From Adversity to Destiny

"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position" (James 1:9).

Most of us avoid pain. We keep our medicine cabinets loaded with pain relievers. We couldn't imagine major surgery without an anesthetic. We are so averse to pain that we think God must desire that we will experience pain-free lives. After all, a loving God surely wouldn't want us to suffer pain, would He? Although God takes no pleasure in our pain, we have to acknowledge that He sometimes allows painful circumstances to occur in our lives in order to shape us and make us more like Christ. Sometimes our times of despair turn out to be a much needed light into our soul.

I once came across the following poem written by an anonymous Confederate soldier, a devout young man who fought in the American Civil War. The lines of this poem express the soul of a man who has learned to view his times of adversity from a different perspective:

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked God for health, that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy;
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among men, most richly blessed.

Do we trust God to lead us even though we can't see the pathway in front of us? Do we trust Him to be all-knowing, all-loving, and all-powerful? Do we believe He does all things well?

As Paul wrote, "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23). That's why God leads us through the dark places.

Only in the darkness do we learn to walk by faith.

[By Os Hillman]

Can We Really Trust God?

"Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son" (Gen 22:10).

There are times in our lives when God brings a test to see if we are ready to put to death the very thing that God promised we would have. Such was the case in the life of Abraham with Isaac. Isaac was the promised son. Yet, God said to raise the knife to sacrifice him in obedience God.

When God brings such a test into our lives we usually have a choice. Neither choice is attractive. One choice will often salvage some aspect of the vision. The other choice will totally kill the vision from our perspective. However, that is the faith decision. That is the only decision from God's perspective.

If we choose the faith decision that kills the vision - we will witness the resurrection of the vision supernaturally by God. Our own faith will be launched into a whole new dimension. He will raise us up in order to speak through our lives in that experience. God often brings that person into a very public ministry.

However, if we choose the lesser decision, we will reside in a lesser walk with God. God will accept the decision but there will be consequences to our faith journey. He cannot trust us with a bigger vision because He sees our obedience is moveable based on our perceived consequences.

If we choose the lesser decision then God will often orchestrate other events in our lives that are designed to develop our faith to a level that will allow us to make the right decision the next time.

Do you have resurrection faith that will trust God to raise your situation from the dead?

[Os Hillman]

Why Does God Allow Hardship In a Leader's Life?

[From Pastor Steven Furtick by Steven Furtick]

To force our need to the surface … So we can comfort others with the comfort we have been comforted with.

To force the issue to the surface … So we can recognize it, and speak into it.

To force our faith to the surface … And produce a deeper gratitude in our lives.

What Are You Passionate About?

In John 15:11, Jesus said he came so that our joy may be complete and in John 16:33 he says that he has overcome the world.

If we trust Jesus we can trust that he has an answer to all our fears. We, then, need to get busy about assessing where we are.

So take some time and ask God for answers as you ask yourself a few questions:

1. What am I passionate about?
2. What am I good at?
3. Who knows me better than anyone?
4. How would that person answer #1 & #2 about me?
5. Is that what I’m currently doing?
6. If not, what changes do I need to make to get there?

Once you have done this, you must put your faith in action and trust God to protect you and provide for you as you follow him in fulfilling your divine purpose. Trust that He’ll make a way for you and trust that He’ll move the heart of whoever leads you to help you get there.

[From Shane]

Pastor Frank Taylor Supports New Community Magazine

[The Daily Record, Dunn, NC]

With hands lifted high in praise, and lots of "Amens," it was indeed a celebration of faith and hope.

Dunn, NC area pastors and lay leaders gathered yesterday to welcome The Daily Record's new Christian magazine, Faith & Hope, set to launch in early May. Faith & Hope will feature inspirational, faith-based articles by local freelance writers, and serve as a free guide to area Christian resources.

"We're looking forward to this as a means of serving our community in a new way," said Daily Record editor and publisher Bart Adams. "While we already publish more church news than most any newspaper our size, 'Faith & Hope' will be a Christian outreach to people who aren't looking at our church pages to find a service or activity.

