Hardships
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 12/06- “Note To Self—Then Too Everyone Else!” (James 1:2-3)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 12/06- “Note To Self—Then Too Everyone Else!” (James 1:2-3)
Premise Question: Is there ever any good thing that can come, when we, The Company of The Redeemed, choose to complain, mumble, grumble or groan; rather than, looking at it with joy and considering it a privileged opportunity to grow and see the purpose and will of Papa God revealed in us?
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” (James 1:2-3 NLT)
Acknowledge, accept and embrace the difficult times in your life. Recognize them all, as honored and privileged opportunities, to experience the ultimate in pure delight, with great felicity, my dearly beloved fellow members in The Company of The Redeemed. For whenever, whomever and wherever you may encounter these difficult people and times, which will be hardships that are numerous, varied and sundry in kind, don’t ever let any of it, in any way, throttle or disable you, due to the reality of what you should already be aware, “au courant” of and familiar with; that being, the ongoing process, in your sojourn and walk of faith, of the evaluation and verification of your full confidence and complete trust and reliance that you’ve placed upon and in The LORD GOD Almighty. This then, will have the perfect result and effect of bringing into existence into your life, not just a lofty desire, thought or wonderful aspiration, but a valiant tenacious courage, a resolute determination and steady persistence, which will empower you, enabling you to stay on, not stray from, and to walk uprightly upon the path of Papa God’s divine purpose for your life. (James 1:2-3 PDCP)
Bottom Line: Nope! Complaining, mumbling, grumbling and groaning has never brought or bought anything good or righteous into our lives!
Therefore, here’s something for everyone of us to seriously consider, then diligently, with devotion and dogged determination, follow resolutely!
Note to self, then to everyone else: no more giving into moaning and groaning, mumbling and grumbling, bumbling and stumbling, crumbling into a heap of desperation and despair, being depressed and oppressed, completely suppressed, kept under duress.
But, choose to always joyfully accept, embrace and endure, the hardships in your life, as part and partial of the process, for they are only a trace of Papa God’s unique and divine purpose being fully accomplished, in your sojourn of this life.
So, choose to always rejoice in the midst of your ordeal and trial, knowing full well, that His perfect purpose is soon to be fulfilled. Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #countitalljoy #choosetorejoice
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 07/07- “We Suffer Now—Revel In Glory Later!” (Romans 8:18)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 07/07- “We Suffer Now—Revel In Glory Later!” (Romans 8:18)
Premise Question: Does everyone suffer in the same way during their time here on earth and do all receive the same glory and recognition in the future?
Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. (Romans 8:18 NLT)
After careful thought and consideration, I firmly believe and am fully convinced, that our present existing trials and tribulation, with their intolerable conditions of excruciating pain, agonizing distress, along with the great loss and unpleasantness we are even now experiencing, cannot, should not, and in fact, is not even the slightest bit significant or important enough to justify, in any way shape or form, when comparing them side by side, with the immeasurable, incalculable, magnificently distinctive in renown, resplendent glory that will be made known and personally revealed in each one of us—The Company of The Redeemed, by Papa God later on, at His appointed time. (Romans 8:18 PDCP)
Bottom Line: Not everyone will experience suffering and loss in the same way or in the same degree during their time here on earth. Nor will everyone receive the same glory, rewards and distinctive recognition later on, at the appointed time, in the future. But, everyone will suffer in some way or another and at some point and in some degree during their time here on earth.
The great and wonderfully encouraging news flash is though, that all those who share in the suffering of The LORD will also share in His resplendent glory, as well! For our suffering now, is nothing when compared to the glory to be revealed and received by us personally, later on. We will surely suffer now, but we shall also certainly revel in a future glory, at a future time, where we will be clothed and regaled with the magnificence and resplendent glory of The LORD!
The suffering we experience now cannot even begin to be compared, as it is not even worthy of comparison, with the glory, rewards and recognition that we’ll receive later on. For the greater the suffering now, the greater the glory, recognition and reward later on. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Matthew 5:12)
I personally came to the full acceptance and realization of this great and encouraging principle, and the absolute truth during the time I watched my precious and greatly beloved wife and mother of my children, Cynthia, go through suffering that was beyond belief and too difficult to explain or understand; for it was more than I could endure and much more than I had ever seen anyone go through before or since!
It was during that time, and right after though, that The LORD opened the eyes of my heart and understanding, so that I could clearly see and perceive, with great insight and a deep understanding, that ultimately He was going to use it all for His glory and divine purpose in me, as well as, the tremendous gracious and glorious benefit of my beloved wife, Cynthia.
