"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

I used to think nothing bad would happen to people who truly followed the Lord. In my own life, I've seen this isn't the case.
"God will never give you more than you can handle" but what we can handle is different for each person. Also, each person has their own struggles, temptations and "weak areas". Look at 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, mainly verses 7-10 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness". Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong". Paul looked beyond what was happening to him, and saw what could happen through those circumstances. We each have our own things we are dealing with, but we need to look beyond them...to see if it is "working for the good of those who love the Lord and have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

We all also have our own decisions we have made and our own consequences that follow.
The thing about God not giving us anything we can't handle is that sometimes the things that are hard, aren't from Him. What we may think is from God might be what we want, and we put a "from God" sticker on it. Then we avoid discussions about using God's Word to test what we think He says. We get easily offended when we are questioned by others. And we pull away from people God would use to correct us. We don't want to give it up. We become comfortable in our decision. And after avoiding God's Word, avoiding people and walking on egg-shells, we silence the Holy Spirit and get comfortable in our ways.

I know about thinking something is from God, when really it was just me assuming it was.
I met someone and let myself get carried away into a relationship because I thought (told myself) it was God's plan. In the end, the thorn in my flesh was a broken heart by my own choice. God let it happen. But He didn't break my heart...and He didn't force me to stop what I was doing. I chose. And after my consequences, He was there to catch me. He didn't remove my thorn, or the memory of what had happened, but He gave me strength to make it through. He strengthened me to move forward. He helped me learn from it. To get something good out of it. He gave beauty to my mess.

I questioned God in my pain. I didn't understand why He let me get hurt, until I realized He may have brought the person in my life, but I let me impatience lead me. I assumed it was from the Lord without testing it to His Word and waiting for an answer. I told myself "it must be right" and went on praying "God have your way", when I wanted my own way.

I can tell you about being selfish, impatient and about waiting. But I'm not done with it yet. I'm not married and I don't know who my husband is yet. But I do know that rushing seems to have a track record of not working out well. We get stronger through our pain, but that doesn't mean we should walk into the fire. We should use God's Word before we make choices. We should seek His strength before we are in need of it. Paul talks about grace increasing where sin increases...but because of our sinful nature, some people may think it means you can do whatever you want. "What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" (Romans 6:1-2) Learn your lesson...and turn away from things that will harm you. If your friend rushed into a relationship and got her heart broken, don't rush into a relationship. If your Dad says boys only have "one thing" on their mind, don't be with them alone. "Preserve sound judgement and discernment" (Proverbs 3:21) "Better a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to use discernment" (Ecclesiastes 4:13) "lean not on your own understanding; but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7)

God will be clear about things. He won't tell us anything without giving us a way to test what He says with The Word. This is why He is so reliable. If you don't have scripture, pray for it and wait until He provides it. Don't assume what God wants and don't assume what you hear is God until He gives you a way to test what He says. He knows humans, He knows saying "he said this" without anything to back it up or defend it, isn't going to hold in conversation. So pray for Him to show you. Get in His Word.

"When [satan] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44). Study God's Word, become fluent in truth so that you may know what is not from God. And when God speaks to you, if you know His Word more, you will know it is Him sooner :) and be able to tel the devil to shut up when He tries to act like God.

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). We go through temptation...but God will give us a way out...we just have to take it. Don't wait until it's too late to wait for the Lord.

Mandy's Thoughts "King of Anything"

Okay, so I'm not sure if y'all have heard Sarah Bareilles' song "King of anything". I've heard it before, but one day I payed attention to the message it was conveying. I took out my jounal and wrote my thoughts. This is some of my thoughts about, not just the song, but the message...
This song is just another relationship/breakup main-stream song. Which influences this generation to think that it is normal to have boyfriend's/girlfriend's and that it is totally acceptable to go in and out of relationships having messy breakups, leaving pieces of your heart and body in your "lover's" (not enemy's) hand.
As you may probably guess, this is a subject I am very vocal about and against. While these song writers/singers MAY not know any better and are probably just trying to make money, they are a part of the trend of broken hearts, divorces, greed and immaturity in this present generation and even the ones before. This isn't anything new, but it needs to be spoken about.
I personally believe that all issues of infidelity, pride, immaturity, selfishness, and breakups come from the heart, and a failure to protect it as God instructs.

