Dealing with Adversity (2)

'...God led you through the wilderness...to prove your character...' Deuteronomy 8:2 NLT

God led the children of Israel through the wilderness:

'to prove [their] character, and... find out whether or not [they] would obey His commandments'.

They could choose to perish there, or trust Him to bring them safely to the Promised Land.

One author writes:

How many times have you changed courses in life, rather than pass the test and get through the tough stuff to the promises of God?  

He wants to know if you are worthy of the blessing that awaits you on the other side of the Jordan. Do you have the courage to face the challenges, or will you go back and settle for second best? 

If you're facing a challenge that stands between you and your promise...look at Joshua 1:9 and Daniel 10:19 for courage. Ask God to give you the courage to face whatever hurdles stand in the way of your claiming what God has prepared for you'. 

The landscape along the USA's Florida's Everglades is dotted with wiry, primitive-looking trees known as Caribbean Pines. They thrive in a rugged environment, can withstand prolonged periods of drought and fire, and hold their own against the fiercest hurricanes. In fact, if you plant them in a cultivated setting they usually shrivel and die. 

Joni Eareckson Tada says:

'Like Caribbean Pines, our souls usually don't thrive during good times. Our hearts grow complacent, our need of God becomes less urgent, our hope of Heaven dims, and our prayer life dries up...in a beautiful setting with our needs met and every resource at our fingertips...our soul shrivels... We need an occasional blast of storm or fiery trial if our faith is to mature.'

Soul Food: 1 Kings 8-9, Matt 16:1-12, Ps 40:1-8, Pro 6:1-5

Written by Bob & Debby Gass
Monday, 24 February 2014

APPS available here

Dealing with Adversity (1)

'...Is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy.' James 1:2 TLB

Lori Schneider is one of very few women to climb Mt. Everest - yet another step on a climb she started ten years earlier when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Terrified, but determined to achieve her goal, she quit her job and devoted herself to climbing.

Nine years later she'd conquered the highest peaks on six of the earth's continents!

'Lori sees MS not as a negative, but a positive,' 

her father said. 

'She accepted it as a challenge'. 

Unfurling a banner in honour of the first World MS Day, she called her dad on a satellite phone:

'I'm here Dad, I'm on the summit, I made it!' 

A dream sixteen years in the making realised! Now her goal is to show others who face challenges that even the highest mountain can be climbed one step at a time.

In 'Let It Go', Mark Atteberry writes: 

'The Christian life is about progress, not perfection. For that reason, you should never measure the distance between you and perfection (which is what all perfectionists insist on doing).

That distance is completely irrelevant. If you want to measure something, measure the distance between where you are today and where you were yesterday. 

If you made a little progress in the right direction, even if it was just an inch, celebrate!'[LS1]



Soul Food: Exo 20:15, Josh 7:1-26, Mal 3:8-11, Eph 4:28 (Commandment 8: Don't steal)

Written by Bob & Debby Gass
Sunday, 23 February 2014

APPS available here