"The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord test the heart." -Proverbs 17:3
"Jesus said to him, "Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him."-Matthew 4:10-11
Here is a popular debate over the years: "Who do I blame for my problems?" In most cases there are three choices involved. I can blame myself, I can blame satan, or I can blame God(the popular choice for some reason). I thought we could look in Matthew and see how Jesus handled his temptation in the desert. While he does not come out and blame any one I do find it helpful the way he handled the situation. For each of the three temptations Jesus used scripture to solve the temptation.
Today we always want to blame someone else for our problems. We could stomp our toe on a door facing and we would blame the builder for putting a door way in that spot! I like to think that everything that happens, good and bad, is some form of a test. A way to always be sizing me up to see where I am progressing and where I am lacking. This doesn't mean I always respond in the best of ways but maybe that is God showing me how to gain self control. I believe there is a simple solution to the question who causes things to happen to us. I love to hear our elders say "that mean ole devil is testing you." Well you know what, once again they are right. However if we look behind the scenes my Bible teaches me that my God is and always will be stronger then satan. Therefore God will never allow satan to test us with more than we can handle. (heard that before huh) The last part is the part is where most fail to search. Why is God testing me? The proverbs for today tells us the God will test us. Therefore is it possible that maybe he is trying to show us that there are may places he wants to improve us. Is it possible he wants us to see the good in situations instead of blaming Him or satan (because we know we would never blame ourselves). Is it possible that the simple solution to handle things would be to simply read and study the teachings and examples He has set forth? Is it possible...He is right again...as always!
I right this blog today because of all the things that are going on around us. Hurricanes, crime, families separating, the slowing of the economy. I listen to our presidential nominee's, I listen to the people on television, and I read the latest headlines and NO ONE ever takes responsibility to ask how can we help. They simply blame someone else and somehow keep the spotlight on themselves by doing this. Lets change this view, lets change how we handle things, lets start a new fad of taking responsibility, find the good in situations, and search for ways to improve our ourselves and each other.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
IT'S BACK!!!
After some computer/Internet issues we are back up and going! Sorry for the delay.
One thing I try to do each day is read a chapter in Proverbs. That is where the idea for this blog is from. Each day's writings have some backing from Proverbs and that is intentional. Today is obviously the 16th. Let's look at two verses in Proverbs 16.
"To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue." Proverbs 16:1
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3
One of my biggest problems and greatest attributes is I dream to large. The reason this is a problem is I dream large and often. The reason it is an attribute I believe reflects an old saying: "Without a dream the people perish." The problem is I have so many plans and dreams I never commit to any of them. Everyday it's a new idea, a new invention, a new goal. The next morning those sets of dreams have faded and a new set have taken priority.
Should I stop dreaming? I don't believe that is the case. I think the answers fall in these two verses. I often have plans that I dream up, only to have the Lord say "not now, not yet," or just "NO." It often leads to disappointment, however by Him saying "no" I am sure it saves me from greater disappointment. I think that maybe this is the case for most of us. In a recent Bible study over half the people in attendance requested prayer because they are unhappy with their current jobs. I wonder if the reason is because God is now leading them in a different direction. Is he? Are we listening? A better question of why we might be stuck in a rut of unhappiness at work is this: He is starting to open our eyes to a new direction however we are not ready to commit to the new plans he has for us. I challenge all who read this just as I am challenging myself: COMMIT. Commit to the plans he has for you. Commit to praying about them daily. Commit to giving Him 100%. Commit to success.
One thing I try to do each day is read a chapter in Proverbs. That is where the idea for this blog is from. Each day's writings have some backing from Proverbs and that is intentional. Today is obviously the 16th. Let's look at two verses in Proverbs 16.
"To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue." Proverbs 16:1
"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:3
One of my biggest problems and greatest attributes is I dream to large. The reason this is a problem is I dream large and often. The reason it is an attribute I believe reflects an old saying: "Without a dream the people perish." The problem is I have so many plans and dreams I never commit to any of them. Everyday it's a new idea, a new invention, a new goal. The next morning those sets of dreams have faded and a new set have taken priority.
Should I stop dreaming? I don't believe that is the case. I think the answers fall in these two verses. I often have plans that I dream up, only to have the Lord say "not now, not yet," or just "NO." It often leads to disappointment, however by Him saying "no" I am sure it saves me from greater disappointment. I think that maybe this is the case for most of us. In a recent Bible study over half the people in attendance requested prayer because they are unhappy with their current jobs. I wonder if the reason is because God is now leading them in a different direction. Is he? Are we listening? A better question of why we might be stuck in a rut of unhappiness at work is this: He is starting to open our eyes to a new direction however we are not ready to commit to the new plans he has for us. I challenge all who read this just as I am challenging myself: COMMIT. Commit to the plans he has for you. Commit to praying about them daily. Commit to giving Him 100%. Commit to success.
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