THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
Down here, in the backwoods of Louisiana, there are some folk who never get out of the woods. Ole Tack married a "city gal," and they had a son.
One day, Tack's wife told him she wanted to go to the shopping mall in the city. He took her, and was amazed at some of the sights.
Inside the mall, there was this shiny silver box. The doors would open and close, and people were getting into it. Tack and his son stood watching it with amazement.
He watched as a little ole lady with a cane got into the silver box. The doors closed and she disappeared. Then, a few moments later, the doors of the silver box opened again, and out stepped a beautiful young lady.
Tack turned to his son and said, "Boy. Go git yore Momma!"
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________SCRIPTURE____________________________________________________
Judg 3:9-12
9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.
11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
KJV
Phil 4:12
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT________________________________________________________
One of the problems we have, as human beings, is being able to deal with the "ups" in life.
We seem to handle the "downs" pretty well. We claw and scratch, and crawl and climb, to get "up." But when we get "up" we don't handle it really well.
This was a problem for Israel, even though they were God's "chosen people."
When prosperity came, they "did evil again in the sight of the LORD."
They would pray "unto the LORD," and He would send a "deliverer."
But, as soon as they had "rest," they "did evil again in the sight of the LORD."
This is a problem for Christians of today.
When adversity comes, we handle it pretty well.
We pray, study, attend, give, minister, and act in faith toward our Lord, Jesus.
While we're doing those things, we scratch and claw, crawl and climb.
But when God pours out His grace, and we reach a pinnacle, we forget to act in faith!
We know how to be "abased."
But we forget how to live when we "abound."
If we would act in true faith, we should be faithful at all times!
It is more difficult to act in faith when we are "full" than when we are "hungry."
It seems the "Refiner's fire" is hotter in adversity, and our initiative is greater.
Let us remember, when we are "full," we are STILL in the "Refiner's fire!"
Love ya,
Bruce