God Will Make This Trial a Blessing

Ever wondered why some things happen?

Then you look back and realize that if that bad situation had not happened a good thing would never have happened?

How often do we complain when things don't go our way?

We are late for an appointment and we get behind Mr. Slowness... keeper of the speed. Of course there are NO passing lanes and he,(yes he), insists on going at least 30 mile UNDER the speed limit. Likely he is driving an old pick up with exhaust fumes billowing all around. When he FINALLY makes that left hand turn, (after endless waiting for complete clearance as far as the eye can see), you notice, far up ahead in the distance, what looks like red and blue lights flashing.

And then it hits you... Had you not been behind Mr Slowness, chances are you would have ended up right in the middle of that fatal crash!

Since posting about Abiding in Christ through Trials a few days ago, I have been unable to get away from the thought "Why trials?". The Lord is showing me that in order to keep us from harm, He must allow trials! If only we could see through our inconveniences to this Truth!

"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:"1Pet.1:7

Trials must also be endured in order to complete His Perfect Plan in the furtherance of the Gospel message of salvation by Grace through Faith in the risen Son of God.

Take, for example, our friend Trey. Trey has placed his complete faith in God to provide the means to be a part of the New Testament Church Pioneers summer missions program. (A mission program through the Crown College that reaches out for Christ and helping churches and pastors in regions throughout the USA and the world.) Several days ago their vehicle had broken down in Wyoming. Long story short, Trey was able to witness to someone while waiting for the mechanic. Had the breakdown not occurred, this person may not have heard the Truth of the Gospel.

"We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of salvation.) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:But in all [things] approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and [yet] true; As unknown, and [yet] well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and [yet] possessing all things. 2Cr 6:1-10

"Lord, thank you for caring about us enough to allow trials for protection and the furtherance of your Gospel message. Please give me grace to endure and a heart to accept trials of life, trusting you are the author and finisher of our faith. Help me never to take my eyes of of the Cross of Calvary as I seek to live the Cross Driven life."

God Will Make This Trial a Blessing


I’ve just come into a valley one like I’ve never been before.
I keep searching for a way out seems like pad locks are on the doors.
Oh ther must be another sunrise another sunset that I’ll see.
God will make this trial a blessing that’s the love he has for me.

I was not the first one to come into this place.
You see every child of God this test you must face.
It is here that God will mold you and make you what you ought to be.
God will make this trial a blessing just be patient you will see.

Now I’m standing on a mountain looking back I can see.
When I was in that lowest valley his strong hand was leading me.
Oh its good to see the sunshine and to taste sweet victory.
God has made this trial a blessing oh the grace he gives to me.

God will make this trial a blessing tho it sends me to my knees.
Tho my tears flow like a river yet in him there’s sweet relief.
There’s no need to get discouraged there’s no need to talk defeat.
God will make this trial a blessing and the whole wide world will see.

Till Death Us Do Part

Q. Why does the groom carry the bride over the threshold?

A.
The ancient Romans started it: the bride had to show that she was not at all crazy about leaving her father's home, and so was dragged over the threshold to her groom's house. Ancients also believed that evil spirits, in a last-ditch effort to curse the couple, hovered at the threshold of their new home, so the bride had to be lifted to ensure that the spirits couldn't enter her body through the soles of her feet. These days, it's just fun!



Today, I take a 'blog-break' to post this very thought provoking note I received from a friend on the internet.

MARRIAGE

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly.

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company.

She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane.

When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day.

She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside
the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.

On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.

I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart.

Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead.
My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband....

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you.

If you do, you just might save a marriage.
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

A CHRIST-CENTERED MARRIAGE IS A MARRIAGE THAT IS SURE TO LAST A LIFETIME.

So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. Matthew 19:6

I AM NOT IN CONTROL

CONFRONTATION. It was inevitable. There was no way around it. For the past several days it was obvious that I was right in the middle of the refiners fire. It was time for the Master to pull me out of the fire and see if the dross was gone. Would He see His reflection in me?

As much as I dreaded the confrontation, I almost welcomed it. After all, this may be the end of the seemingly endless days and nights of enemy attack, anguish and frustration. I already knew the LORD was working, so I may as well just yield to Him and allow Him to finish the job.

Since beginning this 30 day journaling challenge, God has used several methods to speak to me, His Word (The Bible), Family, Music, Sunday School Lessons, Preaching, Nature, etc.)

Today He seemed to be speaking to me through a very dear Christian sister and friend.

It is amazing to me how so often it seems that the very thing that the enemy intends for bad, the Lord makes for good in the end. Today was one of those times.

I am reminded of the story in Genesis chapters 37-50 of Joseph and how his brother's sold him into slavery..(intending bad). and how, time after time, God intervened and allowed Joseph to overcome so many so many obstacles that the devil intended to do what he does best... kill steal and destroy. When it was all over, said and done, Joseph actually ended up ruling over Egypt and taking care of his brothers.

"... ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good,.." Gen 50:20

After sharing our hearts, praying together and praising God for His good blessings on our lives, the Lord used my friend to help me remember that when I try and carry loads that simply may not be mine to carry, frustration will come. I can keep from those frustrations that keep me in bondage and from experiencing the Joy of the Lord by simply stating these five words:

"I AM NOT IN CONTROL".

I am so thankful that God does indeed use our trials to bring us into fellowship with Him. He so often uses people that we love the most to speak words of encouragement and truth into our lives at just the right time, so that we may overcome in these trials.

So, when we find ourselves taking on the problems of the universe... remember these words:

"I AM NOT IN CONTROL"

Aren't you glad you and I are not in control of the universe and God is the Ruler of all things? I am!


"Dear Lord, Thank you again for speaking to me. Thank you for putting other's in our lives to help us and point us to you. Please help me to remember these words when things seem to get overwhelming in my life. Help me to continue kneeling at the cross daily as I seek to live the Cross-driven life."




Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiners fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within

Abiding in His Presence

Abide... interesting word.. one that is not used very often in our day. I asked one of my teenage daughters what she thought the word meant and she said, matter-of-factly... "Um.. Mom, that means to hang out!"... you know, with a 'sing-song'.."get a clue" tone that only a 15 year old girl of the 21'st century is capable of using. The Webster's dictionary defines the word abide as: "To remain or settle down." A word that is definitely foreign to our society today !

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." John 15:1-4

To think that the Creator of the Universe gives each of us a personal invitation to abide with Him! Not to mention the fact that when we accept his invitation we are able to partake in the amazing love of Christ!

But how? How can we abide in Christ?

First... to abide anywhere, we must enter into the place. Before we can abide with an individual, we must enter into a relationship. The way to enter the relations with Jesus is by faith through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Trusting His death and resurrection for the payment of your sins. From the moment you accept Him, you can abide with Him in a personal relationship.

After we enter into the relationship, He invites us to come along side him and draw life from Him and hold on to Him like branches clinging to a vine. It is a life long journey!

We can abide through Prayer: "Draw nigh to God and He will draw night to you." James 4:8

We can abide through Trials: "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:" 1Pe 1:7

I love the story I heard recently during Sunday School about the man in the old western times who was carrying a heavy bag of grain on his shoulder... another man drove by with a horse and one of those buckboard carts and said "Jump up here on the buckboard with me.. it's too hot to be walking today." The man thanked him and got up on the seat with the driver with the grain still on his shoulder. After a while, the driver said" Why don't you put that grain down and relax?" The man said, Oh, no. It's enough that you would allow me to ride... I would never ask you to carry my load, too!".

Is this what we are saying to the LORD? "Please save us, forgive us and give us a heavenly home.. but I wouldn't ask you to carry my load."

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Pe 5:7

"Dear Lord, thank you for your salvation invitation and the invitation to continually abide in Your presence. Help me to graciously accept your daily invitation to abide in your Holy Spirit abides in me, as I seek to lead a 'Cross-driven' life."

The Wrath of God/The Wrath of Me

"


OOOO I AM SO INCREDIBLY ANGRY!"
I felt myself 'going down' into the pit, taking the bait, caught in the trap that Satan had so subtly laid out especially for me. The buttons were being pushed and I was losing ground, not doing much to stop myself from going under. My heart started racing and my breathing became heavy. Let's just say, I had reverted back to the 'old' man...
I had crossed the proverbial "line".

"Well, well, well, CONGRATULATIONS 'OLD MAN'!!! You have successfully accomplished exactly what the devil set out for us to do! Something hurtful that would cause lasting damage. Way to go Old Man!!!"

Coming to my senses, I suddenly realized that my anger had become sin at a record rate. I took a few deep breaths and the Lord brought a classic "anger" story from the Bible to my mind. It was the story about Moses disobeying God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it as commanded, and thereby losing his blessing of actually making it into the promised land.

"Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also]. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. Numbers 20:8-12


With my breathing and heart-rate slowly returning to normal, I began talking to the Lord. "God, you get angry, don't you? You must know how to control it, or we wouldn't be here! (breath in, breath out) Thank you Lord for not giving us what we deserve! Wow...I can't begin to imagine just how great your wrath could be! Thank you SO much for your Mercy!". At that moment I felt as though he was speaking to my heart saying, "Yes, daughter, you are created in My Image, and that includes the ability to control your anger, too."

Did Jesus ever get angry? Yes, He got angry when men came into His Father's House and made it a 'den of thieves'. He got angry because they were buying and selling an making a mockery of the House of Prayer. There were probably times that Jesus would just give a look of displeasure, and that would be sufficient, but there were times when His Father's good name was being dishonored and he had to stand for Truth.

"Yes, daughter, ... that includes the ability to control your anger, too."

But how? How are we to control our anger? Well... how are we to do anything according to His Will? He gives us a complete instruction book with everything we need to accomplish everything He has set out for us to do.

