A Thought on Time

Use me, Lord, in each moment of time You have allotted me until tomorrow comes.  Use me even as I sleep in the tiny fragments of time that will make up the minutes and hours You have given me until the sun arises.  Though some may think that because I sleep, there is no battle to be fought, no decisions to be made and no refining to be done.  But even in my sleep, I will rehearse my love for You and follow where you lead me....  Even in my sleep we will walk together, and much later, when the sun rises once more, we will begin again.

Little Christs

Where did we get the idea that we shouldn't have to suffer?    We get upset with God when we ask Him to take us out of a painful situation, but He doesn't.  We can see no good coming from having to suffer. 
If you are suffering, and have asked for God to heal or deliver you - but He doesn't, don't find it strange.  The Bible tells us that Jesus learned obedience through the things that He suffered  (Hebrews 5:8 - "Although He was a son, He learned obedience through the things which He suffered.") ("He had to be made like His brethren in all things so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest....  For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted." ).   In order to intercede for us, and be able to comfort us, He had to suffer the same things we suffer.  And this is what we also do on this earth.  We are to be "little Christs" (the Greek word for Christian means little Christ),   ( Hebrews 2:17, 18; "He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father"   Rev. 1:6);   If we can't relate to suffering of all kinds, then we cannot do what God tells us:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."   2 Cor. 1:2-4.  While we are here in this world, we are to represent God to all people and our lives should be a testament of who He is.  We cannot do that unless people see us go through painful things and still have faith in Him, still loving Him. 
You will suffer in this world as a Believer, or a non-Believer.  But there is purpose in the Believer's suffering. 

The Sun is Behind a Cloud?

I'm seated at the breakfast table in front of the windows with a view of my backyard this morning. It's cloudy. The sun is not "out".
I was thinking, how the paths we often take will lead us into places where the sun does not shine; into valleys where everything is filled with shadows - the potential hiding places of enemies.
We are sometimes fearful and anxious as the possibilities of failure and perhaps even death looms before our eyes.
But when things get like THIS - we must remembeer: God is ALWAYS there. Just because there are clouds that hide the warmth and the light of day that God is, it does not mean God's Presence has also flown. He is STILL THERE! We MUST learn that sight and feeling are not FAITH. They are tests which reveal how much faith we DO have. Take your tests today and flex your faith muscles. They will grow.
When the apostle Peter failed to believe in the moment that mattered most - and he denied the Lord Jesus - here is what Jesus said: "Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou are converted (when you have repented) strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:31-32