Posts Tagged: Trials

Storm

The Secret to Sleeping through Storms: Without Faith lies Fear; Within Faith stands Fortitude

They had no guarantee that they would survive the storm, BUT they could be absolutely sure that God controlled the storm and controlled their lives. They could be absolutely sure that as fierce as the storm raged, God’s love for them raged even more fiercely. No storm could ever blow them out of God’s mighty hand.

Storm

The Secret to Sleeping through Storms: Without Faith lies Fear; Within Faith stands Fortitude

They had no guarantee that they would survive the storm, BUT they could be absolutely sure that God controlled the storm and controlled their lives. They could be absolutely sure that as fierce as the storm raged, God’s love for them raged even more fiercely. No storm could ever blow them out of God’s mighty hand.

box

Suffering: The Forgotten Gift

…the Believer who is completing his course of suffering for Christ’s sake is completing the process of ceasing from sin. In other words, suffering for Christ’s sake transforms the Believer from sin-FULL to sin-LESS; suffering for Christ’s sake perfects Believers.

box

Suffering: The Forgotten Gift

…the Believer who is completing his course of suffering for Christ’s sake is completing the process of ceasing from sin. In other words, suffering for Christ’s sake transforms the Believer from sin-FULL to sin-LESS; suffering for Christ’s sake perfects Believers.

farrier

Triumph Through Trials

Trials in life are certainly not desirable! They are not comfortable, they may cause us pain and inconvenience, but when they are brought by God into our lives there is most definitely something He wants us to learn from them!

farrier

Triumph Through Trials

Trials in life are certainly not desirable! They are not comfortable, they may cause us pain and inconvenience, but when they are brought by God into our lives there is most definitely something He wants us to learn from them!

peace offering-1

The Therapy of Thanksgiving

We cannot always control our circumstances, but we can control the way we respond to them. Respond with thanksgiving.

peace offering-1

The Therapy of Thanksgiving

We cannot always control our circumstances, but we can control the way we respond to them. Respond with thanksgiving.

lierre

Pressed Close to God

Our afflictions are designed not to break us, but to bend us toward God.

lierre

Pressed Close to God

Our afflictions are designed not to break us, but to bend us toward God.

Agnelles dans les renoncules

The Lord is my Shepherd, BUT. . .

One way the Lord makes us lie down is to use health problems, marriage problems, problems with our children, financial problems, career and professional problems and any other kind of problems we can imagine to teach us about the relationship which is the key to all the blessings…

Agnelles dans les renoncules

The Lord is my Shepherd, BUT. . .

One way the Lord makes us lie down is to use health problems, marriage problems, problems with our children, financial problems, career and professional problems and any other kind of problems we can imagine to teach us about the relationship which is the key to all the blessings…

thru the window

Rainbows… After the Rain

To get out of difficulty, one must usually go through it!

thru the window

Rainbows… After the Rain

To get out of difficulty, one must usually go through it!

dawn-1

Today: A Day to Rejoice in the Lord: Today

If you are facing loneliness or pain as once again you pick up your burden, you can draw on the Lord’s resources and be a living testimony of His all-sufficiency. If you’re filled with thanksgiving and praise, you can tell others of God’s goodness.

dawn-1

Today: A Day to Rejoice in the Lord: Today

If you are facing loneliness or pain as once again you pick up your burden, you can draw on the Lord’s resources and be a living testimony of His all-sufficiency. If you’re filled with thanksgiving and praise, you can tell others of God’s goodness.

"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:45)

History has no Slaves

Though we can, and often do, suffer (poverty, war, alienation) for the sins of our ancestors, we are JUDGED for our own sins. We are not slaves to our History. We can make our own choices and we can choose righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

"That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:45)

History has no Slaves

Though we can, and often do, suffer (poverty, war, alienation) for the sins of our ancestors, we are JUDGED for our own sins. We are not slaves to our History. We can make our own choices and we can choose righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

"And I will... refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God." (Zechariah 13:9)

Melting Points and Acid Tests

We keep fighting temptation, because intensely hot and intensively corrosive environments are necessary to produce true diamonds and true saints.

"And I will... refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God." (Zechariah 13:9)

Melting Points and Acid Tests

We keep fighting temptation, because intensely hot and intensively corrosive environments are necessary to produce true diamonds and true saints.

"...The just shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2:4)

In Danger? Don Deer Feet!

As we go about our lives, making decisions about finances, health, relationships, employment, education and family (to name a few) let us call on our God, let us seek His face, let us search out His will. Life is a struggle and we can’t see all the dangers ahead; it is difficult to know what choices to make. Truly, we have no hope of surviving on our own. But God is faithful: if we live by faith He will make our feet like hinds’ feet so that our steps are assured and we can escape to safety. If we trust in God, He will make our feet surefooted so that we can escape the wiles of the devil.

"...The just shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2:4)

In Danger? Don Deer Feet!

As we go about our lives, making decisions about finances, health, relationships, employment, education and family (to name a few) let us call on our God, let us seek His face, let us search out His will. Life is a struggle and we can’t see all the dangers ahead; it is difficult to know what choices to make. Truly, we have no hope of surviving on our own. But God is faithful: if we live by faith He will make our feet like hinds’ feet so that our steps are assured and we can escape to safety. If we trust in God, He will make our feet surefooted so that we can escape the wiles of the devil.

"...I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." (Deuteronomy 32:3-4)

God’s Power can Only be Perceived through the Eyes of Faith

If we, by faith, accept the God described in the Bible, then we know that nothing can stop God’s overarching will for and in this world. Therefore, every circumstance of life must work together to execute God’s plans. Even the evil that men choose to do cannot escape His inexorable (unstoppable) will from being accomplished. It is only with this understanding that we can have hope rather than despair in the various tragedies, big and small, that beset our lives.

"...I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." (Deuteronomy 32:3-4)

God’s Power can Only be Perceived through the Eyes of Faith

If we, by faith, accept the God described in the Bible, then we know that nothing can stop God’s overarching will for and in this world. Therefore, every circumstance of life must work together to execute God’s plans. Even the evil that men choose to do cannot escape His inexorable (unstoppable) will from being accomplished. It is only with this understanding that we can have hope rather than despair in the various tragedies, big and small, that beset our lives.

"In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted." ~Psalm 77:2

Trials Teach True Tenderness

Without troubles, we easily wander away from God and slip into the illusion of self-sufficiency. But the difficulties of life sharpen our focus on God and heighten our sensitivity to His loving touch.

"In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted." ~Psalm 77:2

Trials Teach True Tenderness

Without troubles, we easily wander away from God and slip into the illusion of self-sufficiency. But the difficulties of life sharpen our focus on God and heighten our sensitivity to His loving touch.

"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me..." ~Jeremiah 9:23-24a

Reflections in Nehemiah: Weak Strength & Blessed Oppression

Servants of God who are walking in the will of God as they accomplish the plans of God have no reason to fear. No one can stop them from doing God’s work and those who try are only blessing them; making them stronger.

"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me..." ~Jeremiah 9:23-24a

Reflections in Nehemiah: Weak Strength & Blessed Oppression

Servants of God who are walking in the will of God as they accomplish the plans of God have no reason to fear. No one can stop them from doing God’s work and those who try are only blessing them; making them stronger.