Hebrews 12:11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (NIV)
I watched a movie once called the End of Days. A quote from this movie stuck out and has remained with me which says, “It is in our darkest hour that we must have faith.” I believe that is true. It is important to have faith always, but it is easier to have faith when things are going good. However, what about when things are going bad. What about the times when you may have done nothing wrong, but you still experience bad times? What about the times when you believe you have earned something/work hard for it yet did not receive it? What about the times when you’ve lost your closet friend or family through situations such as death? What about the times when you or someone is suffering for no reason you can understand? Is it easy to have faith then? I remember reading about when Jesus was in a boat with some of his disciples and a storm calm along. Now, lets examine the situation, I'm in a boat with someone who has healed the sick, rebuke demons and taught things my heart and mind were still trying to understand. All of a sudden a storm comes. Do I panic. Well, God is constantly in my boat with me at work, home and in situations I barely understand and I panic to the point of sleepless nights and lost hope. Why? Yes, I'm flawed, but unlike Jesus disciples, I've read some of the stores about how Jesus protected and healed many. Never-the-less, I panic and think things have no chance of getting better. But since God loves me, God sends messages my way. I believe God uses people and things to often strengthen us if we just be patient and prayerful, we may notice these things and people. It may come for the unlikeliest of places; the person you've been fighting with, the dad who abandoned you when you were younger or just a person you encounter through your every day life. God can use us all and I believe often does. After God calmed the storm when HIS disciples where in a state of panic, He asked, ""Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Even if I have not seen any miracles (which I believe I have), I have read true stories about them. How do I know that they are true; it is my belief. Yet, when I go through my situations I sometimes forget about these stories or think because I'm a sinner, God won't deliver me. Yet, King David sinned and God delivered him. Why won't he do the same for me? It is in our darkest our that we must have faith statement will remain with me. I pray I read and study God's word more so history can remind me that like God has done before, HE can do it again. Be blessed through your storm. Be still! Don't panic or make things worse. God calms storms. Be encouraged!
BUTTERFLY
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.
The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.
We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!
I asked for Strength.........
And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom.........
And God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity.........
And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage.........
And God gave me Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love.........
And God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors.........
And God gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted ........
I received everything I needed!
Life Still Has A Meaning
If there is a future there is time for mending-
Time to see your troubles coming to an ending.
Life is never hopeless however great your sorrow-
If you're looking forward to a new tomorrow.
If there is time for wishing then there is time for hoping-
When through doubt and darkness you are blindly groping.
Though the heart be heavy and hurt you may be feeling-
If there is time for praying there is time for healing.
So if through your window there is a new day breaking-
Thank God for the promise, though mind and soul be aching,
If with harvest over there is grain enough for gleaning-
There is a new tomorrow and life still has meaning.
~ Author unknown~
EAGLES IN A STORM
Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?
The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.
The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.
When the storms of life come upon us - and all of us will experience them - we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God's power to lift us above them.
God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.
Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.
