As I read Judges 6 and Gideon's response to the angel of the Lord I saw myself. In verse 13 Gideon says, "Please, sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian."
Gideon, in response to being told 'the Lord is with you,' asks if God is with us then why are we in this predicament? If we are God's people, if this is God's church, then why are we struggling?
The angel of the Lord then says in verse 14, "Go in the might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do I not send you?" Okay then, do something about it. I'm sending you to make a difference. To which Gideon responds, "not me, I'm scared and small."
You see, we all like to dream about how good the church could be. We all like to complain about how bad things are and how wrong everyone else does church. But when it comes down to investing in the church and sacrificing our time we get scared. We don't think we're smart enough, spiritual enough, energetic enough, old enough, or young enough. We become arm chair quarterbacks for Jesus; if there is such a thing.
If you see a need; fill it. If you see something wrong; fix it.
God help us to get in the game. Help us not to be afraid but instead trust in your strength. I thank You for those at Mambrino who are getting in the game and I pray you will forgive me for holding back. Give me eyes to see that the call You give is a call to lose my life and in the losing find life. May we all grow sick of the American Dream. May all that is comfortable make us ill. Raise up men and women who will give everything so that Jesus Christ will be praised by all. Show us how one person can make a difference. Raise up people who will be the church. Raise up churches who will reach their community. God, help us reach Mambrino. God, show us how to reach out and show Christ to our city. We want to be useful. We don't want to be afraid. We want You to build your Church. Build Your church Lord Jesus.
Amen
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This blog is an attempt to read and pray Scripture daily so that God is glorified in us and we are satisfied in Him.
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Who am I?
My name is Paul and by God's grace I pastor Mambrino Baptist Church in Granbury, TX. I am happily married with a beautiful daughter and another due in January.
What am I doing here?
I'm trying to figure out how to abide in Christ's word and pray accordingly. As a church we are reading through the Bible together and I am posting a prayer in response to those daily readings. May God multiply in your life what I get right and guard you from what I get wrong.
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15 comments:
So, what would you be saying if your wife/husband was killed in a plane crash, left in the ocean for a week and then endured an autopsy.
Would you be mad or would you think God has his favorites but mostly doesnt care one bit about anyone of us.
I would be stunned, I would vomit, I would weep, and probably a host of other things that I can't imagine having never gone through such an ordeal. If this has happened to you I am so sorry.
I honestly don't know what I would do. I hope I would pray. I pray I would hope. I understand that sin has effected everything from planes to rescue attempts to autopsies. I also understand that God is working through Christ to reconcile everything to Himself. Bridges fall, planes crash, pregnancies miscarriage, and husbands beat their wives almost to death. I'm a sinner who deserves death. That I have Christ makes me His favorite. The easy life doesn't make me His favorite.
Yes, that happened to my husband in March 2007. God and I arent speaking. I cant pray. Just doesnt feel like something a loving father would do to his boy.
I am so sorry; I can't imagine the pain you feel. God has not brought you here to this blog by accident. As I have suffered God has used John Piper to keep me grounded in God and even guide me to worship. I would recommend reading this
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ConferenceMessages/ByDate/228_The_Suffering_of_Christ_and_the_Sovereignty_of_God/
If copy and paste doesn't work then go to www.desiringgod.org and in the search box type 'suffering.' Look for "The Suffering of Christ and the Sovereignty of God." Let me know what you think.
I'm just not ready to let go of being mad. Right now I dont feel I will ever. I just cant read anything right now concerning God, but thank you for the information.
Please know that I am praying for you during your weakness. God intends for none of us to stand alone or weep alone or be victorious alone.
Though I do not know your name I know you are hurting. Though I do not know your pain I know Christ who heals. I have seen Him through tears and He is magnificient. I have seen Him through my weakness and He is strong. I am praying for you.
Thank You!!
I'm still mad, very mad at God. Sometimes I have quit arguing with him for a couple of hours at a time though. It's not getting me anywhere. I dont get why he's so big on the healing part when he should have prevented it in the first place. My pastor says I should just accept the fact that God called him home; but how exactly do you do that? How do you forgive when God just sat back and let it happen.
