Giving thanks for the Trials!!!

We have all been through trials.  We have had difficult days and plenty of things that we just don't want to go through(an illness, relationship issues, family issues, work issues and on and on).  What does God do through  those issues and what does He want us to do as well go through them?  Let's find out!

1 Thessalonians 5:18

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Wait a minute!  So God wants us to thank Him no matter what is going on?  Yes, He does.  In many situations He wants to know will we do what He wants and with what attitude?  

Colossians 3:17

New International Version (NIV)

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

So whatever we do we need to be giving thanks!  Not just when that job promotion comes, or when that healing happens in your body, but IN ALL THINGS!

2 Thessalonians 1:4

New International Version (NIV)

4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

It's during these trials that God works in us!  Through these tough times God is growing us in our faith and teaching or perseverance!  Just because you became a believer in Jesus Christ and accepted His forgiveness doesn't many that everyday will be puppies and rainbows.  He expects us to grow!

 1 Peter 1:7
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
so 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;

Romans 5:3
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

In this battle we are proving our faith and bringing glory and honor to God.  We must persevere!  You may think it's crazy but we should be praising God we are going through this!  It is refining us and bringing glory to Him!

Proverbs 17:3
New International Version (©2011)
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.

God needs to know He can count on you to live for Him not just on those easy carefree days but also when a relationship is broken, we a doctor gives you the report it's cancer, when the car is broken or a job ends and you don't know how you are going to make it.  He's there!  He's providing!  He's healing!  You are not alone!

1 Corinthians 6:19
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

 Hebrews 13:5
New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"

Trust God and thank Him for the situations He has put you in!  He is right there dwelling in you and He will never leave or forsake you!  God knows what He is doing, so trust Him and thank Him!  God is in control!

So each day as we get up let us not complain about or situations, trials, and pain but thank Him that we have another day to grow closer to Him and be more like Him.  Let us trust Him that no matter what He is doing what is best for us and bringing glory to Him.

Where am I?

It's hard to believe that one day you wake up and wonder how you got there. Today started as one of those days for me. I looked in the mirror and didn't recognize the person standing there..me.

Far too often and much too easily we can have pride, grudges and just about every other bad thing raise up in our lives and take hold. The big question becomes did we even notice them latching on?

Today I got up and noticed these things crawling all over me and knew I needed to clean them off. I prayed about it and hope that I begin to remove these negative things from my life.

It is so easy to become bitter, angry or just not want anything to do with people because of one thing they did that hurt us. Why do we hold on to it? What gives us a right to do that? Nothing but selfishness!

Today I hope to throw those things away and feel free of negative feelings and actions again! I hope you will as well.

Remember God sent a sinless son to die for all of us so that we could be forgiven! So let's forgive too!

Here is one poem from the book I'm writing "Healer"

Scars Run Deeper Than The Skin

He got off the plane,
And one war veteran shakes his hand,
But then another person shouts,
Murderer!
He continues walking,
If you can call it that,
He's missing his right leg from the knee down,
The prosthetic is still taking some getting used to,
After retrieving his bag,
He heads out to rent a car,
Because he never owned one before he left,
Times we tough,
And his single mom didn't have the money,
She died two weeks after he left,
A blood clot she kept putting off going to the doctor for,
Because she didn't have the money,
He gets behind the wheel,
Broken from the war,
Scars visible on his body,
From an IDE,
But nothing compared to the scars on the inside,
He's alone,
And he has to deal with the nightmares,
The other troops that didn't get to come home,
Friends,
People he ate with,
Slept in the same room with,
Gone forever,
He's got to be strong,
Find a way to get all this pain out!
Suicide has crossed his mind a few times,
But he's not there yet,
He stops at a small mom and pop restaurant,
Then sits at the first table he sees on the right,
The older waitress comes up smiling,
Takes his order,
And begins to walk away,
But turns back,
Looks him in the eye,
And says,
I don't know exactly what you've been through,
But God can make beauty from ashes,
He just stares,
God?
God!
His mind wanders to his past with God,
I don't know anything about Him,
Accept people from a nearby church,
They used to bring food by the house sometimes,
And presents around Christmas,
Those were good people,
But he'd never been to church,
What could God do?
A voice in his head says,
Maybe more than you can think,
Before he finishes thinking,
His food arrives,
You ever been to church?
The waitress asks,
No,
He replies,
And she sits down,
Listening as he asks questions about God,
And when she answers,
She gets up,
And gives him a hug,
But even more,
She gives him hope.