Don't Miss the Hard Answers

It's always encouraging for me to see how the Lord answers prayer.  Sometimes the answer is not quite the way I thought it would happen, but I am thankful for it just the same.  

But what if the answer is hidden in a hard thing that brings to light feelings and attitudes in my heart that are not too pretty?  Then it's easy to just get frustrated and completely miss the fact that this hard situation could be THE ANSWER to my prayers.  

This is the kind of answer I had recently.

Lately I've been praying for humility.  A good idea, don't you think? :-)

Well, along came a situation where over the course of a few days several things happened that made me feel really left out, unimportant etc. 

It was unusual.  

Of course I assumed these things were done unintentionally, but I still struggled at times to respond graciously.  I was confused.....and getting frustrated. Then one day as I was thinking through it all and praying about it, a new thought hit me: Could this be God answering my prayer?? 


These 'happenings' showed me my selfishness and pride and gave me great opportunities to practice humility and forbearance.  They made me turn to the Lord for help.  So, yes, it does seem like an answer!  

I hasten to add that by no means is my pride and selfishness conquered, I still struggle with it. But I was really comforted and encouraged to see the Lord working in my life!!  He loves me so much that He would send hard things to show me something that was not pleasing to Him. 

For whom the Lord loves He corrects,

Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

~ Proverbs 3:12

The answers to our prayers are always good, even when they come to us in a way that is not "fun".  

And sometimes we can miss the answer. 
I almost did.

Joyful

Repentance, the Joyful Heartbeat of the Christian Life  -  An excellent sermon by Mark Suchta on repentance.  Dad, Ana, and I heard this live last Sunday, and I found it really encouraging!  It's only 35 minutes long...click on the title to go listen!

"Because we didn't earn our way into God's family, we can't sin our way out."

Certain!

"I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love."

~ C.H. Spurgeon (1834 - 1892)

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit..." 
~ John 15:16a

The Courage to Stand Alone

The photo was taken in Hamburg in 1936, during the celebrations for the launch of a ship. In the crowed, one person refuses to raise his arm to give the Nazi salute. The man was August Landmesser. He had already been in trouble with the authorities, having been sentenced to two years hard labour for marrying a Jewish woman.

We know little else about August Landmesser, except that he had two children. One of his children recognized her father in this photo when it was published in a German newspaper in 1991. How proud she must have been in that moment.

Glory to God, Peace to Man

A Savior Is Born! Glory to God, Peace to Man

We listened to this amazing sermon by John Piper yesterday.  It is one that is worth listening to any day of the year! (Click on the title above to go to the website where you can watch/listen to the sermon.) :)

"Continually cultivate a sense of amazement that in spite of all your sins God has forgiven you through Christ. Be amazed that you have peace with God. It’s this sense of amazement, that I, a sinner, have peace with God, that makes the heart tender, kind and forgiving."

~ John Piper

A Mighty Fortress...

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

So True!

Wonderfully Made

Andrea Bocelli's pro-life story:

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 


{picture credit}

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written,  the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.  


How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand..."
Psalm 139:14-18

Grace Widows

"Whether or not divorce will ever touch your life personally, it is crucial that Christians study and understand what the Scriptures say and mean, so that we can properly minister to the brokenhearted." 
~Stacy McDonald
I encourage you to read her 4 part series on this subject:

Part One

Part Two

Part Three
Part Four

We need to pay attention and address this issue biblically.

Reverse Thinking