pain I hate it but we have to go through it anyway

I posted on Facebook and twitter an article that I read on Wayne Stiles blog.

http://www.waynestiles.com/the-question-we-ought-to-ask-when-hurting/

The question we aren't to ask went hurting spark thoughts about pain that I've come to understand over the years. If you like to question where is God in the mist of our pain? Read his blog. I also would encourage you to read Phillip Yancy’s book, Where is God When it Hurts? 

Wayne Styles contrast how the Psalms looks at the question of pain with the book of Job. In the Psalms the writers repeatedly asked where is God in the midst I'll our pain? Job never answers the question of where is God in my pain? Nor Why does God allows such struggle in our lives? Asking these questions you are right with the writers of Scriptures.

We all know when our body tells us we are hurting. That pain is communicating to us a problem. Answering the question why does this hurt? That's a very good question. Finding the answer not only helps the pain but it helps us with the causes of pain. Some pain it is wonderful to just get relief from it. And most of the time our body heals while we get relief. 

Sometimes the pain indicates that we have to get help to fix the problem. Other times pain is a warning and we must do something to put a stop to it. 

Pain becomes a problem when its chronic or overwhelming. The cry of “why” you can feel the pain. Pain often can be helpful but at the same time it can be unuseful if the “state” is prolong or terminal.

Along the way in life teaches us there is no escaping problems and pain. One way or another we have to go through it. We live in a fallen world and God has his purposes with the things that are and that isn't going to change anytime soon. Bad people in Paris are going to kill innocent people, crazy broken evil people are going to kill children in school. Demented agendas become more important then people.

In the context of difficult and painful experiences caused by evil or even things going drastically wrong with our bodies, why doesn't always cut it. Job shares with us that we need to discover the who that can go with us through the pain is what we need. The truth is we are all going to experience the ultimate loss of life and the most important thing that we need is to trust the one that can take us through that. 

We may find people who can help us through our darkest day. We may need courage courage to stand up to evil. It took our soldiers to go through the darkest days of World War II to end the suffering of Holocaust. The people of London had to suffer much before Hitler was stopped. We may be an accident with broken bone and body and have to go through the pain of care by medical people. We may have to endure a long recovery and possibly some loss and chronic pain. Learning to trust God through these things in seeing how God uses these things to make us more like Jesus is a big part of the purpose of pain that Styles talks about. Nobody wants it, that is the pain. But that doesn't change the reality that we will go through these things one way or another.

That's why I encourage you to read the article or the book in think through these things. Sometimes we have to pray through these things when we don't want to. We can be angry about it, bitter about it, we can do the blame thing; but it will not change the pain that we go through. Trusting God in our darkest time maybe the hardest thing we have to do. Keep walking

Praying back the Scriptures a Quiet time skill

Daily Growth for March 7

Daily Prayer

http://www.kenboa.org

I have several ways to have a quiet time. In my late 20s, a friend of mine Daniel from Grand Rapids used to go up onto John Ball Park that overlooks the city of Grand Rapids. At 5 o'clock in the morning we would pray by rewriting scripture with personal pronouns. We were praying to start a ministry where nobody had a Ministry. As we looked over the city our eyes went where nobody had a ministry.

Many years ago I came across a three month devotional written by Ken Boa, Face to Face. Thoughtfully Ken put scriptures to be prayed with with the appropriate Time for responses. The book is well worth your investment. Today you can get these daily prayers email to you when you go to his site. Over the years I use them from time to time to give purpose in my quiet time. 

Below is a Sunday adaption and the responses are geared to worship. In the daily guides there are more responses to pray for others. The (blue) text is the actual Scriptures Ken paraphrase from. You can appreciate Ken's approach (black) and careful work. The (brown) text gives you a glimpse of my responses in my quiet time today. What I benefited from was my mind focusing on the prayer. If you did this your response would be different.

A healthy quiet time uses several techniques. So in that spirit here is one more, keep walking

Adapted from Simple Prayers

Daily Prayer Day 66

I DRAW NEAR TO YOU, GOD

I praise You, Lord, that You are intimately acquainted with my ways and that You always love me and have my best interests at heart.

May I not be like those who draw near to You with their mouths and honor You with their lips, but whose hearts are far from You, and whose reverence for You is made up only of rules taught by men.  (Isaiah 29:13)

13 "The Lord said: Because these people approach Me with their mouths to honor Me with lip-service — yet their hearts are far from Me, and their worship consists of man-made rules learned by rote" —HCSB

As I am praying I am aware I am talking to God. I am not concern with man-made rules to please people; but I am focused on talking to God and His point of view.

