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We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in 2008. Our children helped us celebrate with an all expense paid all arranged vacation In Hawaii.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
"It is the fire of suffering that brings forth the gold of godliness." Madame Guyon
God has a purpose behind every trouble.
God could have kept Joseph out of jail, kept Daniel out of the lion's den, kept Jeremiah from being tossed into a slimy pit, kept Paul from being shipwrecked three times, and kept the three Hebrew young men from being thrown into the blazing furnace--but he didn't. He let those problems happen, and every one of those persons was drawn closer to God as a result.
Problems force us to look to God and depend on him instead of ourselves. Paul testified to this benefit: "We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us." 2 Corinthians 1:9 (LB)
You'll never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got.
(The thoughts in this post were taken from Rick Warren's excellent, best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life. I recommend you read the entire book.)
34 comments:
I love this.
I have read the book, but may just read it again. Thank you for the reminder. There have been a lot of funerals and sadness around us lately.
I read this post shortly after reading a newspaper article about a young pastor battling brain cancer. I then visited his blog and watched a video testimony of his. Here's the link:
http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/
God has a way of taking something bad and turning it into something good. This pastor's plight went AP and is circulating around the world. I know God is also using Ron's cancer for His glory. This brings me comfort and peace. Have a great week, Clif.
Good post Clif. Everything He allows in our lives is for His glory and to make us grow stronger in Him.
I read the book a while back. I need to re-read it again. Thanks for the reminder about looking beyond the troubles. There is a bigger purpose.
Not to mention the empathy and compassion trouble seems to give us. Thanks Clif for a great post!
Good post.
Lately, I've determined that God's ways are past finding out. Just when I think I understand where he's going, and what the troubles all mean, I realize how wrong I am.
I love this; thanks for posting it! Have a wonderful Sunday.
Blessings,
Sandi
How quickly we let worries overwhelm us sometimes, without realizing that we are minimizing the Lord's power over those when we do that. May we learn to rely on Him and completely trust Him whenever we go into trials. Glory to God. God bless.
.I always wished I didn't have to go through those things that really hurt...but now I think...through them...I've become strong. I can even thank Him for allowing them in my life. Thanks Cliff for this. Your site is always peaceful to me. Sarah
Bless you for this.
Thank you for that beautiful post and verse, Cliff. I am enjoying the wonderful pictures of you and Charlotte on her new blog. You have been blessed to travel to those lovely places. Blessings ~
I have always liked these verses and understood with my head, but now under pressure, I understand with my heart.
Your words encouraged and refreshed my soul. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and being used today!
Hi Clif. This is a wonderful post and I have read Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life. It is a very good book, indeed.
Also, I have received my copy of My Paper Chase and am anxious to read it, but I am sure my son will be reading it first. Thank you.
Great post! My daughter gave me this book when it first came out. After reading it I started a prayer group to study the book with me. This was a turning point in my life! This group is still meeting (five years now!) We have also been instrumental in starting small community groups in our Catholic church! We started praying it would happen and it did, several groups started last month (January!) PTL!
Katherine
Amen....This is sooo very true! God is all we will ever need!
Have a blessed Sunday and ENJOY THE GAME :)
Thanks, Cliff, thanks for your post on this subject. I have had more than my share of troubles in the last five years. If I had seen the things coming, I would have fainted but they all slipped upon me. God was faithful to me through them all. I love the Purpose Driven Life. It helps to have some understanding when going through the rough waters.
Wonderful post! We did the Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life study on Sunday night ( upstairs of course oh and there were only about 10 of us, I wonder why!)Well I guess that's about 5 different post, all I can say is I feel sorry for all of the people who miss this class.
Hugs,
Ginger
I LOVED this. And this remark..."You'll never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got"...REALLY made me think. Thanks for sharing this. Have a great week. Blessings, Debbie
Beautiful message. Thank you for sharing.
Have a blessed day!
I just ordered this book last weekend, Clif! Aren't we blessed to have someone like Rick Warren in our lives?
Thank you for your post. Yes here in our home we have felt the trials and tribulations of what goes with job loss 3 years ago. God had a wonderful plan and way to pull us back in tight and down new paths of growth that we would not have otherwise experienced, I am sure. That was a great book.
Cliff, thanks for stopping by and posting. When I read what you said I realized I made a mistake and put in last weeks link! Thanks for stopping by and graciously making me aware. ~
Great post and great book!
Thank you, Clif. We are not on this earth to be comfy and happy but to be changed into His glory. You are right - growth comes through trials.
Thank you for these timely thought.
Our church did Purpose Driven Life. It's delightfully provoking.
Hi, Cliff!
I wanted to stop by and say hi and to thank you for commenting on my blog post. I appreciate it and you very much.
To be honest, I was a little worried about blogging in the first place for many reasons... one being I didn't think anyone would benefit from anything I would write about, but I was mostly worried about being overwhelmed with shame talking about my past. I realize now that I waas suffering with pride. You confirmed what the Holy Spirit was leading me to do all along... my testimony will perhaps help many others and I should tell people about it. So, thank you again!
I'd like to follow you if you don't mind, and you may follow me if you'd like. God bless you today and everyday!
Your friend in Christ,
Georgia
Hello Cliff, our Sunday School class spent several weeks studying this book. It was a wonderful experience.
Blessings, Jeanne
I often find in life that the good Lord gives me problems to get my spiritual life back on track. And he often sends friends to help.
Hi Clif, I have his book but never read it yet.. I think I will make it my book for February. And I just wanted to say.. Thank you for always being an encouragement to my heart when you visit my blog.
Blessings Lorie
Excellent. "All things work together for good . . ."
Thanks for sharing these word- how true and the wy we need to look at our problems-knowing God has a purpose for our good.
Great Bible verses. Amen !
Blessings,
~Myrna
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