This is sort of continue of does God punish. I have been lately have had some bad luck. Things at work arent going good and my graduation has been pushed back because the school messed up.
__________________
I rather have a bad day in the woods then a good day at work
You and me both....I've had a heep of set backs and disappointments...all of these doesn't always have to be chastizements. Actually I've been praying harder, striving to obey and readin gmy Word more than ever..
We have some other verses here Fred...I won't look them up because I'm in a massive hurry. but here's a few..
1. MANY are the afflictions of the righteous, but Go ddelivers us out of them all.
2. Remember Job..He was "Perfect and upright." Yet he went through super duper trials..yet at the end he had more than he started with.
3. Remember Jesus ..Isaih says "He was a man of many sorrows."
The scripture also says "God dwells with the broken and contrite heart."
Matt. 13 "Because of the Word's sake ..trials come,:
The answer to trials...they are much like a hurricane..You haveto wait them out. They are not fun. They do reveal our true character. This is the time to be still , the time to read a couple more chapters of the Word in the morning.Diffently pray and beleive. The folowing scriptures are not just for you Fred..I need to read them as well today..been a very trying week for me as well. Let' s read together brother.
1 Peter 5 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
ACts 16:19And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Our Example. Luke 23 : 33And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
And lastly.
Hebrews 12: 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Don't faint Fred..This to shall pass. School has been a nightmare as well as some other dissapointments lately...yet when I count my blessings and name them one by one...I've still been doubly blessed. ..Even the best of people can let you down , but God will never let you down,He's promicedto be with us even to the end of the ages.
The more attached we are to this world the tougher the trials are.
Ihave these in my life....fishing , hunting , music , and my job..money..God wants me to remember these are all nothing compared to the future with Him.It's hard to comprehend that in this world ..but those things are nothing..And the more we get attached to those things of this world the tougher the going for us will be. Certainly in themselves they are nice..but they are not to be an idol..I'm dealing with this as we speak..
WE are called to be humble servants..If we humble ourselves and realize the world doesn't owe us anything..we will do much better. God knows the desires of our heart and will sprinkle our lives with these things but they were never met to be a god.
One more thing Fred...
This thread is very dear to me my friend...as I was ironing my clothes and getting ready for the day..I thought of a few more things..
The writer of Rock of Ages...{Toplady}after writing that powerful hymn ..lost his mind.
My favorite on fire but humble missionary {Mark Buntain}..after building a hospital and school in Calcutta India had to get psychological help for a spell...
Reverend Wormbrand ..founder of Voice for the Myrtars was inprisoned for 15 years,,He said "At times .I beleive I was losing my mind." They made him take drugs and at one time he said he couldn't think of one Bible verse. This as in Russia.
The Hebrew children in Daniel said."Though he deliver us or not..we will not bow down to the idol."
All things don't necessarily have an earthly happy ending .BUT God says we should rejoice because of our glorious future. I dont quite understand that but I know I'll be a richer man by far when I do.
These things are temporary and will pass as others have said. You have opportunities to share the problems with God and grow closer to him. Focus on strenghtening your relationship with God instead of problems you can let him handle. Put another way, you're still going to graduate and there are plenty of other jobs out there, many of which probably pay better.
__________________
Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
The magnitude of our trials is usually directly connected to our attatchment to THINGS. Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be. Loss of something that is meaninless isn't a loss. Its only a loss if we place real value to it. Set your effections on thing above, not on things below and you will learn to be content with such things as you have. Things beyond your grasp want effect you happiness, nor control your life.
What we do and how we live definitely affects our lives. Galatians says "don't be decieved, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap".
Also remember that we now live in an imperfect world because of sin and sometimes bad things just happen. Jesus said "in this world you'll have tribulation, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world".
One other thing to remember is that we have an adversary who wants to "steal, kill and destroy" us. Also remember that we, as children of the Most-High God have been given dominion over the powers of darkness. "Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy". But most Christians are like a police officer who stands by and watches a crime being committed but goes nothing. He has authoriy, but he doesn'tTAKE authority in the situation. Most Christians don't understand the power that is available to them. When Jesus had fasted forty days and satan came to tempt Him, He used the Word, the "sword of the Spirit"to rebuke the devil.You must "TAKE unto you the whole armor of God".Speak the Word just like Jesus did. He lived His life as an example for us to follow.
May God richly bless you, Capt. Ray
Fred sometimes things just happen for no reason at all.... and many times bad things happen to good people. We are all subject to the laws of this world. Like gravity, illness, and so on.
Smile things could be worse.. Is the glass half empty or half full? You are the only one that can determine that.
string of bad luck
This to shall pass. School has been a nightmare as well as some other dissapointments lately...yet when I count my blessings and name them one by one...I've still been doubly blessed. ..Even the best of people can let you down , but God will never let you down,He's promicedto be with us even to the end of the ages.
