Thankfully Sick?

I wasn't supposed to be sick...

Something that I was reminded of was that I am to be thankful...

... all the time...

... no matter what.

"in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB


The Bible also says-

"But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5 NASB

So that's the way I prayed, "God, I don't understand. You said I could ask, you'd answer abundantly and wouldn't scold me... so, why am I sick?"

And answer He did.

I had completely forgotten that I was going to pursue some things for the ministry's sake on Monday. There is a group that specializes in working with people that have drug and alcohol addictions and I had planned to contact them Monday.

When I realized this, God showed me a person and the thought that came to mind was "homosexual".

It didn't stop there. I could see movement, perhaps a group of people, but I couldn't see anything distinctly; it was as if I was really far away.

Then I heard "SEXUAL IMPROPRIETY" followed by "I, The Lord have spoken."

WOW!

I started feeling lousy Saturday and the sickness just increased... and I had completely forgot about my plans for Monday. So God had prevented me from going through with my plans by the sickness.

Thank You, Lord...

"There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--" Ecclesiastes 3:1 NASB

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Giants, A Victory For or Against?

Isn't life interesting?

I'm sitting here sick, but I'm not supposed to be. According to Isaiah 53:5 and 1Peter 2:24 I'm not supposed to be sick; but I am.

2Corinthians 1:9 talks of getting beyond ourselves through the realization that we can't do it on our own; we have to trust God. He is able, even to raise us from the dead.

2Corinthians 2:11 talks about people praying for them. Through their affliction, and all the people praying for them, there will be many people praising God.

That makes sense.

Ready for the contrast?

Everybody wants it their way; I want it God's way, all the way.

Tonight the world watched the Superbowl; tonight I watched the movie "Facing the Giants" with my family.

The Giants won the Superbowl; in the movie, the Giants were defeated.

The world's giants will tell you, you are defeated; the Bible says we are "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37).


Chuck Swindal said-

Facing giants is an intimidating experience.
Doing battle is a lonely experience.
Trusting God is a stabilizing experience.
Winning victories is a memorable experience.

Ravi Zacharias said-

Facing Goliath's is a recurring experience.

So far this year I have faced the giant, fear. Actually, his name was "Afraid".
I smacked him on the end of the nose and asked him to come closer. The pit or the dry places is his destiny. I was spit on and took a grazing shot to the ribs.

I have the promise of Isaiah, a hook in its nose and it will be turned back to where it came from (Isaiah 37:29 & 2Kings 19:28)

Isaiah 41 get better-

"For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, 'Do not fear, I will help you.' "Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you," declares the LORD, "and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. "Behold, I have made you a new, sharp threshing sledge with double edges; You will thresh the mountains and pulverize them, And will make the hills like chaff. "You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away, And the storm will scatter them; But you will rejoice in the LORD, You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.  Isaiah 41:13-16 NASB

This is going to be a GREAT year!

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Things Are NOT As They Appear

First, it was this, back in August

Behind the Curtain

The vast ocean of evil is already here. But, when God has prepared us to conquer, he will prepare a table before in the presence of our enemies.

Then there was this

The Unseen World

 "and to keep you from being shaken... we warned you that troubles would soon come..." (I Thessalonians 3:3-4 NLT synopsis

Then, in church today, right after worship, sister Wilma said that she witnessed something interesting.  She could see what appeared to be little cartoon characters running around on the stage. These were things like Elmer Fudd and whatnot.

Then they all transformed into something hideous with teeth and fangs.

So, things are NOT as they appear! What seems to be familiar, cute, and cuddly is indeed quite evil and ferocious!

We absolutely, and without a doubt need to understand what this means and what God is trying to tell us!!!

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The Unseen World

My motto seems to be- "the things we see here in the 'physical' world are only manifestations of the spiritual realm"...

That offers an explanation into my own plights, but does not necessarily offer a solution.

Then I went back and read this-
Behind the Curtain -

You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil--the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.  Ephesians 2:2 NLT

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.  Ephesians 6:12 NLT

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.  Psalms 23:5 NASB

But we must keep going in the direction that we are now headed.  Philippians 3:16 CEV

and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come--and they did, as you well know.  1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 NLT

Hmm...

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