Finding Purpose Beyond Our Pain
Pain is gain! Sound like a Physical fitness regime? Sure it does, but this author is talking about your emotional fitness regime. Two medical Doctors take you on a tour of the seven “inevitables” that will touch everyone’s life at some point and then offer a biblical alternative to what is the “norm” in today’s counseling circles.
Written in an easy-to-read format, each chapter can stand alone as an individual study so that you can quickly and easily access the parts that deal with your particular questions of the moment, then go back later to read the book in it’s entirety if you like.
Dr.’s Meir and Henderson have brought together years of experience in psychiatry, medicine, biblical counseling, and teaching, to pen a book that weaves God’s solutions into your everyday problems and difficulties- giving you an understanding to the age-old question: “Why is this happening to me, and what do I do about it?” A few of the topics are: Life’s injustices, rejection, loss, discipline, death. The answers they lead you to just may surprise you.
I recommend this book to you if you are seriously looking for help and comfort in your time of trials, or are trying to help another through theirs. To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed.
Carrie Parker
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thankful Thoughts
As Thanksgiving Day goes by for another year. I thought I would write of things I am thankful to God for. I know there are probably many,many articles out in cyberspace that are doing that at this time of year--so I add mine to them :)
If you are following my site you will see that I haven't written for a while. Reason for that has been health problems within my family. The problems have been taken care of now. I am thankful that-for now-we will not have to deal with any for awhile. The Lord is good to love us and care for us. He knows what each and everyone of us need to be able to be happy and to serve him.
I am thankful that God is who He is, and that He loves me, and has promised to care for me. That puts many burdens too heavy for me to carry off my shoulders and onto His. He is able to handle them.
I am thankful that today, this day, I live in a country where its people have more individual freedoms than anywhere else in the world. I know that I am not promised any for tomarrow, but today I have that. I am thankful that this gives me the opportunity to serve and worship the God of Heaven openly and without fear today.
I am thankful for my husband and children who love the Lord and try to serve Him daily.
I hope that as you go about the day to day work of living that you too will think of things you can be thankful for. Realizing that you do not deserve anything; but it pleases God to give it to you anyway is a sobering and wonderful experience.
Happy Thanksgiving--today and everyday,
Esther
If you are following my site you will see that I haven't written for a while. Reason for that has been health problems within my family. The problems have been taken care of now. I am thankful that-for now-we will not have to deal with any for awhile. The Lord is good to love us and care for us. He knows what each and everyone of us need to be able to be happy and to serve him.
I am thankful that God is who He is, and that He loves me, and has promised to care for me. That puts many burdens too heavy for me to carry off my shoulders and onto His. He is able to handle them.
I am thankful that today, this day, I live in a country where its people have more individual freedoms than anywhere else in the world. I know that I am not promised any for tomarrow, but today I have that. I am thankful that this gives me the opportunity to serve and worship the God of Heaven openly and without fear today.
I am thankful for my husband and children who love the Lord and try to serve Him daily.
I hope that as you go about the day to day work of living that you too will think of things you can be thankful for. Realizing that you do not deserve anything; but it pleases God to give it to you anyway is a sobering and wonderful experience.
Happy Thanksgiving--today and everyday,
Esther
Monday, November 16, 2009
Welcome to My Spot
It is not always easy finding a way to combine a busy lifestyle with the responsibilities that we have as God's children. Finding the time to teach our children the importance of getting into God's word daily can be one of these challenges.
One way of doing this is to make a practice of taking one of the many Proverbs that are so relevant to every person's life and having a short "What do you think he means?" time in the morning.
Proverbs is filled with common sense one or two line lessons to live by. Pick out one the night before and put some thought into the meaning so that you will be ready in the morning to guide the discussion over breakfast. Open your Bible and read the verse to the children. Using this time will give the children time to think about it as they munch on cereal, or other breakfast fare. As it fixes into their minds the Word of God for the day. You can start this as early an age as having your children in their high chairs for breakfast. They may not understand the conversation at that age, but their minds are taking in the "book" that you are opening, and as they mature this will be as natural as eating breakfast becomes; helping them to realize that the Bible is a book that applies to their lives daily and not just on "Sunday". There is always time to do the things that are necessary to life. Making time to teach God's word may take some imagination, but with the effort on your part the rewards for you and your family will be great in the life eternal.
One way of doing this is to make a practice of taking one of the many Proverbs that are so relevant to every person's life and having a short "What do you think he means?" time in the morning.
Proverbs is filled with common sense one or two line lessons to live by. Pick out one the night before and put some thought into the meaning so that you will be ready in the morning to guide the discussion over breakfast. Open your Bible and read the verse to the children. Using this time will give the children time to think about it as they munch on cereal, or other breakfast fare. As it fixes into their minds the Word of God for the day. You can start this as early an age as having your children in their high chairs for breakfast. They may not understand the conversation at that age, but their minds are taking in the "book" that you are opening, and as they mature this will be as natural as eating breakfast becomes; helping them to realize that the Bible is a book that applies to their lives daily and not just on "Sunday". There is always time to do the things that are necessary to life. Making time to teach God's word may take some imagination, but with the effort on your part the rewards for you and your family will be great in the life eternal.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
As Rachel helped her to put on the heavy veiling customary for eastern brides, Leah could hear the activity in the feasting tents. Everyone was laughing and singing making toast to Jacob and Rachel's health. Leah's mind raced. She had stood and watched as her father had made deals through the years. Listened as he came away crowing about getting the best of his business partners. this time was different, she and Rachel were not sheep, and Jacob was not just another Shepard buying indiscriminately. Everyone could see that Jacob truly loved Rachel. What would her life be like once he learned he had been given the wrong woman? But at the same time, there was a spark of hope, that this would work. She knew she could make Jacob a good wife. She just needed a chance to prove herself, and then perhaps he would learn to love her too. Maybe the marriage would change him to eventually love her instead of Rachel.
