TODAY'S QUOTE

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"The readiest way to escape from our sufferings is to

be willing they should endure as long as God pleases."

-John Wesley

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 QUOTE

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"A season of suffering is a small price to pay

for a clear view of God."

-Max Lucado

TODAY'S QUOTE

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"The readiest way to escape from our sufferings is to be

willing they should endure as long as God pleases."

-John Wesley  

PREDICTION OF CHRIST'S SUFFERING FOR YOU

"The people reply, 

'Who would have believed what we now report?

Who could have seen the LORD's hand in this?

It was the will of the LORD that his servant grow like a

plant taking root in dry ground.

He had no dignity or beauty to make us take notice of him.

There was nothing attractive about him,

nothing that would draw us to him.

We despised him and rejected him;

he endured suffering and pain.

No one would even look at him-

we ignored him as if he were nothing.

"But he endured the suffering that should have been ours,

the pain that we should have borne.

All the while we thought that his suffering 

was punishment sent by God.

But because of our sins he was wounded,

beaten because of the evil we did.

We are healed by the punishment he suffered,

made whole by the blows he received.

All of us were like sheep that were lost,

each of us going his own way.

But the LORD made the punishment fall on him,

the punishment all of us deserved. 

"He was treated harshly, but endured it humbly;

he never said a word.

Like a lamb about to be slaughtered,

like a sheep about to be sheared,

he never said a word,

He was arrested and sentenced and let off to die,

and no one cared about his fate.

He was put to death for the sins of our people.

He was placed in a grave with those who are evil,

he was buried with the rich,

even though he had never committed a crime 

or ever told a lie.'

"The LORD says,

'It was my will that he should suffer;

his death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness.

And so he will see his descendants;

he will live a long life;

and through him my purpose will succeed.

After a life of suffering,

he will again have joy;

he will know that he did not suffer in vain.

My devoted servant, with whom I am pleased,

will bear the punishment of many 

and for his sake I will forgive them.

And so I will give him a place of honor,

a place among the great and powerful.

He willingly gave his life and shared the fate of evil men.

He took the place of many sinners

and prayed that they might be forgiven."

(Isaiah chapter 53 GNB)