et’s work through some logic together - - >1. Our purpose is to glorify God.
2. God is most glorified when I exalt Him above all else.

3. It is EASY to glorify God when things are going “great” (finance, relationships, job, etc)

4. It is DIFFICULT to glorify God when things are not.

5. God is most clearly seen in those who glorify Him in the “not so great” times.

6. The people that can glorify Him in the “not so great times” are not those of weak faith, but those of mature(ing) faith.

7. The people that will be allowed, by God, to under go such trials, for His GLORY and purpose, are then, the MATURE in faith.

8. God recieves glory through those mature in faith, who are left with nothing but God, and in turn NEED nothing but God.  They are the most prepared to GLORIFY Him in the way he is often glorified THE MOST!
MY POINT:  It’s crazy to think that the more you GROW in Christ, the LESS problems you’ll have.  When our PURPOSE is to glorify Christ, and we can glorify Him BETTER as we mature, when things are taken away - then why aren’t we EXPECTING suffering instead of prosperity?  To take it further, why aren’t we PRAISING God for the opportunities to FULLFILL our purpose BETTER - rather, GLORIFY Him in our sufferings.  

The is THE difference between the world and us.  We put him FIRST - and that can only been seen, often times, in LOSING things, not gaining them.

When you have nothing, you show the world you need nothing but Him.

When you praise no thing, you show the world you need not praise anything but Him.

AS YOU GROW, BE READY, and JOYOUS - (James 1:2)

I think sometimes the reason the Christian walk can be / seem so difficult for many, is because of our natural inclination to  accomplish things, compared to simply being within a discipline.

We make to-do lists, so that we can check them off.

We make money, so we can reach or accomplish financial goals.
We work in school, to accomplish the goal of a degree.

Our ideals revolve around “completion” - the idea that with enough effort and work, we can “accomplish” that goal.  It makes us feel good.  Like we’ve “done” something.  We can sit back and say, “you know what, that really paid off.”

Despite the fact we’re wired for such an inclination - the Christian walk (in some aspects) is the one “un-accomplishable.”

I speak in regards to imitating Christ.  We can strive for the perfect life of Christ, as we are to do - to live as He did, in all we say and do.  To love Him through our lives.  But our humanity holds us back thanks to it’s corruption, and our sinful nature.  We can never, of our own effort or attempt, meet that “goal” - or “accomplish” such a task.
In fact, the scriptures even speak of our chance for perfection…” If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 Jn. 1:8)

So how do we accomplish the un-accomplishable?  How do we find a moment’s rest…?  How do we sit back and smile, and utter words of joy in the completion of our task?

I wanted to take a look at this concept, of “goals” - that which can be accomplished - and see what scripture said about it.  The Apostle Paul actually does speaks of “goals” when speaking of the Christian walk.
2 Corinthians 5:9 reads:
“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. “
Phillipians 3:14 reads:
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

What is such a goal, and shouldn’t goals be accomplish-able?  I think Paul compares the Christian walk to the training and work and striving of an athelete for that very reason - because we are WIRED to desire accomplishment, WIRED to “win” or reach a “goal” - just as atheletes train to win first place, we too are to strive physcially and spiritually to reach that goal.  The goal is to what…?  PLEASE Christ, as 2nd Corinthians read above.   But how?

In Galations, Paul chastens them:
“Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

Apart from the spirit of God, we cannot accomplish our goal.  Just as the people Paul is speaking to above could not recieve the Spirit itself by following the law, they could not accomplish the goal by fullfilling or following the law.  Human effort fails in it’s attempts to reach the goal.  To please Christ, to strive towards the goal, one must submit to Him first, not try and win by human effort alone.

Does this mean every week we strive towards the goal, we’ll have a list we can check off or a certificate awarded to us?  No…our worldly standards for completion and accomplishment are not the same as God’s - and so we much seek the Spirit of God to grant us the peace that comes from the knowledge of God.  Only the Spirit can place upon our hearts the peace that we seek - no checklist or award shall meet it.

There is a desperate need for aid in the wake of Katrina, which demolished the Gulf Coast, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

The most crucial need at this time is means to provide food and medication to the people, in particular the elderly and infants.

I know many of us feel stranded in regards to how we can help, but there are a couple of crucial ways we can.

1.  Prayer - committ yourself, your youth group, church, to faithfully praying for the people and God’s purposes in this tradgedy.  May God bring many to himself through this.

2.  Contribute financially - My suggested location to donate is the Salvation Army.  These donations will go to feeding and providing for the thousdands in need.  Obviously many of us cannot pack up and go aid with our time, but we can with our finances.

Please consider a donation by clicking below!

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/USNSAHome.htm