[joeNM]

The local TV meteorologist occasionally points to a map and says something like this: "I'm afraid that things are going to get worse before they get better."

Such a forecast could very well have applied to Israel when God sent Moses to free His people from slavery in Egypt. The barometer of events was falling rapidly, and the dark, ominous sky of oppression would soon break forth into a churning, flashing storm of cruelty unleashed by Pharaoh.

Moses had appealed to Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go into the desert to worship God, but the king accused them of loafing on the job (Exodus 5:1,17). So he multiplied their workload, and the situation went from bad to horrible (v.18). Moses cried out in bitterness to the Lord for an explanation (vv.22-23). He found it hard to believe that a glorious exodus could be just around the corner.

The plans of the Lord were not being frustrated, however. Before conditions would get better for His children, God tested them by allowing their suffering to increase.

Even when we are obedient to the Lord, the skies of adversity may not always clear immediately. Circumstances may get worse before they improve. But praise God, His grace will sustain us, and the storm will pass. —Mart De Haan


Have faith in God, the sun will shine,
Though dark your path may be today;
His love has planned your way and mine,
Have faith in God, have faith alway. —Anon.

It's always darkest before the dawn.

[satjas]

Hey JoeNM

>The plans of the Lord were not being frustrated, however.
>Before conditions would get better for His children, God
>tested them by allowing their suffering to increase.

Just read that again very very slowly and think whether you would ever do that to your kids? It is stories like these that give God the image of a tyrannical, self-seeking slave driver and sadist........would you joenm put your kids through hell just to test their loyalty and love for you? Has it ever dawned on you that these are simply myths? Obviously not, sorry.

>It's always darkest before the dawn.

day and night is a relative thing........this here has another meaning......that when things seem gray might be an advent of better things to come...........but an even deeper meaning is sustained in it - that when your mind starts realizing itself, it will be so muddled up with thoughts that will spell doom , but upon realization of self the illumination of knowledge will reign......and what is that illumination? God!!!

-the paradigm shifter......God's friend.

The soul is that which beholds beauty even when the mind denies it.

[Sänää]

eish satjas huchoki wewe? Mpe mwingine nafasi ya kupumua!

[satjas]

hey Sanaa,

umm........no!! One who eats little sleeps little may have alot of time.......

-the paradigm shifter......God's friend.

The soul is that which beholds beauty even when the mind denies it.

[joeNM]

Have you ever wanted to share your faith but chickened out? When I ask that question in meetings at churches, even the pastor's hand goes up. That's normal.
What makes it difficult for us to share our faith? During a seminar I was leading, people gave these replies:

I'm unsure how to guide the discussion to the Scripture.
I fear rejection.
I don't know how to start a conversation about spiritual issues.
I lack confidence that the Lord will speak through me.
I can't imagine that some people would even care to hear what I have to say.
We're going to deal with the how-to questions in the pages to follow, but we first need to clarify our role and the proper attitude.

We need to get away from a "win them" mentality. People do not put their faith in Christ because we cleverly "force" them to believe. We must realize that if we "win" someone to Christ, he's probably not saved. D. L. Moody, the evangelist, was riding on a train when a drunk came up to him and said, "Mr. Moody, I'm one of your converts." Moody replied, "I'm afraid you are, because you're obviously not a convert of the Lord's."

We also have to believe that success in God's eyes is sharing our faith and living out our Christian life. He does not measure success by how many people we lead to Jesus Christ. Our job is to be faithful to Him.

Still we fear failure and rejection. There is no stronger feeling in the world than that. It hurts. But we must remember that it's the gospel people are rejecting, it's Jesus they're rejecting, it's not us. It feels like us sometimes, but we have to get free from that desire to cause the conversion. Jesus said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44).

The apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Corinth, "I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling" (1 Cor. 2:3). But that didn't stop him. In fact, most of the New Testament was written by that "coward."

God understands that we might be afraid. But we have no excuse not to tell others about Christ, because His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).

I dread every hospital visit I have to make. It's hard for me. But it doesn't excuse me not to go to see the people that God puts in my path in hospitals. We've got to go--whether we like it or not.

Remember Moses. He stuttered. Moses would not have been a good TV personality today. God chooses the weak things of the world to shame the wise and the strong. And if anybody qualifies for that, it's me.

And finally, if you are thinking that the person you are considering talking to is an impossible case, you've got to trust that God is the God of the impossible. You and I need to remember our part and God's part in the process of sharing our faith.

OUR PART

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations'" (Matt. 28:18-19).
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" (2 Cor. 5:20).
GOD'S PART

" 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty" (Zech. 4:6).
"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power" (1 Cor. 2:4).
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44).
"No one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled him" (John 6:65).