Why Me?

Good Morning Everyone,

Today's included story struck a chord within my
heart this morning.

We often go through life with a mindset, especially
when we are younger that we are invincible ... that
nothing can happen to us, it only happens to other people.

Then when something harsh or bad, or tragic happens,
we are shocked ... how can this be happening to me?

I am reminded of this verse:

Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery
ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, (refine you)
as though something strange -- unusual and alien to
you and your position were befalling you.
But in so far as you are sharing in Christ's sufferings,
rejoice, so that when His Glory (full of radiance
and splendor) is revealed you may also rejoice
with triumph exultantly.
1 Peter 4:12-13

What? Me rejoice because I am suffering?
You are kidding right?

Jesus said suffering would be common to mankind.
(John 16:33)

All suffer at one time or another. Why? We live
in a sinful fallen world. Where the willfulness of
man and their sin separates them from God.
This sin dwelling in the world brings untold
grief, sorrow, and suffering to everyone.

Don't waste your time blaming God for not fixing
it all. I know He would love to. But God gives
us free will, He did not make robots and say
you will all worship me, and all listen to me,
He gave mankind a choice.

Those who make a choice to walk away from
God and many walk into evil lifestyles bring a lot
of suffering to those around them, and to themselves.

Then there are illnesses, and tragedies, and
death and loss that rock our lives and shake up
our existence and make us wonder at life altogether.

When I was young, I was a selfish person, I thought
life was all about me. You often become very vain
in your thinking about yourself, as the world teaches
this generation to be, thinking whatever you want
is OK ... after all, it is your life, your rights!

Hard times bring us down to right thinking. They
are refining us, and teaching us wisdom of life.
They are the growth times in our lives,
and we, through these times, EITHER BECOME
BITTER, OR WE BECOME BETTER.

Let me tell you what the suffering,
tragedies and hard times did for me.

They taught me:

My sufficiency was not enough, I needed the
sufficiency of God and his work in my life and spirit.

It taught me to understand the suffering in others,
to have empathy and compassion.

It taught me to look outward, rather than always
at myself, seeking to help the needs of others,
rather than always thinking about me.. and my
circumstances (that is called growth my friends)

It taught me to face things with courage. Courage
I would never have DEVELOPED if I hadn't faced
trials.

It taught me wisdom, wisdom from looking back
at how God had walked me through so many hard
times and what was the best way to deal with them.

It taught me how trusting God worked, and how
not trusting him, made life so much harder and sadder,
and more lonely.

It taught me about FAITH.

Trials of life taught me that I need to believe
what God says in his word, and not what men
are saying or predicting. It means not
letting the accuser of the brethren plant
thoughts of doubts and despair within me
to make me have a mindset of "poor me" and
giving up everytime something happens in my life.

It taught me faith is believing the answer is
on the way, even when I cannot see it.
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by FAITH (that is, we
regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by
our conviction or belief respecting man's
relationship to God and divine things with
trust and holy fervor; thus we walk)
not by sight nor appearance but by Faith.

It may not always be the answer I wanted or expected,
but I know my heavenly Father loves me more than
anyone on earth ever will, and He wants the best for me.
He knows what will happen tomorrow, He knows
what we went through yesterday, He knows what
path is best, now we need to follow Him and let
him work in our lives!

God is molding you and me. Refining us. Circumstances
and hard times can change us for the better, if we
remain teachable, God-focused and determined
to grow spiritually.

When hard times hit, we close in with God. WE cry out
in prayer, fervently, knowing He cares, and is the ONLY
ONE who can walk us through this and bring us out
victorious on the other side.

Casting your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Are you walking a life of faith today my friend?
What will sustain you when hard times hit?
Your own limited thinking or the power of
a unlimited all powerful, loving heavenly Father?

The test of time.. is whether your walk of faith
is God focused, or just superficial and you never
grow and become strong.. you stay in the same
place by your own choice.

Who do you really listen to and serve today?

love
millie





THE STONE CUTTER

There was once a stone cutter who was dissatisfied with himself and with
his position in life.

One day he passed a wealthy merchant's house. Through the open gateway, he
saw many fine possessions and important visitors. How powerful that
merchant must be! thought the stone cutter. He became very envious and
wished that he could be like the merchant.

To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more
luxuries and power than he had ever imagined, but was envied and detested
by those less wealthy than himself. Soon a high official passed by, carried
in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants and escorted by soldiers
beating gongs. Everyone, no matter how wealthy, had to bow low before the
procession. How powerful that official is! he thought. I wish that I
could be a high official!

Then he became the high official, carried everywhere in his embroidered
sedan chair, feared and hated by the people all around. It was a hot summer
day, so the official felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He
looked up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his
presence. How powerful the sun is! he thought. I wish that I could be
the sun!

Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the
fields, cursed by the farmers and laborers. But a huge black cloud moved
between him and the earth, so that his light could no longer shine on
everything below. How powerful that storm cloud is! he thought. I wish
that I could be a storm cloud!

Then he became the storm cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted
at by everyone. But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some
great force, and realized that it was the wind. How powerful it is! he
thought. I wish that I could be the wind!

Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting
trees, feared and hated by all below him. But after a while, he ran up
against something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew
against it - a huge, towering rock. How powerful that rock is! he
thought. I wish that I could be a rock!

Then he became the rock, more powerful than anything else on earth. But as
he stood there, he heard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the
hard surface, and felt himself being changed. What could be more powerful
than I, the rock? he thought.

He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stone cutter.

Author Unknown