For one day, in the future and at the appointed time, I will see with my own eyes, the glory of The LORD upon His faithful and enduring great suffering servant Cynthia, as I too will one day stand before The LORD, The One who is our loving, full of gracious favor and great mercy, our Savior, who is ever faithful to His Word and every promise therein, and shall then receive the glory, rewards and recognition that shall far outweigh and exceed any suffering I endured and experienced during my stay and sojourn here upon this earth. We will suffer now, but later on, we shall revel in His glory! Hallelujah! Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #thesufferingnowcanneverbecomparedtothegloryreceivedlateron
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 04/25- “Mother Mary, Aunt Mary And, Friend And Follower Mary!” (John 19:25)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 04/25- “Mother Mary, Aunt Mary And, Friend And Follower Mary!” (John 19:25)
Premise Question: What is the message of hope and strong source of strength, with the much needed and appropriate help, for what we may have to face or go through, at any moment and time, in our lives, that we can extrapolate and draw, from the picture that’s being painted, with words for us, here in this passage of scripture?
Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25 NLT)
Standing together at the base of the cross, huddled close, while holding onto each other tightly and supporting one another, as they looked up at Jesus hanging there on His cross, were His Mother Mary, His Aunt Mary and His friend and follower, Mary of Magdala. (John 19:25 PDCP)
Bottom Line: There are going to be times and occasions, where we ourselves or those that we are close to, are going to experience great times of stress, hardships, difficult and hard to comprehend situations and circumstances, trials and turmoil, sickness and affliction, broken relationships, being wounded, with emotional, mental or physical pain, disappointments, and even perhaps an untimely or totally unexpected death, in its various forms and ways. During any and all of those experiences and times, we may not have the perfect resolve or answer, but what we do have, is each other; therefore, we can, should and must be there for each other—on every occasion that comes along, supporting and encouraging one another with comfort, peace and strength, while exhibiting hope and giving our help and love in the practical and appropriate ways that we have the ability to do so. Just being there with and for each other, availing and travailing, by making ourselves available, as a true loving and deeply moved and concerned friend, who will come alongside, to be comforting, supporting, bearing each other up and undergirding one another during those truly difficult times, is absolutely vital, as well as necessary. Not to mention, that we now have The Great Comforter, to bring the comforting help and support necessary and needed, to each other, through each other, for each other! Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #stayclosetoeachotherandthecross
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 04/19- “His Heartache And Heartbreak Made It Possible For Your Heart To Be Made Whole!” (Isaiah 53:3)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 04/19- “His Heartache And Heartbreak Made It Possible For Your Heart To Be Made Whole!” (Isaiah 53:3)
Premise Question: How was The LORD able to endure, while personally experiencing, without any buffer, all the abject vexation, the distressing scorn and acrimony, filled with hateful vitriol, along with every kind of sickness and affliction, which caused suffering beyond belief, with all the resulting pain and agony, as well as, being completely forsaken and jilted, not only by the people He came to help, but by the one who sent Him, His Father, Papa God?
He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. (Isaiah 53:3 NLT)
The Anointed One was shunned, scorned and hated—looked upon as being utterly abhorrent in the eyes of the people He came to help. He was a man of abject vexation, full of pain and agony, and who was forsaken and jilted by the very people He came to rescue and heal. Because of this, He was all too familiar with the worst kind of suffering, distress and devastating sorrow. All of us turned away from Him, abandoning Him, to be all alone, in the hour and moment of His darkest and most difficult challenge and ordeal. During that most critical time, for all of humankind, He was completely ignored by us, and was considered as less than nothing, as none of the people He came to redeem showed any care or concern for Him or His plight. (Isaiah 53:3 PDCP)
Bottom Line: The Anointed One, Jesus Christ, The Messiah, was able to endure and thereby, accomplish what He did, because of His love for and His complete trust in His Father, Papa God—His love for His friends—His disciples—His love for Papa God’s beloved creation, the unredeemed children, and also because of His desire to do the will of His Father, by obeying Him. And this then, would fulfill His sincere desire to be pleasing to His Father. The LORD also was able to endure, because He chose to take hold of and then refused to ever let go of the promise His Father gave Him. That being, by finishing what He was sent to accomplish, He would make it possible for all of humankind to be rescued; providing them with a way to escape eternal death and damnation. It was this promise, I believe, that gave Him His greatest source of joy. (Hebrews 12:2) And finally, He was able to endure it all, because of the power, presence and influence of The Holy Spirit being present in His life.
Now, due to His endurance, through heartache to heartbreak, we now have been given the opportunity to have our hearts healed, our lives rescued and made whole. So that, we too, can endure, overcome and complete our mission and task given to each one of us, by The LORD, with the same power and ever present help of The Holy Spirit, being allowed to operate fully, in our every day lives, as well. Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #manofsorrows #aquaintedwiththedeepestofgrief #despisedandnoonecares
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 04/17- “Enduring Patiently Gets The Ultimate Reward!” (James 1:12)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 04/17- “Enduring Patiently Gets The Ultimate Reward!” (James 1:12)
Premise Question: What, as members of The Company of The Redeemed, is our most difficult task, how do we fulfill said task and what is our reward for doing so?
