Caution: Answers from God often require action on the requestor’s part!

I saw a quote today from an unknown source…….”Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering and injustice when He could do something about it.” “Well, why don’t you ask Him?” “Because I’m afraid He would ask me the same question.” –Anonymous. Wow! Yes, it’s true God is all powerful and is in control. Beyond comprehension! I do not profess to know the WHY’s (we all have them in our lives). But I do know one thing. If I expect or desire a perfect earthly life, I will be miserable, disappointed and self-focused/reliant. God made it clear we would have problems here. He loves us, cares and is with us- John 16:33 says, I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. Look at James 1:2-4, Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete. Troubles cause me to humble myself to God, to depend on Him solely. This results in spiritual growth, another step towards maturity and completeness(not perfect as in sinless). An imperfect/temporal earth should draw my heart towards a perfect /eternal home with my Creator. Back to the quote/question….while we cannot supernaturally stop evil/suffering like God could, we can stand united as humanity(especially we that wear the Christian name) and make a difference. Can I sit back and expect only God to be at work? Today, we are to be His hands and feet-vessels and instruments. Faith and obedience will draw us to action. When it comes to suffering and the poor, God has given us the resources to help. Do I have the will to serve/take action? It is what we are called to do. Let us go be the salt and light unto the world in obedience to our God (see Matt 5:13-16). Blessings in your pursuit…….TO

Success

How do we/society view success or even failure? Is it simply a certain prominent career/job? There is nothing wrong with earthly achievements as long as we are obedient to our Almighty God. Oftentimes, we can easily get caught in evaluating success with a title, salary, possessions, etc. If that is the main/only metrics used, the potential difference between God’s view of success and a worldly paradigm, can be quite chasmic. God looks from the inside first and foremost. If our hearts are not Christ focused then what we gain here on earth is futile (Mark 8:36-For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? See also, Matt 16:26). We are to work hard and provide for our family and help those less fortunate. God is more interested in our heart, and less with our title and salary. In I Peter 3:3-4 we read, Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. Also, look at what 1 Samuel 16:7 says, But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. I need to ask myself a few questions regularly: How do I define success in this precious life that God has given me? What is my purpose? What does God expect from an obedient child? Blessings in your pursuit…….TO