God Can Bring Good Out of Evil.

Who is God?

A person who can take something cruel, ugly and broken and make it into something beautiful.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28

This is not easy to believe when something horrible happens to us or a loved one. But I believe it, because I have seen it happen in my own family and in the Bible.

Joseph was sold by his brothers to be a slave in Egypt. Looking at that, can you see how any good could come out of a terrible betrayal by your own brothers?  Then he was accused falsely of rape and thrown in jail. How could any good come from that? Joseph didn't deserve these catastrophes, but God allowed them to happen.

Later, when he had become a ruler in Egypt he said to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people."  Genesis 50:20

Both Jesus and Paul said to rejoice in trials. "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about endurance; And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."  Romans 5:3-5

I used to read this and think, "Who cares about endurance? Just get me out of here!" I didn't care about strength of character either. But apparently God does and who am I to argue? He did bring me through all this to a place of hope and peace.

Who am I?

I'm someone who was abused by my father and because of that have had many emotional or mental problems and suffering. It didn't really hit me until I was 45, but when it did, I spiraled down into despair. I could not rejoice in this suffering; I just wanted to die.

Now, after years of reading books on suffering, I can see how it drives us to God for help. If our lives were wonderful and almost perfect, I doubt many of us would ever think of God. God uses the suffering in this world to draw people to him. He doesn't cause it, but he can turn it into something beautiful. The suffering and death of little children is indeed horrible; but we can take heart, knowing all children will be saved and live with Jesus forever. 

My father's family was full of abusers. His two brothers and one of his sisters abused their children. I used to say, "I come from a cursed family."  And perhaps that was true, but what is interesting is that most of the children from this crazy family are Christians. The pain pushed us all to God. Out of the four sisters and one brother, all but one are Christians. It is amazing. My brother died at 22, but the last article he wrote for a Christian newsletter was about how he was ready to die and meet Jesus.

I also had two cousins who comitted suicide. But God knows what happened to them as children and I'm sure they will be raised at the last day.

My grandson died four years ago. I can't believe it was that long ago. He was 21. After the initial shock, I knew God had taken him to save his soul. Craig was in trouble from the time he was 15. By 21, he was in trouble with the law quite a few times and on drugs. His father had died of an overdose. Anyway, he was starting to pray and talking about God. He wanted to go to schools and tell the kids not to do drugs; only, he couldn't stop himself. Then one night he drank too much and died in his sleep. Our hearts were broken, but we all believe God was mericiful to Craig and to the family in taking him. His heart was with God, he just didn't have the strength to live in this world. At least that's what I think. My daughter told me God told her Craig could not give up his addictions. Those addictions made him dangerous. I am glad he died peacefully and I know God has forgiven him and will raise him up when Jesus returns.

Well, this is a super-long post. But it seemed like I couldn't leave anything out. Suffering is the biggest question about God and many refuse to come to him because of it. I was angry at God for years, so I know what that is like. But believe me, that road leads nowhere. 

Jesus: A Man Filled with Sorrow.

Who am I?

I used to be so angry at God for my sufferings. I used to shout at him, "I didn't ask to be born. Why have you let me be born to suffer so much?  If you would have asked me, I would have said, 'No.'"

I have longed for death in the past. Not all the time, but at certain times when life seemed unbearable to me.

The Lord has shown me that he has suffered too and is still suffering now. We are together in this suffering and I can get strength from him if I ask for it. Believe me, I do. I couldn't get up in the morning without God's strength. He has shown me in this war of the universe, I must be brave.

Who is God?

One who suffers beyond compare. One who has lost a third of his sons when they joined Lucifer and fought a war against God, their father. They thought they would be happier without God's rule. They didn't believe him when he tried to persuade them not to leave.  I'm sure they now know they threw away their happiness in wanting to take God's place.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
He is despised, and rejected of men,.... Or, "ceaseth from men"; was not admitted into the company and conversation of men, especially of figure; or ceased from the class of men, in the opinion of others; he was not reckoned among men, was accounted a worm, and no man; or, if a man, yet not in his senses, a madman, nay, one that had a devil: or "deficient of men"; he had none about him of any rank or figure in life, only some few fishermen, and some women, and publicans, and harlots. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "the last of men", the most abject and contemptible of mankind; despised, because of the meanness of his birth, and parentage, and education, and of his outward appearance in public life; because of his apostles and audience; because of his doctrines, not agreeably to carnal reason, and his works, some of them being done on the sabbath day, and, as they maliciously suggested, by the help of Satan; and especially because of his ignominious sufferings and death: 
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: or "known by grief"; he was known by his troubles, notorious for them; these were his constant companions, his familiar acquaintance, with whom he was always conversant; his life was one continued series of sorrow, from the cradle to the cross; in his infancy his life was sought for by Herod, and he was obliged to be taken by his parents, and flee into Egypt; he ate his bread in sorrow, and with the sweat of his brow; he met with much sorrow from the hardness and unbelief of men's hearts, and from the contradiction of sinners against himself, and even much from the frowardness of his own disciples; much from the temptations of Satan, and more from the wrath and justice of God, as the surety of his people; he was exceeding sorrowful in the garden, when his sweat was as it were great drops of blood; and when on the cross, under the hidings of his Father's face, under a sense of divine displeasure for the sins of his people, and enduring the pains and agonies of a shameful and an accursed death; he was made up of sorrows, and grief was familiar to him. Some render it, "broken with infirmity", or "grief": 
and we hid as it were our faces from him; as one loathsome and abominable as having an aversion to him, and abhorrence of him, as scorning to look at him, being unworthy of any notice. Some render it, "he hid as it were his face from us"; as conscious of his deformity and loathsomeness, and of his being a disagreeable object, as they said; but the former is best: 
he was despised, and we esteemed him not; which is repeated to show the great contempt cast upon him, and the disesteem he was had in by all sorts of persons; professors and profane, high and low, rich poor, rulers and common people, priests, Scribes, and Pharisees; no set or order of men had any value for him; and all this disgrace and dishonour he was to undergo, to repair the loss of honour the Lord sustained by the sin of man, whose surety Christ became. 

Rules of Engagement.

Who is God?

"Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. This great dragon--the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world--was thrown down to the earth with all his angels."  Revelation 12:7-9

Who is God?

Someone who always hears us.

"Then he (the angel Gabriel) said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer."  Daniel 10:12

 "But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

verses 13, 14

Who was this prince of Persia? Probably Satan, who is called, "...the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience."  Ephesians 2:2

God plays by the rules. Adam and Eve chose Satan over God, therefore God allowed Satan to be the ruler of this world. But the rules also say we all have a chance to make our own choice in this war of the universe. Satan has power; how much, we do not know.

"Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out."  John 12:31

"...and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world already stands condemned."  

John 16:11

"I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me."  John 14:30

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."   Ephesians 6:12

Who am I?

Someone who rarely thinks about Satan and what he can do. In a way, that is good. In another way, not so good. I've noticed in Jesus' prayers he twice told us to ask God to keep us from the evil one. So, I include that with my prayers. And when I am overwhelmed with negative thoughts, I pray God will cast Satan away from me. I've noticed he does. Somehow, Satan does have the power to affect our thinking and actions. We don't need to dwell on satan, but we can pray against his power over us.

God Needs Relationships.

Three of my granddaughters.

Who am I?

Someone who needs relationships.

I remember the first year our children had grown up and left home. My husband had always wanted us to take a vacation alone - just the two of us - so we did.

We took off for California and it was nice at first. At one point, when we were driving down the highway, I said,
"Listen, do you hear that?"
"What?" He said.
Silence.
"That's the sound of no fighting or whining from the back seat." I answered.

After a few days I really missed the kids and felt sad; but I was determined not to say anything to my husband. He had wanted this for so long.

One day, as we were enjoying the sights he said, "I wish the girls were here." I was surprised, and also happy I could share my thoughts with him. I told him how much I missed them too.

Now, I am 65. I rarely see my daughters and grandchildren. They have moved and are living their own lives and that is good. We lived with one of my daughters and her family for 10 years so she could work and I looked after her youngest daughter. My husband and I have lived alone now for a few years.

I was very lonely when we first moved out. My husband has his own interests and all my life was wrapped up in the family. I got very depressed. Well, after some therapy and pills I am doing better, but I did have a real break-through recently. I said to God, "I guess it's just you and me." And I made the effort to go through the day praying more; talking with him more; and all I can say is, "God alone is enough."



Who is God?

A being who needs realtionships to be happy and complete. (I'm guessing?)

Today I heard a sermon on how God created us for relationships. Life feels incomplete when we are alone. It is so wonderful to share life with people you love. Everything is better when you share it, whether good or bad.

We are made in the image of God. I suppose he is also incomplete  without relationships. God is three in one. He is never alone, and I guess he has never been alone. He said it wasn't good for Adam to be alone, even though God came to the garden to visit every day.

One time, I was reading a passage in the Bible about how there will be so many people in heaven you couldn't count them. I actually got anxious imagining these crowds of people milling around. It made me laugh because I know that won't bother me then.

I've always felt anxious around people and I'm looking forward to the day that anxiety is gone. I'm looking forward to being completely  relaxed about relationships and life in general.

Comments.

Hi Everyone. I've turned off the comment part of this blog because I have an illness and have to rest a lot. I just don't have much time to follow and comment on other blogs. I used to do that with my old blog and I loved it. I wish I could do it again, but I can't. God bless all of you.

God Will Sing to Us.

Who is God?

God is a musician. He has given us the gift of songs. When we finally go to live with him, he will sing over us in great joy.

"For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."
Zephaniah 3:17

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD! Let the sea roar and all it contains, The world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy before the LORD. For the LORD is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness."
Psalm 98:4-9

Who am I?

Well, someone who loves music too. Here is a concert by Don Moen. These songs lift my heart like no other songs I have ever heard.

What is True Love?

Two of my granddaughters.

Who is God?

"God is love."  1John 4:16

It doesn't say, "God loves," but God IS love.  He is the source of all love.

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13

Who am I?

Someone who needs love. We are created for love. That is the empty spot in our soul that needs God. No one on earth will fill that need for perfect love. People may love us, but it is usually conditional. God's love is unconditional. He loved you when you were born; he will love you when you die. 

Some people say they can't understand a love like that, but I think I can. I love my daughters and grandchildren unconditionally. Nothing they say or do can quench my love for them. When you finally believe God loves you like that, you will find that peace Christians are always talking about.