kathleen (kathleen)
01-15-2005, 05:20 PM
Dear Friends:
There are times in life when we become discouraged because of something bad that happened that we don't fully understand. When this happens, we are to be conscious to the fact that we have not seen the full picture of what is
yet to come and should not judge that situation as purely negative. All of us have been through situations that seemed bad at the time, but when we look back on it months even years later, we see how that bad situation helped us grow in wisdom, strength and faith. We are to trust that God is in control and will work all things out for our good in His time. We must also trust in His wisdom and remember that we are in safe Hands no matter the trial or tribulation that comes before us. (Isaiah 49:13-16) (Proverbs 3:5)
I hope you receive edification and are encouraged today to rest in God's wisdom and strength knowing that He will never fail you. He will make all things work together for good and not evil.
FOUR SEASONS OF A TREE
There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to Judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.
When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no--it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The youngest son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
The man then explained to his sons that they were all correct, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are complete.
If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of the summer, fulfillment of your fall. Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season. Persevere throughout the difficult times and better ones are sure to come sooner or later.
Author Unknown
Be encouraged to stand strong in the difficult times that come before you and do not entertain the thoughts that you should just give in or give up. God has created you with a special plan and purpose in mind. He promises that in the appointed time you will see how the difficult and discouraging situations that came before you will be used for good to strengthen you and make you better able to be an ambassador for the Lord Jesus Christ and His Eternal purposes. (Romans 8:31-37) (Psalm 139:17-18) (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
meditate if you will on these scriptures:
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is
common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to
escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
John 16:21-22 Jesus declares A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she
remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your Joy no man taketh from you.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall
direct thy paths.
Psalm 107:19-22 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He saveth them out of their distresses. He sent His word, and healed them,
and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.
God Bless and keep all of you as He only can. In Jesus precious name I do pray.....
Kathleen
(Message edited by kathleen on January 15, 2005)
There are times in life when we become discouraged because of something bad that happened that we don't fully understand. When this happens, we are to be conscious to the fact that we have not seen the full picture of what is
yet to come and should not judge that situation as purely negative. All of us have been through situations that seemed bad at the time, but when we look back on it months even years later, we see how that bad situation helped us grow in wisdom, strength and faith. We are to trust that God is in control and will work all things out for our good in His time. We must also trust in His wisdom and remember that we are in safe Hands no matter the trial or tribulation that comes before us. (Isaiah 49:13-16) (Proverbs 3:5)
I hope you receive edification and are encouraged today to rest in God's wisdom and strength knowing that He will never fail you. He will make all things work together for good and not evil.
FOUR SEASONS OF A TREE
There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to Judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.
When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no--it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The youngest son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
The man then explained to his sons that they were all correct, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are complete.
If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of the summer, fulfillment of your fall. Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don't judge life by one difficult season. Persevere throughout the difficult times and better ones are sure to come sooner or later.
Author Unknown
Be encouraged to stand strong in the difficult times that come before you and do not entertain the thoughts that you should just give in or give up. God has created you with a special plan and purpose in mind. He promises that in the appointed time you will see how the difficult and discouraging situations that came before you will be used for good to strengthen you and make you better able to be an ambassador for the Lord Jesus Christ and His Eternal purposes. (Romans 8:31-37) (Psalm 139:17-18) (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
meditate if you will on these scriptures:
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is
common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to
escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
John 16:21-22 Jesus declares A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she
remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your Joy no man taketh from you.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall
direct thy paths.
Psalm 107:19-22 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and He saveth them out of their distresses. He sent His word, and healed them,
and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.
God Bless and keep all of you as He only can. In Jesus precious name I do pray.....
Kathleen
(Message edited by kathleen on January 15, 2005)