Be Thankful For Everything Both Good And Bad

[Guest Cumberland20]

For some reason the Lord has placed it on my mind for me to step back and think about what he has done for me.  It is so easy for us to be thankful for the good things he gives us but can we be thankful for the hard times that come into our lives.  Think about when you were little and you received discipline from your parent/s. Can we be thankful for this?  I think we need to take time to look at those instances in our lives where God has broken us to make us stronger.

[Tatie]

God has never broken me, he always built me up.

[WISDOM]

Cumberland:

I understand where you're coming from and I agree.  I have been thanking HIM more and more over the the last three years for the hard times I experienced to this point.  I can see where HE is/has been reshaping my thinking and actions in quite a few areas of my life which needed it.  The funny thing  (that is ..funny now, NOT then) is I can tie so many of the "good" changes now into situations/events that prevuiously occurred which I thought were "bad times".  Plenty of good has evolved out of it.

All too often we have a tendency to onlywant to remember the good, and dislodge the bad.  How easy it is to forget Romans 8:28!

[Guest Cumberland20]

Please don't get me wrong Tatie.  Yes, our heavenly Father does build us up but He sometimes let things come into being so He can reshape and build us up.  Thank you Wisdom yes it is easy to forget Romans 8:28.  I just wanted to have people take a minute to look at what all God has brought them thru and have them understand it was for their own good.

[Adstar]

Hello all

What is a blessing what is a curse?

Do we judge this thing from our own limited human definitions of what is a good thing or happening and what is a bad thing or tragedy?

A blessing is any thing or happening that causes you to come closer to the Creator of all existence.

A curse is anything that causes you to doubt or reject the Creator of all existence.

Two people can look at a partially full cup and one will say "that cup is half empty" and the other will say "that cup is half full". Two different people can look at the same thing or happening and for one it will be a curse and for the other it will be a blessing.

A tragedy can lead one to turn to the Creator. In the end the tragedy was not a tragedy but a blessing. and the opposite is also true for some.

So are you the type who sees things as half full or do you see things as half empty?

All Praise The Ancient Of Days

[Star]

I've been through a pretty grueling past two years, with a myriad of health problems that were hard to diagnose, and some surgeries that were rough because I wasn't allowed normal pain medication with my condition.  I went through things that I never could have on my own, things I thought for sure I would die from.  I can honestly say that the Lord has upheld me through this rough time and that I am thankful for the situations He has carried me through, because He was so near.  I do not say this lightly -- there were times I thought I'd never get through -- but those around me all know that God is real because they could see the help He was giving to me.

[Guest Cumberland20]

Adstar I would like to say that was an excellent post.  You are correct in what you stated.  How can we call something a curse if it draws us closer to God.  Thank you for your insight.  Incidentally I had something happen to my family this weekend.  It was 4:00 in the morning and I here my mom yelling.  Our toilets had overflowed and left 2 inches of water standing in the bathroom.  Now I know that this is a reasonably small obstacle that has come about but can we learn somethinf from it?  That is the question that we need to answer.

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings All,

A concept is developed in the story of Joseph when he says:

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

You might have heard that "What Satan intended for evil, God meant it for good." So it is with us. Joseph was ostracized by his brothers and was left for dead. He was accused falsely by the King's wife and sent to prison and was forgotten. But for all this, he still served God and proclaimed His goodness and ultimately God used Him to save the entire race of the chosen ones.

What I have found in my own life is that God will "quietly" tell me something. If I don't listen, He get's a little louder, and this will continue until I finally hear Him and obey Him. What happens when we don't listen is that we let the enemy (Satan) in and he begins raising havoc in our lives. I see NOTHING as occuring by chance, and "all things work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." The object of this life's lesson is to get it right the first time, then if we MUST suffer the same thing again we are greatly strengthened and are more enabled to overcome whatever obstacles come our way.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Guest inhim]

regarding troubles....i could tell you a story.  i shall.

my husband and i have been married 30 years.  we had multiple miscarriages, but when we had been married 19 years, the FATHER sovreignly provided a wonderful son for us to adopt.  they actually came looking for us, and we didn't spend a penny for him for a full year, because of the generosity of friends and GOD'S marvelous provision.  did we suffer before this time? yes.  when he was 8 years old, i was diagnosed with 4th stage cancer.  i hadn't felt good for a long time, but my doctors never caught it.  i believe the LORD told me that it was late, but not too late.  it was true.  i was not supposed to live, but, asking, and trusting that GOD is good, NOT that HE would heal me only, but that HE is GOOD, we had friends lay hands on me, annoint me with oil, as james directs, and we waited.  before the main part of my chemo and radiation began, i had another mri.  it was going away.  then it was gone 1 month later.  everyone knows what happened.  it was thrilling for the christians who were praying for us.   it was dumbfounding for my doctors.  thank you LORD.  did we suffer?  yes.  so, just like so many have known, the LORD is always there, right up to death.  there is peace in suffering, not to understand all the time, but to know HE is there.  to build your faith.  to chasten where we need it.  but always to bless.  does the two inches of sewer water do any good?  it helps us practice patience.  i think it says IN everything give thanks for this is the will of GOD in CHRIST JESUS concerning you.    i thank GOD for all of you.  may there be a blessing upon this place and you all.

[WISDOM]

inhim:

That is a very encouraging post!

I hope it blesses others as it has just blessed me during this break I took (here at work).  Now.....back to work!  :thumb: