Really?? There Can Be Joy in Suffering?? – PHILIPPIANS (Chapter 1b) – [3]

April 30, 2015May 18, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

Continuing on from Philippians (Chapter 1a), http://wp.me/p5nZpi-mF…

ARE YOU IN PRISON?

You may not be in a literal prison, or even experiencing physically suffering, but you may feel trapped or discouraged.

Remember: The way you respond when you find yourself in conflicts at work, in your friendships, in your marriage, with your finances, with your teachers, your family members, etc. has to power to restrain you, or set you free. Your response reflects what you believe, and of who you believe in.

WHAT KEPT PAUL GOING IN ADVERSE SITUATIONS?

Paul, “I live in eager expectation and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, and I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ whether I live or die. And while I live that means fruitful service for Christ.“ – Phil. 1:20,22

WHAT FUELED PAUL TO PUSH THROUGH HIS SUFFERING?

I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. – Phil. 1:25

AN EXAMPLE OF JOY IN SUFFERING

Between 1942 and 1945, a Jewish man named Viktor Frankl, spent time in four different Nazi concentration camps. His family died, he suffered horribly, and he spent years watching everyone around him suffering and dying. Out of this horrific experience came the book, Man’s Search for Meaning.

Here is a few quotes to ponder from Frankl’s book.

“Suffering is of itself meaningless. We give our suffering meaning by the way we respond to it.”

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances — the freedom to choose how you will respond to situation.”

“You can’t control what happens to you in life, but you can always control what you feel and do about what happens to you.”

TRANSFORMATION/STRENGTHENING

Allow your suffering to transform you. Allow your suffering to strengthen your faith in God.

Would you like to have a personal/intimate relationship with the Creator of the Universe?? Take a look at the tab, The Cornerstone…, in the menu for more info.
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Beatings, Pain, Death… – Why is Today Called “Good” Friday??

April 3, 2015April 5, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

GOOD FRIDAY – The Crucifixion of Jesus.

My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot,
    like a root in dry ground.
There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,
    nothing to attract us to him.
He was despised and rejected—
    a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
    He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
    it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
    a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.                                                                                                  Isaiah 53:2-5
—————————————————-

Why is today known as “Good” Friday?

Although Jesus died a terrible, excruciating death, on Good Friday, this day is remembered as “Good” because it was through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that ALL PEOPLE, (not some, not just “special” people, not just rich people, not just poor people, not just law-abiding people, etc.), ALL PEOPLE, have the opportunity to restore their relationship with God.

And when the time comes for our earthly lives to be over, we will not simply be reduced to nothing, nor will we be alone. No, we will live forever with God in heaven. When God promises He will, wipe every tear from our eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things will be gone forever. – Revelation 21:4

See my tab, The Cornerstone…,http://wp.me/P5nZpi-bJ, if you’d like to know how you can have a personal relationship with God, the creator of everything.

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Heal My Illnesses Lord…

March 31, 2015March 31, 2015buildafoundation 1 Comment

Lately, there seems to be more and more people who have been diagnosed with cancer. More and more people who are battling various strains of the flu, cold viruses, and a variety of other diseases. More and more people generally feeling “not quite right”.

The breakdown of the physical body was never God’s intention. When Adam and Eve lived in Eden, all was perfect. They were physically strong and healthy. It was not until they gave into the serpent’s, Satan’s, temptation – choosing to eat the fruit God commanded them not to, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” – that life, as they knew it, began to crumble.

…their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. – Genesis 3:7
…they hid from the Lord God – Genesis 3:8
women would feel the pain of their pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. – Genesis 3:16
men would now be working in pain all their lives, to get food and survive – sweating from dawn to dusk – Genesis 3:17
Then, the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden… – Genesis 3:23

Thankfully God, because of His love for us, put into motion a means by which we can be saved. And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife. – Genesis 3:21 This verse foreshadows Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for all humanity, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life – John 3:16

< If you would like to know how you can have a personal/intimate relationship with God, our creator, the creator of everything, take a look at my tab in the menu – The Cornerstone… http://wp.me/P5nZpi-bJ >

THERE IS HOPE – for there will be a time when God will be among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. And He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. – Revelation 21:3-4

Until that time comes, God has given us many verses in the Bible. When we pray back the Word of God, we are praying according to His Will. And God promises, …that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. – 1 John 5:14

< For more on praying and seeking God’s will, see my post, I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does God Answer Me?? – (Part 1 of 3) – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-hK >

Below are some verses to get you started. Pray one, or all of these, throughout your day and experience for yourself hope, healing, encouragement, and comfort.

