God pushes you toward a deeper faith

Thursday May 27 2010 12:00 AM Posted by Rick Warren "This means tremendous joy to you, I know, even though you are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable than gold . . ." (1 Peter 1:6-7 PH). "When we finally come to a place where the difficulties become so bad, where we've reached our limit, where we've tried everything and exhausted all our options, it is then that God begins a mighty work through us." In order to build your faith, God will give you a dream; then he'll urge you to make a decision; but then he'll allow a delay, because in the delay he matures you and prepares you for what is to come. The truth is you'll have difficulties while God delays. This isn't because he doesn't care about you or that he's forgotten your circumstances; rather, it's one of the ways he pushes you toward the deep end of faith. As God delays, you'll face two types of difficulties: Circumstances and Critics. This is a natural part of life. God designed it this way because he knows we grow stronger when facing adversity and opposition. When Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt into the desert toward the Promised Land, he had one problem after another. First there was no water. Then there was no food. Then there were a bunch of complainers. Then there were poisonous snakes. Moses was doing what God wanted him to do, but he still had problems. David was anointed king, and then for the next several years he was hunted down by Saul. Joseph had a dream of becoming a ruler, yet he was sold into slavery and thrown into prison on a false charge where he languished, forgotten. Imagine the difficulties Noah had building a floating zoo! The Bible says that when Moses died, Joshua was appointed the new leader. Moses led the people across the desert and then Joshua led them into the Promised Land. Did he get the easy part? The Bible says that when the Israelites entered the Promised Land there were giants in the land. Even in the Promised Land there were problems! God does this because he is building our faith and character. When we finally come to a place where the difficulties become so bad, where we've reached our limit, where we've tried everything and exhausted all our options, it is then that God begins a mighty work through us: ". . . I know, even though you are temporarily harassed by all kinds of trials and temptations. This is no accident—it happens to prove your faith, which is infinitely more valuable, than gold . . . ." (1 Peter 1:6-7 PH)

Connect by using constructive words

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

The third principle for connecting with people is to be constructive with your words.
Use your words to build people up. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (NIV). God wants us to take these words and use them to build people.
Did you know that the words that come out of our mouths are like a tool? Sometimes they're like a sledgehammer. We swing away without thinking and end up with a pile of relational rubble. Sometimes they're like a saw, cutting people down. If we keep using these tools, inevitably our relationships are going to suffer.
One reason we aren't constructive with our words is we don't realize how powerful they are; yet, I bet you can still remember things people said to you in a thoughtless way as far back as grade school or college. That's how powerful words are. They leave a lasting impact. So when it comes to your mouth, think of it as a power tool and be very careful with it.
Here's how to build instead of destroying with your words --
1.  Stop excusing. Stop saying, "I didn't really mean to say that." Realize that what you say impacts everyone around you.      
2.  Talk less. If it's a power tool, you don't have to use it as much. One of the reasons we get in trouble is we just talk too much sometimes. We need to talk less and then ...
3.  Listen more. If I listen more, I can understand people's needs.
4.  Start building. Think first of all, "What do they need?" How can I use a word of encouragement to build them up? How can I use a word of challenge to make a difference in someone's life? How can I use my words to build up the people I love the most?

Oh Deer

The view from our front yard.

Logan; The Sky Angel Cowboy

Transformed By Trouble

God has a purpose behind every problem.  You should expect four kinds of problems in life:

• Trials are designed by God to draw us closer to him and build our character.  Temptations are designed by the Devil to draw us away from God and destroy our character. 
• Trespasses are hurts caused by the sins of others. 
• Troubles are usually, but not always, the consequences of our own sinful choices. 

When you face a problem, try to determine the source first.  If the trouble is your own fault, you should repent of it.  If it is a temptation from Satan, you should resist it.  If it is a trespass against you by others you need to release it through forgiveness.  But if the problem is a trial from God, you need to relax and trust God in it.  Regardless of the source, none of your problems could happen without God's permission.  Everything that happens in the life of a child of God is Father-filtered, and he intends to use it for good.

