Personal Blatherings

[Symphony]

Thank you, Whitehorse.  That sounds good to me.

Was the pastor, then, disillusioned--?

[John the Baptist]

Yiu, I had some time to mull this one over, and what I decided was this: we can want something that is godly. Really godly. But that doesn't mean that's what God has us cut out for. I know lots of people who want to be Christian recording artists to glorify the Lord! Great, if they could sing.

Regarding the retired pastor, who knows what happened; there are a couple of possibilities. Maybe it was something he wanted and the Lord didn't have it in mind. Maybe God wanted him to do something else. Or, it could be that he didn't see the fruit of his labors so he thought there were none. The Bible says God's word never returns void. Famous missionary David Brainerd was said to have literally worked himself to death, lamenting that his work was bearing no fruit. But it was his death that really awakened people. They saw the Lord in his sacrifice, and many were saved after his death. If seeing is believing, we've got a problem.

Application: I intend to ask earnestly with all my heart that the Lord guide us in His ways for His purposes, that He puts us where He wants us to be, doing what He wants us to do. Would He deny such a request? Of course not. I know I'll always love where He puts us.

*******
Hi, John here:
I smile at times with your insight! (it is not funny )
You bring out my thinking better than most others around, is why the smile comes.

I have many times over the long years, known of some 'called' of God ministers? who were going through a sluggish economy for a period of time, that would 'question their calling' & look for more profitable work.

The same goes for the easy work vrs the hard work! The easy work is some's only endeaver & in this way they still have sold their soul for the pot of porage! See Eze.18:24 or Eze. 33:12

---John  

[Whitehorse]

Hi, Symphony. I never followed up with him to see how it was resolved; I can understand the discouragement of over thirty years of work and not seeing the fruit, but what I hope is that God refreshed him for all his hard labors and his patience. I don't know how it worked out for him, though.

Yiu, I had some time to mull this one over, and what I decided was this: we can want something that is godly. Really godly. But that doesn't mean that's what God has us cut out for. I know lots of people who want to be Christian recording artists to glorify the Lord! Great, if they could sing.

Regarding the retired pastor, who knows what happened; there are a couple of possibilities. Maybe it was something he wanted and the Lord didn't have it in mind. Maybe God wanted him to do something else. Or, it could be that he didn't see the fruit of his labors so he thought there were none. The Bible says God's word never returns void. Famous missionary David Brainerd was said to have literally worked himself to death, lamenting that his work was bearing no fruit. But it was his death that really awakened people. They saw the Lord in his sacrifice, and many were saved after his death. If seeing is believing, we've got a problem.

Application: I intend to ask earnestly with all my heart that the Lord guide us in His ways for His purposes, that He puts us where He wants us to be, doing what He wants us to do. Would He deny such a request? Of course not. I know I'll always love where He puts us.

*******
Hi, John here:
I smile at times with your insight! (it is not funny )
You bring out my thinking better than most others around, is why the smile comes.

I have many times over the long years, known of some 'called' of God ministers? who were going through a sluggish economy for a period of time, that would 'question their calling' & look for more profitable work.

The same goes for the easy work vrs the hard work! The easy work is some's only endeaver & in this way they still have sold their soul for the pot of porage! See Eze.18:24 or Eze. 33:12

---John  

John, I sure hear that. Giving up fruitful work to do what brings in more cash--maybe God tests us to see if we trust Him to take care of our needs, and if we can be content with what we have. Doing the easy work to avoid the hard work grants us the small reward. Doing the hard work God requires gives a greater reward, if we're not shunning what we're supposed to be doing. Very good points.

[Symphony]

Hmmm, I see, Whitehorse.  Thank you.


Did someone say "cash"?

[Whitehorse]

Cash? Kaching, Kaching. We have a sattelite in Mr. Christian's neighborhood to pay for, but I'm a little dry this month.  

[Symphony]

I fail to see any humor in that.

[Whitehorse]

I thought it was funneeee....  

[Symphony]

[Whitehorse]

[Romans8_1]

New Blather! I don't think all ministry ideas are from the Lord. Sometimes, they're things we want to do. If you've prayed your brains out, and you're still not sure, how do you know when a ministry idea is from the Lord, you, or it's just a really bad idea?

If you know it is from God, then you do it until God tells you otherwise.  Whether it is successful or not.  Remember ... God does not call us to be successfull, only faithful.

but ....
If are not sure it is from God, then what do you do?  Assuming you have prayed about it ... there is a method named after some famous preacher (I can't remember his name).  This method goes like this, when you just can't be sure, but it still seems good, then go ahead and do it.  If God blesses it, then continue.  If He doesn't, then quit.

Sounds simple, and sometimes the best answers are simple.

Grace and peace to you.

[Whitehorse]

This is really good advice! Thanks!

[Symphony]

God does not call us to be successfull, only faithful.



   

[Whitehorse]

 

[Symphony]

 

[Whitehorse]