This has been a hard week around here in some ways. Life is a continual journey of growth. Things happen with other people and you want to respond in a godly manner, but you have to keep laying it down until you truly give it to the Lord. It is so easy to talk the talk, but when you have to walk it over a rough spot it is not so easy. There is a verse that is one of Michael's favorites.
Prov 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.
That sounds easy enough. Yet when you think of iron sharpening iron, there is a grating, a striking against each other. Friction, pain and removal of outside dross. If you ever think you have arrived, please look out, because God is just waiting to turn up that refining fire and bring up the next level of dross within us.
I think that many people feel that they depend on God. They feel that they truly walk the walk. Yet, when the rubber meets the road, they really don't. There is always a reason that it is harder for them. Their path is always longer, lonelier or something. Yet, if God places each of us where we are and we believe that, do we have a right to struggle, complain or make excuses for our struggles. We take our focus off of the Lord and we tend to look at the waves around us. Then what happens? We sink in misery. It is very easy to sit and have a pity party. We can look at someone else and see why it is so much easier for them.... they have more money, they have a larger family (more help), they have many talents, they grew up in a better home, etc. It is much harder to swallow pride, to lay down your rights, to do the right thing and praise Him where you are in life. Yet, when we do that, we have real freedom. God is pleased with us. We are being obedient. There is a line in the movie, "The Return Of The Daughters" that Kelli Bradrick says. Her parents told her that if she could not be content right where she was at that moment, then she would never be content. That says a lot. God promises us that He will not give us more than we are able to bear. Everything that comes into our lives has already been sifted through His fingers of love and He said it was OK for us. It is for our good. I try to think of what I deserve - hell and eternal damnation. Anything in this life is better than that. When my barrenness starts to bother me, I think of others who are quadriplegics. They can't have babies either, but they can't brush their teeth, comb their hair, take care of their own private personal needs. Who am I to complain?
Heb 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
We need to encourage one another. We are part of a body. We can't do this alone. Are you in the fire? Take heart, He is refining you and cleaning you up until He sees His reflection.
Prov 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.
That sounds easy enough. Yet when you think of iron sharpening iron, there is a grating, a striking against each other. Friction, pain and removal of outside dross. If you ever think you have arrived, please look out, because God is just waiting to turn up that refining fire and bring up the next level of dross within us.
I think that many people feel that they depend on God. They feel that they truly walk the walk. Yet, when the rubber meets the road, they really don't. There is always a reason that it is harder for them. Their path is always longer, lonelier or something. Yet, if God places each of us where we are and we believe that, do we have a right to struggle, complain or make excuses for our struggles. We take our focus off of the Lord and we tend to look at the waves around us. Then what happens? We sink in misery. It is very easy to sit and have a pity party. We can look at someone else and see why it is so much easier for them.... they have more money, they have a larger family (more help), they have many talents, they grew up in a better home, etc. It is much harder to swallow pride, to lay down your rights, to do the right thing and praise Him where you are in life. Yet, when we do that, we have real freedom. God is pleased with us. We are being obedient. There is a line in the movie, "The Return Of The Daughters" that Kelli Bradrick says. Her parents told her that if she could not be content right where she was at that moment, then she would never be content. That says a lot. God promises us that He will not give us more than we are able to bear. Everything that comes into our lives has already been sifted through His fingers of love and He said it was OK for us. It is for our good. I try to think of what I deserve - hell and eternal damnation. Anything in this life is better than that. When my barrenness starts to bother me, I think of others who are quadriplegics. They can't have babies either, but they can't brush their teeth, comb their hair, take care of their own private personal needs. Who am I to complain?
Heb 3:13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
We need to encourage one another. We are part of a body. We can't do this alone. Are you in the fire? Take heart, He is refining you and cleaning you up until He sees His reflection.
7 comments:
Dear Marci,
I don't love trials, but I love what God can do in me through them. I have to remember daily that my joy is not based on my circumstances. Joy is something I choose because He loves me. It saddens me to see so many in the world seeking mere happiness when that is very fleeting. At the end of a hard day, happiness may be gone but joy remains. Thank you for your sweet words of wisdom.
Mary
Marci, if God knew right where I would be at this point in my life, then did He specifically choose for me to be hurt repeatedly by my dh? If I have prayed for His will to be done, then do I have to accept that He wants me to be sad and for my marriage to crumble? I am really confused right now. Not about Him or who He is, but why He doesnt want to heal my heart and my marriage.
Your post on being in the fire has much to ponder. I'm writing however to comment on your music :) When I was a little girl visiting my grandparents' farm in east Texas, we listened to Flatt & Scruggs every night! My uncle had Down's Syndrome and would fix a large stack of their albums and play them every night after he went to bed. They had to be arranged in a certain order known just to him. I have recently bought Sue Nixon, the String Quartet Tribute to Josh Groban and Paul Cardall all as a result of hearing them on your blog. Now, I'll be shopping for Flatt & Scruggs and Allison Krauss. You're a good influence! Hugs, Lisa in NM
Great post, especiall now, right before Holy Week!
Marci,
As we walk through the fire, we are forged, as steel, and made stronger. For that reason we should welcome the them for we will grow stronger in Him.
Thanks for posting about the quilt giveaway. It is beautiful and I have entered.
Blessings,
Mary
Dear Anonymous, my heart reaches out to you, but I can't really answer your question without asking you more. I don't know if I am even capable of helping you. You may email me if you wish and I will do my best to share with you any insight God gives me.
I enjoyed this post.I have lived an easy life of faith for most of my life but the past year and half have been in the dark valley. Its so hard not to dwell on the hurt. Your post puts it in perspective-the fire I've been going through is bad but its not eternal damnation.I can so relate to the anonymous commenter-over the past year I have asked God why so many times and to be honest I still don't have an answer. The main thing that helped me and might help the anonymous is just to dwell on God. She said she knew who God was. Over the past year of my life some days thats all I had. And even though when I am questioning God I don't want to admit it-but I know that is enough to know who God is.
Post a Comment