It's the Christmas Shopping Final Push!!!
Here Comes Santa Claus,
Let's all give some applause.
As just maybe,
You'll shop while waiting for Santa Baby.
I was thinking about the Scripture passage - in
Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Even more than this mother does...
So if the Spirit intercedes for us, understanding our deepest longings better than we do...why should we rejoice in sufferings?
Romans 5:3
but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces...
this...
1 Peter 4:12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you...
The boy in the video delights these problems are...
overwhelming
unusual
fiery
Now if we had presented to you Corrie ten Boom's experiences we could all agree hair shirts are not what a Good and Loving Father would ask His children to wear. When Paul, in the Power of the HOLY Spirit is saying that he rejoices in these sufferings...
He is saying... with Billy Graham ...
“I've read the last page of the Bible, it's all going to turn out all right.” ― Billy Graham
In no way shape or form is our Father God telling us that we should love to suffer. How Do Diamonds Form?
Contrary to what many people believe, most diamonds do not form from coal.
1) Diamond Formation in the Earth's Mantle - Like Noah's life - God specifically prophesies the wives of Noah’s three sons would be saved aboard the Ark, we know it took at least enough time for all three boys to grow up and get married! All three boys were NOT born at the same time: Genesis 10:21 tells us.
To be more clear, God starts with His Plans well before we are born.
2) Diamond Formation in Subduction Zones
God uses trouble in our lives, even our childhoods to help us see a path for us or a way around this. Jesus was called to live in Exile in Egypt as a child. Later the Gospels record during the Pharisee examinations of their lives Nazareth people saw the Blended family Joseph had with God's Son as being cohesive. We would spare our children trouble, God would have us have difficulties - - - to
Romans 5:
knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
3) Diamond Formation at Impact Sites
Jesus tells us His family are those who do His Will. Jesus lets that cohesive family go to do His ministry. I doubt Jesus enjoyed saying no to His mother and saying more blessed are they who Do the Will of God.
4) Formation in Vast Spaces
As Jesus went to the cross, he adopted John. Doesn't this appear to be a return of evil for evil? Thinking people are a little shocked Jesus would give Mary to John. And Jesus even adopts Mary, as Mary is the one who would go with spices and beg to find Jesus.
The Most Convincing Evidence
Evil for Evil? Jesus also told us families would be divided over Him. Even Revelation says one person ascends and another does not. Is this suffering to be delighted in? No. God wants to save the world. Sending His Son to bring people to a higher place where corruption is not needed as people trust one another in the fulness of God's plan.
Does God want to be a builder of mankind?
Let's consider God's family - in Acts 2 we see Jesus' mother and brothers and sisters gather with the disciples to have fellowship and pray. Jesus' family goes out to spread the Good News - John helps Mary and is single.
In the Church - in Two Millenniums - the gates of hell have not prevailed. The Light continues to shine.
Has the Goal of God changed? No. We celebrate Emmanuel - God is with us. For us. By us. In us. Moving within us and dwelling there. All the people of God we read about in Hebrews 11
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—
And the answer to rejoice in our sufferings is provided by Jesus
Hebrews 12
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
These people did not want to suffer but instead
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.
This was despising the shame - suffering - gives. The goal of God is to save the world. People for generations and millenniums have looked to God to provide them with miracles, provisions, and God provides us His Son to offer us Hope - the promises of God are for you. Faith - God is who He says and does not lie. Love - for who you are. How High, How Deep, How Wide, HOW Pervasive is the Love God has for us seeing us in His Eternal Kingdom fulfilled completely. He sees in you today - that you need a Savior and HE loves you TODAY. As you are. Lifting you up, building you, encouraging you because Jesus tells us again and again and again - His warehouse does not run out of blessings and HE wants you in His Kingdom.
Come with HIM to a Higher Path. Where Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Come to Him and expect to see.
Isaiah 6
I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the traina of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”
God seeks to remove suffering -
Isaiah 25
He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces;
he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth!
The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."
THIS IS THE LORD!!!
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