"God...the trouble-maker!"

Have you ever had a number of misfortunes befall you and for seemingly no reason? Have you ever felt like, “Hey, I’m a good person, I live a Christian lifestyle, why are bad things happening to me?”  At times we may find ourselves in unexpected trouble and immediately we look for someone to blame. Often times we blame one of two sources; ourselves or the devil. 

There are times when our troubles are indeed caused by our own mistakes, however, there is someone else who allows trouble  to manifest in our lives and we may overlook Him...God!

That’s right, God. I won’t bore you with my own opinions on why I believe God Himself can be a troublemaker in our lives, I’ll get right to the facts and prove it with scripture references. 

Here are some examples of biblical figures that experienced “God-sent trouble.”

Hannah                                                                                                                                 

In I Samuel 1:5-6 tells we see that Hannah’s trouble from God was that He had closed her womb so that she was not able to bare children though she desperately wanted to.

Hezekiah                                                                                                                                                                        
In II Kings 20:1 Hezekiah’s trouble was that his appointed time had come to die. God sent word to him directly however Hezekiah was not quite ready to “go.”

Paul                                                                                                                                               

In I Corinthians 12:7-8 Paul had been given a thorn in his flesh and a satanic buffer to test him, he sought God for deliverance seemingly to no avail.  

        

So here we have three examples of biblical people troubled by God’s permission. I’m sure many know the story of Job, Lot and Noah, and the list goes on.

Like Hannah we all want to be “fertile” in one way or another. Some may desire a natural child to come forth, while others are longing to give birth to dreams and aspirations. Like Hezekiah we all want to live. Sometimes we not only want to live in the literal sense, but we want to live in prosperity, comfort and glee. And like Paul we all (at some point) may have hindrances in our bodies whether physically, spiritually or mentally that may become a challenge for us.

The important thing to remember in times of trouble is to trust God, even if He allows the troubles to come. Often times our troubles are simply tests, it is up to us to pass these tests. 

Now let’s step back into each story and find out how Hannah, Hezekiah and Paul dealt with their troubles. Hannah was human. She was deeply saddened because of her trouble and refused to be comforted for a while, even by her husband. I Samuel 1:10 says, “And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.” In verse 11 Hannah makes her request known to the Lord and makes a vow that if He would grant her a son she would give the child to Him for His use. And though God had closed her womb, when He saw that she allowed her trouble to increase her faith, He granted her heart’s desire and blessed her with a son.

Hezekiah was human. He was sick unto death and was even told that his time to depart this Earthly life had come. II Kings20:2-3 say, “Then he turned his face toward the wall and prayed to the Lord saying, “Remember now O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before you in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in your sight.” "And Hezekiah wept bitterly."  Hezekiah reminded God of his faithful walk and cried out to God for mercy and extended life. In verses 5-6 God saw Hezekiah’s tears. He remembered how loyal Hezekiah was and granted him not only life but fifteen extra years on top of that!

Paul was human. He was being challenged physically as well as spiritually but he sought God even though God was allowing the troubles to befall him. He prayed not once but three times concerning the same issue, showing us that he was determined to get an answer from God and would not give up.

Psalms 50:15 says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” James 1:2 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

The common denominator in all three situations is prayer. Some people feel it is cliche to say, “Pray about everything and worry about nothing.” And maybe it is, but if you believe the stories in the Bible are true you can see from these examples to pray is a real answer to trouble, even when God Himself is the troublemaker!

Think about it.

I want to be a TREE!

Here are some more thought-provoking facts and figures about our oldest citizens and living treasures...trees! Can you relate? Well-maintained trees and shrubs can increase property value by up to 14%. Are you increasing the value of those around you, by loving and leading them in the way they should go according to the principals of God’s word? Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30%.  Can you reduce the need for coolants in life when hot situations arise are you cool headed enough to divert trouble? A mature tree removes almost 70 times more pollution than a newly planted tree. Are you mature enough to be an example for the “new trees” around you, such as your children and new Christians? A healthy tree can have a value of up to $10,000. Do you know your value and worth and you maintaining your “roots”, “branches” and “trunk” to prove it?