All Leah's hopes came crashing down around her as the next morning Jacob woke to find, not Rachel his beloved, but Leah beside him. he thought he had married Rachel,as he lay down in a drunken stupor, but woke to see that his new wife was Leah. He was not happy about it. He stormed out of the tent in a rage, searching for Laban. He wanted to know why he was tricked. And so begins a lifetime of struggle. Leah watches helplessly as her dishonest father makes a new deal for another wife with Jacob. One week later, her sister, Rachel, became Jacob's second wife.
The struggle between two sisters is not what we are looking at here, but the results of the struggle in Leah's life. We watch as the scriptures show us how God took the side of Leah and "opened her womb" when He saw that she "was hated"(Gen. 29:31) Leah was in love with a man who did not return her affection. You can see her struggle with the rejection of her husband and the taunting of her sister. After her third son was born, Leah had a change of attitude. She was learning that God was her true source of comfort and love. She praised God for his goodness to her. Her struggles and problems did not disappear because of her change of attitude, but her soul became at peace as she became content to accept the circumstances she was placed in. Because of this, Jacob's attitude toward Leah changed as well.
She never became his first choice, but when all was said and done, he chose to be buried next to Leah.
God also chose Leah. Years later God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, through the line of the tribe of Judah, Leah's third son. Leah because of her attitude and acceptance of God's will, was blessed and used of God. During her lifetime she never knew the fullness,of God's plan. God took an awkward situation for Leah, and used it for our good and His glory. Through that third son Judah, would come the line of Christ, the Saviour of the world.
What can you can learn from Leah's story? God does not promise you that the skies will always be blue,or that life will be free of pain,or loneliness or that there will not be storms in life. He is a fair God he warns you that life is not always fair. And he promises you that he will comfort you in the loneliness, support you in your stand for him, and to reward your faithfulness to him. It may not come in the way you think it should, or when you think it should, but you can be sure of one thing: you do not go un-noticed in the eyes of an all-seeing God. Whatever may happen in your life, God can change it and make it work together for your good.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)Continue to trust God and He will work things together for good. It is your job to remain faithful, knowing that He who sends you into the battle of life, surrounds you with help on every side. Leah never understood in her lifetime why some of the things that happened to her happened the way they did. You may not understand why things happen to you, but God can and will make it work for your good. One day in the future He will make all things become new. You will see that He has been in control all along, and what he has done is protected you from, what he has provided for you and all he has done for you. Be patient and trust him.
All Leah's hopes came crashing down around her as the next morning Jacob woke to find, not Rachel his beloved, but Leah beside him. he thought he had married Rachel,as he lay down in a drunken stupor, but woke to see that his new wife was Leah. He was not happy about it. He stormed out of the tent in a rage, searching for Laban. He wanted to know why he was tricked. And so begins a lifetime of struggle. Leah watches helplessly as her dishonest father makes a new deal for another wife with Jacob. One week later, her sister, Rachel, became Jacob's second wife.
The struggle between two sisters is not what we are looking at here, but the results of the struggle in Leah's life. We watch as the scriptures show us how God took the side of Leah and "opened her womb" when He saw that she "was hated"(Gen. 29:31) Leah was in love with a man who did not return her affection. You can see her struggle with the rejection of her husband and the taunting of her sister. After her third son was born, Leah had a change of attitude. She was learning that God was her true source of comfort and love. She praised God for his goodness to her. Her struggles and problems did not disappear because of her change of attitude, but her soul became at peace as she became content to accept the circumstances she was placed in. Because of this, Jacob's attitude toward Leah changed as well.
She never became his first choice, but when all was said and done, he chose to be buried next to Leah.
God also chose Leah. Years later God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, through the line of the tribe of Judah, Leah's third son. Leah because of her attitude and acceptance of God's will, was blessed and used of God. During her lifetime she never knew the fullness,of God's plan. God took an awkward situation for Leah, and used it for our good and His glory. Through that third son Judah, would come the line of Christ, the Saviour of the world.
What can you can learn from Leah's story? God does not promise you that the skies will always be blue,or that life will be free of pain,or loneliness or that there will not be storms in life. He is a fair God he warns you that life is not always fair. And he promises you that he will comfort you in the loneliness, support you in your stand for him, and to reward your faithfulness to him. It may not come in the way you think it should, or when you think it should, but you can be sure of one thing: you do not go un-noticed in the eyes of an all-seeing God. Whatever may happen in your life, God can change it and make it work together for your good.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)Continue to trust God and He will work things together for good. It is your job to remain faithful, knowing that He who sends you into the battle of life, surrounds you with help on every side. Leah never understood in her lifetime why some of the things that happened to her happened the way they did. You may not understand why things happen to you, but God can and will make it work for your good. One day in the future He will make all things become new. You will see that He has been in control all along, and what he has done is protected you from, what he has provided for you and all he has done for you. Be patient and trust him.
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