LIFE IS A GRIND.

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Life is a grind.

If you have not found that out - you have not 

lived very long.  Even the rich and the famous 

have their share of problems.  Perhaps different

ones than you and I have, never the less, problems.

There are two purposes for problems.  One of course

is to show us that we are not capable of handling life

by our selves.  They are supposed to make us take our

eyes off of ourselves and look up to God for help.  I 

have encountered this one far to often in life.  Yet I 

am much better off because of it.

The other one I want to mention is true only of those

who have come into a relationship with God.  No,

not joined a church or gone through some ritual or 

stood on their head trying to be "spiritual" or some

thing.  But come into a personal relationship with

God.   Which by the way does not get you out of 

conflict like some would try to teach you, but may 

increase problems - for a purpose.

Considering problems or suffering in whatever form

it may come, consider this quote of A.B. Simpson.

"Are you living in the crucible?  Then take heart!

Some thing beautiful is about to happen at the hands

of your creator".

"Crucible" is a word I do not hear much any more, but

one of the definitions of "crucible" is:

"3. a severe test or trial, esp. one that causes a lasting

change or influence."

But even more importantly is God's opinion on the 

matter, consider one of numerous passages:

"My friends, consider yourselves fortunate 

when all kinds of trials come your way,

for you know that when your faith succeeds

in facing such trials, the results is the ability

to endure.  Make sure that your endurance

carries you all the way without failing, so 

that you may be perfect and complete, lacking 

nothing."

(James 1:2 -4 GNT)  

But what is the outcome?

This is really where I am wanting to come.

"I consider that what we suffer at this present

time cannot be compared at all with the glory

that is going to be revealed to us.  All of creation

waits with eager longing for God to reveal his

children."

(Romans 8:18,19 GNT)  

Did you catch that?

If we are in a true relationship with Jesus Christ,

every thing we suffer here on earth will turn out

to our glory.  Even nature it's self is waiting to see

this.

TODAY'S PROMISE

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

`the LORD will give grace and glory: no good

thing will he withheld from them that walk

uprightly."

(Psalms 84:11)  

TODAY'S PROMISE

"I gave them the same glory you gave me,

so that they may be one,

just as you and I are one;

I in them and you in me,

so that they may be completely one,

in order that the world may know that

you sent me and that you love them

as you love me."

(John 17:22,23 GNT)

******************

"The promises of the Lord can be trusted;

they are as genuine as silver refined

seven times in the furnace."

(Psalms 12:6 GNT)

1. Meditate on God's Promises.

2. Plead the Promises at the throne of Grace.

3. Act in Faith that God Will Perform His Promises.

(William Gurnall)

WANTING THE HONOR

The company I worked for was bought by a new owner and we moved into different facilities. I do not know why, but I was anxious to see the new business cards.

No, I was not going to have any. My position did not require business cards, but most of my coworkers did.

The day the new cards came I grabbed one of my manager's cards. At first glance of the new card something went all over me. Like a chill, a premonition or a scare.

It was obvious. The pride of the new owner overshadowed everything else. Clearly the business would fail. Why?

The Scriptures say, "Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall." - Proverbs 16:18 (GNB)

The business started with a bang. Perhaps it would be better to say a big splash. And as you already guessed, a few years latter ended with an unpretentious end.

God hates pride and arrogance. See Proverbs 8:13 and other Scriptures.

The Scriptures teach us, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." - James 4:6,10 (GNB)

If we want to be lifted up, exalted, honored, praised, we have to humble ourselves before God. He will lift us up in his own time and way.

The loftiest position a human can attain on earth, is flat on their face in humble submission to God our creator.