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JimfromOhio

I am happlily married with 5 kids. I am an accoutant and worked in an accounting field for over 25 years. I like to make a habit of writing down whenever I have deep thoughts about God (so I won't forget). I really into Reformed Theology that is connected to Presbyterian Church in America.

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Location: Columbus, Ohio, United States

I enjoy having deep thoughts about God and put down what I actually think about (so I won't forget).

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Be Careful what you ask for, especially in prayer

1. Be careful when you say this around people who DO suffer sickness, disaster or "bad luck". 2. Since you said that, it sounded like a prayer... be careful what you say because God will teach you patiences through trials. Torture? Its not about torture, its more about "trials". Its more about our relationship with God. I was born deaf, I have multiples sclerosis, I have diabetes and much more. I asked.....and have learned...... God taught me through my trials and learned to understand about my own spiritual reality. I have learned that faith is not supposed to be competitive or works to be earned. Trials taught me that faith must be with love. In fact, love must come before faith. To God, LOVE is more important than faith. I asked for love.................God gave me trials so I can learn to love Him and others around me. I asked for strength...........God gave me difficulties which gave me strengths to handle my life. I asked for wisdom...........God gave me problems to learn to solve with Godly wisdom. I asked for prosperity.......God gave me a brain and a talent to work so I can be rich. I asked for courage..........God gave me dangers to learn to overcome my situations. I asked for healing............God gave me disabilities so I can help others with love. I asked for guidance........God gave me opportunities to use to direct my paths. I have learned through my sufferings that I was born a sinner and due to sin, my body is and will always vulnerable to illnesses. Because of sin (even though I am saved by Jesus Christ), my body will face illnesses until the day I die. I have learned that my faith in God through my physical sufferings that God taught me patience. As a Christian, I know that I am not totally "immune" to any physical illnesses & diseases. I know I will die physically someday. I have learned through my own physical sufferings of my life, that God has a purpose (will) for my life. His purpose (will) is to manifest my character to be like Christ. I have learned that I will always have faith in God because He has the power and He control my situations. I have learned that my sufferings are a testimony to others, (2 Tim 2:8-10; 2 Cor. 4:12-13; 1 Pet. 3:13-17). When I handle my sufferings in joyful attitude, this becomes a marvelous testimony to others how Christ blesses my life. With God's love, He gave me the character of Christ in the midst of suffering as a testimony to win others to Christ (2 Cor. 4:8-12; 1 Pet. 3:14-17). I suffer to develop our capacity and sympathy in comforting others (2 Cor. 1:3-5).Through my sufferings, I have learned to keep down my pride (2 Cor. 12:7). I suffered because it is a training tool by God. God used and still using my sufferings to develop my personal righteousness, maturity, and my spiritual walk with Him (Heb. 12:5f; 1 Pet. 1:6; Jam. 1:2-4). I have learned that my sufferings (trials) taught me and understood the true meaning of Psalm 62:1-8 ("wait on the Lord only."). Which means that my sufferings are required for spiritual sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2), personal courage, discipline for edification, and faith in God. My sufferings have taught me that God is LOVE. With His love, He has best interests at heart for me in His will regardless of how my trials might appear to me. I know I will be fully healed when I get into heaven.Finally, my sufferings have taught me that there are God's ministries around the world. People have been suffered to create and broaden God's ministries (cf. Philippians 1:12-14 with 4:5-9). In the process of producing Christian character in them and using their testimonies to others that suffering often opens up doors for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have learned that God used, is using people and will continue to use people who have suffered to reach out to others who are in the same boat.I have learned that God's purpose (will) in redeeming me is not to make my life happy, healthy, and free of trouble. God's purpose is to make me more like Christ. He chose to allow my deafness, multiple sclerosis and other physical trials not only teach me, but also teach others around me, about what it means to become more like Jesus.First Peter 2:21-25 says, "You have been called for this purpose (His will), since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls." Scripture clearly states that Christians will suffer for their faith (Matt. 5:11-12; 10:17; 24:9; Luke 21:12; John 15:20; 16:2; 2 Tim. 3:12). "Suffered" {páscho-} means to suffer (to feel or bear what is painful, disagreeable or distressing, either to the body or mind. We suffer pain of body; we suffer grief of mind). It means to be affected by something from without. It means to undergo an experience, usually difficult, and normally with the implication of physical or psychological suffering.I have learned that my disabilities (sufferings) do not have me. I have the disabilities and I accept them because I know who I am from the inside. Christ is inside me. Everything has its wonders, even silence and pain, and I learn, whatever disabilities and difficulties I may be in, I am happily content. I have hearing loss and multiple sclerosis, and those are the ways of life for me. I take silence and pain as they come and I have learned master them in my life. Life is 10 percent how I master my disabilities, and 90 percent how I am enjoying life regardless my disabilities.