Trees are the longest-living organisms on the planet and one of the earth's greatest natural resources. They keep our air supply clean, reduce noise pollution, improve water quality, help prevent erosion, provide food and building materials, create shade, and help make our landscapes look beautiful.

All of this is interesting however driving to and fro this Autumn I noticed something else about trees that really make me want to be more like them. Trees not only stand tall and strong year round they also do something that we as people should mock. During autumn a vast majority of trees shed dead leaves. But that’s not the best part. They shed dead leaves and they do not worry about it! You will NEVER see a tree bending over to pick up the dead leaves that have fallen from its branches. You will NEVER see a tree, not even a weeping willow, crying over the loss of leaves that were dead anyway.

Shouldn’t we take note of this? How often do we become heavy with burdens or dead weight and pray to the Lord for deliverance; only to be delivered then turn around and pick up that dead weight putting it right back where it came from? Psalms chapter one tells us we are blessed if we delight in the law of the Lord and that if we meditate on the Lord night and day we’ll become like trees planted by rivers of water. So the next time you feel weighed down by burdens of life, remember the trees of FALL - shed that dead weight and don’t pick it back up!

Think about it.                                                                                                               

 (Source: http://www.savatree.com/tree-facts.html )

"Dooms Day!"

I have written several articles inspired by television programs and this is one of those. I was recently made aware the new series on the Discovery Channel called Doomsday Preppers. The show takes you inside the life of people in different areas of the globe from rural dessert lands to bustling cities; they are preparing for the end of the world as we know it. Many worry about the Apocalypse, Continental shifts, and crop failures, as well as Nuclear Wars, Earthquakes, and the collapse of American currency. In preparation they stock pile food, weapons, and animals. They build their homes underground or in metal storage buildings in hidden areas.  They train their children to suit up in doomsday armor. They practice evacuation and survival tactics readying themselves for countless disasters. They all declare they do not do these things out of fear, but out of preparation for the worst that could possibly happen. They also declare that they sacrifice in the present in order to survive in the future.

 

The majority of the “preppers” have made prepping a way of life. From medical supplies to ammo or from homemade fuel to massive backyard gardens, they work tirelessly to make sure their friends, families, or teams are ready to expect, the unexpected. At the end of the show the “preppers” are advised by doomsday experts on how to better their survival skills. Finally the odds of the impending dangers are measured, and most of the time there is a very low expected rate of any of these disasters ever really taking place. Watching several episodes got me to thinking maybe I should start stockpiling water and dried beans. It also made me wonder if these people are preparing for not only the end of the world, but the end of their lives.

Many feel that we are living in perilous times. But how often do we live daily as if it is our last day? The Bible tells us in Mark 13:31-33, “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.”

No amount of preparing will stop life from ending. However when it does end, make sure you heart is “prepped” and that you have given it to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” So when it comes to eternal life with Christ in heaven I would like to quote one of the “preppers” from the show… “Never stop preparing because you can never be ready enough.”

Think about it!

God's Salon

Patience is a virtue. When headed to the beauty salon, all ladies need to remember that! Going to the beauty salon can literally consume you entire day. But we do it because we expect to leave better than we went in! Recently, as I sat at the salon I thought about how long it takes and how much people go through to look their best.  If people spent as much time working on their inner beauty as they do their outer beauty I wonder how much more peaceful the world might be. I also thought about how we all need to take a trip to “God’s salon.”
 At a hair salon you go in expecting to wait, and you do so generally speaking, without complaint. Then why is it so difficult for us to wait on God? We sit at the salon with high hopes that the beautician will transform our dull look into something to rave about. Can’t we expect the same from God when it comes to our souls?

We don’t mind getting water splashed on us while at the bowl getting our hair washed; we understand this to be part of the process. But can we understand that at times in order to receive blessings part of the process is to go through trials so that God can see if we are worthy of those blessings?

Not one woman I know has an issue with sitting under a dryer that is frying her scalp and burning her ears to a crisp. But ask her to go through a hot trial and you may see a totally different person. You may find someone who is frustrated, filled with doubts or someone who becomes so inpatient they get “out from under the dryer” and leave God’s salon, just when He is about to turn them into someone astonishing.