May the Lord bless you
    and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
    and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
    and give you his peace. – Numbers 6:24-26

**For more encouraging boards see my tab – The Mortar… – http://wp.me/P5nZpi-7R**

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I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 2 of 3)

March 17, 2015March 25, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. – Psalm 34:17

In my last post, I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 1), http://wp.me/p5nZpi-hK, we were left with this unanswered question: HAS GOD ANSWERED THIS STUDENT’S PRAYER?

ANSWER: This is an interesting question, and my answer would be YES! No, God did not come out and say, “College “B” is the school I’ve chosen for you, if you go there everything will be perfect.” However, God is guiding this student towards clarity.

IS GOD ANSWERING MY PRAYER EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS, AND FEEL SO UNCERTAIN?

Sometimes in life there is not a definitive answer, but more than one good option. For example, I have the choice to pick chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla ice cream. If I choose vanilla, is that wrong? Or if I choose strawberry, am I right? No, all three flavors are great choices, it’s just a matter of which I’d prefer.

There are times, however, when there is a clear right and wrong choice. For example, the drinking age is 21 years old, and I am 18 years old. I choose to drink even though it’s against the law. Clearly a wrong choice.

God has given people free will. And exercising our free will enables us to make decisions based on our preferences. When we are actively seeking God’s will, He will help us think through our options to determine the best fit for us. By allowing us to do some of the “leg-work”, guided by His promptings, we will feel more confident that the decisions we make are inline with God’s will for us.

Important to Remember: What is good for one person, may or may not be good for you, or me. Every person’s journey through life is unique to them. As unique as their fingerprint.

This is why it is so important to seek God’s will. He created us, and He has an awesome plan for our lives. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

HOW SHOULD I PROCEED THEN?

For the answer to the above question, take a look at: I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 3), – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-ij and, I Pray, Does God Hear Me, Does He Answer Me?? – (Part 1) – http://wp.me/p5nZpi-h

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So Many Choices, How Can I Choose?? – PROVERBS 5 [7 out of 7]

February 23, 2015February 23, 2015buildafoundation 1 Comment

The person without the Spirit can’ t understand the truths that come from the Spirit of God. It all sounds foolish to them because only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means. – 1 Corinthians 2:14

Verses 21-23 wrap up Proverbs 5:
21   For the LORD sees clearly what a man does,
       examining every path he takes.
22   An evil man is held captive by his own sins;
       they are ropes that catch and hold him.
23   He will die for lack of self-control;
       he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

What I particularly like about Solomon’s advice is that he is a straight-talker. You don’t have to read between the lines to understand his message (see bold print).

Solomon points out clearly that it’s the choices we made that define the path we’re on today. We weren’t randomly teleported to where we are now.

If we take the time to reflect on our past choices, using the gift of reasoning God gave only to people, we would be able to see that, “I did _____ in this situation, choosing to do _______, and ______ , and the result was _______.” Hind sight is 20/20 after-all. 🙂

Each choice we make takes us down a different path. Some great, some a learning experience, and some destructive. We’re continually making choices. We’re never stagnant.

For example – I chose to look down, although quickly, at a text while driving, and don’t see that the car in front of me slowed up to let a family of geese pass, and I hit them.

These warnings from Solomon in Proverbs Chapter 5, , and others we read about in the Bible, are there because God knows we struggle with all the choices that bombard us. If this was not an issue, God wouldn’t spend so much time emphasizing, and re-emphasizing the potential irreversible emotional, and physical consequences of going our own way.

I mean seriously, isn’t it hard enough trying to pick out the “right” tube of toothpaste at the grocery store?

