"Here are some of my favorite prayers:
Help! Please. Don't.
Show me. Guide me. Change me.
Are you there?!
Why'd you do that?
Oh...
Thank you.""The Language of Letting Go" by Melody Beattie
Thanks, Beth!
This is something i learned within my first year with Christ and am continuing to learn. The pain in my hands came within the same month that i gained Christ. Next i lost my job, my apartment, my friends and was living in my car... until it was taken.
As a new Christian, i had no idea what to do but to pray, begging for help. Months later He brought me to a family where i could grow in Him and be nurtured. All that pain was necessary to bring me to that place. Since then i have surrendered much more.
Jesus didn't “fix” my life but He walks with me through it. There are no guarantees of perfect health, wealth, relations, comfort ect; yet there is comfort that Jesus was/is familiar with trials. Trials that make us more like Him.
Trials: 1) [peirasmos] meant to fail, usually from Satan
2) [dokimion] reveals value, test from God
(we don't get to know which type of trial happens when)
3) [hypomenes] steadfast endurance
What do we do? Rejoice! Rejoice in the result of trial.
Reactions of human proclivity:
judge God-> repent!
envy other's lives-> covetousness-> repent!
self pity -> become selfish and closed in, pride-> repent!
functional god-> drugs, alcohol, sex, food, ect.-> repent!
Godly Reactions:
Experience Trials-> Feel Grief-> Respond in Rejoicing!
1 Peter 1:6
6In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed (grieved) by various trials, 7so that the proof [dokimion] of your faith,... may be found to result in praise and glory and honor (worship words) at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
James 1:2-3
2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials [peirasmos], 3knowing that the testing [dokimion] of your faith produces endurance [hypomenes].
10 Reasons to Rejoice:
1) Mercy for our sin,
2) you are Born Again,
3) in the Resurection of Jesus,
4) you have an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled and will not fade,
5) it is reserved in heaven for you,
6) salvation is secure, you are guarded,
7) life is a little while, it's just life nothing big like God, worse -> bad eternity
8) given faith (purified) worth more than gold,
9) God loves you and you love Him,
10) by faith we see, you have not seen Him but you believe in Him.
"It hurts!"
REJOICE!
"I don't see Him."
REJOICE!
"I can't make it."
REJOICE!
"This isn't what i want!"
REJOICE!
"I don't know if i can stick close to Him."
REJOICE!
"It is too hard!"
REJOICE!
"Make it stop!"
REJOICE!
Like a woman in childbirth; so is this life before we see Him.
[Notes from: "Trial and Jesus" Mars Hill Church and "The Cup and the Glory" by Greg Harris]
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
My Thoughts for the Day
So yesterday i was given yet another trial. Nothing crazy, but enough to rattle me. As i was feeling helpless and violated, i thought of Satan asking to torment Job and sift Peter like wheat. For some reason that gave me strength. I am sure Satan has better things to destroy than me, but in the context of my prayer lately it wasn't a surprise that yesterday went down the way it did.
It is fairly easy to fight through trials when you view them as solely an attack from Satan... at least for me. We are linked with Christ, therefore enemies of Satan. We shouldn't be surprised when trial comes. Satan is the enemy and is to be defeated. However, it is not my (or your) job to vanquish Satan - Jesus did that on the cross. The larger component i tend to overlook is that God allows trial and suffering to happen yet never beyond the point you can handle. Why? We may never know this side of eternity, nor should we even inquire, why. 12"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And the wicked be shaken out of it?
Job 38:12-13 (You can pretty much read Job 38-41 and get your answer to the question, why.
It is fairly easy to fight through trials when you view them as solely an attack from Satan... at least for me. We are linked with Christ, therefore enemies of Satan. We shouldn't be surprised when trial comes. Satan is the enemy and is to be defeated. However, it is not my (or your) job to vanquish Satan - Jesus did that on the cross. The larger component i tend to overlook is that God allows trial and suffering to happen yet never beyond the point you can handle. Why? We may never know this side of eternity, nor should we even inquire, why. 12"Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,
And caused the dawn to know its place,
13That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,
And the wicked be shaken out of it?
