IS YOUR WORLD FALLING APART?

IS YOUR WORLD FALLING APART?

There are times that life just gets to be too much

to bear.  The reasons are many.  They can be from

physical problems, financial problems, family

 problems, work problems, emotional problems

or even just plain old every day boredom.  But,

regardless of the reasons we become tired of the

whole thing of life.

There is an answer.  Jesus Christ practically begs

us to take them to him.  He wants to help us with

the load in our lives.

I have found for myself that as I take each day

and it's problems to Jesus Christ - things just

plain and simple work out better.

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you

who are weary ad carry heavy burdens, and I

will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let

me teach you because I am humble and gentle

at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I

give you is light.'"    

(Matthew 11:28 - 30 NLT)

Roll that burden or problem over on to Jesus

Christ and see if He doesn't do a better job

of handling it than you can.

JOY

Image courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com    

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come

your way, consider it an opportunity for great

joy.  For you know that when you faith is tested,

your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it 

grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,

you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

(James 1:2-4 NLT)

I have lived longer than most of you.  One of the things

I have noticed over all these years is that life is full

of problems, pains, disappointments, trials etc.  That

is simply life.  But why does God let it be that way?

I have been a student [at least a reader] of the Holy 

Bible for over sixty years.  And the thing I am finally

beginning to see is God has a purpose in all this turmoil.

One.  If we did not have all these problems we would

think that we could handle it.  We would not realize

that very little is really under our control.  And instead

of seeking God for help, we would slide straight into

the Devil's hell.

Two.  Once we turn to God and give him control 

over our lives, the problems continue, BUT.  

The purpose is different.  Let me explain.

In our area there are some big buildings that they

call, "gyms".  Now I have not been in them.  I have

too much work to do to spend time there.  But they

tell me that people actually pay money to go in there

and "work out".  They work hard on a machine going

no where just to work up a sweat or get sore muscles.

You get the point, all that effort is for the health of 

their bodies.

After I am the property of God, all the trials, tests,

hardships, disappointments etc. are used to develop

me into the person God wants me to be.  Then when

this life is over I will be the kind of person He wants 

me to be in body and spirit.

Yes these problems hurt.  But I am happy to know

that in the end God is using them to help me.

TESTING

Image courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com       

After a long life I have made up my mind that life it's self

is made of simply one problem after another.  In fact when

things go too well, or smooth for a while - I wonder what is

wrong.

Right off I have to admit that God has always pulled me 

through one way or another.   But here I am again with 

a bunch of problems facing me.  No, I am not worried 

about it because ultimately God will work them out.

But, why can't I have a rest from them now that I am

an old man.  Has there not been enough problems?

I was reading in my Bible this morning in several different

places and three different passages hit me between the 

eyes.  Let me share them with you first, then a word

of encouragement.

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations,

knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance:

and perseverance, proven character, ..."

(Romans 8:3,4 NASB)   

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you

encounter various trials knowing that the 

testing of your faith produces endurance."

(James 1:2,3 NASB)   

"We count those blessed who have endured.

You have heard of the endurance of Job and

have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings,

that the Lord is full of compassion and is 

merciful."

(James 5:11 NASB)   

Now if I did not have a relationship with Jesus 

Christ, these problems might be an effort to make

me get my mind off of my abilities and look to him

for help.  A lot of us will not turn to God until we

are knocked down and can only look up.  Then the

problems are still a blessing.

But I have been walking with God a long time.

[True, not near as close as I should.]  so why do

I still have problems.  The above Scriptures make

it clear that they are to help me endure, to strengthen

me and help me become stronger in my life with

God.  All through life God gives me problems to 

develop me into the person he wants me to be.

For this I should PRAISE GOD.

But consider one more fact.  It is true only of those

who love God.

"And we know that God causes all things to 

work together for good to those who love God,

to those who are called according to His purpose."

(Romas 8:28 NASB)   

There you have it.  If I love God, EVERY problem

that comes my way ultimately works for my good.

NOW HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT?

BROKEN FOR A PUROSE

Image courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com   

"Cowboys" (and girls)  tell me that a horse has to

be "broken" to be any good.  I am inclined to believe

that.

The only horse I ever owned we bought for the kids.

Apparently the horse was not broken for kids or for 

me.  When I got rid of it, my hope was that it went 

to the glue factory.  I just wanted it out of here.   That

is why ultimately I went back to motorcycles.  They 

do not have a mind of their own.

But the world is full of a lot more problems than just

problem horses.  You know by now that life is full

of problems, trials and tests.  God allows these for a 

number of reasons.  They can test our faith, strengthen

our faith or change the coarse of our life etc.  But

there is at least one more purpose that God has had

to use, with myself anyway.

Just as a horse has to be broken to submit to the 

will of it's owner.  We have to be "broken" to be

obedient to God.  Not only do the Scriptures tell

us that we cannot serve both God and money.

But they teach us that we cannot serve ourself

and God.

I do not know how many times I have faced

an insurmountable problem because God was

trying to get my attention and I needed to be 

"broken" before God so that he could use me.

