6:00 PM Tuesday night: Did my taxes.
9:00 AM Wednesday Morning: Shredded my passport application.
I guess if I'm to look on the bright side...at least I hadn't already bought my plane tickets or payed for my passport yet. My only remaining hope is that my friends going to europe will take lots of pictures and I can once again see europe through someone else's eyes.
Sometimes life sucks. Here's to living in the real world, Cheers.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
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5 comments:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose". What's more, "who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" "Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?" "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us... [nothing] will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ro 8:28,35,37-39). In another place, James instructs us to "consider it pure joy" (cf James 1).
God once said to his chosen people, who were exiled in Babylon: "I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer 29:11). If what Paul wrote to the faithful in Ephesus is true ("in [Christ] we were also chosen" Ep 1:11), and if it is true that "the plans of the LORD stand firm forever" and "the purposes of his heart through all generations" (Ps 33:11), then there may be hope for us yet ;)
In the same way that Nehemiah encouraged the Israelites, may the joy of the LORD be your strength (8:10), and may you not forget to "give thanks in all circumstances" ( 1Th 5:18).
I will certainly try and let this be an exercise in giving thanks IN all circumstances...but I don't think I will be able to honestly give thanks FOR all circumstances. I recognize that God is "in control", I just am exercising my "right" to be upset with the current situation.
Thank you very much for the encouraging words though.
You are right; it seems good to me to recognize that it's humanly impossible to honestly give thanks for all circumstances.
I do wonder why Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to "be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens... this is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live". I don't suppose that Paul is making all that up. Why do you and I, as Christians, consider it reasonable to "be cheerful no matter what"? One step further. According to Paul, this is the way God wants you to live ("God's will for you in Christ Jesus" in the NIV).
We know that "even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief" (Prov 14:13). I don't know for sure, but supposing that Paul's instructions to the Thessalonians are also for you and me, how is it possible for us to "be joyful always" and to "pray without ceasing"? This isn't a rhetorical question. You and I know -- we've seen bad days and tough times; no one is exempt. "As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend" (Prov 27:17, NLT).
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Thank you, Mikey! Even now, I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the Corinthians at the beginning of the first letter (1Cor 1:4-5,7-9).
I read a book about two sisters that were sent to a concentration camp because they were hiding Jews. In one of the barracks, there was a terrible flea infestation. One of the sisters remembered what Paul said about giving thanks for ALL things, so she gave thanks for the fleas--her sister was quite irritated by this because she did not see the good of fleas. After a few days, they noticed that the guards would not enter their barrack to do the routine checks. They were able to have Bible studies because of this. I'm sure you see what's happening--those guards would not enter because of the fleas. Thank God in ALL circumstances.
OK, I'm dying to know ... did you get stuck paying a whole bunch of taxes or what? Your post wasn't clear.
Enlighten me!
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