"We Are Just Passing Through"

I want to thank everyone for all the e mails yesterday. Over the past 13 years of writing I have lived my life out through what God has enabled me to write. My doctor’s appointment went well. My depression is severe but all I can tell you is that

1. God does not make mistakes

2. God has allowed this for His perfect purpose

I just took my first new pill this morning. I didn’t want to read the side effects but, well, I did. I shouldn’t have, but I did. Why do they even put side effects on them? I think people like me invent side effects then the drug companies have to put them down. My mind goes so far off in the wrong direction I even think I could have what are only common to females, YIKES what a mess I am. Nothing is out of bounds when it comes to my imagination.

But the same imagination that God has given me that I can use for worry is the same imagination that He allows me to write to you everyday.

Job 2:10b “”Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” In all this Job did not sin in what he said.”

First of all God does not cause trouble as much as He allows trials. Those trials can turn into trouble when we don’t follow the next passage.

Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

I put this passage up yesterday. Before I discuss this passage I want to tell you that nowhere in the Bible is the “Prosperity” Gospel preached. There is no such thing. You may be saying where did that statement come from, I thought we were talking about pain and affliction. Let’s say that John the Baptist took the Prosperity Gospel seminar. He was the best of all men born as the precursor to talk about the coming of Jesus. He lost his parents at a young age and lived in the desert. His entire life was devoted to teaching people repentance and leading the way to Jesus. If anyone deserved “Prosperity” and good things for their faithfulness then John did. What did John get for his faithfulness to Jesus? Beheaded and his head was served up on a platter for all to see.

Listen to me very carefully on this next statement. When you try to make a little heaven out of this world you will always be disappointed. If God allows prosperity in your life for a time it is not because of anything that you did, It is only because of something God allowed. So when we are clinically depressed, have stage IV Cancer, a failed marriage and a bad job it may not be anything that you did wrong. There’s a very good chance it is to fulfill God’s perfect purpose.

So to be joyful in hope and patient in all the pain we are going through in this life we must be FAITHFUL in prayer. Today ask yourself, “Am I faithful in prayer?” I just put a 9 part video series up on our website to help me get out of Pornography Addiction. Anytime I help people in this area I am attacked because this is such a great tool of Satan. If I am not in prayer asking for help, guidance and God’s power to fight I will be defeated before I start.

What I want to try to get across to you today is this. In this world we will suffer trials of many kinds. The more we try to shield ourselves from these trials the more we are getting in the way of God. Can you live your life where you can say “Let it come and bring it on in the name of the Lord”? When you can get to this point in your life then NOTHING will catch you off guard. You can lead a life of joy knowing this is not our real home. We are just passing through. So please don’t build a kingdom here which is futile but lead others to the Kingdom that will last.

Have a great day and don’t fret, I am trying too.

Brad