THE BIBLE

God's Holy Word!

Here are two of many weapons in the Scriptures that we may use as we seek to control our anger.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2Cor10:3-5

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.Phl 4:13

Lord, please help me to see my own anger for what it is and other's anger through Your Eyes. Help me to recall the scriptures I need that would best help me not to 'fall into the pit'of anger. Thank you again for your Grace and Mercy in turning your anger from us. Thank you for your Son Jesus, who took your wrath upon Himself so that we may be forgiven and justified. Help me to kneel at the foot of the cross every day and live a "cross-driven" life.

Abiding in Prayer

During our Ladies Bible Study and prayer meeting, one of the ladies had asked us to choose a day this week to pray for one of our dear sisters that has been ill for a long period of time.

Today is my day.

As I approach the Lord, many questions and some doubts arise concerning my ability to pray and to get those prayers answered. Of course many of these thoughts are self-generated, some are placed in my mind by the prince of the power of the air, but most importantly are those that are placed in my mind and heart by the Word of God.

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it" Isa 55:11

Thanks be to GOD!

So.. instead of focusing on my thoughts or the thoughts that the enemy would have me me to believe, I choose to focus on the unfailing Word of God.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things." Phil 4:8

On the topic of hearing God speak...My Aunt reminded me yesterday that God is ALWAYS speaking to us. All we have to do is pick up the Bible and read and He speaks! Her exact words were "He speaks to us as much as we read!" Isn't that a wonderful thought! We do not have to wait to hear specifically (although those occasions when the LORD speaks directly to us are fantastic moments...) whenever we need a Word of encouragement, confidence in knowing He is with us in every turn of life, when we need love to name a few.... HIS Word is here...

The need to fulfill the great commission (Mark 16:15) just became that much more important! Imagine not having that privilege? It is difficult for us in America to realize that there are so many in this world that do not have access to a Bible much less one (or two or ten) of their own!

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. "

I believe God just spoke to me again of this great need. Pray for our missionaries and support them financially!!

This verse just came to mind concerning the many promises in His Word...

Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.1Ki 8:56

Thank you, God for the privilege of prayer, the gift of your Word and for your promises and for speaking to us through your Word.

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.John 15:7

Join me in praying for sister's complete healing today...

Washing Jesus Feet

It would have been easy to stay home this morning. Not that I didn't feel good enough to go... but had I listened to those wonderful voices (my valley neighbors) I would have probably agreed that I could use the rest after a week with my six year old Granddaughter; we had a guest preacher so it wouldn't be like missing our own Pastor preach and the fact that we also had a guest quartet, so our music program would not be impacted by one missing voice in the choir... you get the picture...

But remembering the probability that the Creator of the Universe may just speak to me was so exciting that I chose not to heed the voices and began to focus on listening for His Voice..

Now, although God can and does speak to us any time any place (He is, after all, sovereign GOD).. the chance that I may actually HEAR may increase when I get around His people and His Word...

Before heading out to God's house, I picked up the Bible and read Solomon chapter 3. I began to ask the LORD to speak to me.

It wasn't until half way through Sunday School, when my teacher was teaching on the Joy of the Lord that my spirit was quieted enough to hear Him. My teacher mentioned our lives being like a "roller coaster",(clue: my facebook status two days ago was about being on the roller coaster of life... well.. THAT got my attention..was He getting ready to speak??). My teacher went on to say that the JOY OF THE LORD is always available... but we must CHOOSE to partake in it. I thought, "I am so glad I came to hear this!"

It was then that the Holy Spirit brought the following verses back to my mind from Solomon 3:

"By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: [to whom I said], Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was] but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, ..."

How often we desire to hear His Voice!! Not necessarily consciously, but, I believe there is a place that God has placed in every human being's heart that longs to hear His Voice and His Voice alone. We seek to hear His voice in so many ways, but oftentimes, it is when we are found by the 'watchmen'...(our teachers and preachers and Pastor and Christian friends and maybe even by ourselves, when we allow the LORD to open our spiritual, watching for Him) that point us to His Word...which "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Through the rest of the service, God spoke through so many different things. From the Choir to special music to the preaching of God's word.

"And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that [Jesus] sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,'And stood at his feet behind [him] weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the ointment.Luke 7:37 & 38

"And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven." Luk 7:44-48

When we, with humble gratitude truly seek the LORD, HE will not only speak to us, He will forgive our sins...

God spoke to me today... "Your sins, which are many, are forgiven...."

Praise be unto God.

Through my disappointments
Strife and discontentment
I cast my every care upon the Lord
No matter what obsession
Pain or deep depression
I'm standing on the solid rock

Chorus:
I'm standing on the solid rock of ages (standing on the rock, on the rock of ages)
Safe from all the storm that rages (safe from every storm, all the storm that rages)
Rich but not from Satan's wages (rich in love, I'm rich, not from Satan's wages)
I'm standing on the solid rock