|
| Do you take the good with the bad, and for how long? |
|
| |
It seems to me that there isn't one good thing that doesn't come without an unwanted counterweight. Well, maybe some recent disappointments are coloring my viewpoint, but I can't see the win win at the moment. Not that good doesn't ultimately win out over evil. But for now, in this lifetime, every good thing must be weighed against the bad, perhaps a consequence of our fallen world.
Marriage - a beautiful thing. But what marriage is perfect?
Children - the most amazing experience in life is raising children, and yet, what parent has never experienced heartache due to the choices their children make?
Ministry - the rewards are incredible! But yet, what ministry doesn't involve some level of sacrifice? When we seek to engage in ministry, don't we assess the spiritual benefits in light of the necessary sacrifices? Shouldn't the benefits outweigh the sacrifices?
Church attendance - what a joy to experience the deep relationships that authentic Christian fellowship fosters. And yet, what friendship is pain free? What church body is completely free of gossip and politics?
Relationship with Jesus - most often walking with the Savior is bliss! But the Lord warned that in this lifetime, all would not be rosy. 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.
I could go on and on. Every good in this life comes with a cost.
Nothing in this life is perfection, though we want it so badly. Nothing. I'm sure that longing for perfection in all of us is part of God's having put eternity in our hearts - his original design. And yet the encouragement in this message is that when the cost becomes apparent (and the cost always eventually becomes apparent) there is always hope with the Lord. The only hope. Glorious hope. It's what often drives me when the happiness has left. 1:3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Endurance. Persistence. Diligence. Let them be driven by hope of things to come, rather than expectation of perfect satisfaction now. But for how long? Well, how long should hope in our Lord Jesus last? The Son is eternal. So should our hope be. |
|
| To add a comment to "Do you take the good with the bad, and for how long?" |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| September 21, 2007 |
 |
|
|
For some reason the word "Karma" kept popping up in my head when I read this. Something good happening? Well because of it, you're going to get slapped along side the head later. I'm fairly certain that's not what you were intending and you were referrring more to the balance one sees in Ecclesiastes 3 (there's a time for everything). Anyways... Sorry to hear about the recent events. Hope things are going better. |
|
|
| September 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
| Hi mike, this is a lesson that i still struggle with,( the good with the bad) i know it all to well Exspecally alot of bad, i have been wanting to Pastor a Church for so long and it seems that everytime (people, not God began to raise there uglyness) i mean i have been talked about , lied on, i even had people going around telling others that my kids arent mine! this is from people who dont even know me, i am not from these parts but i do know who my Chidren are. anyway all this and "Boy" i could tell you some stuff, but you know what, with all the Bad that comes i have become a better person, Just think " i have found Mychurch" and have ministered to people in ways i never thought! the good with the bad, give me the Bad but God always give me something Good in return. what ever the bad you may be dealing with now is just a blessing waiting to be sprung! That you can count on forever! |
|
|
| September 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
| Great post, Mike! Good and bad come to us all. When we think someone else's life is always great, we are deceived, and likewise when we buy into the the myth that being a Christian means "happily ever after." (Actually it does, but not for now!) |
|
|
| September 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
Thank you Mike,
I love this struggle, don't particularly like going though it. But continuously I try to remind myself that God has some great blessing that comes with the bad. Just sit and wait Becky, sit and wait, and pray that I learn a lesson from it all. Most of the struggles I love to learn from now has to do with my kids, but sometimes struggles are just harder to see for a while.
Many times I have wished to be Job and praise God fervently in the storm. But no, I am not Job, and I can just try to praise Him with as much passion as I can muster up.
I never thought I would see the blessing in my mother being hit by a train at such a young age, 44, but it was that tradgety that catepolted me into sobriety. I miss her still twenty years later, but without that tradgety I would have never been able to know the Lord and seek Him and bless my children through the promise of Deut 30:19-20.
I am sorry you are going through a storm right now. The light will come soon, be encouraged. I will be praying for you that the blessing comes soon and you are comforted by the Great Comforter. |
|
|
| September 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
| Hope floats. |
|
|
| September 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
| Hey Mike, another great blog...although you got me kind of depressed when you first started out! You know, the one thing we always have is Jesus, and Jesus is our hope. We have to hold onto that hope through all the tough times in life. Someday, our hope will pay off in the glory of Heaven. |
|
|
| September 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
5:3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 5:4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5:5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. |
|
|
| September 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
| Good post your right if we crucified Jesus then can the servant expect better than the master? |
|
|
| September 22, 2007 |
|
|
|
My friend...
Everytime the times start going good and I can feel peace and joy of God....the enemy is there to bring pain and heartache. I know that I shouldn't allow it to affect me, but it does. And it hurts and makes me feel lonely. Some times when the storms are blowing my way...I just want to quit it all. However I don't because I love him and if I have to go through bad times to get to him, then that is what I must do.
~Jeremy |
|
|
| September 24, 2007 |
|
|
|
| Mike, you're always a breath of fresh air out here man. |
|
|
| September 24, 2007 |
|
|
|
Thanks MP, I could definitely say the same thing about you! :-)
Jeremy, thank you. I enjoyed your recent blog as well -- you expressed sentiments very similar to those I wrote above. Always cool to see folks on parallel trains of thought/feeling.
Thank you Lisa (psalmgirl). So glad to know I have company in this place!
Amen Dave!
Zach, as I wrote to you privately, the passage you quoted was the perfect passage for this blog. Can always count on you to do that!
Thanks Kathy, Jen, and Becky, you are true sisters of encouragement. And Jack, thanks to you as well. Deb, sorry to get you down - at least at first. Sometimes I have to go through the bad to get to the good. That's what this blog was about.
One of the tougher experiences with being a discouraged Christian is, we don't want to bring others down and so we bottle up a lot of stuff. Today's psychologists would probably argue that we all need to vent, but I have seen some great damage done by those who were venting in order to free themselves, but in the process hurt others around them, occasionally even wreaking havoc. Self control is a fruit of the Spirit, he'll give me the strength to spare those around who mean so much to me.
~mike |
|
|
| September 25, 2007 |
|
|
|
Mr. Mike
The tittle of this blog truly speakes to me, I have had bad times and good. it can not get no worst then being told that I would be dead with a year to six months back in 1994, because of my life style by my doctor. I was not save then until later in that year. I had to make some choices, so I surrender my life to Jesus, not saying I don't go through things but I'm not six feet under, the devil had a plan but my God had a better plan. I'm alway going to give God the Glory even when I going through because I know he right ther for me.
Thanks for sharing |
|
|
| September 25, 2007 |
|
|
|
| MaKelly, I love your comment. Thanks for sharing! Praise God for his mercy! |
|
|
| September 25, 2007 |
|
|
|
Mike, I was also thinking of Romans 5, like Zach put a couple of comments up. That scripture has really come in hand this week. Just like this week I know of someone that was 5 months pregnant with twins, boy and girl, the baby girl died and she had to give birth to both babies, and 2 hours later the boy died. They really need prayer, they are not saved and I don't know how they are doing it with out Jesus. We all have to go through trials and tribulations. If everything in our lives were fine and dandy, then why would we need Jesus. It is when we are going through a valley of hills that we call on him to help us. 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 8:12 So then, my brothers, we are in debt, not to the flesh to be living in the way of the flesh: 8:13 For if you go in the way of the flesh, death will come on you; but if by the Spirit you put to death the works of the body, you will have life. 8:14 And all those who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 8:15 For you did not get the spirit of servants again to put you in fear, but the spirit of sons was given to you, by which we say, Abba, Father. 8:16 The Spirit is witness with our spirit that we are children of God: 8:17 And if we are children, we have a right to a part in the heritage; a part in the things of God, together with Christ; so that if we have a part in his pain, we will in the same way have a part in his glory. Toni |
|
|
| September 25, 2007 |
|
|
|
| I really liked what you had to say, but I want to add this, I have thought about it alot. My friends wonder why I like to play what they would call "Depressing music" on the piano, things like Chopin, and so on, but I think that pain is what tells us that we are alive. Yes, pains is not fun, and sometimes it is hard to see the benefits, but if you never had pain, if nothing bad ever happened to you, Would you know life? Would you be able to see beauty, or wonder? I would argue that the answer is no. and hey if I am wrong, then tell me what you think. |
|
|
| September 25, 2007 |
|
|
|
Wonderful observations Nathan! Yep, I don't care how happy you appear to be all the time, if you don't feel pain then your a piece of wood! lol... Actually, I've often thought that the most beautiful songs are the sad ones. There's a depth of experience in them, a certain genuine-ness, an honesty you don't see in most upbeat music. Thanks for the comment!
