Sunday Words of Encouragement March 6, 2011

I am feeling marginally better but I did not attend church this morning so I would not pass the yucky germs I have. Several weeks ago we had a wonderful evening sermon that I made notes on.
The sermon was entitled: A Study on Faith - A Testing of Attitude.
It was an excellent sermon and the two important verses to start with are Eccl 7:14 and James 1:2.

Eccl 7:14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 

We go through adversity for different reasons.
1.  To get our attention;
2.  To remind us He loves us;
3.  To conquer our pride;
4.  To reveal our weaknesses;
5.  To show His faitfulness;
6.  To prepare us to comfort others; or
7.  To reveal His glory in us.

One important thing Not to do is blame others.  No matter where we come from, we are each responsible for our own choices and actions in our lives. We can choose our own ways or choose to be obedient and submissive. We also choose our attitude - whether joy in all things, blessings or trials, or bitterness at what we do not have.

Verses for today::

Haggai 1:5-7 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁵ Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. ⁶ You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

 ⁷ This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.

I pray that daily I can surrender my will to His Will.