Wisdom and Sufferings

Ecclesiastes 3 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. 15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account. 16 And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there. 17 I thought in my heart, "God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time for every deed." 18 I also thought, "As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?" 22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him? Regarding JOB: God is making a point with Satan and to make the point He uses Job and the point is to show the strength and the continuity and the unwavering character of true saving faith, true love for God. The person who really loves God is not the person who loves God because of what he gets, but the person who loves God because of who he is. Then, go to Job, Chapter 2; God says, "Have you considered My servant Job? And he says, Let me at him again." And so in verse 6 chapter 2 the Lord said to Satan, "Behold he's in your hand, this time you can hit him but you can't kill him....you can't kill him. Satan went right out of the presence of the Lord and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to his crown." During the conversations between Satan and God, Satan is basically telling God: "Why do you think he worships You, because he's a pragmatist, he knows who's delivering the goods. Job knows how to open the flood gate, he does his thing for You and You unload on him, all the blessings, of course he's good. But not for nothing." Then Satan said in verse 11: "Put forth Your hand now, "touch all that he has, he'll curse You to Your face." In terms of faith and fear, take away Job's stuff and he'll curse. "And the Lord said to Satan, behold all that he has is in your power." Behold all that he has is in your power. God turned Job over to Satan, no question about it. That was a divine act by the sovereignty of God. Only upon himself don't put your hand. You can do anything you want to his stuff, but don't touch him. Chapter 3 through chapter 10 chronicle Job's sorrow and he's really hurting. He's in pain, "O that my grief were thoroughly weighed and my calamity laid in the balances," chapter 6 verse 2. Chapter 10, he says, "My soul is weary of life." And he says in verse 2 of chapter 10, "God, do not condemn me, show me why You're contending with me." Job gets the message in chapter 42. "And Job answered the Lord and said, O, I see, I get it, You can do everything and no thought can be withheld from You and who's ever going to hide counsel without knowledge, therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, things too wonderful for me which I knew not." Job is saying: "God, I understand, You're God, You're sovereign, You can do anything. You know everything. You have all the privileges. I'm a fool for even opening my mouth, I apologize. I've been talking about things far beyond my understanding which I knew not. Too awesome for me to understand. "

Wisdom

You might want to read Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, which are books about "wisdom". Proverbs 15:24The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going down to the grave. Ecclesiastes 2:21 For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. Of course, don't forget James in the New Testament: James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

God's will

I am saying what "ACCORDING to the WORD of GOD" which is the Bible. We either follow the Word of God to the word or we don't. No different what I am going through, as my daughters going through. I was born with disabilities as well as suffering from other disabilities. My daughter was born with celebral palsy as well as mild retardation due to seizures when she was a child. My other daughter also have a disability. "The Blame Game" have been going on since Adam and Eve. Satan approached Eve and told her that God is not benenolent and that His Word cannot be trusted. When reading Genesis 3:1-5, it is interesting how Satan used the words to twist the true meaning to false and confused Eve which lead to convincing herself to eat the forbidden fruit. Satan changed God's positive invitation to eat any fruit except ONE by using negative prohibition designed to cast doubt on God's goodness. The first issue of Satan's temptation to make Eve doubt God's Word which lead her to disobey His simple commandment. I have observed people who are looking for pity due to their personal circumstances. Our lives life are full of sorrow that if we are not careful, we will allow our self-centered (which is considered sinful) desire for pity be part of our lives. I have learned that God wants me to take joy over my circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). As a human being, I understand that sorrow is a healthy and natural emotion which God have created. I have learned that God can only use believers who have limitations,which are weaknesses (i.e. physical and etc) that the believer inherited or has no power to change, such as a physical disability or an emotional disability or an intellectual disability. I have seen people who overcame their situations into positive and actually glorify God. That's what God wants me to do. God is in control whether we accept our situation or not. God allows sufferings. John 9:1-3 "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." Sickness and disability touch so many of us that we cannot avoid the issue. "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 If you go to "Where Is God?" websites, you will find many Christians who are facing similar situations as we are. "Where is God?" website was designed to help Christian friends and family develop a better understanding of disabling illness and injury. It also helps us to take a deeper look into the Word and acknowledge the tremendous faith our brothers and sisters have, through God's hand. Where Is God? provides helpful links to sites and organizations of several diseases, disorders and conditions, as well as a support board. Where is God? Through his wife, who became disabled in 1991 due to Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and Late-Chronic Lyme Disease. One husband's goal is not to create a sense of pity, but compassion for their losses and awareness of their incredible faith, despite their circumstances. The main issue is how are we responding to the circumstances? "How does God want me to respond to this difficult situation?" Faith always pleases God, because it comes to grips with our own reality. Christian who have faith understand the reality of their lives. Faith in God allows us to go as far as we can while trusting in God's grace to overcome the difficulties we face. God is asking us to stay strong in faith, keep at it, to carry on, and to stick with it. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God said: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Overcome By Faith: 1 John 5:3-5 "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." Continue in Faith: Acts 14:22 'strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.' Colossians 1:22-23 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Be Strong in Faith: Romans 4:20-25 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. I want healing to happen however while I am waiting for healing to happen, I will not allow negative circumstances control my life. I am deaf, I have multiple sclerosis, I have diabetes and other circumstances in my life. As a Christian, I am happy that God have taught me with those circumstances. The Beatitudes of Jesus Christ are one of the wonderful examples that God is able to provide us. Matthew 5:3-5 (NLT) "God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the kingdom of Heaven is given to them. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them." My quotes from my journal: “Okay, 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.” “My disabilities do not have me. I have the disabilities and I accept them because I know who I am from the inside.” “Everything has its wonders, even silence and pain, and I learn, whatever disabilities and difficulties I may be in, I am happily content.”

Great is the Lord

Psalm 48:1 Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. Psalm 86:10 For You are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Psalm 95:3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. Psalm 96:4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. Psalm 135:5 I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. 1 Timothy 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 6:6 Godliness with contentment is great gain. Titus 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:20 For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Revelation 15:3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.

God is perfect in every situation in our lives

Philippians 3:14-16

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

God is PERFECT in every plan. When God created Adam and Eve, does that mean His creation was not perfect? NO. God gave Adam and Eve freewill to choose. God is absolutely powerful, that God is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, that God is immutable, never changes, that God is all wise, perfectly just, holy, righteous. God is causing all things to work together for our good, which means our eternal glory because we love God because He first loved us and purposed to bring us to His Great Glory. Reading 2 Corinthians 12:9 says "God said 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Romans 8:28-29 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Proverbs 20:24 How can we understand the road we travel? It is the LORD who directs our steps. When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. Eccl 7:14. In Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.

“God knows instantly and effortlessly all matters, all mind and every mind, all spirits, all being and every being, all creaturehood and all creatures, every plurality and all pluralities, all law and every law, all relations, all causes, all thoughts, all mysteries, all enigmas, all feeling, all desires, every uttered secret, all thrones and dominions, all personalities, all things visible and invisible in heaven and in earth, motion, space, time, life, death, good, evil, heaven, and hell…”

A. W. Tozer

Learning through life's experiences

When I was younger, I believed that God will always protect me but as I got older, wiser and learned what God have taught me. I like this quote by Paul Little "Faith recognizes the fact that God is in control of my life. Whether I believe it or not, it's a fact that God is in control of the world. If I don't believe it, I'm just robbing myself of the enjoyment of the fact." What I am trying to say is that God is always directing and sometimes things will happen along the way. I have Faith in Him. Through my faith, I obey His Word. The more I grow in Christ the more I will understand His Word. Isaiah 48:17This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Ecclesiastes 9:11 I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. Solomon was wise and he knows: Ecclesiastes 2:14 The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both. Ecclesiastes 8:17 I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it. Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Whatever trouble we face, God wants us to use the opportunity to respond to the trouble in His way, not our way as Jesus said in Matthew 6:32-33: "Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." If we ignore our circumstances, how can we learn? Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. James 1:9The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 1 Peter 1:11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. People will view God is ALL good, which is true but the definition of "good" in God's point of view is different than our human point of view. 1 Corinthians 9:8 Do I say this merely from a human point of view? 1 John 4:5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. Philippians 3:15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. The Bible talks about that God give and take away. He allow the good and the bad to happen. Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. There is a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. If God is ALL good, then Solomon would not write the negative side of God in Ecclesiastes. From God's point of view. I arrived naked from the womb of my mother; I will leave in the same condition--with nothing. There's a right time and way for everything. He knows my current state and my tomorrows, if I have one. "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24). Are we corrupting our thoughts with our wishful images of God? Contentment says, "Thy will be done, Lord," even when His will means a cross. Contentment is never being possessed by our wishful thinking images of God. The Bible clearly teaches that God knows beforehand what we will need and He will provide beforehand according to His will. Wisdom sees everything in focus and be able to trust God no matter what happens. God leads us to our destiny according to His will and glory. No matter what we do, God is always guiding us through our circumstances (good and bad). Nothing is impossible for Him. God is Good and at the same time, God is Holy and Sovereign. Blessings, Jim