Job 38:12-13 (You can pretty much read Job 38-41 and get your answer to the question, why.
We have been given examples in the Bible, and ultimately the legacy of Jesus Himself. We can look back at intimate details of the lives of Peter, Paul and, of course Jesus, and see what the Father's forbearance accomplished. Saul persecuted Christians and looked on with approval at their death. God then struck Saul with blindness and then Saul died and became Paul. Simon was impetuous,
volatile and impulsive. Jesus called Simon to Himself and re-named him Peter the Rock, foreshadowing the man that was to be made. We can see Peter's growth through the New Testament. The Peter of the Gospels is a different man from the Peter in Acts, a different man in Galatians, and still a different man in 1&2 Peter. We actually get to watch how trials grew Peter.
Most important of all, the trials of Jesus. God did not put any restrictions on Satan's request upon Jesus as with Job. Jesus died an excruciating and humiliating death. But after there is joy, just as after birthing pangs, there is joy in a new child.
In my own life, i can see how God is using trials to grow me. Like an ear of corn, you have to husk it, ripping off a piece at a time to get to the good stuff... unless you like Tamales more than corn on the cob... okay, that might have been a bad illustration but you get the point. Through trials, God is stripping you of sin, making you new and that is cause for rejoice!
I will not say that trial and suffering isn't hard - it is, sometimes it hurts so bad that you'd, "choose strangling and death rather than [your] life" (Job 7:15). But look at what was accomplished in Peter, Paul and on the cross! By enduring affliction, clinging to Jesus we are storing up our treasures in Heaven. So hopefully these stories of what transpired and of what is to come for those who have faith in Jesus will give you an eternal perspective through suffering.
Passage 1 Peter 1:3-7:
volatile and impulsive. Jesus called Simon to Himself and re-named him Peter the Rock, foreshadowing the man that was to be made. We can see Peter's growth through the New Testament. The Peter of the Gospels is a different man from the Peter in Acts, a different man in Galatians, and still a different man in 1&2 Peter. We actually get to watch how trials grew Peter.
Most important of all, the trials of Jesus. God did not put any restrictions on Satan's request upon Jesus as with Job. Jesus died an excruciating and humiliating death. But after there is joy, just as after birthing pangs, there is joy in a new child.
In my own life, i can see how God is using trials to grow me. Like an ear of corn, you have to husk it, ripping off a piece at a time to get to the good stuff... unless you like Tamales more than corn on the cob... okay, that might have been a bad illustration but you get the point. Through trials, God is stripping you of sin, making you new and that is cause for rejoice!
I will not say that trial and suffering isn't hard - it is, sometimes it hurts so bad that you'd, "choose strangling and death rather than [your] life" (Job 7:15). But look at what was accomplished in Peter, Paul and on the cross! By enduring affliction, clinging to Jesus we are storing up our treasures in Heaven. So hopefully these stories of what transpired and of what is to come for those who have faith in Jesus will give you an eternal perspective through suffering.
Passage 1 Peter 1:3-7:
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;Trials
This is a great sermon on trials. Mark Driscoll pretty much nails it. The intro is kinda cheesy and then he starts off with Mars Hill Church business; so you can start 9 minutes in. You can also click on "downloads" and there is a 200+ page booklet outlining the study.
Here is another great sermon on the same passage by Brian Colmery at Shoreline West Community Church.
Here is another great sermon on the same passage by Brian Colmery at Shoreline West Community Church.
Monday, January 19, 2009
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."
Ecclesiastes 3:4
Weep, rejoice, travail and worship; The Spirit of God will balance us in all if we are sensitive to Him.
Ecclesiastes 3:4
Weep, rejoice, travail and worship; The Spirit of God will balance us in all if we are sensitive to Him.
Friday, January 16, 2009
50%
This past Tuesday i arrived to a long awaited appointment with neurologists. I saw a resident doctor as well as the head attending. After what seemed like hours of poking, prodding and questioning i was told that there are no more tests to be done. I was prescribed something for pain and physical therapy with a return appointment in a month.
Confused, i asked what we were doing to find the source of the problem. The poor doctor answered, "Well I am optimistic that this medicine and physical therapy will help."
