Suffering ChristiansSuffering ChristiansThis blog is intended for born again Christians who are suffering from chronic illnesses or conditions, temporary circumstances or those who are interested in the subject of suffering in general. Most posts will be somewhat short in length, many cont
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Psalm 10:17
2008-06-09 19:12:00 Psalm 10:17 ESVO LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear More About: Psalm
Don't Waste Your Cancer
2008-06-02 19:07:00 This article can be applied to any type of affliction or suffering. It's included in the book Suffering and the Sovereignty of God. It was my favorite chapter. I found that it's online. I hope it's helpful.Don't Waste Your Cancer
Spurgeon on Suffering
2008-05-20 01:28:00 Please see the section related to Spurgeon :Transparency: ...and more good... (part 2 of 3)and follow the links if you have time. They are well worth reading.Here is a quote from Spurgeon:Is not this the reason why God’s servants are made to pass through so many trials, that they may really learn many truths not otherwise to be apprehended? Do we learn much in sunny weather? Do we not profit most in stormy times? Have you not found it so — that your sick-bed — your bereavement — your depression of spirit, has instructed you in many matters which tranquillity and delight have never whispered to you? I suppose we ought: to learn as much by joy as by sorrow, and I hope that many of my Lord’s better servants do so; but, alas! others of us do not; affliction has to be called in to whip the lesson into us. More About: Suffering
How firm a foundation
2008-05-14 18:23:00 How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,is laid for your faith in his excellent word!What more can he say than to you he hath said,to you that for refuge to Jesus have fled?"Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed!For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."When through the deep waters I call thee to go,the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;the flame shall not hurt thee; I only designthy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine."The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,I will not, I will not desert to its foes;that soul, though all hell shall endeavor to shake,I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake." --Anonymous or attributed variously to John Keene, Kirkham, and John... More About: Foundation
Piper and the Purpose of Suffering
2008-05-06 03:44:00 Piper and the Purpose of Suffering More About: Piper
Psalm 119:92
2008-04-22 23:54:00 If your revelation hadn't delighted me so,I would have given up when the hard times came.Psalm 119:92 (The Message) More About: Psalm 119
Why?
2008-04-07 18:28:00 "Just as God has used David's prayer of confession and repentance of his adultery in Pslam 51 to minister to His people down through the centuries, so God has used Job's struggles with doubt about the goodness of God to minister to His people....Though we don't want to be critical of Job, we do want to learn from him about the sinfulness of asking a demanding 'why?' of God.But though we should never ask a demanding 'why?' we may and should ask God to enable us to understand what He may be teaching us through a particular experience. But even here we must be careful that we are not seeking to satisfy our souls by finding some spiritual 'good' in the adversity. Rather we must trust God that He is working in the experience for our good, even when we see no beneficial results. We must learn to trust God when He doesn't tell us why, when we don't understand what He is doing."--Jerry Bridges, Trusting GodIsaiah 55:8-9For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my w...
The Vow
2008-03-31 20:03:00 The VowWhen Dave Kendall promised to love Diana 'in sickness and in health,' he meant it
Suffering and the Sovereignty of God
2008-03-26 04:43:00 The sovereignty of God is the one impregnable rock to which the suffering human heart must cling. The circumstances surrounding our lives are no accident: they may be the work of evil, but that evil is held firmly within the mighty hand of our sovereign God....All evil is subject to Him, and evil cannot touch His children unless He permits it. God is the Lord of human history and of the personal history of every member of His redeemed family.--Margaret Clarkson, Grace Grows Best in Winter (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1984), pages 40-41 More About: Sovereignty , Suffering
When God Doesn’t Heal You
2008-03-17 06:52:00 When God Doesn’t Heal You: A Life Lived with Suffering and for God’s Glory
Seeing Him through suffering
2008-03-10 18:29:00 This post at Pyromaniacs (don't let the name scare you) may be a little brusk but it offers some good commentary on Job.I'm Down More About: Suffering
Psalm 119:50, Colossians 1:11b-12
2008-03-03 21:51:00 This is my comfort in my distress, that your promise gives me life. Psalm 119:50 NRSVmay you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. Colossians 1:11b-12 NRSV More About: Psalm 119
Tim Keller on Suffering and Evil
2008-02-26 02:30:00 Tim Keller on Suffering and Evil Posted on The Shepherd’s Scrapbook
A PRAYER FOR CLEANSING THE HEART AND OBTAINING HEAVENLY WISDOM
2008-02-19 00:04:00 Strengthen me by the grace of Your holy spirit, O God. Give me the power to be strengthened inwardly and to empty my heart of all vain care and anxiety, so that I may not be drawn away by many desires, whether for precious things or mean ones. Let me look upon everything as passing, and upon myself as soon to pass away with them, because there is nothing lasting under the sun, where all is vanity and affliction of spirit. How wise is he who thinks thus!Give me, Lord, heavenly wisdom to learn above all else to seek and find You, to enjoy and love You more than anything, and to consider other things as they are, as Your wisdom has ordered them. Grant me prudence to avoid the flatterer and to bear patiently with him who disagrees with me. For it is great wisdom not to be moved by the sound of words, nor to give ear to the wicked, flattering siren. Then, I shall walk safely in the way I have begun.--Thomas à Kempis - The Imitation of Christ More About: Prayer , Heart , Wisdom , The Heart , Cleansing
The Power of the Cross of Christ
2008-02-12 03:19:00 "Remember, he [the thief on the cross] was crucified. It was a crucified man trusting in a crucified Christ . Oh, when our frame is racked with torture, when the tenderest nerves are pained, when our body is hung up to die by we know not what great length of torment, then to forget the present and live in the future is a grand achievement of faith! While dying, to turn your eye to another dying at your side and trust your soul with Him is very marvelous faith."- Charles Spurgeon, The Power of the Cross of Christ More About: The Cross
Blogging about faith and depression
2008-02-05 00:46:00 Blogging about faith and depression from Think Christian More About: Faith , Depression , Blogging
The Blessing of Unanswered Prayers
2008-01-28 20:05:00 I asked for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I had asked for, but everything that I had hoped for. Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered; I am, among all men, most richly blessed.— Unknown Confederate soldier More About: Prayers , Blessing
Testimony of James Boice
2008-01-21 18:44:00 As mentioned in the book Praying Backwards by Brian Chapell:"The last time noted pastor and author James Montgomery Boice addressed his congregation before succumbing to cancer, he spoke of the trust that healing prayer includes."If I were to reflect on what goes on theologically here, there are two things I would stress. One is the sovereignty of God. That’s not novel. We have talked about the sovereignty of God here forever. God is in charge. When things like this come into our lives, they are not accidental. It’s not as if God somehow forgot what was going on, and something bad slipped by. It’s not the answer that Harold Kushner gave in his book, Why Bad Things Happen to Good People. God does everything according to his will. We’ve always said that.But what I’ve been impressed with mostly is something in addition to that. It’s possible, isn’t it, to conceive of God as sovereign and yet indifferent? God’s in charge, but he doesn’t care. But it’s not that. God i... More About: Testimony
HOPE – FOR THOSE WHO FEEL NO HOPE
2008-01-14 19:16:00 "This poem and the piece at the beginning are intended as an encouragement for those for whom the feeling of hope is a real struggle."HOPE – FOR THOSE WHO FEEL NO HOPE - Wings of Madness message board More About: Hope , Feel
Living the Cross Centered Life
2008-01-03 21:34:00 "It's a fallen world, and there fore we will all suffer. So we must prepare, because the ideal time to be educated about suffering is never in the midst of it. We need to be trained prior to suffering so that we may be fully sustained in suffering.C.J. Mahaney, Living the Cross Centered Life More About: The Cross
CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR THE MENTALLY ILL
2007-12-26 01:05:00 Schizophrenia -- Do You Hear What I Hear?Multiple Personality Disorder -- We Three Kings Disoriented AreDementia -- Was I Going To Be Home for Christmas ?Narcissistic -- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About MeManic -- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and...Paranoid -- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get MeBorderline Personality Disorder -- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open FirePersonality Disorder -- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You WhyAttention Deficit Disorder -- Silent Night, Holy Oooh look at the Nativity, Can I have a chocolate, Why is Santa's suit red?Obsessive Compulsive Disorder -- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle, Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, ... More About: Mentally ill , Carols
2 Corinthians on Suffering
2007-12-20 18:43:00 Suffering 1Suffering 2Suffering 3Suffering 4 More About: Corinthians , Suffering , Erin
A Good Soldier
2007-12-16 01:45:00 2 Timothy 2:3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (ESV)'You have been called to endure hardship, and every Christian who has gone before you has had his share. And although you haven’t yet shed blood for your faith (Hebrews 12:4), you will experience hardship as a Christian for your faithfulness–count on it. Jesus said, "If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20). But be encouraged for He also said, "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Jesus is the perfect Commander who leads by example and will bring you to certain victory in the end.'Read the whole article:http://www.sfpulpit.com/2007/12/0 3/a-good-soldier/ More About: Soldier , Good
Hebrews 4:15-16
2007-12-10 19:17:00 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. More About: Hebrews
Be Still, My Soul
2007-12-06 19:00:00 Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.Leave to thy God to order and provide;In every change, He faithful will remain.Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly FriendThrough thorny ways leads to a joyful end.Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertakeTo guide the future, as He has the past.Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;All now mysterious shall be bright at last.Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still knowHis voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,And all is darkened in the vale of tears,Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repayFrom His own fullness all He takes away.Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening onWhen we shall be forever with the Lord.When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.Be still, my soul: when change and tears are pastA... More About: Soul , My Soul
Birthdays
2007-12-04 00:32:00 For most of my adult life I've hated it when my birthday comes up. This year I was starting to feel the dread because I always get more depressed as it gets closer.There are a few reasons I don't like my birthdays, the main one being that I wish I wasn't born. Life is too (increasingly) difficult and this world is fraught with evil and suffering.I've been going through 2 Corinthians and I'm familiar with this verse in NIV:2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.But going through it in other versions really struck me:2 Corinthians 4:17 NASB For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,2 Corinthians 4:17 NRSV For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure,If I were to say that the glory in heaven will be 900 trillion tons and our suffering here, as bad as it can be, is like one ... More About: Birthdays
When You're Too Tired To Pray
More articles from this author:2007-11-27 19:30:00 When a big stressor comes along or when you're wiped out for any other reason it can be difficult to even have the strength to pray when that's what you need to do most. God knows our weakness as mentioned in Psalm 73:26: "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (NRSV)Here are some steps I believe God led me through during one of these times.Just "be" in God's presence. No words are necessary. You may not feel God's presence--just acknowledge that He's everywhere and knows you and your situation. Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."Pray a written out prayer that you know is God's will. I have these:http://www.eternallifeministries.or g/prayers.htmand other prayers formatted and printed in a binder for these occasions or when I just want a change. Also see the Prayer category here.Talk to God about how you feel as opposed to your regular devotional/prayer routine. Sometimes you can just talk to yourself without even ... More About: Tired , Tire 1, 2 |
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