When to Speak?

How do you show some one that the troubles and trials they are going through will end up on the good end? I’ll give you one worse, how do you explain that to someone that does not believe in Christ? Christians have many battles to overcome, and one of them is knowing when to talk and when to keep quiet. I have noticed lately that when we speak the truth to someone that is rebellious of God or doesn’t believe his is the creator, it pushes them farther and farther from our reach. So when do we speak and when don’t we? I wish I had the answer.
But then as I think more in depth about this, really the answer is in plain view. God will tell us when to speak and when to keep quiet. The problem I run into is hearing God’s voice and knowing what I need to say. I need to first work towards that. I guess it takes steps.
Like I said before, I am reading Come Thirsty by Max Lucado. I woke up this morning and read this:
No leaf falls without God’s knowledge. No dolphin gives birth without his permission. No wave crashes on the shore apart from his calculation. God has never been surprised. Not once.
“The Son is… sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Heb. 1:3)
“He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need there is.” (Acts 17:25)
King David proclaimed, “In Your book were written all the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them” (Ps. 139:16)
Denying the sovereignty of God requires busy scissors and results in a hole-y Bible, for many holes are made as the verses are cut out. Amazingly, some people opt to extract such passages. Unable to reconcile human suffering with absolute sovereignty, they dilute God’s Word. Rabbi Kushner did.
His book When Bad Things Happen to Good People reached a disturbing conclusion: God can’t run the world. Kushner suggested that Job, the most famous sufferer, was “forced to choose between a good God who is not totally powerful, or a powerful God who is not totally good.”
The rabbi speaks for many. God is strong. Or God is good. But God is not both. Else, how do you explain birth defects, coast-crashing hurricanes, AIDS, or the genocide of the Tutsi in the 1990s? If God cares, he isn’t strong; if he is strong, he doesn’t car. He can’t be both.
But according to the Bible, he is exactly that. Furthermore, according to the Bible, the problem is not the strength or kindness of God. The problem is the agenda of the human race. We pursue the wrong priority. We want good health, a good income, a good night’s rest, and a good retirement. Our priority is WE.
God’s priority, however, is God. Why do the heavens exist? To flaunt God. “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Ps. 19:1) Why do people struggle? To display his strength. “I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for My own sake I will act” (Isa. 48:10-11) The prophet proclaimed, “You lead your people, to make Yourself a glorious name” (Isa. 63:14)
God unfurls his own flag. He flexes his own muscles Heaven does not ask “How can I make Max happy?” Heaven asks, “how can I use Max to reveal my excellencies?” He may use blessings. Then again, he may use buffetings. Both belong to him.
I am the one that creates the light and makes the darkness. I am the one who sends food times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things (Isa. 45:7)
Enjoy prosperity while you can. But when the hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
(Eccles. 7:14)

Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That woe and well- being proceed?
(Lam. 3:38)
This all sounds pretty selfish of God right? It sounds like us doesn’t it? Well we are made in his image. I think he has every right to be selfish. He created the heavens and the earth, light and darkness, US, the very matter of your computer screen. He has every right to be selfish.
We are here on earth to further the kingdom of God and when the time comes to go to him in that Kingdom, he wants us to bring friends. So as we walk through the troubles and trials, remember that at the end there will be something good. Maybe not for yourself, but for God and his Kingdom. It’s the least we can do. Give everything to God, every day, every hour, every minute, every second, every breath.
And to answer my first question, Max Lucado has this to say:
A word of caution: the doctrine of sovereignty challenges us. Study it gradually. Don’t share it capriciously (on a whim.) When someone you love faces adversity(hardship), don’t insensitively declare, “God is in control.” A cavalier(arrogant, causal, careless) tone can eclipse(hide, conceal) the right truth . Be careful. (I wanted to make sure everyone understood that part .)

And be encouraged. God’s ways are always right They may not make sense to us. They may be mysterious, inexplicable, difficult, and even painful. But they are right. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Rom. 8:28)

One day

I woke up this morning to a phone call about 15 minutes before the time I had set my alarm for. A very long distant phone call from a boy. A boy that has been on my mind for some time. This boy previously told me that he does not believe there is a God. Being in the army, he has seen and had to do many things most humans would never imagine. I had the habit of sending up a small little prayer when I thought of him, which lately has been less and less. I hadn’t heard much from him because he was out on missions half way across the world. So naturally, my thought of him decreased and so did my prayers.
Before I got to church I had made up my mind that instead of waiting for God to come to me, I was going to step out and reach for him. So many things were said on the pulpit that hit home for me. The words seemed as if they were straight from God and only meant for me. And those words, brought tears to my eyes. I cannot remember who said it, but one of the pastors asked the congregation who was the first one we thought of this morning. Mine was my military friend, and not God. But God did that for a reason, as I was soon to find out.
As the service progressed, more and more things were being said that I felt were strictly for me. The pastor talked about those people that were on our hearts that struggle and don’t believe. I learned we need to not only pray for them, but praise for them and even worship for them. Get down on our knees and lift up our hands FOR THEM. I learned that we don’t get tested when we are on the mountains but when we are in the valleys. Instead of praying our way out, we can praise our way out too.
We had an alter call, and was one of the first to the altar, crying even before I was on my knees. My tongue was moving without me help. Many people prayed over me but then one on the elders of the church voice came into my left ear. He told me that he was not one to do this, but I have a ministry inside of me. I can’t remember too much after that, I was so lost in the spirit. My entire was warm and my legs and arms trembled. I started to feel peace again and as I did I felt a cool breeze on my tear stained face. It took me awhile to find the strength to stand again.
I went back to my seat but couldn’t sit. There was still more for me.
I saw a girl standing up at the altar all by herself. I heard a voice that sounded just like mine that said, go up there and tell her not to be afraid to raise her hands. I thought that was really none of my business how she worshiped. But of course what I hoped was God prevailed and after much deliberation, my feet moved and I walked up to her and told her not to be afraid. Nothing really came of me talking to her but I stepped out on faith and I hope that was what God wanted. I just stood by her and worshiped with her.
Then the Pastor came up to me and prayed again in my left ear. He prayed that I would have a supernatural sense of God’s leading (something I had been struggling with.) He said more but my spirit took hold again and my legs began to shake.
My prayer is that from these experiences that happened all in one day that I may continue to grow and do the work of God. We are the body of Christ, and should not argue with the head on what to do and what not to do. Imagine that with your own flesh. Quite a wild picture. I feel things are about to change for the better. So many of my friends and family have been on my heart lately and I feel now that I am better equipped with the tools I need to plant the seed of Christ in their lives. And instead of just praying, I am going to give praising a shot and encourage you to do the same.

~Faith enables persons to be persons because it lets God, be God- Carter Linberg~

Well this is a little new for me. My hope for this blog is to let the lord speak through me and enrich your lives. Some of the things you read you may not agree with and some you will, but don't totally disregard the information. You should also check out http://christianpeeps08.blogspot.com/. Thanks!

LinZ