I just started a new devotional book. It is called "Trials-Don't Resent Them as Intruders" by Juanita Purcell. She is the writter of my favorite devotional book so far "Increase my faith Lord".
In case you didn't know, I enjoy following those books and use them in my personal devotions, at least for as long as I have good ones :).. Any recomendations?. Then ,I spend sometime reading my Bible. I have found out that Noelia does pretty good entertaining herself, especially first thing in the morning, so I finally found a time where I can spend longer than 15 minutes sitting with God.
I have to say that ,Praise the Lord, I am not going through a time of tribulation right now, at least not a big one that has me trap; so I wasn't sure if I should do it. I really didn't want to learn something that they I would have apply in my life and then God sending me a trial so I can learn it better..... j/k. Still I felt like I should so... I did :). Then, a friend of mine send me an email, and completly broke my heart to read the trial she is going through right now. And although I know she doesn't need anything else from me than my prayers, I realized that there is people around me hurting and that I need to be ready to give them some encouraging words. Not that I didn't know that, but sometimes God has to remind us those simple things. Especially because generaly we found people that wants nothing from God, but still regret that God would allow good people to go through difficult situations.
I already know that this book is going to be a blessing, and a future "something" to use for ladies meetings.
It is divided in 4 lessons and I will do my best to tranlate the titles since the book is in spanish:
Lesson 1: Why God allows trials?
Lesson 2: How can we bear those trials?
Lesson 3: What can we learn from trials?
Lesson 4: How can we be joyful through trials?
The every lessons is divided in other sub-lessons that would answer those questions.
Today my lesson was the first answer to the first lesson "God allows trials for our growth". It is hard to be in the middle of a trial and think in Romans 8:28-29.
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
We know that the Bible says that all things work together for good. In a perfect world we should be calm when difficult things come knowing that God is about to teach us something and that at the end, it will be of a blessing and growth to us. But we don't live in a perfect world. We take our eyes off Jesus and off His promises and we center all of our senses to our problems and circunstances. So we worry, we get depress, we try to fix it in our own stregth, and a multitude of other things that we do instead of trusting Him, at least I know I do.
One reason why God send us trials is to grow and be each day more like Him.
Well, as I receive the blessings of this book I will share them with you.
3 comments:
Hola esta noche fria y lluviosa. :) Well, I know the Lord is going to use this book in a great way. It sounds like a really good one. I know for a fact as our mutual friend prayed thanking God for something you had said to her. If that can be an encouragment to you. She was encouraged. But I too know what you mean about wanting to be able to comfort people when they are going through trials. But then Paul said that we sometimes go through those trials to help others through them. Not sure I want that..jk..:) Well, I look forward to reading about the book. :)
Our ladies' group is going through one of Juanita Purcell's books right now. I think it's called "Why Cope When You can Conquer" and it's on the Psalms. We are learning so much! They are wonderful study guides.
Jill, I haven´t heard about that one, guess they haven´t translate it yet, but I will have to look for it since you say it is good. I really like the way she writes them. I did another one call Increase my faith Lord from Philippians, I would recomend that one to anyone. Maybe you can share a little bit of the one you are doing
Post a Comment