5-25-16
Bits and pieces by: Pastor Glen; High Praise Church
-added narrative from yours truly.
Im sorry!!! I pick up key words and my brain runs with it! I left my notes in the car >.> I'll update in the AM whilst i haz me coffeeeee.
Lets say God is a plane. Point the nose up, you go up, nose down, you go down. Nose right...yup it goes right. Theres no tricking the plane and theres no tricking God on what your focus is. We should always be focused on God. When we focus first on God, do things not fall into place accordingly? Horrible circumstances take miraculously unexpected turns for the better. Faster than normal recovery, cancer straight up disappearing, loved one having multiple strokes and then making leaps and bounds if the recovery process, a completely horrific accident and someone walking away with minor-mild injuries, someones 'lights' literally about to go out, the all of a sudden they have the energy of spring chicken.
Each tragic, stressful, sometimes almost unbearable circumstances happen. When we follow God, I've said it before. Its not unicorns thats fart rainbows. Puppy dogs and ice cream. Kittens in a field of daisies. It down right sucks and makes you gauge just where exactly your faith lies. How strong it is, as you're given your trials and tribulations. *sings*what doesnt kill you, makes you stronger!*end* what you have to do is just pray. You know what..read psalms! David is God's 'chosen man' for a reason. Be like David. Minus the spouse killing part cuz you want someone else's woman/man. Anyhoo....trails..tribulations. Right. Really they do suck. But like I said, pray. Praise God even when it hard.
Pastor Glen gave a good example of strength. I dont know how many of you garden,or at least know the basics, but here it is(you gon learn today). So it's couple week before spring. You plant your precious little seeds in the cute little cups indoors. After a couple weeks they start to sprout. You continue care for them inside in a controlled environment. After its warm enough at night where you dont have to worry about frost(ive forgotten seedlings outside before) to start training them for ther new environment. Inside theres no heat, no air circulation, no wind. But outside, well it is. But that wind, the changing temperatures, it helps temperament the plant to be able to stay outside day by day. Each day as its pelted with rain, blown almost all the way over by strong winds, bugs, diseases. It goes through its own little plant world of tests to help it grow stronger. Our troubles and trials are like the beating heat of the sun or the huge gusts of wind, or even a huge hectic thunderstorm that sent you crying to mommy and daddy when you were a kid.
God will test you, the enemy will come at you from all sides to discourage you. Rise above it. "With God all things are Possible". "I can do anything with God who strengthens me". God knows our ins and outs. Our strengths, our weaknesses. But even in our weakness his glory shines through us. 'Oh, im really not that strong', 'God cant use me. Im too weak. I dont know how to help anyone' are common thought processes. Im guilty of it. I lived by it for...wel..about 10-11yrs. I didn't think I was worthy enough and I thought surely i couldnt make a difference to anyone. So i just did whatever I wanted. I lost my focus and i suffered for it. God helped shownme my strengths. Even my weaknesses. Each and every person had ther own unique aspect about them. That one person who couldnt get the town drunk to church, well, maybe you can. There are people in this world, that only certain people could really connect and reach out to. When one is unsuccessful, another is, where that other isnt, someone else is. Ya know, God 'will never give you more than you can handle'. Ever. *sings*"i wont give you more than you can take. I might let you bend but I wont let you break"(.group 1 crew - he said).
God doesn't let bad things happen. Especially not because 'you screwed up'. Were human. He expects us to mess up. But he also expects us to do our best. What we need to do is ask God to discern what our strength and weaknesses are. Then we need to hone our strengths, and sharpen our weaknesses. "When God is for us, who can stand against us?" Romans 8:31. Grow strong my friends. Strap on your favorite helmet and let God drive the bus. All you have to do is pray and praise. That said ill end it with you also have to believe that God is in control and just surrender everything to him. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" Isaiah 41:10. So, are you strong enough? YES! Especially when God is on your side.
Bits and pieces by: Pastor Glen; High Praise Church
-added narrative from yours truly.
Im sorry!!! I pick up key words and my brain runs with it! I left my notes in the car >.> I'll update in the AM whilst i haz me coffeeeee.
Lets say God is a plane. Point the nose up, you go up, nose down, you go down. Nose right...yup it goes right. Theres no tricking the plane and theres no tricking God on what your focus is. We should always be focused on God. When we focus first on God, do things not fall into place accordingly? Horrible circumstances take miraculously unexpected turns for the better. Faster than normal recovery, cancer straight up disappearing, loved one having multiple strokes and then making leaps and bounds if the recovery process, a completely horrific accident and someone walking away with minor-mild injuries, someones 'lights' literally about to go out, the all of a sudden they have the energy of spring chicken.
Each tragic, stressful, sometimes almost unbearable circumstances happen. When we follow God, I've said it before. Its not unicorns thats fart rainbows. Puppy dogs and ice cream. Kittens in a field of daisies. It down right sucks and makes you gauge just where exactly your faith lies. How strong it is, as you're given your trials and tribulations. *sings*what doesnt kill you, makes you stronger!*end* what you have to do is just pray. You know what..read psalms! David is God's 'chosen man' for a reason. Be like David. Minus the spouse killing part cuz you want someone else's woman/man. Anyhoo....trails..tribulations. Right. Really they do suck. But like I said, pray. Praise God even when it hard.
Pastor Glen gave a good example of strength. I dont know how many of you garden,or at least know the basics, but here it is(you gon learn today). So it's couple week before spring. You plant your precious little seeds in the cute little cups indoors. After a couple weeks they start to sprout. You continue care for them inside in a controlled environment. After its warm enough at night where you dont have to worry about frost(ive forgotten seedlings outside before) to start training them for ther new environment. Inside theres no heat, no air circulation, no wind. But outside, well it is. But that wind, the changing temperatures, it helps temperament the plant to be able to stay outside day by day. Each day as its pelted with rain, blown almost all the way over by strong winds, bugs, diseases. It goes through its own little plant world of tests to help it grow stronger. Our troubles and trials are like the beating heat of the sun or the huge gusts of wind, or even a huge hectic thunderstorm that sent you crying to mommy and daddy when you were a kid.
God will test you, the enemy will come at you from all sides to discourage you. Rise above it. "With God all things are Possible". "I can do anything with God who strengthens me". God knows our ins and outs. Our strengths, our weaknesses. But even in our weakness his glory shines through us. 'Oh, im really not that strong', 'God cant use me. Im too weak. I dont know how to help anyone' are common thought processes. Im guilty of it. I lived by it for...wel..about 10-11yrs. I didn't think I was worthy enough and I thought surely i couldnt make a difference to anyone. So i just did whatever I wanted. I lost my focus and i suffered for it. God helped shownme my strengths. Even my weaknesses. Each and every person had ther own unique aspect about them. That one person who couldnt get the town drunk to church, well, maybe you can. There are people in this world, that only certain people could really connect and reach out to. When one is unsuccessful, another is, where that other isnt, someone else is. Ya know, God 'will never give you more than you can handle'. Ever. *sings*"i wont give you more than you can take. I might let you bend but I wont let you break"(.group 1 crew - he said).
God doesn't let bad things happen. Especially not because 'you screwed up'. Were human. He expects us to mess up. But he also expects us to do our best. What we need to do is ask God to discern what our strength and weaknesses are. Then we need to hone our strengths, and sharpen our weaknesses. "When God is for us, who can stand against us?" Romans 8:31. Grow strong my friends. Strap on your favorite helmet and let God drive the bus. All you have to do is pray and praise. That said ill end it with you also have to believe that God is in control and just surrender everything to him. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" Isaiah 41:10. So, are you strong enough? YES! Especially when God is on your side.
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