Wisdom For Life's Trials: Dr. Charles Stanley On What It Means To Count It All Joy

In this 30 minute message, Dr. Charles Stanley helps us to understand what God means when he tells us to count it all joy when we struggle and suffer in difficult times.

It really blessed me, especially when he said that God knows that we don't like him at all at certain times. When he said that we may as well tell God exactly how we feel because he knows anyway, that is a practice that I've developed.

When I pray and throughout the day as I talk to Our Heavenly Father, I share with him exactly how I feel about everything. It takes such a burden off of me. I'm still working on doing better.

We, in this world, have been so used to shouldering feelings and attitudes that it's automatic. Just like when we attempt to solve our issues ourselves, we just don't think about telling God. When we have bad feelings, we don't think about telling him.

I don't lift up any preacher, teacher, pastor, minister or anyone with a Christian title as being a model of perfection. I don't promote anyone who shares Christian knowledge as someone whom everyone should listen to and follow. I do enjoy sharing messages, and occasionally music, when I am blessed.  

Dr. Stanley has always had such a calm and comforting voice. He is a teacher who will help you ascend to the next level of your walk with Christ. I like to learn from his son also, Andy Stanley. This is an interesting story that defined his impression of his father.

His dad was the Associate Pastor of First Baptist in Atlanta when the senior pastor was asked to resign. Charles Stanley was asked to preach on Sundays until a suitable replacement could be found. As he preached, the pews began to fill, young couples started to return, the youth ministry started to grow and volunteerism grew to an all-time high. There was a new excitement in the church.

Yet some of the longtime members of the church resented Charles Stanley's growing influence and popularity. It didn't help that there was a grass roots movement started to elect him as pastor. The old guard thought he was too young, too evangelistic and too spiritual, emphasizing a personal relationship with Jesus.

The powerbrokers started to politic to have Charles Stanley removed. People started to take sides. Two weeks before the vote to hire or fire Charles Stanley, Deacon Myers walked up to the pulpit as the Wednesday night service began. He started to talk about the growing controversy and as he did, horror upon horror, he used the word damn.

Charles Stanley calmly walked to the pulpit and said, Now you need to watch your language. With clinched fists the man responded, You need to watch yourself or you might get punched. Charles Stanley didn't back down or step away and then all of sudden Deacon Myers reared back and punched his dad.

His dad didn't retaliate. It was his dad's response to all this that marked Andy for life. He stepped right back up and stood by Deacon Myers. Andy Stanley said, In that moment I wanted to be that kind of man. From that moment on, it didn't matter what anybody said. Because actions speak louder than words.

That event revealed his dad's character. When we open the pages of scripture, we discover that character is defined by the very nature of Jesus Christ- a stumbling block for some but a rock solid foundation for others. Character is the will to do what is right, as defined by God, regardless of personal cost. Andy Stanley SermonCentral 

God's Will Is Not Offensive

Whatever God allows is for a reason, no matter what pain it causes in the flesh, in the mind, in the heart, in the feelings, in the emotions, in the life of his children. What God allows is for a reason and it is without offense, if we love him.

In other words, as we grow in devotion and understanding of God, we don't see what he allows in our lives as offensive. That does not mean that we don't struggle with enduring it.

It is hard sometimes to acknowledge and accept God's will. Our Heavenly Father, however, is always there to help us as we endure what he allows.

In the reborn spirit of each of us who loves Jesus Christ, there is no pain, no suffering, no offense, no feelings, no problems. It is in the flesh where all of the troubles start. The flesh is not compatible with God. The flesh cannot be reborn. It cannot understand nor accept what God does. Our flesh, in fact, is always against God.

It is when we are in our reborn spirits, spiritual thinking, that we walk with God and where we do not suffer prolonged mental and emotional hurt nor hate him.

God's Light Shines Through You

 

No matter what it looks like,

the God of Peace is with you. 

You are a channel for God's goodness.

It is not your flesh that is the channel.

It is your reborn spirit.

No matter what is going on with you,

your body is still the

Temple of the Holy Spirit. 

Sometimes it may not seem like it

but you are valuable to God.

The light of His life is always

in you and shining through you.

Be encouraged that the Spirit of God

operating in you is always working

 to promote life and peace,

in you, through you and around you,

to the far reaches of the earth,

to the end of time.

