Amen, Brad.

I think that's true and, the more we mature, the more freedom He gives us to
choose!

(Or is it that I've just discovered how free I am to make choices!  Well,
whatever!)


--
Carol



----- Original Message -----
From: "BD" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 11:23 PM
Subject: Re: Bike lost no one hurt


> Helen,
>
> I remember in my spiritual milk drinking days, I was getting some counsel
> from a great brother in the Lord. He said he found it irritating when
> people would ask God stuff like which silverware to set out for dinner
with
> company and etc. lol. We are to seek God in what we do, but there are some
> things I believe God could care less about.
>
> Brad
>
>
> Brad
>
> At 12/22/2003 on Monday, you wrote:
> >Excellent post, Brad!
> >
> >Helen
> >
> >At 10:04 AM 12/22/03 -0600, you wrote:
> > >Mat,
> > >
> > >We live in a fallen world, in times where stuff just happens. Over
> > >Christianizing such happenings is probably as bad as the opposite, that
of
> > >ignoring God's involvement in our lives at all. I wonder how God feels
> > >getting the blame for work of the enemy? Isn't he, the enemy the one
who
> > >came to kill, steal and destroy? That does not mean to ignore the
events
> > >and happenings in our life and not look for God's hand in it, but
things
> > >happen and mistakes happen, and we deal with them. I like your
scripture
> > >reference on shutting people up lol. Actually a scripture that  helps
me,
> > >and I am not sure of it's location right off, but says to the effect...
> > >
> > >All things are turned for the good of those who believe in God. Some
> > >translations say "who love God". If anyone knows where this is, let me
> > >know. I ought have it memorized chapter and verse and verbatim, but do
in
> > >gist of application.  This is sometimes mistaken for saying that all
good
> > >things happen to those who believe, and if you are having difficulties,
> > >then you don't believe enough... hogwash! That is not the point it
means.
> > >Point being that not all things we endure come from God, but they are
> > >turned for the good of those who love and believe and trust in God.
> > >Sometimes that may mean just leaning on God for peace and strength
which is
> > >more valuable than the occurence or loss in the first place. I did run
> > >across another scripture to help shut folks up if you like lol.
> > >
> > >1 Thess 4:11
> > >11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your
own
> > >business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you
> > >
> > >I'm sure they are meaning well and trying to give you hope, but
sometimes
> > >the transparency of those ideals are insulting more than comforting.
> > >Biblical patronizing? Seems all would be able to see through those
> > >attempts, but I guess not. I'd rather deal with that fact I didn't
remove
> > >the canvas top, it caught some air, yanked the bike out the truck and
boom!
> > >Rather than spiritualizing it and wondering if God is telling me not to
> > >ride the bike? Will we get hurt? Will we hurt the baby? Were we about
to
> > >get in an accident in that pick up truck, the old man isn't saved yet,
and
> > >God whipped the bike off the truck to stop us? Was the pin striping on
> > >crooked and so he trashed the bike so we ought get a new one? lol What
is
> > >the great meaning behind this? Just as we can, without God in our
lives,
> > >run circular equations, never getting an answer, we can do this too as
God
> > >being the brunt of that never ending loop. Sometimes we don't know why
> > >things happen and just need to chalk it up to not knowing and that God
will
> > >work it out in the end. In your quest of Christianity depth you will
run
> > >across doom and gloomers and those with Santa Claus in the sky
attitudes
> > >looking to be blessed out of their socks with gifts and etc. So one
needs
> > >to keep that knowledge  in mind when being guided by others. If one
> > >lives  each day in prayer over such purchases and etc. one will know
> > >already what to do according to God's prompting and no need to second
> > >guess... as much lol I say as much because we sometimes miss it, but
then
> > >we know that we know we did. Sounds good the body shop guy might be
able to
> > >fix it up some. That might be cheaper than buying a new one. Of course
it
> > >ought be safe, but I'd think it could be so if not trampled
completely.
> > >
> > >Brad
>