This Sunday morning I talked about how God uses trouble in our lives to bring about growth in His word, leadership, hope, Christlikeness, and spiritual power. Trouble and problems, however, can also leave a quite a mark, lasting scars, and resentment. A person’s view of the world and God will play a key role in how troubled times are endured and remembered.
What do we make of a world in which bad things happens to even the best people? What do we make of our God who expects us to endure hardships instead of rescuing us? What other issues seem to surface in the midst of troubled times? How has God used trouble in your life to accomplish great things?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
364 days til Valentine's Day
It is 364 days until Valentine’s Day 2012. What will you do until then to show your love toward your spouse, neighbors, and friends?
One of the biggest overlooked ways to express love is by working hard to make a contribution to society and earn an honest wage to provide for your family. We usually don’t think about diligent work as love, but take a closer look. Love is a choice to put others first, striving to meet the needs and goals of others. Isn’t that what working for a business is all about? You receive wages for your efforts. Perhaps you will receive promotions or other recognition. Sometimes the great greatest benefit is getting to keep a job (being employed is quite a benefit). You are benefiting from your labor. But you are helping the company make a positive impact on the community.
Also, you are “bringing home the bacon” for your family. Income from one or both adults goes into the family distribution of love: some money goes toward paying for the home, other resources for food, electricity, toys, vacations, and savings for the future (for days of trouble). All acts of love. Why else would you do it?
Flowers, cards, expressing words of love are all helpful in showing someone you love them. But so is paying your water bill, making your bed, and cooking dinner. Express your love today. Feel free to leave other comments and thoughts on how to share love the other 364 days a year.
One of the biggest overlooked ways to express love is by working hard to make a contribution to society and earn an honest wage to provide for your family. We usually don’t think about diligent work as love, but take a closer look. Love is a choice to put others first, striving to meet the needs and goals of others. Isn’t that what working for a business is all about? You receive wages for your efforts. Perhaps you will receive promotions or other recognition. Sometimes the great greatest benefit is getting to keep a job (being employed is quite a benefit). You are benefiting from your labor. But you are helping the company make a positive impact on the community.
Also, you are “bringing home the bacon” for your family. Income from one or both adults goes into the family distribution of love: some money goes toward paying for the home, other resources for food, electricity, toys, vacations, and savings for the future (for days of trouble). All acts of love. Why else would you do it?
Flowers, cards, expressing words of love are all helpful in showing someone you love them. But so is paying your water bill, making your bed, and cooking dinner. Express your love today. Feel free to leave other comments and thoughts on how to share love the other 364 days a year.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
What can afflictions teach us?
Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. 68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. 69 Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. 70 Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. 71 It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. 72 The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.
In an upcoming series at Pleasant View we are going to be examining how God uses grief, suffering, loss, and disappointments in our lives. In verse 71, the psalmist says that it was a good that affliction came his way. This is because before his affliction (verse 67), he went astray.
Big and smaller “hiccups” in life cause us to pause…assess…redirect. How has this been an accurate description for your life? What afflictions have come your way? What have been some of the changes it caused: perspectives, priorities, or attitudes?
How does this change your attitude about afflictions, loss, or disappointments?
In an upcoming series at Pleasant View we are going to be examining how God uses grief, suffering, loss, and disappointments in our lives. In verse 71, the psalmist says that it was a good that affliction came his way. This is because before his affliction (verse 67), he went astray.
Big and smaller “hiccups” in life cause us to pause…assess…redirect. How has this been an accurate description for your life? What afflictions have come your way? What have been some of the changes it caused: perspectives, priorities, or attitudes?
How does this change your attitude about afflictions, loss, or disappointments?
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