"This is a way for business and church to come together in a bold way and say Jesus is Lord," Mr. Crawley said. "With your prayers, your support and your participation there will be revival, not just in Harnett County, but across eastern North Carolina."

Mr. Crawley also discussed the online aspect of the magazine, the Web site http://www.faithandhopeonline.com/, which will feature its stories, testimonies, links to churches and local resources, and a directory of area churches. Partnering churches receive an enhanced listing on the site, and a link to their own church site. Local churches will also be able to upload their news and pictures.

The Rev. Frank Taylor of Coats, pastor of the Church of God of Prophecy, said he's excited about being part of the magazine. "It's excellent, and I think the idea will be a great success," Rev. Taylor said. "It's something the churches have wanted to do for years - the book will bring us together as a ministry."

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Self Inventory

[From LifeChurch.tv : swerve by Craig Groeschel]

For a self inventory, and introspective, ask yourself the following questions.

• In what area of life have I lost my passion? (What can I do to get it back?)
• If the enemy were going to “take me out,” what are my three most vulnerable points?
• What new burden has God given me in the last year?
• What have I unlearned that has made me closer to God?
• What new discipline is God calling me to do?
• What has God asked me to do that I haven’t yet done?
• Is there something that I think about more than I think about pleasing God? (Money, possessions, ministry, family, recreation, something else.)
• Do I have an increasing joy in serving Christ?
• Am I handling the pain of ministry with integrity?
• Am I still being persecuted for my faith in Christ?

Parents Choose Faith Over Doctors - Girl Dies

Police are investigating an 11-year-old girl's death from an undiagnosed, treatable form of diabetes after her parents chose to pray for her rather than take her to a doctor.

An autopsy showed Madeline Neumann died last Sunday from diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that left too little insulin in her body.

"She had probably been ill for about a month, suffering symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and weakness," the chief said Wednesday, noting that he expects to complete the investigation by Friday and forward the results to the district attorney.
The girl's mother, Leilani Neumann, said the family believes in the Bible and that healing comes from God, but she said they do not belong to an organized religion or faith, are not fanatics and have nothing against doctors.

She insisted her youngest child, a wiry girl known to wear her straight brown hair in a ponytail, was in good health until recently.

"We just noticed a tiredness within the past two weeks," she said Wednesday. "And then just the day before and that day (she died), it suddenly just went to a more serious situation. We stayed fast in prayer then. We believed that she would recover. We saw signs that to us, it looked like she was recovering."

Her daughter — who hadn't seen a doctor since she got some shots as a 3-year-old, according to Vergin — had no fever and there was warmth in her body, she said.

The girl's father, Dale Neumann, a former police officer, said he started CPR "as soon as the breath of life left" his daughter's body.

Family members elsewhere called authorities to seek help for the girl.

"My sister-in-law, she's very religious, she believes in faith instead of doctors ...," the girl's aunt told a sheriff's dispatcher Sunday afternoon in a call from California. "And she called my mother-in-law today ... and she explained to us that she believes her daughter's in a coma now and she's relying on faith."

The dispatcher got more information from the caller and asked if an ambulance should be sent.
"Please," the woman replied. "I mean, she's refusing. She's going to fight it. ... We've been trying to get her to take her to the hospital for a week, a few days now."

The aunt called back with more information on the family's location, emergency logs show. Police and paramedics arrived within minutes and immediately called for an ambulance that took her to a hospital.

But less than an hour after authorities reached the home, Madeline — a bright student who left public school for home schooling this semester — was declared dead.

She is survived by her parents and three older siblings.

"We are remaining strong for our children," Leilani Neumann said. "Only our faith in God is giving us strength at this time."

The Neumanns said they moved from California to a modern, middle-class home in woodsy Weston, just outside Wassau in central Wisconsin, about two years ago to open a coffee shop and be closer to other relatives. A basketball hoop is set up in the driveway.

Leilani Neumann said she and her husband are not worried about the investigation because "our lives are in God's hands. We know we did not do anything criminal. We know we did the best for our daughter we knew how to do."

[What do you think? Are the parents guilty of crime of faith? Does all faith take a risk?]