Won’t it be nice to be able to KNOW which toothpaste would give me those bright white teeth? Wouldn’t it be nice to KNOW which choice would give me a rich and satisfying life? – John 10:10

Thankfully, we can KNOW the “wise” choice. Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. – Matthew 7:13

Make a choice today to follow God’s ways, and ask God into your heart, see The Cornerstone… tab in the menu.

(To read all the posts from Proverbs 5, click Proverbs 5 link under Categories in sidebar, or scroll down if viewing on mobile version)

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God – Keeping Sexual Purity “Real” – PROVERBS 5 – [6]

February 20, 2015February 20, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.  Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor…  –  1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
————————————————————————
15 Drink water from your own well—

    share your love ONLY with your wife.

16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets,

    having sex with just anyone?

17 You should reserve it for yourselves.

    Never share it with strangers.

¹⁸Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
    Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
¹⁹She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
    Let her breasts satisfy you always.
    May you always be captivated by her love.
²⁰Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,
    or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?

Solomon doesn’t hold anything back in these next few verses of Proverbs 5. Can you believe this is God giving us these intimate/detailed guidelines?

That’s our Creator.

He tells it like it is. He keeps it real. He knows our hearts, He knows all people, No one needs to tell him what mankind is really like. – John 2:24-25, He knows our weaknesses. He warns us because He loves us and wants to protect us.

Although He doesn’t force us to choose His way, He gave people freewill. He doesn’t want us to feel hopeless and confused.

The promise God gave the Israelites, 3,000+ years ago, is true for us today, as well. Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, (pleading, begging, my add) that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! – Deuteronomy 30:19

What a powerful and hopeful verse!!

God wants us to be aware that our actions have consequences, both positive and negative.

Would I be a good parent if I didn’t tell my children that “doing” drugs is harmful to themselves and others?
Would I be a good parent if I told my children that having sex outside of marriage is nothing more than a “good” time, with no physical or emotional repercussions?
Would I be a “good” parent if I simply let the culture drive my children’s decisions, so they could experience “real life”?

If we, sinful people, know how to give good gifts (protection and warnings, my add) to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him (who follow Him, my add). – Matthew 7:11

We might not want to believe this, but we’ve all experienced the fact that we can’t change other people. Even if the advice, support, and guidance we’re giving them is right on target, some people would rather touch the fire to be sure it’s hot, rather than listening and heeding the advice of those who have already been burned.

As Solomon writes in the Book of Ecclesiastes, History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. There’s nothing new under the sun. – Ecclesiastes. 1:9

I urge and remind myself, and others –

DON’T just listen to God’s word. DO what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. – James 1:22

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Are You Attempting to “Do Life” on Your Own???? – PROVERBS 4 [1 OF 1]

February 1, 2015February 1, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28

___________________________________________

Click on this link http://biblehub.com/nlt/proverbs/4.htm to read Proverbs 4.

Many of the verses may seem similar to what we’ve learned in Proverbs 1-3, (See Categories in sidebar to read previous posts).

I’ve highlighted a few key verses from this chapter below.

6 (IF YOU) DON’T turn your back on wisdom,

(THEN) for she will protect you

(IF YOU) Love her, and (THEN) she will guard you.

7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do!
And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.

8 IF you prize wisdom, (THEN) she will make you great.
(IF YOU) Embrace her, and (THEN) she will honor you.

14 DON’T do as the wicked do, and DON’T follow the path of evildoers.
15 DON’T even think about it;
DON’T go that way. Turn away and keep moving.

18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.
19 BUT the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over. (They don’t even realize that they are on a destructive path because the path is not lit with knowledge and guidance from God’s Word)

VS.

23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.

26 Mark out (set goals, have a plan) a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 DON’T get sidetracked; (following the latest fads or people’s “great” ideas)
keep your feet from following evil.

There is no good reason for us to attempt to “do life” on our own. God loves us and wants us to have a rich and satisfying life – John 10:10

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. – Hebrews 4:1

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Persevere =>> Be Rewarded… – PROVERBS 3:33-35 [7 of 7]

January 28, 2015January 28, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

They see what I do, but they don’t perceive its meaning.  They hear my words, but they don’t understand.  So they will not turn from their sins and be forgiven.  –  Mark 4:12
————————————————————————————–
32         Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,

         but He offers His friendship to the godly.

