Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

Every person has a different cross to bear.  In Paul’s case (from the New Testament) it was his ‘thorn in the flesh’ God would not remove despite his fervent prayers.  Sometimes prayers will resolve a situation or physical infirmity but sometimes not.  His answer is, “No.”  Every person has something different to deal with.  Sometimes, also, we create our own hell.  And sometimes it is not our fault.  It is our unique situation.  It could be fractured relationships.  Maybe, a mom or dad or sibling or friend or mate.  We can not even compare ourselves to someone else.  That really does not help.  Everyone has problems.  That is the way it is.  Every person has a different cross to bear.  It is really out of our hands.  All you can do is pray.  And change what is in your power to change.  And leave the rest up to Him.  Everything is by grace.

Tags: Bible, change what is in your power, create our own hell, cross to bear, do not compare yourself, everyone has problems, everything-is-by-grace, fervent prayers, God, infirmities, leave the rest up to Him, New Testament, not our fault, physical infirmity, pray, relationships, St. Paul, your "thorn in the flesh"
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Sometimes the answer (from God) Is No.  No matter how badly we want the answer to be yes.  We don’t understand why we suffer.  Often there is just silence.  And other times it is a definite No.  Otherwise He would be just this person who we just ask to do this or that.  His purposes are beyond our understanding.  He does choose to heal.  But not in every instance.  Even Paul prayed that God take away his ‘thorn in his flesh’.  And He didn’t.  If you ask the question why, there is often no answer.  And if you keep asking that question, it will only torment you.  Sometimes the answer from God is no, no matter how fervently you pray.

Tags: "thorn in the flesh", answer to prayer, beyond our understanding, Bible, fervent prayer, God, healing, New Testament, pray, prayers, question why, silence, St. Paul, why we suffer
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There is nothing I can do but pray.  My daughter is in a bad way, has been for awhile.  I feel helpless.  I know what she can use but I have no idea how she is going to get it.  I want to help, but I can’t easily.  I can just be there when and if she comes to me.  All I can do is pray.  I know in my own life things did not turn around until I hit bottom.  She is close and I can’t help her.  The only thing I can do is get on my knees.  That is the only thing I can do:  get on my knees.

Tags: daughter, feel helpless, get on my knees, God, help, hit bottom, mental illness, nothing I can do but pray, pray, prayer
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I don’t have to stockpile:  God will always provide for our needs.  It says in the Bible He will only provide food and shelter.  I don’t need a backup for every item I use in the house.  I was making a list and there was no need to buy everything on that list.  I crossed off some items I will not run out of immediately.  I am reminded of a parable Jesus related:  a farmer had an exceptional crop and built even greater storage bins and Jesus said something to the effect that you will not be around to enjoy the fruits of your crops.  He wants you today.  Your time has run out.  You have to have faith God will provide for your needs and sometimes He will do it a day at a time.  When God provided food for the people who Moses led out of Egypt, the manna could only be used that day.  You had to have faith He would provide more food the next day.  I do not have to stockpile my goods.  ‘Give us our daily bread’ the psalm says.  A day at a time.  That is all we can pray for that God provide for our needs a day at a time.

Tags: "give us our daily bread", a day at a time, backup, Bible, crop, don't have to stockpile, Egypt, farmer, food, food and shelter, God, God will always provide, have faith, Jesus, making a list, manna, Moses, our needs, parable, pray, Psalm, the Exodus, time, today
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‘Give us each day our daily bread.’ (from the Lord’s Prayer) (in the New Testament).  We are to pray that each day Jesus will give us what we need.  We have to take one day at a time.  And do not look too far ahead.

Yes, God will provide for our needs.  One day at a time.  We have to deal with each day as it comes.  That is all we can pray for–each day that the Lord gives us.  Each day is a gift.  Food and shelter; that is all He promises us.  And He does that a day at a time.  That is how we have to pray–each day at a time.  ‘Give us each day our daily bread.’

Tags: "Give us each day our daily bread", Bible, food and shelter, God, God will provide, Jesus, Lord's Prayer, New Testament, one day at a time, pray, prayer, promise
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It is easy to criticize the other.  I am as guilty as the other.  Sometimes all one sees is the flaws of another, the ways the other has failed you.  And when you can’t see beyond that point, that is all you see–the imperfections of that person.

This is a really easy thing to do, just to see where someone has failed you.  And both partners do it.  Our vision becomes myopic.  Faults are all you see.

The good points of your partner (or whoever) become buried in fault finding and criticism.  It is a wicked cycle.  And one can’t stop pointing out the others mistakes.

I just don’t know how to reverse that process and see, again, the best in someone else.  Sometimes all you can see is blackness and you want to come out of that tunnel and start rediscovering why you were attracted to that person in the first place.  You can only change by small degrees–small steps.  This is a very difficult thing to do, especially in the face of negativity.  All I can do is pray and ask for His help above.

Tags: change, criticism, easy to criticize, fault finding, faults, flaws, God, good points, His help, imperfections, myopic vision, negativity, partner, pointing out mistakes, pray, see the best in someone, small steps
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All I pray for is for the gift of gratitude. I want to be satisfied with what I have and with the abundance of the Lord. It is so easy to want more and more. There really is no end to that desire. I want to be satisfied with what I’ve got. If He wants to give me more, fine. I want to thank God for everything I have and have the gift of gratitude. That is no small thing.

Tags: abundance, abundance of the Lord, be satisfied, gift, gift of gratitude, God, gratitude, Lord, pray, thank God for everything, want more and more
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I was depressed today: I went to a nephrologist yesterday. My kidney function is worst than I thought–28 per cent function. There are some things in my control: I can restrict my salt intake, lower my cholesterol and keep an eye on my blood pressure. Anyway, I walked out of that office depressed and stayed there the next morning.

I have to make a conscious decision. Either God is in control of my life (or He isn’t). If He is, I have to do my part, then I can relax in his Arms. I have to remind myself God is always in control.

He will take care of me. My time is His time. It is not really up to me when He will take me to Heaven. I have to pray He will take care of me, He is always in control. No matter what happens. My time here is always short. Our lives are but a vapor. Maybe, if I can keep those ideas in mind and pray constantly, my depression will eventually lift. After all I belong to Him.

Tags: blood pressure, cholesterol, depressed, depression will lift, God is in control, God will take care of me, Heaven, I belong to God, kidney function, life is a vapor, my time is His time, nephrologist, pray, prayer, relax in God's arms, salt
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