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Posted on 11/03/2004 6:16:42 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
Heh... And I am nothing if not always expecting something grander if he was gonna go to the trouble. Maybe I watch to many movies ;~D
Story: My friend Tiffney does tend to see all things in terms of divine intervention, for good or ill. And bless her heart, I just have to argue with her.
When we were on a trail ride once, she had been evangelizing at me over lunch, and I was being lackadaisical about the importance of me changing anything about me, and when we mounted back up to ride on, my horse went about 30 feet and tripped hard, hit the dirt, and fell on me. While I was still getting up, getting him up, and assessing how badly he was hurt, his knees were bleeding, she proclaims that God was trying to tell me something, and continued to argue that the whole way back.
I got so mad. I was legitimately concerned about my horse, and was in no mood to entertain the idea that the best communication method God had at his disposal was to trip my horse. ;~D
I am more likely to ascribe things to human actions, or the perversity of the world, than the Devil; not because I don't believe in him, but because I don't want to give him too much credit.
God, however, I see as responsible for so many little things... things like an empty road when you do the 180, or the sale you weren't expecting, or the bus being just late enough that you don't miss it. Because He is that powerful, and He actually cares about us!
But I don't think tripping a horse is on par with, say, the Road to Damascus.
Jeepers, now I am mad at her all over again ;~D
The devil made her do it. ;-)
Heck - I try my best to hold off judgement on the "bad stuff" for a year or two. I've already seen incidents that were misery when they happened, but looking back I say, "Ok, looks like You knew best there too."
Like when my mother didn't mail her portion of my FAFSA when she said she did, and I lost all my scholarships, and had to go to work - if that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have gotten my act together in time for grad school. Heck, I'd have probably brought my grades down to a miserable 3.0 and prevented myself from ever getting into grad school...
THAT, I might believe ;~D
Can I blame him for making me forget my pen drive this morning?
Which is VERY small in the scheme of things...but it means I just spent my lunch hour writing by hand. Of course, I could have just started a new file and e-mailed that to myself. So I just used it as an excuse.
I like writing by hand, so it was very relaxing! Just isn't as fast. But I have my favorite pen, filled with nice dark green ink - very nice for using to write about dragons. I do love fountain pens...
I've noticed that when we're anticipating something good happening, or when we're really into a blessing that's come our way, sometimes annoying or bad things happen all at once or over a short period of time, and negativity and frustration creep in. I believe these feelings are fed and nourished by the Devil to keep us out of thought of God's love. It makes us have difficulties with those we love and makes life a pain in general.
I think 2J and Steve are going to be under assault over the next few months because when Steve graduates, it's going to be a life changing event for them, and the culmination of many years work and delayed gratification. There will be adjustments to be made all around, and I'll be praying for them.
You could always just email it to yourself, you know.
I think your forgetting your pen drive is right up there with me forgetting my headphones - don't blame it on anyone but us, tempting as that might be...
Like I said, I can just write a new file.
But it was nice to turn away from the screen for a bit.
Is it four yet?
Heh...Steve came in after doing something with the garage door while I was fixing supper. Sat down at the table and slumped and said "It just seems like one thing after another."
"It could be worse!" I replied..."At least we're warm!"
Steve looked at me and said "SHHHHHHH!!! Don't say that too loud!" LOL
Anyway, it may be something Steve can fix...he just doesn't have time. The oven for example..we know what's wrong with it, besides it being expensive, he just doesn't have time to fix it! Same with the van...he might could figure out what's causing the short...when he gets time.
So it might be that the house and cars are just falling into expected disrepair because of lack of attention due to lack of time.
But I think it's the devil. :-)
Is it lunch yet?
Gah, Fridays are great, but Friday morning is the longest section of the week...
*Ahem*
Being the established expert on things miserable, I'd have to disagree.
Granted, there are times when stuff just happens. We live in a broken world and sometimes stuff around us is just broken.
But I also believe there are specific times of spiritual persecution and/or spiritual testing.
Look at all the stuff that's happened in the Stormhands' household in the past two years since Papa died. (and we can go back further than that as well).
As individual events, they are just "life happening." Collectively though they take on a different meaning. Why so many things going wrong? Why so much? Why just to "us?"
In 2Js case, if it was just the garage door, or just the van, or just the oven...get my point?
As a Christian I understand that this world is not "home." And I understand that things will never be perfect here. Jesus promised that we would always have trials.
What I have found, in spite of all my rantings and whinings and fits here on line is the God has never abandoned us in our need. Sometimes he doesn't show up when we want Him too. But he always shows up.
I don't understand why some folks have more crap piled on them than others, but I think Suzi has a point with 2J. She and Steve are doing their best to advance his career and to raise the boys the right way. So, I think that leaves them open for attack.
I simply believe that the more earnestly one tries to follow Christ, the more severely the enemy will try to derail you.
Do I think everything is an attack? No.
But there are times when it is clear that the enemy is moving. And for Steve and 2J this is likely one of those times.
But take heart 2J, we've read the back of the book and we know who wins! ;-)
< /sermon >
Shall we all stand and sing...if you came in buses, they'll wait.
Well, unless she's a Calvinist...
...oh wait. Sorry, wrong thread.
Calvinist or not, I have never liked the phrase "the Devil made me do it". Because it ain't so. The Devil can't force anyone to do anything. Tempt, sure. Those in his power, maybe a little more... but making someone, especially some Christian, actually do something that person doesn't want to do? I don't think so...
the devil made me spam...
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