God gives us instructions all throughout His Word about how we are to live, what mindset would benefit us and which wouldn't. He understands human nature better than anyone else and He loves us more than humanly possible :). He warns us because He loves us, He warns us because He KNOWS EVERYTHING (and isn't cocky or prideful!).
Yet we see an endless trend of dissatisfaction and pain in our American culture. Which is the result of disobeying and forgetting God and His Word.
The media preaches (I say preaches because there isn't room for debate, and if you don't think the same you are considered crazy, trust me I know-I'm "crazy") sex, dating, greed, drunkenness, and disrespect-unless of course you like the person. It has become the "norm" to have dating relationship after dating relationship, breakup after breakup, sex before marriage, children before marriage and never obey anyone else but yourself. Forget "the blind leading the blind" now the blind really think they can see!

To seek a "movement" or "protest" against this kind of message and lifestyle would be a waste of time. We know we are in the end times and it will only get worse. But does that mean we, individually, "put up with it"? BY NO MEANS! I'm not going to sit there and write a secular radio station and tell them what they shouldn't play...I know my letter would end up in the trash! But I can however, share how influential the media is and call it out for it's message to teens and my friends. It isn't MY job to change people's minds, or the world for that matter. It is MY JOB to share what the Lord has told me with everyone I know.

Many people have different beliefs and views on choices of music and movies...which is fine. I'm not going to say everyone has to listen to "Christian music"...but I will bring some thoughts to light that some have swept under the rug...

Even without listening to breakup, or dating, or sex songs...Is your lifestyle and choices you make saying that lifestyle is OK? If you REALLY don't listen to secular songs...do you not date? do you not go from breakup to breakup? Do you speak against sex before marriage?
It is not about the music we listen to, but about THE LIFE WE LIVE.
It isn't the music that defines who we are, but the choices we make. BUT, we must KNOW the music we listen and what it says...and make a decision on it's influence in our lives. (It doesn't benefit a person who is refaining from sex to listen to sex songs. But just because someone doesn't listen to sex songs, doesn't mean they aren't having sex)

This song "king of anything" could be applied in many different relationship scenarios. But the jest of the songs message is "you can't tell me what to do". What if a daughter said that to her parents? Or a wife to her husband? Or, as many have, to God?
Here, this song is setting the "independent" mindset of not needing anyone. Which in the end leaves people alone, sad and angry.

Are you focused on music, or your lifestyle?
Are you following the trend, or being obedient to God?
Are you more concerned about the music you listen to, or the choices you make?

Here are the lyrics:

"King Of Anything"
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)

Keep drinkin' coffee
Stare me down across the table
While I look outside

So many things I'd say if only I were able
But I just keep quiet
And count the cars that pass by

You've got opinions, man
We're all entitled to 'em
But I never asked

So let me thank you for time
And try to not waste any more of mine
Get out of here fast

I hate to break it to you babe
But I'm not drowning
There's no one here to save

Who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything

Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)

You sound so innocent
All full of good intent
You swear you know best

But you expect me to
Jump up on board with you
Ride off into your dellusional sunset

I'm not the one who's lost
With no direction oh
But you won't ever see

You're so busy makin' maps
With my name on them in all caps
You got the talkin' down just not the listening

And who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything

All my life
I've tried
To make everybody happy while I
Just hurt
And hide
Waitin' for someone to tell me it's my turn
To decide

Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)
Oh (oh oh oh)

Who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything

Who cares if you disagree
You are not me
Who made you king of anything
So you dare tell me who to be
Who died
And made you king of anything

Let me hold your crown, babe
Oh oh
Ah