I posed the question again and she answered, "Well I am optimistic because we know it is not Multiple Sclerosis or Fibromyalgia. It is not one of the dangerous conditions."
Again i asked, and she answered, "Well, 50% of patients who suffer from neuropathy go undiagnosed because we just don't know enough about the brain."
I feel bad for that lady having to tell me that. I wonder how many other people she has had to give that kind of news to. It sounds weird but i think i was on the better end of this situation. I would not ever like to be the one to look into the eyes of a dancer (or anyone for that matter) and essentially tell her, there is nothing more to do. There is a good chance you will live the rest of your life in pain.
It is easy to die for Christ. Much harder to live for Christ. Eternal salvation is the freest gift that may cost you everything. Yet the end is worth fighting for. I really wish i could have seen what Peter, James and John did at the transfiguration. Selfish and faithless of me, i know. But it would make this much easier. I heard a quote, C.S. Lewis i think, that went something like, people would live much differently if believers were given a glimpse of eternity and non-believers were dangled over eternal damnation. I would agree.
"Don't give up, give up, hold on,
We're making progress,
Reach out, reach out, reach out and He will lead us on,
Come on, come on, we're getting stronger now,
The end is worth fighting for.
There is hope in the aftermath,
... small steps will lead to bigger things,
His voice brings new beginnings."
Worth Fighting For - Dizmas
Living Hope
Confused, i asked what we were doing to find the source of the problem. The poor doctor answered, "Well I am optimistic that this medicine and physical therapy will help."
I posed the question again and she answered, "Well I am optimistic because we know it is not Multiple Sclerosis or Fibromyalgia. It is not one of the dangerous conditions."
Again i asked, and she answered, "Well, 50% of patients who suffer from neuropathy go undiagnosed because we just don't know enough about the brain."
I feel bad for that lady having to tell me that. I wonder how many other people she has had to give that kind of news to. It sounds weird but i think i was on the better end of this situation. I would not ever like to be the one to look into the eyes of a dancer (or anyone for that matter) and essentially tell her, there is nothing more to do. There is a good chance you will live the rest of your life in pain.
It is easy to die for Christ. Much harder to live for Christ. Eternal salvation is the freest gift that may cost you everything. Yet the end is worth fighting for. I really wish i could have seen what Peter, James and John did at the transfiguration. Selfish and faithless of me, i know. But it would make this much easier. I heard a quote, C.S. Lewis i think, that went something like, people would live much differently if believers were given a glimpse of eternity and non-believers were dangled over eternal damnation. I would agree.
"Don't give up, give up, hold on,
We're making progress,
Reach out, reach out, reach out and He will lead us on,
Come on, come on, we're getting stronger now,
The end is worth fighting for.
There is hope in the aftermath,
... small steps will lead to bigger things,
His voice brings new beginnings."
Worth Fighting For - Dizmas
Living Hope
Thursday, January 15, 2009
If You Want Me To
The pathway is broken,
And The signs are unclear,
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here,
But just because You love me the way that You do,
I'm gonna walk through the valley,
If You want me to.
Cause I'm not who I was,
When I took my first step,
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet,
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you,
Then I will walk through the fire,
If You want me to.
It may not be the way I would have chosen,
When you lead me through a world that's not my home,
But You never said it would be easy,
You only said I'd never go alone.
So When the whole world turns against me,
And I'm all by myself,
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help,
I'll remember the suffering that Your love put You through,
And I walk through the valley If You want me to.
"If You Want Me To", by Ginny Owens
And The signs are unclear,
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here,
But just because You love me the way that You do,
I'm gonna walk through the valley,
If You want me to.
Cause I'm not who I was,
When I took my first step,
And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet,
so if all of these trials bring me closer to you,
Then I will walk through the fire,
If You want me to.
It may not be the way I would have chosen,
When you lead me through a world that's not my home,
But You never said it would be easy,
You only said I'd never go alone.
So When the whole world turns against me,
And I'm all by myself,
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help,
I'll remember the suffering that Your love put You through,
And I walk through the valley If You want me to.
"If You Want Me To", by Ginny Owens
Saturday, January 10, 2009
God Is Strong
12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:12-13
Philippians 4:12-13
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