Problems to prune

-Prune your problem to pull out its positive possibilities.-

*'Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.'
Matthew 7:7*


> Dear God,
allow me to grow in faith
and let me conquer my difficulties. <

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Te snoeien problemen

Major challenges and great things happpening in our life

Each day man is confronted with a new challenge.
Regularly we have to face matters that do not please us
or even frighten us.

In our life we often have to face a battle to reach an interesting goal in our life.

Before our feet we often find a big mountain to climb.

Great things happen
when God and you confront a mountain.
'Call to Me,
and I will answer you,
and show you great and mighty things,
which you do not know'
says the Lord

 Jeremiah 33:3


Dear God
Give that I may find you every day on my trip.

Help me to reach the goal I strive for.
Igive me in your Hands and Trust that you shall guide and bring me where you want me to go.

Major challenges and great things happening in our life

Each day man is confronted with a new challenge.
Regularly we have to face matters that do not please us
or even frighten us.

In our life we often have to face a battle to reach an interesting goal in our life.

Before our feet we often find a big mountain to climb.

Great things happen
when God and you confront a mountain.
'Call to Me,
and I will answer you,
and show you great and mighty things,
which you do not know'
says the Lord

 Jeremiah 33:3


Dear God
Give that I may find you every day on my trip.

Help me to reach the goal I strive for.
Igive me in your Hands and Trust that you shall guide and bring me where you want me to go.

Sometimes we face trials

In life we encounter many difficulties. Even as an organisation we can have to face trials or having to look at people who tell lies about us and have people defending the false accuser.

Sometimes we lack this necessary wisdom to face trials and persevere faithfully. These are the times when our suffering is so overwhelming that we are tempted to question whether God is either sovereign or good or to come to question if the organisation we are with might be the right one.

In such circumstances we may not forget that the adversary of God may be everywhere and in all sorts of disguises. There are enough people who shall try to get you away from your church or from your faith group. Their aim shall be to discourage you and to destroy your faith in that group you where doing so much for.

Though when we look at the matter, take distance form it we shall see some good things in it as well. It shall give us an opportunity to check if we are connected  with the right persons. Also it shall remind us that if we lack the wisdom needed to face such trials with faith and steadfastness, we can ask God.
We should ask God.

We must ask God.

In the very first chapter of his letter, James reminds us that the God we are to ask is not only sovereign, He is also faithful.

Many people may try to annoy us and get us so far that we start doing the wrong things; They may tempt us or want us to lure in saying things which can harm us more.

Many may use many ways to tempt us or to get us so far that we might react in the way they would love us to see, bringing damage to us. God does not tempt us to sin; He is good. He doesn’t make fun of us when we ask for wisdom; He is the God who gives generously.

James 1:5 The Scriptures 1998+  (5)  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it shall be given to him.

When tempted by evil doers, we should not be afraid to ask God for advice. At moments we may feel left abandoned. We may feel as if so many are turning against us. We also may feel like we once more failed.

When daring to talk to God and asking His advice, He shall come to us and by our guide. Our good and sovereign God will grant to us the very thing we are lacking, the very thing we need to face suffering well.

So, let us ask God for wisdom, believing that He is sovereign, faithful, and good, and that God uses our suffering to make us look more like Jesus.

James 1:4 The Scriptures 1998+  (4)  And let endurance have a perfect work, so that you be perfect and complete, lacking in naught.

Life might not always be easy and may demand a lot of us. Often we have to show a lot of patience.

When believing in God, trusting Him, we might find out that everything comes all right in due time.

Do you believe? Ask Him! He is a generous God who delights in giving good gifts to His children in order that we may patiently and faithfully endure to the end.

++

Additional reading

1. An other look at the events of today by one of our magazines
2. Today’s thought “Be aware of what went on” (August 15) He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him.
3. The post-Christian world
4. Through much tribulation
5. About transgression, law and punishments
6. The ecclesia Facebook account from now on restricted access 
7. Golden rule for understanding in spiritual matters obedience
8. The Golden rule not always as easy as its sounds
9. Gates to different belief systems in this world
10. Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 1 Charity and neighbour love
11. Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 2 Prayer and neighbour love
12. Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 3 Forgiveness and neighbour love
13. Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 4 Treasures’ and neighbour love
14. Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 5 Matthew 6: 24-34: e) Anxiety and neighbor love
15. Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued 6: Matthew 7:1-5 Judgment and neighbor love
16. Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued 8: Matthew 7:6-11 Giving and neighbor love
17. Matthew 7:12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Summary on the Torah’s Fulfillment
18. Matthew 7:13-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #1 The Narrow Gate and the way to destruction 
19. Religious Theology – The wide gate!

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