I desire not only to call You Lord but to do what You say.  By Your grace, I will come to You, hear Your words, and put them into practice.  Then I will be like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock, and when a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  (Luke 6:46-48)

“Is there something that I should obey God about? There may be something I'm already thinking about? Can I focus on what it is? Is there some principle I should be putting into action? I want to build on the foundation of obeying God. It has been my experience that God is interested important things. Man-made rules tend to obsess over on unimportant details."

46 “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say? 47 I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn't shake it, because it was well built. HCSB

Take a moment to offer this day to the Lord and ask Him for the grace to grow in your knowledge and love for Him.

"Lord may think on and learn things today that are beneficial. What I experience and learn increase my love for you and others. Lord may “my little grey cells” increase in my care for you and others grow".

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE

Jesus is Your beloved Son in whom You are well pleased.  (Matthew 3:17; 17 And there came a voice from heaven: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! HCSB 

Mark 1:11; 11 And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son; I take delight in You! HCSB 

Luke 3:22) 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son. I take delight in You! HCSB 

“To actually hear your voice Lord, I cannot wait to know you by sight and not just by faith. In faith I hear your wonderful voice as you look down and you were pleased with your Son. May you look down and be pleased with me.”

Apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  For there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  (Romans 3:21-24) 

"Lord because what Christ did on the cross, I've been forgiven and accepted in the beloved. I did not earn it, but it was given in grace. As a child of the King I know you work through me to do practical steps of righteousness in the power the spirit. I know it today if You want me to say encouraging things and you also want me to do acts of kindness, acts that are beneficial for my self and others, respond with the quiet strength of gentleness that can turn away wrath."

21 But now, apart from the law, God's righteousness has been revealed — attested by the Law and the Prophets22 — that is, God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by His grace through the •redemption that is in Christ Jesus. HCSB 

I LISTEN TO YOUR WORDS OF TRUTH

You have loved me with an everlasting love; You have drawn me with lovingkindness.  (Jeremiah 31:3)

3 the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you. HCSB 

“Thank you for loving me before I love you. Thank you for all the people you brought into my life to draw me to you. Thank you for Judy, Bob, Harvey and Chuck who help me find you despite all the chaos in ignorance. Thank you for Good News for Modern Man as you began to reveal yourself to me in your word.”

MY RESPONSE TO YOU, LORD

I will be strong and courageous, and act.  I will not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God is with me.  He will not fail me or forsake me.  (1 Chronicles 28:20) 20 Then David said to his son Solomon, 

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He won't leave you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the Lord's house is finished. HCSB 

"Thank you Lord for being with me when I was depressed, attacked with anxiety's and overcome with negative emotions. Your presence was ever with me then and I thank you for the support of Barb and my children who intervened for me at that very scary time. I thank you Lord for being with me now providing needed exercise that I can do. Lord, thank you for being with me as I get older reminding me life has challenges that are filled with joy. I thank you Lord that the 'fat lady' is not singing and I can live for you today.”

What is my hope or joy or crown of rejoicing in the presence of the Lord Jesus at His coming?  My glory and joy is the people in whose lives I have been privileged to have a ministry.  (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)

“Lord I thank you today and give you praise for my three Liberian boys whom I taught, trained, and included in my ministry as we traveled through the bush. Thank you for the three that protected me in the jungle and helped me to talk to people of a different language. They have survived war, deadly disease, poverty and loss of parents. Thank you that the relationship I had with the boys has helped them become men, men of faith, pastoring and caring for their families. It is more than I could of hoped for.”

19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy!

HCSB

Lord, I thank You for Your beloved Son and for the righteousness which comes through faith in Him.  I thank You for loving me with an everlasting love, and I ask that I would act with courage and hope.

"Amen"

Developing awe and gratitude is good for health

Polett Villalta scuba diving off Key Largo, Fla., 
next to the statue Christ of the Abyss, left. 
PHOTO: VETERANS OCEAN ADVENTURES 
her story is awesome

Read three articles today that may improve our health and relationships to others. The Wall Street Journal Elizabeth Bernstein wrote an article of researchers studying “awe” and finding it is good for relationships. Awe improves our health as well. The feeling of awe makes us care about others. A Dr. Kelter Took 56 inner city kids on a rafting trip for a week and researchers found the kids were more curious and engaged about what was happening in the world.

