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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of “All that Glitters is Not Gold” (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (01/24/08)
LOOKING BEYOND THE SPARKLE OF LIVING

Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness”
Our God therefore has created Adam and no doubt has expressed His achievement as being, “VERY GOOD.”

Then human nature began to have a very high level of expectations. Above all, it was a deep personal belief that our Creator owes man full rights in this world: Especially when it comes to His born-again children. They assume that our Lord will continue to bless them always. They hope for a leveled type of life. No bumps. No negative situations ever.

The word of God says “We are seated in heavenly places.” Yes. But does this mean there will never be any calamities in our life? No, not at all.

There are times when greatly unexpected incidents occur! Episodes happen, which we never imagined, or expected to happen. Yet they touch our life---they can also greatly touch our sensitivity; they may stealthily imbalance our faith, thus inciting our full annoyance. Our ego will jump out and protest with uncontrolled emotions: “NO.NO. Oh Lord…I was never warned! Why should this be my fate and my dire circumstances?” .

Now where do we stand, especially as we use “The Lord’s Prayer” in our everyday link with God our true heavenly Father? We find this great gift to be the best pacifier to pull our brakes at the right time. We must always remember that the Word of God offers many promises for our life.

We need to be careful lest we “get high” on expectations from the Lord of the Word. We better watch our steps! Otherwise, in no time we shall find great overpowering feelings of dissatisfaction. We shall be hit real hard by surprises. We then hear the soft encouraging voice of the Holy Spirit of God praying through us. He gently urges us, “Say this with me: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Here is a kindly meant advice to those of us to whom this lovely prayer shines as the sturdiest crutch in life: When we promise Jesus to follow Him, it is intended to be honestly, honorably and obediently “for better or for worse…till death do us part.”
Thus, we learn to embrace God’s will with open arms indeed. No matter how difficult that sentence appears in His will.

How then do we strive to avoid a reaction of anger at God’s will? Certainly none of us wishes to appear as a fool. If His plan for our life is to receive a sudden order of separation from a loved one through death, we become desperate because it was never expected or anticipated! We start to lament and plead, “WHY ME OH LORD?”


My friend MaryAnn Morrison was a very devoted child of God. She was barely
28 years of age, her husband was 29, and Fiona her daughter was 4 years old…. She thought hers was the happiest marriage on earth. One September morning, her husband went fishing with his brother. They never came back. Their boat over-turned in the storm, and they both drowned.

Let us feel the reaction on bereaved MaryAnn, as she sadly recounted in her own true
words. In her life with Jesus, she always looked deeper than the surface of events. These are her own words, “During the Funeral Service, I heard the sweet voice of my heavenly Father speak deeply in my heart from Psalm 118:24: ‘This is the day which the Lord hath
made; we will rejoice and be glad in it’.”

MaryAnn resumed witnessing of the love of our Lord Jesus, “Yet, knowing it was very
hard for me to rejoice, His sweet voice continued whispering in my heart from
John 14:18, ‘I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you’ ”

The Bible has much to enlighten us about God’s protection and concern. In Job’s
unequalled life disaster, God reassured him perfectly in Ch. 11:18, “And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.”
Come rain or shine, may the Lord help us to accept all decisions from His own hands with great dignity, as we look deeper than the surface. Amen.

(All Scripture taken from KJV)
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Joanne Sher 
02/04/08
Very good message here.

Just a suggestion - I would start with the example of MaryAnn, just for a better "hook" to get us interested at the beginning.

I needed to hear this today - thank you.
Beth LaBuff 
02/04/08
Your thoughts are a great reminder for the Christian, especially when life's realities assault you. I like many of your allusions ("pacifier", "leveled type of life"). MaryAnn's testimony is amazing, showing her faith and understanding of the nature of God. I like how you've related the Christian life to the topic.