in response to Buck Creek... Count me in.
I raise 'both' my hands.
I am VERY blessed. Unbelieveable so.
This has not always been the case. I used to be broke,busted 7 disgusted. People would say they couldn't make 'ends meet'. I used to tell them at least your 'ends' can see each other!
I was so broke, their was not enough crazy glue in the world to put me back together again.
I have known much grief in life, harrassment, sickness, death,divorce, joblessness,sorrow, rejection, pain & the list goes on and on.........
But, I am a witness that God can & will deliver us. He can & will raise us up.
But, we have to do it own His terms. The just shall live by faith. That does not mean just having faith alone. We must act on our faith by doing the 'works' to back it up.
Many times the perils we suffer are do to our own sins.
If we suffer for righteousness there is a reward. But, if we suffer as a result of some sin we did,then we have to just 'suffer' the consequences. Jesus died for our sins once.This was to get us reunited with the Father & for us to get out of sin.
If we sin & suffer a consequence for it,then its not man's job to pay the 'price' for our sins. God will forgive us, but we still have to pay the price for the mess we made when we sin.
I'm tired of 'mess'. I'm tired of paying the consequence for my sin. Its just better for me to be obedient in the first place.
Yes,sin is fun. Its very pleasurable. Its just the 'price' is too high.
Besides, the devil lied. I can just as much fun or more with the Lord. I discovered God is loving. He has a sense of humor. He is a great provider. He will take the stress away. He gives 'His kids' good things. He blesses the good & the bad. However, 'His kids' get special gifts.
He is the greatest gift to us.
We need no other gift but Him.