Awe helps fight depression because it lowers inflammation which is a factor in depression. Awe attunes us to things bigger than ourselves. It actually increases kindness and compassion toward others. The evidence that supports the feeling of awe is still a little soft. Awe can be religious, nature (creation my word) a sports event or political rally Ms. Bernstein reports. We may be in awe or amazed at others things or people. What ever it is, it is good for us and others and in the fat man terms keep us walking. http://www.wsj.com/articles/researchers-study-awe-and-find-it-is-good-for-relationships-1424717882 

Pastor Rick Warren whose Church shares The Daniel Plan informs us the more grateful you are, the happier you are. Sometimes the longer we know somebody, the more we take them for granted. Replacing a negative thought with thanks can have an impact on how we feel. It also has a direct impact on the person we say things to. If you're not thankful don't fake it. Find something else to be thankful about. Apostle Paul could say concerning the Philippians, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (NLT). Philippians 1:3 http://danielplan.com/blogs/dp/the-more-grateful-you-are-the-happier-you-are-2/

A reporter recently died for the New York Times. Many people said kind things and thanks for the reporter. Greta Van Susteren laments "Wouldn’t it nice if we could say those things before a person dies." It reminds me to say things or write thanks in the land of the living. It is an easy way to make people feel better. 

From the Daniel plan Dee Eastman and Shelly Antol wrote an article about creating space for solitude. It seems to me if we have a place of silence we can create moments of awe and thanks more often. Since positive attitudes have a direct impact on our physical and mental health increasing good thinking would be a good idea. 

In the hustle and bustle of our life silence can be a little hard getting used to. The article quotes Henry Nouwen “without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and a place for God, and him alone. If we really believe not only that God exists but also that he is actively present in their lives-healing, teaching and guiding-we need to set aside a time and space to give him individual attention.” Mother Teresa is quoted to have said, “silence is essential in a religious house… there is no life of prayer without silence… God is a friend of silence.” http://danielplan.com/blogs/dp/creating-space-for-solitude/

The other day I wrote about aloneness and I think this is part of it. Keep walking

I had difficulty praying...

The other night I had difficulty in prayer. I don’t think it is uncommon or for that matter wrong of us to experience difficulty in prayer. Since the fall life has experienced evil and harm. Today we express it as “it is what it is” or  “life happens.” When we plant our garden there are thorns. We work yet are underpaid. We do the right thing yet experience hard things. 

Sometimes prayer is hard when your child is sick. You like to change places but that doesn’t happen. Like many things we learn to work through our trials and learn from them to ease the burden. For example we learned that if we insulate our homes  and we fare better than homes 100 years ago. Improving our furnaces cuts down winter illnesses. We still pray for our sicknesses but what we learn and experience helps. 

We pray for success and blessing for our loved ones but often trials are troubles are experienced. Troubles and trials are more normal than we like to think. In an athlete competition that can beat you can make you better but the outcome may be that you lose. When I was a kid it beat my dad up to watch me fall. Picking myself up made me stronger. My dad didn't like to watch me compete sports because he was afraid of injury. I was in a wrestling match once where later the coach told me that my dad was way up in the bleachers in the corner watching. That meant a lot to me, I knew how hard it was for my dad. My dad used to play catch with me for hours. I was never a very good athlete but I wasn't bad. It made me strong and certainly made it interesting for the bullies who thought I was an easy prey. I didn’t win all my fights with bullies but I never quit. 

What I know about prayer is God cares, God feels our pain, and prayers are heard. There is His will which is different from our will and He works things out for our benefit. That benefit may be not experienced until heaven. (Romans 8:18-30) Take time to read it and note the groaning. Think of my old bones groaning. LOL

One of things I liked about work, ministry, is to somehow help ease burdens of others. There are plenty of limitations. Think of the gift a carpenter gives or a plumber, electrician, a bus driver, teacher, a merchant when they work to make life better. We pray and trust and yet the outcome is unsure. Keep walking

Prayer is no pat answer

Earlier this week I had a devotion in Psalm 77 from Radio Bible class. Today I took time to study psalm 77 and to read it carefully. Looking at it right now from the HCSB Bible. If you're trying to make sense of Psalm 77 it is a good idea to have an English Bible that attempts to put the verses together in paragraphs. You can divide the Psalm into sections: 77:1-9 and 77:10-20. The first section can be divided 1-3; 4-6; 7-9. The second section can be divided 10-12; 13-15; 16-20. If you want on outline you can use the following format.