It's good to hear from you again. I continue to pray for you.
You are asking good questions. I hope you will spend some time with the bible reading from today, 1 Corinthians 15. Let me know what you think.
I did get the Bible out but I only scanned the chapter. A friend just emailed and said that I was directing my anger in the wrong direction and that God is Faithful. I have heard that sooo much in the last 6 months. What does that mean "He is faithful". My friend said I should be mad at Satan. I cant forgive because that feels like I'm rolling over and sayng that it was OK to let my husband be killed. I'm really stuck.
Throughout the Bible we are told that death is an enemy. Death has victory and sting. 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54-57 tell us that explicitly. Planes aren't supposed to crash and husbands aren't supposed to die. But because of sin the weather turns hostile, instruments are calibrated incorrectly, and people die. Because of sin we do not trust, we become angry, and we turn from God. We turn from the only One who can remove the sting of death and right every wrong. He has given us Jesus Christ to pay for our sins and change our deaths. God has given us Jesus Christ as hope. Jesus Christ is turning back everything making it perfect again. The last enemy is death. Only at the resurrection will it be turned back. By faith right now it's sting is removed. He paid our sin penalty in order to conquer death. Be angry at sin and death they are our enemies. Trust in Christ he is our strong deliverer.
I have just lost my daughter seven weeks ago. I to am mad at God also. If she or I were such bad people and had to pay for our sins, did we commit such bad sins to justify her death? Would a just fair God let so many others go on with greater sins and punish us like this? Without any warning about our terrible life style. By the way we are not so sinful that only a death could be justified. We are just good, well meaning people. The punishment does not fit the sin, and then again what sin? I have prayed for my daughter every night, for the rest of my family as well but not once for myself. I might still believe in God but I am no longer sure He is just what we have been told he is!
Please I do not want anyone to give up on your faith because of what I wrote. I just wish to express myself.
Bob, I'm glad you have come and shared your comment. I have no easy answers, quick fixes, or pills that will calm your nerves in 24 hours. I also do not pretend to know your hurt. With a daughter of my own and another due in January I cannot imagine the pain you are enduring. I can only assume it is numbing at times and infuriating at others.
What I do want to do is respond in a way that hopefully will help. God's Word teaches us that there is no hierarchy of sins. There is only blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and all other sins. What I'm trying to say is that fundamentally at the core of every sin is rebellion against God and His will. The person who steals a piece of gum is rebelling against God and His will like the person who kidnaps a child is rebelling against God. To begin setting up these types of categories is not biblical and will lead to greater harm.
A child is not punished for the sins of his or her parents. Each person will give an account for what he or she has done.
Luke 13:1-5, "There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
I think what is most appropriate is Romans 3:21-26, "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
I want to encourage you to pray for yourself. Pray for faith. Pray for eyes to see and pray for ears to hear. Pray that you will understand. Pray that you will see what Jesus is all about. Pray that you will see that His death fits your sin. Pray for redemption and pray that God will work this horrible tradegy for God.
I will pray for you. Please let me know how I can help.
I am very angry with God. I
I am challenged in every area of my life with no relief or help, where do I turn if God does not hear or answer or offer relief?
GG, thanks for your thoughts and your honest questions.
As I read your comment Hebrews 11:1came to mind, "faith is the assurance of things hoped for the conviction of things not seen."
Trust in the goodness and power of God led Christ through the cross when he prayed for a different way but God said no. Grace led the Apostle Paul through when he prayed for relief but God said no.
James 1:2-4 says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
GG, it sounds like your faith is really being tested. Do not let go of Christ. He is the only steadfast and sure anchor for the soul (Hebrews 6:19). You've got to get into Scripture; following the pattern on this blog is an easy way to start. You've also got to get into a church that will love you, teach you, encourage you, and correct you. Especially now you do not need fluff; you need the deep things of God.
If you want, let me know what town you are from and I'll see what churches I can find.
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