Quote from Forum Archives on January 19, 2001, 12:18 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

We needn't get into trouble or have problems in order to solve
problems. Unfortunately, most of us seem to have trouble
getting the lesson until we "experience" the pain of why we
should avoid the problem in the first place. Could that be
because we do not take others at their word? Could it also be
that we tend to be very self-centered and want to make our own
choices? Even young children exhibit behaviors that indicate
that they have a will, so clearly this is something that God has
designed into each of us.

I believe as we mature, especially as Christians, we learn to
surrender our choices to someone else - our employer, our
friends, our spouse, our children, our God. It is my personal
conviction that when I surrender my own will to God's will, I am
given the ability to put others ahead of myself. To me, that is
a sign of spiritual maturity, something I am incapable of on my
own, but also something in which I share responsibility. As God
grants me the spirit to understand and respond to Him, I still
have the choice - will I obey or not? Because I love Him, I
desire to obey Him. When I fail to do so, I confess my failure
before God, and He forgives me. Our relationship is one of
great patience, love, kindness, and forgiveness. He is the One
who teaches and refines all of these things in me.

Dear Lord,

Thank You so much for Your Holy Spirit that teaches me, leads
me, corrects me, and helps me every day. I confess that I am
needy. Without Your Holy Spirit, my life would be in vain - in
fact, it would be without purpose. I appreciate You and seek
Your guidance. Help me continue to learn and grow in You, until
all that can be seen is You. Amen.

Brother Brian

LIFE IS A SERIES OF PROBLEM-SOLVING OPPORTUNITIES
Author Unknown
Submitted by: RDoriot@ufm.org

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you -
depending on how you respond to them. Unfortunately most people
fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their
lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather
than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring. Here
are five ways God wants to use the problems in your life:

1. God uses problems to DIRECT you. Sometimes God must light a
fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a
new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get
your attention? "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make
us change our ways." Proverbs 20:30

2. God uses problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags...
if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot
water! Has God ever tested your faith with a problem? What do
problems reveal about you? "When you have many kinds of
troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that
these troubles test your faith, and this will give you
patience." James 1:2-3

3. God uses problems to CORRECT you. Some lessons we learn only
through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your
parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably
learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of
something... health, money, a relationship... by losing it." ...
It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it
taught me to pay attention to your laws." Psalm 119:71-72

4. God uses problems to PROTECT you. A problem can be a blessing
in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something
more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do
something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His
unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being
convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's
actions were eventually discovered. "You intended to harm me,
but God intended it for good..." Genesis 50:20

5. God uses problems to PERFECT you. Problems, when responded to
correctly, are character builders. God's far more interested in
your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and
your character are the only two things you're going to take with
you into eternity. "We can rejoice when we run into
problems... they help us learn to be patient. And patience
develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God
more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are
strong and steady." Romans 5:3-4

Here's the point: God is at work in your life - even when you do
not recognize it or understand it. But it's much easier and
profitable when you cooperate with Him!

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/
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