 

Christian Poetry Worshiping God

David C. Brown lives in the UK and is retired from the environment industry.

His main interests are Jesus Christ, Christianity and poetry. Some of his favorite books are the Bible, The Sufferings of Christ and the works by British poet George Herbert.

His poetry blog is Grace Notes.

You can find his books at Lulu.

Poetry About Our Father From David C Brown

I am sharing 3 poems by David C Brown about Our Heavenly Father. The poetry of this long-term Christian writer has such a calming, restful quality. It's as though he's encouraging us to live quietly and peacefully in our relationship with God. I never fail to feel restored and quietened when I read his verse.

THE FATHER OF SPIRITS

If we will live, we must be subject to
The Father as the One who has the Name
Father of spirits; He will bear us through
His chastening. We gladly own His claim
Upon us since it from Him we came;
He rules our spirits in a way to suit
Our needs, and to secure from us His fruit.

(Hebrews 12: 9)

What a beautiful and insightful way to describe God's purging of the branches. The last line, "He rules our spirits in a way to suit Our needs, and to secure from us His fruit," gives me chills because of its depth of meaning.

This is because I think about how we suffer through God's purging and we judge it as being for his unknown purposes. David's light on this Godly process advocates that we can only realize the fulfillment of our own dreams, needs and personal prayers through it. Even the securing of his fruit from us (and what a great twist of words David wrote in that phrase) blesses us because we are the better for God's clipping and pruning process.

Here are 2 more poems that David has written about the glory and loving kindnesses of The Father.

THE FATHER OF LIGHTS

When first the light broke through the primal darkness
It gave this earth hope it would live anew,
Although exposing chaos in its starkness.
Then great and small lights graced the settings due
To them, while looking to the Light that's true;
Father of lights, since then each light that's burning
Comes from One with no shadow and no turning.

(James 1: 17) 

THE FATHER OF COMPASSIONS

Satan, the flesh, and sin, in their own fashions
Have clashed against me to disturb my soul;
But I turn to the Father of compassions,
The God of all encouragements, and roll
My burden on the One who will console;
In spite of ills my foes seek to impart
The Father of compassions binds my heart.

(2 Cor 1: 3)

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David works in the environment industry and lives in Scotland. His interests are Jesus Christ, Christianity, the Bible, poetry, the environment and sustainable development. Some of his favorite books are the Bible, The Sufferings of Christ and George Herbert.

His poetry blog is Grace Notes.

You can find his books at Lulu.

 

 

God Is Magnificent!

 

 

Oh Father, magnificent and Holy God,

Who keeps his promises and compassion

For those who love him,

We give you all of the glory

And praise!

 

Daniel 9:3 (Paraphrased)

 

Let's praise our Father God for everything that he has done for us that we don't know about.

Praise him for all of the little things he's done for us.

Praise him for the big things that he's done for us.

Praise him for causing all bad things to work out for our good.

Praise him for his loving kindnesses and mercies.

Praise him because he is the most high God, the only wise God and the one true God!

He is worthy of all praise in any and every circumstance, no matter how we feel, no matter what has happened or has not happened.

He Is Worthy! He is Worthy! He is Worthy!

 

Poetry: God And Son As One

 

How hard it must have been

For you to know, Lord,

That you are the Light of the World,

And to walk among hatred and blindness.

How hard it must have been

For you to live under

Being harassed and hated,

And to walk among

That determination to murder.

 

But you were determined

To enforce God's will.

Your Father, who gave you up

To a vicious world of dark haters,

Lived the horrific sacrifice through

And with you.

~ Sandi Holland ~

God Is Love One Way Or Another

God emits love all of the time.

God is Love. Everything God does is based in love. Sometimes it's hard to phantom, but everything that God allows is based in love. For those who believe, all bad and difficult things can be turned around and used for good to bless us and others. One way or another, even if it's not till after we leave this earth, God's love will win out. His love also triumphs many times in this world.

 

This is not so very easy to believe when we experience and see suffering, especially when we learn of the various ways that children are suffering everyday. Nevertheless, God emits love all of the time. If we were able to trace all of God's feelings, actions and thoughts to their origin, it would always lead back to a holy love that one day we will understand. God loves more than we ever can in our present condition.

We will experience God's love in the way that we think we should.

