Pruning our branches

God will prune our branches or put us through trials to help us learn what His will is.P

Be kind, respond in a humble spirit. 

He will always point you to Me. Yield to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Trust Him. 

Get blasted away. 

Lord, express your life through me by the power of the Holy Spirit in the response to this.

Live the life of Christ through us.

Your joy isn't how they treat you, but how you live in Christ.

Be good in return.

Faithfully you can be called to do what God wants you to do.

Love, they won't know what to do w/ it.

How much do you trust God in difficult times.

How do we learn - by trial and error adn by stumbling at times- its a maturing process. We all make mistakes.

 - also by reading the word.

Often when I think of what happened to me in Nome, I feel sooo very betrayed. And I wonder why? 

I have my faith in the Lord. I don't want ownership to all the stuff that happened to me in Nome. But I cannot deny that what happened, was the worst pain that I have ever endured. 

Have I forgiven my wife? I am not sure, for the fact that I still get angry when I think of incidences from the past.

I cannot change the past. I cannot fix what problems that my wife and I have. So, I gotta focus on what the future has to promise. I need God's help. I go to my Father much like my children come to me when they want me to fix something for them. I go to my Father and ask Him to fix my situation for me. I humbly say "Here you go Father, I need your help, I got something broken. Can you fix it for me?".

But, I write today confused. I am not sure why or how the pain from the past still causes pain.

"Yet those who wait for the LORD..." Is 40:31

God felt the need to save me from my misery. He pulled me up out of the sludge of muck, covered in a black thick slury of earth. Yet my feet are still in the grasp of the powerless turmoil(this is my situation that I am going through).

In whatever reason He pulled me up, it was 'MY' choice to get into that situation to begin with. I left God, and the foundation of my feet began to change. Instead of a solid foundation in God, my foundation began to turn into a black, quick-sand like slury that was bottomless. I was lost. I was lost wandering as the Isralites journeyed in the the desert for 40 years for thier sin. It was as if God was absent from me. My body began to rot in pain and suffering.

Despite conforming to the ways of the world, which was influencing ME, I always had a place in my heart for my Lord even though I did not trust Him. I cried out to Him on my chair at times wondering how much longer my painfull situation was going to last, much like how David cried out to God.

You see, once you accept God into your life, He will never leave you nor foresake you, but that does not mean that you will not be put through trials. I found this out by seeking council from the church, as the bible tells us so. I told him that I repented of my sins and had asked God to come BACK into my life. But, as I was told, God never left me and that God is still with me. What a PROMIS that we all can have in our relationship with God. He is ALWAYS willing to accept us back if we want Him.

The world is very influential and we desire things that this world has to offer. Some things are outside of God's "basketball court"- God's rules. I was drinking, smoking cigars frequently and enjoying every minute of it. But I went outside the boundary of God's basketball court, seeking my own pleasure. But it was my choice to focus on God.

We have our desires, one is to do things of the flesh. The other is to do things according to how God intended for us to live. Think of it in terms of a team. You are playing a sport and you are on God's team, doing your daily devotional, praying, staying in the Word. But you desire the flesh and begin to sin- Satan's team. At one point, the two teams will have to play against each other. So you can't play on both, you have to make a choice. Your choice to either play on God's team or Satan's team will be determined on which you DESIRE most.

Influence HAS power, it sways people, intices people, inspires people. Are you willing to let the world of the flesh influence you ... or, are you willing to influence the world, being a witness of God.

Depression

I copied/pasted these verses from the Charles Stanley web site.

"For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning."Psalms 30:5

"The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles."Psalms 34:17

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."Psalms 147:3

"Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."Isaiah 40:31

"So the ransomed of the LORD will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."Isaiah 51:11

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."Romans 8:38-39

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation."1 Peter 4:12-13

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."1 Peter 5:6-7

Armour of God

The Armor of God

10Finally, (A)be strong in the Lord and in (B)the strength of His might.
11(C)Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the (D)schemes of the devil.
12For our (E)struggle is not against (F)flesh and blood, but (G)against the rulers, against the powers, against the (H)world forces of this (I)darkness, against the (J)spiritual forces of wickedness in (K)the heavenly places.
13Therefore, take up (L)the full armor of God, so that you will be able to (M)resist in (N)the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14Stand firm therefore,

(O)HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH,
and HAVING (P)PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
15and having (Q)shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
16in addition to all, taking up the (R)shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the (S)flaming arrows of (T)the evil one.
17And take (U)THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the (V)sword of the Spirit, which is (W)the word of God.

18With all (X)prayer and petition (Y)pray at all times (Z)in the Spirit, and with this in view, (AA)be on the alert with all (AB)perseverance and (AC)petition for all the saints,
19and (AD)pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me (AE)in the opening of my mouth, to make known with (AF)boldness (AG)the mystery of the gospel,
20for which I am an (AH)ambassador (AI)in chains; that [a]in proclaiming it I may speak (AJ)boldly, (AK)as I ought to speak.
21(AL)But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, (AM)Tychicus, (AN)the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
22(AO)I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may (AP)comfort your hearts.
23(AQ)Peace be to the brethren, and (AR)love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

God, make my way of foot steps this day.