77:1-9 (Big idea) - 

• 1-3 (support idea) -
• 4-6 (support idea) - 
• 7-9 (support idea) - 

77:10-20 (Big Idea) - 

• 10-12 (support idea) - 
• 13-15 (support idea) - 
• 16-20 (support idea) - 

Read the verses then make up the two big ideas of the Psalm. Have a little fun and use only 3 to 5 words to describe those big ideas.

Then read the Psalm again using the support ideas and again only use 3 to 5 words to give the idea of each supporting section. Force yourself to come up with these brief titles we'll give you a good handle on what the Psalm is all about. I also think you'll get a good sense of difficult times and trying to come to terms with it.

We are in a time of crisis we may pray but I have no sense that God is answering our prayer. We may in fact be in the middle of a problem that we have to go through. It may be the most unpleasant of experiences. Our reactions maybe a ton of questions. We may in fact experienced the most negative emotions. Our perspective could be unbalanced at the time and we may not be seeing everything.

What did the writer draw upon to understand his own circumstances? How did he get through his awful night? When do you think he know he had answers to prayer? Prayers not a cliché nor is it a pat answer. It is not the why that gets us through, but the who. Prayer is honest in heartfelt. Songs in the night… keep walking

Have fears in the night? Know your prayer line is secure...

Some where in this wilderness Satan Tempted Jesus,
an easy place to get lost.

This week I have taken myself up with the question that came from a reading Screwtape Letters from CS Lewis. In Lewis' letter Screwtape the master demon is instructing his prodigy a Wormwood about keeping his client from knowing the truth and acting on it. In Lewis first letter Screwtape is able to understand the thoughts of the client Wormwood is working with. "saw a train of thought in his mind beginning to go the wrong way."...The Enemy (God) presumably made the counter suggestion (you know how one never quite over hear What He says to them)"The demon is not so clear on what God is saying that's a mystery to him. The Screwtape letters is a wonderful fiction and I do encourage you to read it. But I had a question, can Satan read our minds? Can he enter into the very thoughts of our prayer? Does he have these abilities?

It doesn't do you any good to go to movies or literature especially the stuff written today, to find answers. I say this for one simple fact, Satan, the devil is a liar; he tells half truths and he's an expert at it. The only place where I think you'll get the truth about Satan is in the Bible. Now there is always an onslaught of a lot of films that bring up all kinds of possibilities. There are so called documentaries all the time the deal was various Occult, Satanism, and other weird ideas. 

A few basic things, the Bible teaches that Satan and the demons are created. They want to be like God, but they are not God. They do not have God's abilities. They are different than humans, they have more experience, they are stronger, they are invisible for most of time, I haven't yet knowingly seen an angel. (Some of the kids I work with where demons LOL) I know they can changed their appearance.

I believe only God can read our thoughts, read Psalms 139. I cannot see this ability of knowing our thoughts that Satan has it from the Bible. Angels being invisible can certainly hear us talk. I tend to ramble and ramble so if a demon or an angel is around me for very long he probably knows a lot of what I'm thinking.

Satan operates from the outside in.
(James chapter 1:13-15 "13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn't tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.)
We are informed that sin works from the inside and we can only blame ourselves for our wrongdoing. But the demon world can use sin and temptation from the outside, He can use thoughts and ideas from the world that are opposed to God. Satan is the prince of the air, the god of this age. He moves us towards the motivations of greed, power, forse, lust, a desire to be like God - pride, all seem to be within the ability that he has to influence and deceive us. I cannot see where angels has the ability to read our minds.

Even if our minds are inflicted and become ill from injury, with mental illness or dementia, he can't read the mind itself. He can certainly interpret what comes out of the mouth or the body language, and use it to his advantage.

But here's my idea, I was encouraged in my studies, that our prayers are between us and God himself. We don't have to say our prayers where anybody hears them if we don't want. But it's very clear that if we draw near to God, Satan does do something that he is and that is he's afraid of God and he will flee.  James 4:7. Our thought life is our own with only God who seeks our best as being privileged to it. Satan and the demons are creatures who were not given that ability. I take comfort in that. Remember that the demons and Satan are created and limited.  There abilities don't include reading minds. Their desire is to be like God and defeat God. But God is God and is stronger than He who is in the world. Praying is a secure line, you can have confidence in your thoughts and prayers. keep walking