REMEMBER: Do NOT look to man - he is FALLIBLE (makes mistakes) !!!
For success - ONLY look to The One Triune God; God/Jesus/Holy Spirit AND rely on/In HIS Word. He is the ONLY infallible being (NEVER makes mistakes - regardless of how man views life). God's ways and understanding are proven higher than ours - God is SOVEREIGN (Creator of all things) !!
P.S. Man is a master of assuming - align with God's Word what man says and then you'll be able to test if what man says is right or wrong !
Showing posts with label test. Show all posts
Showing posts with label test. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Saturday, December 11, 2010
~ CONTENTMENT is gain ~
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have" (HEBREWS 13:5).
"AS a missionary in Burkina Faso, I was surprised to find that many Africans in our adopted country seemed contented. Paul said that contentment, when coupled with godliness, was "great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6).
As missionaries, we have hurt with the Africans through years of famine, crop failures, dry wells and dead livestock. What a test of one's faith. Often I have asked myself, How would I score? Could I pass the test?
I have observed Rebecca, a pastor's godly wife, as she cooks over an open fire, scrubs her clothes by hand and farms with a hoe. I have seen in her life a submissive, joyful acceptance of the will of God, a contentment with what she has. I marvel at her calmness in turmoil, as she supervises the 35 children under her dormitory roof. I remember her complete trust when food and money were gone. I marveled at how God's grace was her strength the day she rode in the ambulance with her sick husband. She had brought her precious Bible with her, hoping she would be able to witness to the driver during the long ride. This godly woman, so poor in this world's goods, is completely absorbed in telling those who cross her path about Jesus, her dearest Friend.
God makes these two priceless characteristics - godliness and contentment - available to each of His children. But they seem to reside only in the lives of those who are walking close to God and whose treasures are in heaven.
What would an examination of our hearts reveal? Do we desire godliness and contentment in our lives?"
JESSIE NEHLSEN
* see associated post dated 27/11/2010 - Eternity.
"AS a missionary in Burkina Faso, I was surprised to find that many Africans in our adopted country seemed contented. Paul said that contentment, when coupled with godliness, was "great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6).
As missionaries, we have hurt with the Africans through years of famine, crop failures, dry wells and dead livestock. What a test of one's faith. Often I have asked myself, How would I score? Could I pass the test?
I have observed Rebecca, a pastor's godly wife, as she cooks over an open fire, scrubs her clothes by hand and farms with a hoe. I have seen in her life a submissive, joyful acceptance of the will of God, a contentment with what she has. I marvel at her calmness in turmoil, as she supervises the 35 children under her dormitory roof. I remember her complete trust when food and money were gone. I marveled at how God's grace was her strength the day she rode in the ambulance with her sick husband. She had brought her precious Bible with her, hoping she would be able to witness to the driver during the long ride. This godly woman, so poor in this world's goods, is completely absorbed in telling those who cross her path about Jesus, her dearest Friend.
God makes these two priceless characteristics - godliness and contentment - available to each of His children. But they seem to reside only in the lives of those who are walking close to God and whose treasures are in heaven.
What would an examination of our hearts reveal? Do we desire godliness and contentment in our lives?"
JESSIE NEHLSEN
* see associated post dated 27/11/2010 - Eternity.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
** 'STRENGTH through TRIALS' ! ! **
"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10)".
"I had just listened to my friend Linda's sad story. A young man seemed to like her. They worked in the same office, and he often stopped by to visit, watched for her arrival and spent as much time as he could over lunch break and after hours talking with her.
Then suddenly it all stopped. She could not think of anything she had said to offend him. He did not act as though he disliked her; he just had excuses for leaving early and no longer sought out her company.
Most of us at some time have been on the receiving end of that kind of pain and have felt as Linda. Her pride prevented her from asking him what happened or from causing a scene. She probably wished she could throw herself at him, burst into tears and accusations and beg him to like her again. INSTEAD, she waits in silence.
I doubt that this young man will come back to Linda. She has no claims on him. In a few weeks, she will recover from the hurt and shame and will go on with her life. BUT how sad if she does not grow from this bitter experience.
The other day I saw a poster of a winter scene. A bare, black tree stood alone in a canyon with icy white mountains behind it. The caption: "Do not pray for an easy life. Pray to be a strong person."
These wintry blasts can break us, or they can help to make us strong. Pray that God will make you a stronger person".
DEBBIE COWLES
"I had just listened to my friend Linda's sad story. A young man seemed to like her. They worked in the same office, and he often stopped by to visit, watched for her arrival and spent as much time as he could over lunch break and after hours talking with her.
Then suddenly it all stopped. She could not think of anything she had said to offend him. He did not act as though he disliked her; he just had excuses for leaving early and no longer sought out her company.
Most of us at some time have been on the receiving end of that kind of pain and have felt as Linda. Her pride prevented her from asking him what happened or from causing a scene. She probably wished she could throw herself at him, burst into tears and accusations and beg him to like her again. INSTEAD, she waits in silence.
I doubt that this young man will come back to Linda. She has no claims on him. In a few weeks, she will recover from the hurt and shame and will go on with her life. BUT how sad if she does not grow from this bitter experience.
The other day I saw a poster of a winter scene. A bare, black tree stood alone in a canyon with icy white mountains behind it. The caption: "Do not pray for an easy life. Pray to be a strong person."
These wintry blasts can break us, or they can help to make us strong. Pray that God will make you a stronger person".
DEBBIE COWLES
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