33 The Lord curses the house of the wicked,
but He blesses the home of the upright.

³⁴The Lord mocks the mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

³⁵The wise inherit glory and honor,
but fools are put to shame!

Although this Proverb is only 35 verses long, Solomon packs in a ton of practical/applicable principles.

In the first few verses of Proverbs 3:1-10, Solomon talks about cause and effect relationships — (See posts referencing these verses — http://wp.me/p5nZpi-87, http://wp.me/p5nZpi-89, http://wp.me/p5nZpi-8z).
He then moves on to talk about God’s loving discipline, verses 11-12 — (See post — http://wp.me/p5nZpi-9v).
And then to showing the benefits of seeking and following Wisdom, verses 13-20 — (See post — http://wp.me/p5nZpi-av).
In verses 21-32, Solomon gives a number of warnings — (See post — http://wp.me/p5nZpi-b6).
And lastly, in verses 32-35, above, Solomon wraps up Proverbs 3 with BUT(s), (in bold print).

After all the don’t(s) that we saw in the previous verses, Solomon uses these last four verses to reassure God-followers that He does care about them. That He understands that those who follow His ways may be challenged and ridiculed. BUT, those who persevere, will be rewarded with…

God’s friendship – v. 32
blessing over their home (family, marriage, relationships, finances, health, etc.) – v. 33
favor (with others) – v. 34
glory and honor – v. 35

finishline1-1024x640

Choose today to be among those who will one day say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me–the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing”.- 2 Timothy 4:7-8

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Which Way to Turn? Which Way to Turn??? – PROVERBS 3:21-32 [6]

January 26, 2015January 27, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bear with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2

21 My child, DON’T lose sight of common sense (applying experience, knowledge) and       discernment ( good judgement based on experience and knowledge = wisdom)
Hang on to them,
22    For they will…
        1. Refresh your soul.
            They are like jewels on a necklace.
23    2. They keep you safe on your way,
        3. Your feet will not stumble.
24    4. You can go to bed without fear;
        5. you will lie down and sleep soundly.

25 You DON’T need be afraid of sudden disaster
      or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the
26   1. Lord is your security.
       2. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

27 DON’T withhold good from those who deserve it
when it’s in your power to help them.

28 If you can help your neighbor now, DON’T say,
“Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

29 DON’T plot harm against your neighbor,
for those who live nearby trust you.

30 DON’T pick a fight without reason,
when no one has done you harm.

31 DON’T envy the oppressor (someone who dominates or inflicts stress on someone)
or copy their ways.
32 Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but
1. He offers His friendship to the godly.

In the above verses you will see a series of DON’T(s), and the results of heeding those warnings. (See words in bold print for DON’T(s), and underlined numbers for the results).

Remember these principles when faced with making a decision that falls into the “gray” area. Recalling AND Applying God’s Word will clear the “debris”, and enable you to see the “wise” choice. (As you may notice, the “wise” choice is in the murky water. Look closely. It’s often hard to see until it’s been filtered out with God’s Truth, leaving the “wise” choice clearly visible.)

Now that we know all the positive results that come from following God’s guidance, hopefully the next time we find ourselves at a crossroads, we’ll have a good idea which path to choose.

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My Life is Sooooo Busy…..

January 23, 2015March 18, 2015buildafoundation Leave a comment

Don’t worry, or be anxious, about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. – Philippians 4:6

Today, I would like to share a poem, written on a beautiful wooden plague, that I bought years ago at a church auction. It sits on the dresser, next to my bed, as a reminder of what happens when I/we try to “do life” on my/our own, apart from God.

Our lives can get so busy, that before we know it, we’re caught up in the rat race. So much of our day is taken up with “stuff”. Some necessary, and some, not so much. We forget that God loves us, and has a plan for our day. He wants to give us a rich and satisfying life – John 10:10. Have you ever felt like you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders? Or wondered if it were possible to lighten the burden you were experiencing?

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

I hope this poem is a blessing to you – 🙂

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