Feeds:
Posts
Comments

>The Complaint Department

September 15, 2010 by Fritz

>

[W]ith my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.” – Psalm 142:1b-2

An old joke tells of a man asking to immigrate to the United States. His communist country’s official wants to know why. “Is there a problem with the food here?” “I can’t complain about that”, the man replies.

Is something wrong with the work, the housing, the government?” But the man answers, “I can’t complain about that, either!”.

Finally, in frustration, the official asks, “Why, then, do you want go to America?!”

“There, I can complain!”

There is a legitimate place to complain, not to just anyone but to God! He will hear and console1; indeed he is the only one who can really help.

Got a complaint? Take it to the celestial Complaint Department, no appointment necessary.

– fritz

1 – Suffering, What to Look For, Monday, September 13, 2010

Posted in Complaining, Prayer | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

>Releasing from Animosity

September 14, 2010 by Fritz

>

“[D]eliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword” – Psalm 17:13b

There are wicked people in this world over which we have little control – people who would do us harm if they could, and sometimes do.

But the Psalmist makes an important declaration by calling them God’s sword.

Terrorists, self serving politicians, conspirators, even bosses from the place it doesn’t snow, are not in control of God’s people, God is!

This means I don’t have to be afraid of them. I can pray, help those whose job it is to protect us, and trust God. Jesus said,

“I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.” – Luke 12:4

This also means they are not mine to judge, hate, or wish them harm.

I think this is how Elizabeth Elliott was able to return and share Christ to the very jungle villages of those who killed her husband.

When we see Christ in control of our lives, and are surrendered to his purposes, animosity ebbs away.

– fritz

Posted in Forgiveness | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Suffering, what to look for

September 13, 2010 by Fritz

“God … comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God….knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” – 2nd Corinthians 1:3a, 4a, 7b

Many don’t suffer for their faith, like the early apostles did, but every person has some tragedy, suffering, personal weakness, or situation causing them to ask, “Why me, and why this?!”

God offers a partial reason and a personal promise.

  1. The promise? Consolation! God promises if (when) we suffer there SHALL be a consolation from Him, so look for it! Stop focusing on “why this or why that and start looking for His consolation – it will be there, somewhere, He says it will!

  2. The partial reason? It’s the same as why we, who have given our lives to Christ, still remain here – to use our lives and experiences to give hope to others and to introduce them to the One who gives us hope and consolation.

Suffering people listen to those who have suffered like them and survived.

Stop thinking life is all about you, in the suffering look for His consolation and when you have it share how you found it!

– fritz

Posted in consolation, Suffering | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »