More Life Principles

In April, my small group continued with a few more videos on the "Life Principles" from Charles Stanley:

3-Apr:  #3 "God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm" - Isaiah 40:8 says that His Word stands forever.   The storms in our lives are originated from ourselves, others, Satan, or even ignited by God for a definite purpose.  We can remember that nothing can touch us except thru His permissive Will.   As for why God uses storms?  To get our attention or to get to the sin in our lives.  Storms can either destroy or strengthen us, depending upon how we respond determined by how we view God.  Because His Word is our anchor, when we stop being in His Word, we will DRIFT.  Storms are inevitable, our anchor is immovable.   The Bible is an anchor b/c it is the written record of the revelation of God to us.  God can quiet the storms in our lives like He calmed the storm in the Gospels.  Whatever storm we are going thru, God is at work and we just need to trust.  Without an anchor, the ship will one day shipwreck for one cannot just drift with the current.


8-May:  #25 "God blesses us so that we might bless others" - Eph 4:25-28 and 1 Tim 6:17 were used as reference.  Asking God to bless someone is for God to intervene in their lives for something on their behalf.  When you ask God to bless you, you're asking Him to intervene in a need in your life.  And, unbelief does not changd the eternal truths of God.

29-May:  #29 "We learn more in our valley experiences than on our mountaintops" - Adversity can either be a weighty Burden or a Bridge to a deeper relationship with God.  2 Corinth 12:7-10 (thorn), Psalm 103:19 (He is in control), and Rom 8:28 (all things work together for good) were used as references.  Through our trials we can learn:

• Contentment in midst of adversity (Phil 4:10-11 and 2 Corinth 12:10)

• To experience God's strength in our weakness during adversity (the Lord is my strength)

• That He is the source for all our needs (sufficiency in Christ)

• To trust in the Faithfulness of God  (God can't be anything other than Faithful b/c that is Who He is) 1 Corinth 10:13

• That God values our service more than our desires.  So, rather than take away the adversity for Paul (e.g. shipwreck, beatings, stonings, etc), the Lord chose to equip Paul for service

NOTE:  Jesus knows how I feel as a single for He went thru it HimselfIf I choose the bridge route, I will come out better; but if I choose to soak in self pity, I will miss out.  God strengthens our message (Phil 1:13-15).  See everything as coming from God.  Learn the ways of God (when I think I can't, He gives me the strength and is at work).  He uses adversity to grow us; for you really learn how good God is when the bottom drops out and He shows up.  When others reject us, that's when intimacy w/God is strongest b/c He is always there for us.  Adversity makes us better comforters.  God has a specific purpose for our adversity, so when we go thru it, ask God to reveal His Purpose.  Remember that all God's purposes are good.  God seeks intimacy with use to get to our insides and to allow us to know Him.  For Paul, God had to crush IT (all that he was passionate about before) so the he would love GOD.  We can rejoice in adversity (Phil 4:4).  He created us for relationship mainly with HIM.