Consider the possibility that huge problem or

mess of problems in your life might be a loving

God trying to get your attention to keep you from

destroying yourself.

"Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil

and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God

and He will draw near to you..."

(James 4:7,8a NASB)   

LIFE IS A GRIND.

Image courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com   

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.

A SHORT MEDITATION

Image courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com   

There are a number of things I thoroughly enjoy in life

besides eating.  One of them is watching the hawks in

this area soar around the sky.  Another is being outside

when a storm front comes in. [If it is not too cold.]

This morning sitting on the front porch, enjoying the 

incoming storm front, I saw a hawk soaring above having

a great time.  It was not high, giving me as good look.

I noticed that it keep it's self pointed into the wind, or

the storm if you prefer.  It was taking advantage of the 

storm for it's self.  Shortly more hawks joined it.  There

were a total of seven hawks in a group out for a "joy

fly" in the storm.

What do I learn from this?

God said through St. James:

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you

encounter various trials, knowing that the

testing of your faith produces endurance.  And

let endurance have its perfect result, so that you

may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

(James 1:2-4 NASB)  

Yesterday was just such a day for me.  It was Monday.

You know about Mondays.  It seemed that everything

I touched went wrong, backwards, to the dogs.  Each

machine gave me trouble and seemed to have other

problems in addition the the one I was attempting to

repair.

But I did remember the above admonition.  It was 

tough.  But throughout the day I kept reminding 

myself of the above Scripture and endured. (Sort of) 

Then last night after some rest and refreshments,

it came back to me real clearly.  On two different

machines that were driving me nuts, God (Not my

mind) clearly lead me in directions that were not 

even in my thinking.  You and I both know that

they begin to work properly then.

When the day was over,

I was able to count it all joy.

IS LIFE GETTING YOU DOWN?

Images courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com

IS YOUR LIFE GETTING YOU DOWN?

THE LOAD GETTING TO BE TOO MUCH?

God himself, the one who gives you life is

concerned about the load you are carrying.

Through his prophet he said:

"Cast your burden on the Lord,

and he will sustain you;

he will never permit the

righteous to be moved."

(Psalms 55:23 RSV)

Or perhaps it is stress that is tearing you up.

Again,

God himself who gives you breath said:

"Humble yourself therefore under the

mighty hand of God, that in due time

he may exalt you.

Cast all your anxieties on him,

for he cares about you."

(1 Peter 5:6,7 RSV)

HEY!

God himself wants you to talk to 

him about your problems.

WHERE BURDENS ARE LIFTED

William R. Newell
gave the answer when
he wrote:

1. Years I spent in vanity and pride,
   Caring not my Lord was crucified,
   Knowing not it was for me He died
   On Calvary.
   • By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
     Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
     Till my guilty soul imploring turned
     To Calvary.
2. Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything,
   Now I gladly own Him as my King,
   Now my raptured soul can only sing
   Of Calvary!
3. Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
   Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
   Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
   At Calvary!
4. Refrain:
   Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
   Pardon there was multiplied to me;
   There my burdened soul found liberty
   At Calvary.

GOD'S PREPARING A WAY FOR YOU

Reading in the book of Esther
I was impressed with the way God
prepares in advance for his people.
God knows the beginning from the end. He saw a
problem coming up for his people by the name of
Haman. So he had his solution in place when
the problem arose. He could have used a thousand
different ways to prepare. This time he choose
a little Jewish girl named Esther and made her
queen.

How long before did he began to work on the problem?
I don't know. Neither do you. Let's work backward
to get an idea.

Esther had been queen long enough the honeymoon was
over. King Ahasuerus had not called for her in thirty
days. Even kings don't get too busy to neglect the most
beautiful lady in the land. So either they had been married
a considerable period of time, or he was very, very, very,
very old.

We also have to take into account the time of the "Queen
Contest". It is obvious from the Scriptures that they did
not simply parade all these beautiful young ladies in front
of the king so he could select one. But he had to try
them all out. One lady at a time. A full night was allotted to
each lady to try and convince the king she should be queen.

Before the contest the contestants had to be prepared.
It sounds like they soaked them in oil for six months to make
them soft. No doubt to heal up the chapped skin from the harsh desert sun.
Then they soaked them in perfume for
six months to make them smell good. Many of them had
grown up around camels, donkeys, sheep and goats. Not
the recommend oder for a palace. ( Well. you read it and
see what you think.) That's why it took the king all night
to check them over for softness and oder.
I'm glad we don't do it that way today. We have refined
the process.

Backing up further. The king spent some time getting
lonely. After kicking the last queen out he found
his councilors just could not take the place of a good
wife. We don't know what period of time that covered.
But it appears he was in no hurry.
Back further God started the process. At the end of a
party that lasted for about six months, God put it into
the mind of queen Vashti to snub her husband, the king,
causing him to discard her . This opened the door for
God to have the solution ready for the problem.

The same loving God, that makes all things work together
for good for his people, is all ready working on your coming
problems. How? Don't know. But it encourages me to
know that he is already putting things into place for
your and my coming problems. Praise His holy name.