Wow Toni. That's really tragic. I'll pray those folks fall into the arms of the Savior. I don't know how I could continue w/o him in that circumstance. May God bless them. Thanks for your input, and I also pray your dear family is doing well. ~mike |
|
|
| September 26, 2007 |
|
|
|
| Pastor Tim, thanks for the great quote! He really captures the essence of hope!! I need to read more Chesterton, I love his intellect and wit. ~mike |
|
|
| September 26, 2007 |
|
|
|
Hey Mike, Ditto what Zach said. Let Him work the perseverance in your life. God bless you in your struggles and give you His peace that passes all understanding. peace glenn |
|
|
| September 27, 2007 |
|
|
|
Mike,
Two sections of scripture come to me as I read your blog. The first is in Romans 8: 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 8:23 And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body. 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for [it]. Groaning in travail is the plan of Him who subjected us in hope. If we no longer travail then we have no more need of hope because once what we hope for comes, we no longer hope for it. We groan with the rest of the creation for the day when this mortal finally puts on immortality. Until then, all we can do is hope with patience for deliverence from this life. 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The key revealed here that has helped me endure with patience many times is that keeping the joy set before us (hope) really does help us endure the crosses that we must carry. This life is not it and one day we will no longer be subject to futility. Looking ahead to where we are going makes the enduring easier, at least, for me it does.
I do not make light of your struggles, my brother, it is never easy when we are under life's dealings. I like to think of it like a baby chicken pressing out of its confined place within the shell or a butterfly breaking free of its cocoon. If they are assisted too much, they do not receive the strength to live successfully in the next realm of life. We must struggle to become the overcoming sons of God that will be needed in the age to come.
It is not easy, but it is the way of God to bring us to maturity.
Peace,
Kratos
|
|
|
| September 28, 2007 |
|
|
|
| That's a great picture, the one of the chick struggling out of the egg. Indeed we all struggle, to varying degrees, but there is always the joy set before us, hope! I see your comment as compassionate, not trivializing -- thank you! (Sept is almost over, keep telling myself!) God bless you Kratos! ~mike |
|
|
| September 30, 2007 |
|
|
|
i have no clue Mike.. but i liked the Eternal Son-Therefore-Eternal-Hope line a Lot.
"Why do we fall Master Bruce..? To learn to pick ourselves up. " - Alfred Pennyworth, Batman Begins.
|
|
|
| October 02, 2007 |
|
|
|
| lol... that Alfred is a true philosopher! |
|
|
| October 04, 2007 |
|
|
|
You can't have milk without manure. Even the Bible says so: Proverbs 14:4
Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox. |
|
|
| October 04, 2007 |
|
|
|
HAHAHAHA!!!
Are you for real, Jess?? |
|
|
| October 05, 2007 |
|
|
|
| MY marriage is perfect !You mean yours isn't ... all right truth be told my marriage is half perfect...my wife is the perfect half! |
|
|
| October 05, 2007 |
|
|
|
Mike, I wanted to weigh in on two things:
1. Psychologists now say that we neither need to bottle it or vent it. Women vent more than men; but that's not the point. The point is whether or not we "let it go." the latest study shows that those who carry a grudge and prolong the negative feelings are more likely to hurt themselves than those who deal with their feelings and then let go of them. Gee! Isn't that rocket science?!
2. Why do some folks think that we'll never be tested? How do you know if you know it until you're tested on what you know? Know what I mean?
And, to KoC: My wife says the same thing!
(Sorry, I couldn't resist the joke)
Peace to all! |
|
|
| November 19, 2007 |
|
|
|
Hi Mike,
Another excellent, thought-provoking post. I brought me in rememberence of some truths I have learned along the way.
The bad comes with the good because the enemy is always trying to steal our peace and joy. The Bible instructs us the put on the armor of God daily. Why? For protection from the attacks.
One of my favorite songs is "Rejoice in the Lord Always", because we are to count everything a blessing. While walking through a storm that my husband and I thought would never end, we learned this lesson well. It isn't easy, and can be very difficult at times. But God is faithful and will show you the blessing of it all at the right time -- I also believe that praising God through the storm not only demonstrates our trust in Him, but drives the enemy crazy.
|
|
|
| November 19, 2007 |
|
|
|
Dena, thanks for another great comment! I'm all for driving the enemy crazy. And maintaining a thankful joyous attitude at all times seems like a great way to do it, if you ask me.
Not only should we count everything a blessing, but perhaps we should also make the attempt to count every blessing. Since they are enumerable, we'll be counting blessings (and feeling thankful) for a very long time! |
|
|
Follow this blog
