Why Me Lord?

This'll help answer that question...

Struggling to Break Free

Monday, January 4, 2010

by Dr. Paul Chappell
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 5:10-11
Trials are necessary for growth.
A little boy was once playing in a forest near his home. He often visited this forest and usually spent hours on end observing nature, running from imaginary pursuers, or building forts. One day as he meandered between the trees, he noticed a small cocoon hanging from a low-lying branch of one of the trees. Curious, he approached the cocoon and studied it. Just as he was about to leave, he noticed the cocoon was moving. Over the next few minutes he observed a tiny moth break open part of the cocoon then struggle to get out of the confined space. Feeling pity for the poor moth, the little boy grabbed a stick and helped the insect break free. Only as the moth fell to the ground did the little boy notice the moth's shriveled wings. What he didn't realize was the moth's wings are strengthened by the struggle to break free from the cocoon. While the boy thought he was helping the moth, he hampered its growth and hindered it from fully developing into what it needed to be.
Have you ever felt like you were in the "cocoon of life?" You felt as if you're struggling through a trial, wondering why God has placed you in such a situation. What we don't often realize is that God's trials are like that cocoon. They are meant to strengthen us so we can develop into the Christians we need to be.
God wants nothing more than to help you out of your trial so you can be free from it, but He realizes that helping you break free is often not the best thing for you. The struggle is necessary to strengthen your walk with Him and dependence upon Him. As parents, we may desire to withhold discipline from our children so they will not have to endure it, yet we know they must endure it if they are to develop into well-behaved young people. The trial is necessary for growth.
Think on God's words in 1 Peter, "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." God's will is that you would submit to His working during trials and allow His grace to see you through. Every trial endured with faith honors and glorifies God.
Sometimes a trial might not be a difficult situation but a time of waiting. Second only to suffering in God's training in our life is waiting. While we desire to see the path before us and the future ahead, God desires that we would trust Him for guidance.
How many times have you seen a Christian give up in the midst of a trial? While these times are often unpleasant, they are God's way of developing us into spiritually mature Christians. I'm sure moths don't enjoy struggling to break free from the cocoon, yet if they do not endure the trial, their wings will be too weak to fly and they'll die. Even so, if we as Christians are not patient to endure the trials and wait on the Lord, we will not grow and strengthen our relationship with God.
What trial are you facing today? Is it the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the wayward path of a child, the tightening of finances, the waiting for an answer? Don't give up in the middle of your trial. God has a purpose for what you're going through, and He desires for you to draw closer to Him as a result. Spend extra time with God while in your trial. Seek Him out each day, several times a day, and commit to remaining faithful to Him even when times are tough. Your trial won't last forever, but the lessons you learn during the trial will.
To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org,paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.

Inventory

Something to Ponder with a new year ahead of us.

Taking Account

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

by Dr. Paul Chappell
"And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed."
Luke 16:1-3
Taking time to review your life will reveal things you never knew were there.
Have you ever realized how many professions take account of people, items, actions, projects, and inventory? Grocery stores take inventory of stock, and count the quantity of each of their items. Clothing stores can tell you if a certain piece of clothing is in stock (and more specifically, which sizes and colors are in stock!) Accountants make a living of examining numbers and keeping track of cost and expenses of a company. And many businesses have yearly performance review times when they review the performance of their employees. It seems as if good businesses take time out to review their performance and make adjustments for the future.
Not only do businesses and stores take time for inventory, but people do as well. As we approach the New Year, many people will look back on 2009 and evaluate how they "performed" in life. They'll remember mistakes, rejoice in accomplishments, and make plans for the future.
Notice in Luke 16 the story of a wise master who took time to take account of his steward's performance, "There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward." His steward had been accused of neglecting his work so the master made time to review the steward's performance.
Just as the steward had to give account to the master for his actions, so we will one day be required to give account of our lives to God. We have been entrusted with our lives and are to steward our time wisely. God desires that we would live our lives to glorify Him and make good use of the lives He's given us.
As Christians, it would be wise for us to take time to review the year of 2009. Take a few minutes to think back on what you did spiritually in 2009. Ask yourself the following questions and honestly answer them before God:
1. Am I more mature spiritually now than I was at the beginning of this year?
2. Have I been faithful in my walk with God (Bible reading, prayer, church attendance)?
3. Is there any hidden sin in my life right now?
4. Have I been a faithful witness to others this year?
5. Have I kept a pure testimony?
6. How many people are in church right now because I invited them?
7. Is there anyone I have wronged this year that I have not asked forgiveness?
8. Is there anyone with whom I am bitter/Is there someone I need to forgive?
9. Am I active in my local church?
10. Have I increased my faith by following God's will for my life?
Take some time today or tonight to take account of 2009. Consider how you lived. God doesn't expect you to live a perfect life, but He desires that as you daily choose to follow Him, you would grow closer to Him and become more like Him each year.
To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org,paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.
Daily Bible Reading
Zechariah 13-14 | Revelation 21

2010

Well,
   Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can't wait to see how much more our Muslim/Communist President can screw up our country!