I have seen a sign in many salons that says “I’m a cosmetologist, not a magician,” yet I know many women who have more faith in their beautician than they do in God. Oh, and let me throw in that fact that we never have a problem paying that beautician, yet some feel it is asking too much when a special offering is raised in the church much less when the subject of paying tithes is brought up. 

So the next time you make an appointment to get “your do, done.” remember God’s salon, is always open, He’s never late, and you will definitely leave better than you came.

Think about it.

Under Construction!

Buildings seem to be popping up all over the place. The building process in life is much like the literal building process. In order to build a happy productive life I believe we can look to the construction workers for great tips!

      Demolition- In order to build something new, we must rid ourselves of the old things that stand in our way. We shouldn’t just build around past hurt and pain. We need to demolish those feelings in order to build a new foundation.

Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” We must turn from wrong, demolish sin and not return. Just as Christ forgives our wrong likewise we must forgive others as we prepare to rebuild.

2    Break Ground- After the demolition it’s time to break up new ground, meaning take the steps necessary to begin building something new. You may need to change your surroundings or even your circle of friends.

Jeremiah 4:3 says, “Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns.” During the ground breaking process location is very important! Spiritually this means make sure that you are preparing to rebuild your life in a place of peace and not begrudging

 Lay the Foundation- Once the ground has been properly broken, begin pouring a new foundation for your new life. The best foundation there is is the Word of God. Find a good church home; get in God’s word; and follow Christ.

I Corinthians 3:11 says, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (Enough said!) 

Solid Structure- When the foundation is complete, the real building process can begin. Make sure to use sturdy materials, such as prayer, fasting and studying God’s Word, as well as positivity and self-determination to erect a structure that can shield and protect you for the rest of your life.

Psalms 104:9 in part says, “You have set a boundary that they may not pass over.” The “You” here refers to Christ. Allow Him to build your structure so that it is strong enough to help you withstand difficult things that may come your way

Exterior and Interior Design- Finally when the structure is properly fitted into place on the foundation, the decorating can begin. Dress the exterior walls with a strong reliable substance with a barrier to protect from weather and other hazardous elements, such as gossip, hatred, and depression. Then move to the inside and deck it out with beautiful things like joy, peace, patience, and faith.

So if your life is under construction, make sure you have the proper tools and are willing to work to build the best life possible.

Think about it.

Tweet this!!!

Social media reigns supreme in the lives of most Americans. Not only in America is it dominating the airways but all over the globe including Third World Countries. There aren’t many restaurants or public places you can go now where Wi-Fi is not available. We use technology and social media on our phones, to pay our bills, as well as to reconnect with long lost friends and relatives.

It seems foreign to us now to think about leaving home without our cell phone or to plan a road trip without GPS in place. Some may feel that my generation is too dependent on social media and technology.  No doubt there are people who abuse these methods of communication and even some who are addicted to them.

Night after night all over the world the last light to be turned out in millions of homes is the glaring light of computer screens, tablets, and I-pods. Nowadays even children know how to log on or pull up games on Droid phones. Personally I use social media and technology on a daily basis.

One of the largest online forms of communication is Twitter. Twitter Stats by Twitter Counter currently reports that there are over 24 million Twitter users. Everyday millions check in to see what celebrity, political figure, or even their mom has tweeted. Lady Gaga currently has 31,025,617 tweet followers; this is 8,119,686 more than President Barak Obama who has 22,905,931!

Can you imagine then how important it is to tweet positive images as well as verbiage?  Jesus had multitudes of people following Him on a daily basis, hinging on His every word. In our day and age countless number of celebrities and political figures tweet every day, many of them tweet negative or even racial slurs.

Now can you imagine if “tweeters” made the decisions to tweet words of inspiration? Many pastors and ministers frown on the use of social media. I feel that they should take advantage of it and use it as an opportunity to speak to the masses like Jesus did. Romans 10:14 in part says, “How then shall they call on Him who they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?”

So instead of condemning social media junkies, “like” their pages; “send” them a friend request, “tweet” and let them know about the saving power of Jesus Christ!

Think about it!