Of course I sympathize with all your trials. The only thing I can do is pray that God will comfort you. You really need the Spirit of God to give you strength in your trials. His spirit will hold back the overpowering nature of your natural strength. It is natural to want to defend yourself against the problems you now face. But do not fight them with your own strength.
As far as the letter regarding your birth, I think you should give it to God. Ask for God's mercy on the one who wants to hurt you. I have always sensed that you were sensitive about this point. God always attacks you on your weak side. You do not try to kill someone by hitting him where he is the strongest. You must aim for his vital organs: the seat of his life. When God aims to kill your old self-nature. He touches the tender-est spot—the spot full of life! This is why he gives you the kinds of trials that He does. Allow yourself to be humbled. If you are silent and peaceful when humiliating things happen to you, you will grow in grace. I realize that you will be tempted to defend yourself for a thousand different reasons. But it is far better to be humbly silent. Humility that can still talk needs to be carefully watched. You will comfort yourself too much when you speak out. Don't be so upset when things are said about you. Let the world talk; just seek to do the will of God. You will never be able to entirely satisfy people and it isn't worth the painful effort. Silent peace and sweet fellowship with God will repay you for every evil word spoken against you. Love your neighbor without expecting his friendship. People will come and go—let them do as they please. See only God. He is the One that afflicts or comforts you through people and circumstances. He does this for your benefit. ~Francois Fénelon (1651–1715)
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I like this guy a lot! Very practical applications of the Word for modern life.
You will truly want to "kiss the thorn" in your side when you hear Dr. Tony Evans preaching on this subject. Your Christian life will never be the same once you stop resisting the thorns God has seen fit to allow in your life. Let's start thanking the Lord for His sovereign control in how He deals with us. His inscrutable methods and ways of transforming us into the image of Jesus are on awesome display through the difficult circumstances and people that He (yes, He!) puts along our life's path.
The Amplified Bible has a really special rendering of these verses! 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted. Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me; But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! Love them or hate them, the Dixie Chicks are back! A really cool new tune is the first single from their first album in 14 years. (We'll have more to say on The Dixie Chicks in other posts.) Their new hit, "Gaslighter," is full of truths that you can find in God's Word. The Lord knows we will all have to deal with sinful, broken people on this side of eternity; this is what makes any type of relationship challenging. These ladies should have been able to discern what was in the hearts of these men way before it was too late! Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight. On the brighter side, we get a fun song and video out of their pain, don't we? |
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