Labels:text | newspaper | font | screenshot | black and white | publication | number | printing | document OCR: Promoting A Humble Search For The Viewpoint Of Our Lord Jesus Christ A Ministry By William J. Reed Year 2 Issue # 10 October 1996 CP XVII "APPEARANCES" Iused to think that I knew all the answer. Now, I'm not even sure that I understand all of the and spiritual contentment (Job 42:1-5) The trial of Gideon's bravery, when God questions anymore! culled his army from 32,000 to 300, successfully Life canget pretty complicatedsome times . It seems like everyone that I know is very stressed-out developed within him a larger faith to trust in God's these days. It's easyto get that way. A little pressure on power over earthly appear ances . ( Judges 7:2) During a violent storm, the apostles the job .... alittle conflict at home .... a little trouble with the car .... a little problem with the checkbook .... a little rationally determined that death appeared to be difficultys lee ping .... boy, it doesn't take very muchuntil enunent .... until God gave themales sonon the power of we feel like we're readyfor the 'loony bin". Dazed and having Jesus on-board your boat. (Matthew 8:23-27) confused .... you know? Good times seem to come only The account of the Prophet Elisha's servent in feast or famine. And whenit rains ; buddy, does it ever holds the ke y to ourown pe is pective. (2 Kings 6:12-18) pour! Sometimes, we don't even know what to pray for In an attempt to capture Elisha, the King of Syria anymore. Often, life appears to be just "varity and a encompassed the city where the prophet lived with a large army. When Elisha's servant awoke to see this ve xation of's pirit". "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly luge contingent all around, he was horrified. The upward." (Job 5:7) I can hardly imagine a more situation appeared to be anything but promising. He thought that theywere sure ly doome d. Then Elishasaid, appropriate analogy, or so vivid a picture, of what life "Don'tbe afraid: for they that are with us are more than seems to be like at times. Utter friction A journeymade az ains t-the-grain. A multifaceted effort in futility. A they that are with them." Elisha prayed, "Lord, I pray you, open his eyes, that he mughdsee. " Accordingly, the never-ending struggle that we appear to be losing. servant was allowed to survey the awesome spiritual If you go out there looking for sympathy, don't be surprised if you huit a drywell .... everybody's army that backed-up the prophet. In essence, Elis ha had as ked God to give his servant a new perspective on their going through the same kind of stuff. Every face that you see out there in the world has its own little sob story. predic ament. We can learn quite a bit fiom these Most people have largely 'desensitized"themselves to all of the griping and moaring. The song remains the examples . There's always more going on than "meets same: second verse ;same as the first. People appear to the eve". Appearances can be deceiving. Things are not always as they seem Our assessments of life nuist be uncaring. We're inclined to be overwhelmed by the include God. It's not just what life brings to you; but sheermagnitude of the possible obstacleswe might face also, what you can bring to life (with God's help). Look at the ends thatwe do make meet! God may have us face in life. We seem to be stemming the tide, but the tide difficult odds so that we will glorify Him, and not just keeps rising. We've used up all of our fingers stopping- up holes in the dike, and we're envisioning having to ourselves. When we are enabled to make it through use our toes next! We barely make ends meet. We things thatwe thought that we weren't going to make it wony. It appears as thoughwe might not have what it's through ... when things turn out better than we going to take to make it. expected ..... whenwe succeed where the re appeared to Or .... so things appear. It's in times like these that I like to remind be no hope .... it's then that we can begin to realize what mys elf that life nuist be seen from the Christian Paul meant when he said, "When I amweak, then I am strong."(2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Perspective. Through Jesus, the power of Christian living can help transformus into people who can rise The victory is in Jesus . (Romans 8:37-39) This all begins by gettingin Christ, and allowing God above discouraging "appearances". to help us develop "Spiritual eves" that can see beyond make this transition Many Bible characters were empowered to our personal scope of effort or influence . Although Job was always a righteous man, We canhave these new eyes . Ones that really "See". Differently. Better. More in focus. In broader, he was also enabled inhis life to move fiom confusion and utterdepression( Job 3), to astate of confident faith spiritual proportions. We can learn to view things Christian Perspectives according to the Christian Perspective.
 (1996).ISO/religion/cp1096.zip/1CP1096.BMP){kind=small}
(.png)
 (1996).ISO/religion/cp1096.zip/1CP1096.BMP/1CP1096.png)
 (1996).ISO/religion/cp1096.zip/2CP1096.BMP){kind=link}