“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 NLT)
Papa God thoroughly enjoys lavishing gifts upon His dearly beloved children; especially those who’ve persevered under great duress, provocation and enticement. For eventually, if they refuse to give up, during the crucial verification process, by continuing to love and rely on Papa God no matter what, they will have bestowed upon them the highest honor, which is His most valued and promised reward, of an eternal life, filled with perfect peace, constant refreshing and everlasting joy. (James 1:12 PDCP)
Bottom Line: The most difficult thing, for us to do, is to endure patiently, but we’ve got to, by being brave, trusting and relying fully on Papa God, full of His courage, and calmly waiting it out, and that, without a lot of complaining, which includes moaning and groaning, grumbling and grousing. For after we get through all the hardships and multiple kinds of enticing allurements, we will fully experience and thoroughly enjoy our promised reward! The difficult and most arduous process, of verification, is extremely crucial, as it is most important to our growth and maturity, as believers. For eventually, when we’ve stood the test, endured every trial, trouble, provocation and multiple temptations; our faith walk will be made much stronger and we will be ready for anything, for we will be absolutely complete and lack nothing.
(James 1:2-4) The promised reward is so worth the wait of us having to endure patiently! Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #ourmostdifficulttaskasbelievers #patientlyenduringteststrialstemptations
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 03/13- “We Know That We Know!” (Romans 8:28)
03/13-SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 03/13- “We Know That We Know!” (Romans 8:28)
Premise Question: Does “everything,” really, truly mean, “everything,” with no exceptions or mitigating circumstances, that would influence how we may accept or perceive what happens to us, or that we may go through in life; including, but not limited to, the onerous, the heinous, or any suffering we may have to endure, or even the strange and the most difficult to make any sense of?
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. (Romans 8:28 NLT)
And we, all members of The Company of The Redeemed, being fully assured, that we know that we know, having already accepted, as established fact, that Papa God does all things well, and that He is able to utilize and bring together, simultaneously and in conjunction with, any and all things that may happen, transpire or occur, to us, in a perfectly harmonious way, absolutely everything, for all those who’ve devoted themselves entirely to loving and obeying Papa God; after having accepted His personal invitation to come to Him, by allowing Him to accomplish and fulfill His divinely inspired will and purpose for their joy filled and flourishing existence, and their very reason for living. (Romans 8:28 PDCP)
Bottom Line: Absolute YES! “Everything,” literally means, absolutely “Everything!” For Papa God doesn’t allow anything to be wasted, that happens to us or that we may go through, whether or not it is of our own volition or doing or the doings of someone or something else, not of our own doing! He will, with perfection, utilize every little bit of every part and partial of everything, whether it be humongous in impact or minuscule in impact, to our lives, for our benefit; in order to accomplish His divine purpose and will for our lives. So, we should not ever think it’s strange, (1Peter 4:12) nor should we ever be ashamed, for any reason, because of our testimony, (2 Timothy 1:8) we should stay strong, (2 Timothy 2:1) always give thanks, (1 Thessalonians 5:18) count it all joy, (James 1:2) always being full of joy, (1 Thessalonians 5:16) endure suffering, as a good soldier, (2 Timothy 2:3) be patient in afflictions, (Romans 12:12) always waiting on The LORD, (Isaiah 40:31) not ever growing tired and giving up in doing good to others, especially to those that are Papa God’s own, (Galatians 6:9-10) and finally, no matter what, always rejoice and don’t ever stop rejoicing, praising and praying to Papa God; because, we know that we know, that He will use everything that happens to us, for our own benefit and good and for the ultimate accomplishment of His divinely designed and inspired will, purpose and reason for a our lives! (Philippians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:17) Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #TheLORDdoesallthingswell #thewayofTheLORDisalwaysperfectineveryway
SCRIPT FOR TODAY:PDCP- 03/05- “Our Greatest Honor!” (1 Peter 4:16)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: Double Entendre (meaning)…(1) A prescription (script) prescribed, by The Great Physician, for us to take each day, for our benefit and (2) A script written, for the purpose of giving direction and guidance to us, for our everyday life, in the way and manner we ought to be conducting our daily lives, given to us, by the Great playwright, in the sky, The Author of all that is good, right, just and holy. Blessings…
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 03/05- “Our Greatest Honor!” (1 Peter 4:16)
Premise Question: Is there a difference between suffering, because you’re being recognized as an associate of Christ, and suffering, because of your own willful belligerent behavior?
But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! (1 Peter 4:16 NLT)
There is never any ignominious guilt or shame associated with being recognized as a follower of CHRIST. So, when you suffer reproach, because of your association and personal attachment to Him, rejoice! For it is a great privilege and supreme honor to be identified and labeled as a true follower of CHRIST—when you are called a Christian. (1 Peter 4:16 PDCP)
Bottom Line: The greatest privilege and supreme honor, that a believer in CHRIST can receive, in this life, from the world, is to be associated with, by being recognized and called, by The LORD’s Name—a Christian. It may be done in a contemptuous way and manner, being completely derisive, but it carries not an once of stigma or shame. There is a distinct and marked difference, though, between suffering because of our alignment with CHRIST, and suffering due to our own bad decisions and behaviors, outside of CHRIST! One is filled to the brim and overflowing, being over the top, with loathsome and quite perilous ignominy, while the other is a glorious and wonderful reason to rejoice, with thanksgiving and gratitude, for the great privilege and supreme honor of being identified, as being an associate of CHRIST; thus, wearing the label, termed by designation and reputation, of being a Christian.
A note of interest: The writer, of this great Epistle of 1st Peter, is none other than Peter himself! It’s interesting to point this out, because of his own brief moment of great shame suffered, when he denied his association and personal relationship with the “Galilean”—CHRIST! He definitely rebounded and fully recovered from his momentary lapse, and that, because of The LORD’s great compassion and unfailing love and His mercy and grace. We bear CHRIST’S Name, without any shame, for it is a privilege to do so, as it is our greatest honor.
Check out the entire chapters of 1Peter 3-4. It’s great reading and wonderful insights into how we ought to deal with suffering, as well as, how to approach and interact with others. Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com papadoncox.wordpress.com #thereisnoshameinsufferingforChrist #itisaprivilegeandgreathonortobeknownbyTheNameofChrist
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: PDCP- 05/16/15- “No Matter What You Say Or Do!” (Colossians 3:17)
SCRIPT FOR TODAY: 05/16/15- “No Matter What You Say Or Do!” (Colossians 3:17)
Premise Question: Is there ever a time or an occasion, as members of The Company of The Redeemed, where we take some time off, a vacation break, personal days or sick days, from being a representative of The LORD and offering thanks to Papa God?
And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:17 NLT)
And whatever, anything or everything, no matter whatsoever and without any specification you do, whether it be in the words you offer or in the deeds you perform, regardless the circumstances or situation, always do it as if you were doing it unto The Lord, in His Name, not yours, never neglecting to freely give thanks to Papa God, The Father, with a heart full of appreciation, gratitude and thanksgiving, offering it first and foremost to Him, through Jesus our LORD! (Colossians 3:17 PDCP)
Bottom Line: Whatever, whenever, wherever! Anything and everything, anywhere and everywhere! We are to be ready, at all times, on all occasions, in all situations and circumstances, to be The LORD’S representative, and to be prepared to give a response to anyone we come in contact with, no matter the time or occasion or where it’s at or who it’s with. Whether or not it’s convenient, easy or comfortable or not very convenient, extremely difficult and way out of our comfort zone. We are always His representatives and should always endure every hardship, be joyful, give thanks, praise and pray continually always depending and relying on the strength, wisdom and peace of The LORD to guide and sustain us. Here are a few scripture references to consider and be encouraged by: (Ephesians 5:20, 1 Timothy 2:8, 2 Timothy 2:12, 4:2-3, 5, 2 Corinthians 6:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
And here is a true story that illustrates the message of this scripture: A person had been violently ill for seven days, not able to eat any food nor keep any fluids down and therefore, had become dehydrated. This person thought they had a bad case of the flu, was actually convinced that this was the case and therefore, pressing into, with much prayer, agony and faith, was trusting The LORD for relief and deliverance. When relief was not forthcoming, it was decided, for this person, that a trip to the emergency room was in order. Upon arriving, it was quickly determined that the problem was a bad appendix that needed to be removed immediately. During the procedure, there were complications that necessitated a longer than usual hospital stay and care. So the individual with the recently removed bad appendix was put in a room with another individual who was also in for a extended stay in the hospital, due to their issue. It was not a pleasant, easy or convenient time for either individual, but one of the individuals was a representative of The LORD, while the other individual was not, and in fact, was not only suffering because of their physical issue, but was going through a very difficult time in their marriage, as their spouse had just left them for another, during the hospital stay and ordeal! Long story short: The LORD’S representative was at the exact place and at the exact moment in time, that they were supposed to be, all for the divine appointment, set up by Papa God, because of the love and compassion that He had for the individual who was not yet a representative of The LORD, but because of this “chance” encounter, received great encouragement and refreshing and ended up being a very thankful, full of gratitude and joyful representative of The LORD! We all need to be willing to not only be used by The LORD, but also be willing to be used up, by The LORD, if that’s what it takes to reach another. His will be done, regardless, not our will be done. Paul said that he became everything to everyone, so that perhaps they would be rescued. Blessings…
http://www.theshipministry.com #YouVersion #represent #whateverwheneverwherever
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