Everything that God allows to happen in your life is permitted for one great, eternal purpose: to conform your character to the image of Christ.  It is for your growth and God's glory, and it is a plan guaranteed to succeed.  It will be completed when you get to heaven.  The Bible says Jesus "learned obedience through suffering" (Heb 5:8 KJV).  We grow the same way, and Jesus is our model.  We go through exactly what Christ goes through.  If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him (Romans 8:17 MSG).

Dear God of all comfort, help me to remember that there is a 

loving purpose behind every problem that you allow in my life. 

Teach me to respond to the difficulties the way Jesus would. 

Cultivate my character through the circumstances of life. 

Help me to trust your purpose in my pain. 

The Purpose-DrivenⓇ Life Journal

day 25

Three Ice Men

Perhaps you’ve heard the old proverb that warns not to plant until after the “Three Ice Men” have passed, but do you know who these mysterious Ice Men are? The tradition comes from Northern Europe, and is tied to the successive feasts of St. Mamertus, St. Pancras, and St. Servatius, whose respective days occur on May 11, 12, and 13. They are also sometimes referred to as the “Three Chilly Saints.”

In Europe’s not-too-distant past, parts of the continent remained rather cold through the middle of May, making planting before then risky. German and Swiss lore refers to mid-May as “Iceman Days,” while an old French saying states “St. Mammertius, St. Pancratius and St. Gervatius (the Francophone spelling of the three saints’ names) do not pass without a frost.” Because the agrarian people of medieval Europe weren’t likely to be literate, let alone aware of calendar dates, they measured time by observing nature and by the church calendar. Remembering that the last frost of the year generally falls around the feast of Servatius was a useful marker for pre-modern farmers.

In some regions, the lore goes on to note that rain will fall on feast of St. Sophia, marking the beginning of planting season. For this reason, May 15 is referred to as “Zimna Zośka,” or “Cold Sophia” in Poland.

One point of interest is that this bit of lore dates back to before the creation of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, at which time most days of the year shifted somewhat. While the feasts of the Three Chilly Saints are still celebrated from May 11-13 on our calendar, these days used to fall a little later in the astronomical year – from May 19-22.

Do you wait until after the Ice Men to plant your garden in spring? Share your thoughts.

LOOK AT YOURSELF AFTER WATCHING THIS.mp4

For My Mother

Proverbs 31:10-12 and 25-31 
A wife of noble character who can find? 
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her 
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, 
all the days of her life.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; 
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, 
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household 
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; 
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things, 
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; 
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned, 
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (NIV)

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"ENTIRELY HONEST"

We must be entirely honest with somebody if we expect to live long or happily in this world. 
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 73-74


Honesty, like all virtues, is to be shared.  It began after I shared "....(my) whole life's story with someone..."
in order to find m place in the Fellowship.  Later I shared my life in order to help the newcomer find his place with us.  This sharing helps me to learn honesty in all my dealings and to know that God's plan for me comes true through honest openness and willingness.
DAILY REFLECTIONS MAY 4

Rabbit Sighting

Experiencing Life Together

We experience authenticity in genuine fellowship.  Fellowship is not superficial, surface-level interaction.  It's genuine, sometimes gut-level sharing.  It happens when people honestly share themselves--their thoughts, felling, doubts, fears, strengths, and weaknesses.  Of course, this is quite a risk, requiring both courage and humility.  It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection, and being hurt again.  Why would anyone take such a risk?  Because it is the only way to grow spiritually.

We experience mutuality and sympathy in genuine fellowship.  Mutuality is the art of giving and receiving.  It's depending on each other.  Mutuality is the heart of fellowship: building reciprocal relationships, sharing responsibilities, and helping each other.  Sympathy is understanding and affirming someone's feelings.  It meets two fundamental human needs: the need to be understood and the need to have your feelings validated.  Sympathy says, "I know what you're going through and what you feel is neither strange nor crazy."  Sympathy is entering in and sharing the pain.
The Purpose-Driven Life - Day 18


Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16