          that ye may grow thereby:

                                                                                    1Pt. 2:2 KJV

                                                              Had your instruction not been my pleasure,

                                                                    I would have died in my affliction.

                                                                                  Ps. 119:92 ISV

Flying Bed Sheets

       Never had a package of brand new bed sheets come flying toward me in the van before but that’s exactly what happened on Tuesday.  This SUV like vehicle a hundred yards up from me left their trunk open, and though I tried my best to track them down to return the sheets, it was not to be.  Eventually I figured God wanted me to have them to give away since I couldn’t use them (wrong size).

       Later that evening the Lord gave me a nudge toward asking a particular man from church.  Hmmmm.  Was it really God directing me?  So I thought I’d ask the man what size bed he had (that’s not weird at all, right?) and if he happened to need new sheets.  He does have the right size bed and had just told a friend he needed to get new sheets.  Surprise, surprise… NOT!

That’s our God!  He does awesome things and can use any method He wants!

…your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. Mt. 6:32

But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Php. 4:19

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Ps. 115:3 ESV

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       His child had a need and the Lord found a way to meet it.  It reminded me of when the ravens fed Elijah during a time of drought.  “And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the torrent.” (1Kn. 17:6)  The Lord provides for all His creation; “Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God and wander about without food?” (Job 38:41)  Notice God takes care of the ravens and uses the ravens to care for Ellijah.

       After I found out this particular man actually needed those size sheets I thought, “wow, I always knew God could do whatever He wants”, but I’ve never seen it (with my own eyes) in action quite like this before.  We think we are in control of things on the earth, but everything belongs to God, “…The earth is Jehovah's, and the fullness of it; the world, and those who dwell in it.” (Ps. 24:1)  Food, bed sheets or anything else you need, God is surely able to supply!

       My hope for me is that next time the Lord moves like this I am not so hesitant, but I also hope He will continue to use me in any way that pleases Him… because I know that He knows what is best for all of us.

Lord, thank You

     for each day seems new and exciting with You.

Hockey Playoffs

       Well, it’s that time of year again when the hockey teams vie for the ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup.  It’s down to the last few teams, and everyone is starting to pick their favorites.  The teams have been putting in lots of practice, fighting battles on the ice (literally and figuratively) for months, trying their best to win each game in order to secure a spot in the much desired play-offs.  The competition will be fierce for each team wants the bragging rights as being the best team out there with the ability to bring home the coveted Stanley Cup.

        There are times we bring that same competitive spirit into the body of Christ.  I’m not talking about out on the baseball or soccer field where it is appropriate, but into the other part where it does not belong.  There is the ‘we’re the best church on the planet’ or the ‘way we do _____ is better than how they do it’ mentality.  What does God say?  “Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of others as being better than yourselves.” (Php 2:3 ISV)

       Then there is the competitive part that asks (especially the leadership), ‘how many people attend your church, how many staff do you have, do you have one or two services on Sunday, do you tape your sermons for online viewing?’ kind of questions like any of that matters or proves God’s will is being done.  According to the Word, we are not to think more highly of ourselves (Rom. 12:3) and that would mean individually and collectively.  “Do not let the wise glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty glory in his might; do not let the rich glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me… (Jer. 9:23,24)

       But the one competitive attitude I dislike the most in the body is the ‘my denomination is better than yours’ mentality.  There are actually some people who dare say (as if they are God and know all men’s hearts) that no one from this or that denomination can be saved.  “…For You, You only, know the hearts of all the sons of Adam.” (1Kn. 8:39)

       Now, if you are speaking of denominations that negate the Godhead of Jesus, salvation through His blood, the resurrection or other important doctrines, that is one thing, but just because a denomination has some practices we disapprove of doesn’t mean there are no saved souls there.  We can’t condemn a man for praying to saints when we ‘bow’ at the altar of ipod, Facebook, intellectualism or television for “…God shall judge the secrets of men…” (Rom. 2:16), not us.  I myself stayed in a church with some false practices for a year after my salvation and when I left there were several born again women that remained.  And there are just as many 'Christians in name only' or idolaters in the seats of all our denominations as the one’s we consider ‘bad’. 

       The best thing is, the prize at the end for born again believers isn’t the corruptible Stanley Cup, but pure and perfect eternal life with our God; a prize reserved for those who know the Lord and whom He knows*.  “…but then I shall fully know even as I also am fully known.” (1Cor. 13:12)  Remember:

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.  Mt. 7:21

       This knowledge is not head knowledge, but rather intimate knowing like a husband and wife.  We have to remember, none of us have bragging rights for all the good things in life are from God (Jm. 1:17), and though we can practice all we want, unless we belong to God’s team (adopted into His family Eph. 1:5) we cannot make it to the playoffs (Jh. 3:5) for we can do nothing without Him (Jh. 15:5).

-   -   -   -   -   -   -

*…I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know Me...  Jer. 31:33,34

…increasing in the knowledge of God, Col. 1:10

…and He has given us an understanding so that we may know Him who is true… 1Jh. 5:20

Some Days

       Some days it is hard for me to be here: to wake up in the morning and have to face the day again when where I want to be is with the Lord physically.  It’s not that I don’t love my family or my life because I do, but it’s like there is an important part of me missing or incomplete.  But I know it’s not my time to be with Him right now and I want His will for my life more than anything, still, that doesn’t always make it easier.

       Father God, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit have changed my life in ways I could have never imagined when I started out on my path to knowing them.  For years I was lost, but then adopted into their family.  Then I often slipped off God’s path getting lost in the pathways of sin and/ or selfishness.  Yet, my Lord and Savior never abandoned me, but kept calling out to me encouraging me to return to Him like the Good Shepherd looking for His lost sheep.  This poem is in honour of Him.

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  Lk. 15:4,5

 

To My Love

I love You.

You are my heart.

I need You.

You are my breath.

When I am lost

You are my light.

When I am weary,

You lift me up.

Oh, that I may

Dwell in Your house

All of the days

Of my life.

To love You,

And feel the beat of Your heart.

To be with You,

And feel Your breath on my face.

To know how much You love me.

In Love

       Sometimes old songs flash in my mind and I just have to sing them.  Today with all the roses making the rounds for Mother’s Day, it made me think of being in love and I started to sing “Jesus I am so in love with you.”  I thought, “Am I?”  My answer would have to be a resounding ‘Yes… sort of.’  That whole out of your mind, blind to the truth, hormone rushing, crazy emotional mess kind of ‘in love’ part isn’t really there, but in it’s place is the more mature loving You like crazy which seems to increase daily, knowing You more and trusting who You are kind of ‘in love’.

       Instead of being out of my mind, I am fully cognizant of who I am, who my Lord is and what He has done for me (learning more every day).  I don’t want to be blind to the truth of who He is, how He acts, nor do I ever want to go back to the ignorance of my past.  I’m not interested in messy hormones or emotions anymore, especially the insecurity in a new relationship due to lack of trust because of not fully knowing the person over time.

As to still being in love, I think yes.

       Lord, I just want to take this time to thank you profusely for who You are to me.  You are my father, my mother, my husband, my brother and my friend.  You are my confidant, my advisor, my comfort, my backbone, my guide, my teacher and my love.  Though I appreciate all the moms in the world, especially my own and my mom-in-law, I appreciate You, Lord far more.  Growing up I would have been lost without You… and that still hasn’t changed.

       This sign made me think of what it was like being in love with my first boyfriend who is now my hubby.  Food for thought:

How many can we say are true about our relationship with the Lord, the Love of our lives?

And you shall love Jehovah your God

with all your heart

and

with all your soul

and

with all your might.

Dt. 6:5