I learned a little something about who God is by reading the Bible completely through from Genesis to Revelations. Of course, with that being done many, many years ago, the Bible continues to be all new to me as I read and study it everyday. I also have learned a little about God through to the best of my ability being very honest with Him. I regularly ask Him questions and worship Him in spirit and in truth. I tell Him the truth about how I feel, which often is very different from the truth that I know.

I believe with all of my heart that God Is Love, and that one day we will experience His love in the ways that we think we should experience it and in many more ways than we can't imagine. There will be no more pain, no more tears, no more suffering, no more evil. It will be all over. We'll exist with Him, no longer in the ways in which His divine love must manifest in a fallen world, but in a perfect existence.

We will know God's love in a perfect existence.

Let's do all that we can today to accept God's love for what it is in this world as we wait for the perfect New Heaven and New Earth. His love is perfect here in this world but the way that we experience it here is not. We should always ask for a fresh filling of His Spirit each morning so that we can experience some of the truths of His Love everyday, not through our flesh but through the holiness of His Spirit in us. We appreciate him more when we do. Appreciate Him and he'll show you just how much he appreciates you!

How Do I Get Closer To God?

When I got saved I started going to church consistently, because all new Christians truly need the guidance and regular fellowship of a pastor and congregation. As a babe in Christ, it helped me to become settled in The Lord.  Eventually, I became so enamored with the things of God that I started reading the Bible alone at home. That's when I began to grow up as a Christian and draw closer to God.

The Bible is God's Living Word and through reading it for ourselves we become more like God. When God's words get into us we begin to have victory in all areas of our lives. No matter how good we think we are we need the inner pruning and trimming that God's Word provides. We can't be better people or please God through our own strength. We can't rely upon a pastor, minister, preacher or teacher to please God. We have to seek God daily on our own. Reading His Holy Word is the best way to do that.

Knowing Jesus Christ as our Savior and knowing our heavenly Father God should make a discernible difference in our lives. Many Christians never grow, but continue to be deceived that they are alright and that their own efforts make them better people. In reality, they are the same as they always were and control their lives in their usual selfish, self-centered ways.

The Bible says that what pleases God is a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart. We can't do that to ourselves. We receive that through the work of God's Word in us and His Holy Spirit comforting and guiding us. The Bible says that The Word of God is quick, and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. It is piercing, even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints and the marrow. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Reading the Bible will show us things about ourselves. It will bring out things that God wants to be in the open. It will allow us to grow in The Lord. We can't do any of it on our own.

There is also a big difference between a babe in Christ (or a Christian that is not growing) and an advanced Christian who devotes himself/herself to the study of God's Word. They think differently and act differently, not by choice but because The Word is pruning one of them. The other is blindly living by his/her own attitudes, thoughts and feelings.

It's up to each Christian to decide to read the Bible and grow. It's a personal choice. Life is very different when we put that Word into ourselves everyday. Of course, the Bible is not always an easy book to read, but there are many versions that make it easier. I read it everyday, and have been doing so for years. Sometimes I don't feel like reading it and sometimes I may miss a day or two. Despite that, my mind is always on it and I rush to get back on track reading it. So I never go for long without doing it.

There's a world of difference between someone who reads the Bible regularly and someone who doesn't. They don't even speak the same language. The Bible reader is becoming more and more like God each day. This should be the aspiration of all Christians who proclaim to know Jesus Christ. Sadly, it is not. The Bible, however, is there for anyone who desires to partake of it. It's free in many instances, and it is life-changing!

Refreshed And Powerful Through Prayer

Sometimes in prayer, the words come swiftly

and the thoughts that fuel it are deep and genuine.

We get up off of our knees feeling truly

refreshed and powerful.

At other times in prayer, we ask,

What's on your mind today, Father?

After we've listened with few words, we get up feeling

refreshed and powerful.

The key always is to be alert,

for we are communing with

The Living God.

 

Dear Lord Help Us

A prayer and reminder for when you are feeling anxiety, distress, depression, hopelessness or unhappiness.

DEAR LORD:

Help us to keep our minds on you.

We thank you for the peace that passes all understanding and for joy unspeakable in the midst of struggle, fear and disappointment. We know that our joy in you is where our strength will always lie, and that YOU will keep us in perfect peace, because we choose to bring our minds back to you always.

AMEN.