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Category Archives: Trials
In Training to Be Used Mightily
A budding young soloist went to a great Italian musician for voice training. The master handed him a piece of music and said, “Practice this for one full year and then return here.” The request seemed a bit strange, but … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Choices, Commitment, Disappointment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Timing, God's Omniscience, God's Will, Impatience, Ministry, Music, Obedience, Patience, Perseverance, Rebellion, Reward, Submission, Teaching, Temptation, Trials, Trusting In God
Tagged God's training, how God prepares us for service, how God trains His servants, preparation for Christian service
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A Good Thought for Thanksgiving
Let’s say that a father takes his child to McDonalds for french-fries. Once they have their order and are seated at a table, the father tests the child by asking, “Do you love me more than you love these french-fries?” … Continue reading
Posted in Fatherhood, God's Love, God's Provision, Parenting, Praise, Priorities, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Trials, Worship
Tagged being thankful for blessings, being thankful for God Himself, being thankful for the source of the blessing rather than the blessing, fatherhood of God, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving
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How Optimistic Are You About Your Future?
Flagstaff, Maine, was chosen as the site for a huge hydroelectric installation. The installation would include a dam that would impound miles and miles of water and bury the town under water. Consequently, in the late 1940s, the process of … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Aging, Assurance of Salvation, Attitude, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Comfort, Contentment, Depression, Disappointment, Elderly, Encouragement, Eternal Security, Eternity, Faith, Heaven, Peace, Problems, Reward, Salvation, Suffering, Trials
Tagged a town buried underwater, an inheritance in heaven, Flagstaff Maine, Heaven, hope for the future, optimism about the future
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Criticism
I once heard Jack Graham, the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas, tell a great story in his sermon. The story went as follows. A man and his wife walked into a store. A parrot sitting on a perch … Continue reading
Suffering
We live in a culture in which we are taught to avoid suffering. After all, avoiding it does seem to make perfect sense. But the problem is that God, who oftentimes delights in making little or no sense, uses suffering … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Comfort, Complaining, Contentment, Courage, Depression, Disappointment, Encouragement, Patience, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Reward, Salvation, Sanctification, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God
Tagged Christ's suffering, Christian suffering, How does God use suffering?, is anything good about suffering, why do Christians suffer
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The Test of Prosperity
Quick, name the toughest test to pass spiritually. Did you say, “Disease”? Did you say, “The death of a loved one”? Did you say, “Troubles?” Did you say, “Disappointment”? Well, there’s no doubt that none of those tests are spiritual … Continue reading
Posted in Adultery, Backsliding, Choices, Contentment, Decisions, Desires, Disobedience, Faithfulness, God's Provision, Greed, Lust, Personal Holiness, Prosperity, Sex, Sin, Temptation, Trials, Trusting In God
Tagged Chuck Swindoll, David, David and Bathsheba, David's sin, Prosperity, the test of prosperity
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All You Need to Know
The teacher of a children’s Sunday School class gave her students one month to memorize the 23rd Psalm. Little Bobby gave it his best, but by month’s end he still couldn’t quote all the Psalm. So, when it came his … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Comfort, Eternal Security, God's Love, God's Omnipresence, God's Provision, Needs, Problems, Sunday School, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry
Tagged Christ as Shepherd, Christ's guidance, Christ's protection, Sunday School class memorizing the 23rd Psalm, the 23rd Psalm, the Christian as a sheep
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A Different Way to Preach the Gospel
An army private became a Christian and began to experience some persecution from his fellow soldiers. One rainy night he came in very tired and wet, but he still got down on his knees and prayed before he went to … Continue reading
Posted in Character, Doing Good, Evangelism, Extending Forgiveness, Humility, Influence, Mercy, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Salvation, Trials, Witnessing
Tagged a private wins his sergeant to Christ, a sergeant gets saved, Evangelism, Francis of Assisi, good deeds, preaching the gospel, soul-winning
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The Disciple's Road 