tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post4506412524602414675..comments2023-09-07T04:43:10.746-04:00Comments on Building His Body: The Test of SufferingAnne Lang Bundyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-56005909938102099502010-02-16T21:48:29.476-05:002010-02-16T21:48:29.476-05:00Gwen, the Greek word translated "patience&quo...Gwen, the Greek word translated "patience" actually has a more literal meaning of "longsuffering." I pray with these words for you my sister that the Lord's Spirit will fill you with His love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, godly goodness, faithfulness, meek gentleness, and temperate self-control with which to face suffering. I pray that He give you blessed assurance of hope in the good He is working.<br /><br />I love you dear. ♥Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-81139813320877718452010-02-16T21:45:47.617-05:002010-02-16T21:45:47.617-05:00Wendy, never a need to "shut up," but on...Wendy, never a need to "shut up," but only to be still in His peace. And you're welcome. It was good for me to read those posts again myself.Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-50893763031843394372010-02-16T21:44:45.060-05:002010-02-16T21:44:45.060-05:00Bud, I pray that the Lord will extend extra grace ...Bud, I pray that the Lord will extend extra grace to you as you wrestle with all this. On His behalf, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for not shrinking back from that wrestling.Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-41592348565113474892010-02-16T07:02:37.006-05:002010-02-16T07:02:37.006-05:00Patience. Oh Lord, give me patience in the sufferi...Patience. Oh Lord, give me patience in the suffering.<br /><br />God bless you, Anne.Gwen Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00062502118990955905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-30935351835509576812010-02-15T20:07:08.813-05:002010-02-15T20:07:08.813-05:00Anne, you said up above:
If the suffering of indi...Anne, you said up above:<br /><br />If the suffering of indignity, annoyance, or discomfort strikes on any ordinary day of our lives, will we respond with love and patience? Will we strike back with irritation and complaining?<br /><br />Such is the test of suffering.<br /><br />....this really got under my skin like a thorn. the word......meekness keeps coming to mind. i will just keep chewing and step back.unnamed ladhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00147841736324054200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-9871282775815701852010-02-15T18:43:39.259-05:002010-02-15T18:43:39.259-05:00Had time to peek. Thoughts congealing. The verse a...Had time to peek. Thoughts congealing. The verse about the Holy Spirit groaning on my behalf really spoke to me. So now I can shut up. :D<br /><br />Thanks, Anne...for your mentoring.Wendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-39428042333001545232010-02-15T15:09:50.889-05:002010-02-15T15:09:50.889-05:00will also add that there is already some breaking ...will also add that there is already some breaking taking place too within. can't very well confess to sin without repenting of course. i will go read Wendy's latter two post suggestions of yours or any others.<br /><br />thanks Anneunnamed ladhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00147841736324054200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-23277358644890081632010-02-15T14:49:45.354-05:002010-02-15T14:49:45.354-05:00this scripture has bothered me for a long time and...this scripture has bothered me for a long time and i think it's why i had the concept of God as carrying a big stick or me being like the mouse in the maze. been chewing and now i have more to chew on with your follow-up comment. thoughts about Job had already welled up within many hours ago. have to confess that a little attitude of resentment wants to surface from within.unnamed ladhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00147841736324054200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-21580155985112431302010-02-15T13:31:46.317-05:002010-02-15T13:31:46.317-05:00Wendy, I'd invite you to re-read a post from a...Wendy, I'd invite you to re-read a post from a few months back:<br /><br /><a href="http://building-his-body.blogspot.com/2009/11/sound-of-my-groaning.html" rel="nofollow">Sound of My Groaning</a><br /><br />As I was digging around to find it, I located two others that might also be relevant, if you have time to peek:<br /><br /><a href="http://building-his-body.blogspot.com/2009/09/not-fair.html" rel="nofollow">Not Fair</a><br /><br /><a href="http://building-his-body.blogspot.com/2009/10/complaining-and-groaning.html" rel="nofollow">Complaining and Groaning</a>Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-85421269211608510962010-02-15T13:01:36.798-05:002010-02-15T13:01:36.798-05:00Still thinking, but that answered a few things for...Still thinking, but that answered a few things for me. I'll be praying on this one.<br /><br />I crave a humble heart but I'm also blessed/cursed with a questioning one.<br /><br />Thanks, Anne.<br />~ WendyWendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-3078233208297702282010-02-15T12:28:49.133-05:002010-02-15T12:28:49.133-05:00To Wendy and Bud ~
There's a difference betwe...To Wendy and Bud ~<br /><br />There's a difference between the "why" which calls God into account and the "why" which seeks His understanding so that we're better able to cooperate with Him. God isn't asking us for a perfect response, but He is asking for a humble heart.<br /><br />One of the clearest examples is in Luke, in the difference between Zechariah's and Mary's responses to Gabriel's news of a son. Zechariah's situation was acutally less impossible to overcome. A wife's age and previous barrenness was no obstacle to conception in the well known story of Abraham, and other barren women. When he asks Gabriel "how?" he is evidencing doubt in God and is rendered mute as a result. <br /><br />Mary's situation—no husband with whom to conceive—<i>was</i> impossible to overcome. A virgin cannot conceive a child without a man. Yet her humble question of "how?" seems to be asking "how do I cooperate with God?" Lack of faith does not seem to be an issue, as evidenced in the words, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38)<br /><br />For any one of us, in any situation or suffering, should our response to the Lord be any different?Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-66369313191336553882010-02-15T12:16:20.437-05:002010-02-15T12:16:20.437-05:00Denise ~ I think that's what keeps me going wh...Denise ~ I think that's what keeps me going when suffering overwhelms. Even if it doesn't <i>seem</i> to be benefitting me at the moment (and I deep down know it is), I know it will make me ever more compassionate toward others.<br /><br />Natasa ~ You've discovered it as well? Thanks for the affirmation.<br /><br />Patty ~ Your observation is accurate. It is good reminder that just because God uses suffering to continue to purge us of sin, it doesn't mean suffering is His judgment or condemnation. But it won't matter to those with hearts inclined to condemn. They will always find a reason. They need our prayers and patience.<br /><br />T ~ On some level, simply being separated from God's physical presence is suffering until death. I think suffering so pervades our time on earth that it's not a matter of ever being free of suffering, but only how mild or intense it is at any given moment.Anne Lang Bundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998809463390846323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-14979742810882633082010-02-15T12:12:55.435-05:002010-02-15T12:12:55.435-05:00another thought about this. we need suffering and...another thought about this. we need suffering and trials in this world. otherwise, we have no need of God or one another.unnamed ladhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00147841736324054200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-84455823462034654642010-02-15T12:02:32.182-05:002010-02-15T12:02:32.182-05:00more often...then not, i fail the Lord in my heart...more often...then not, i fail the Lord in my heart response. one thing came to mind when reading God asking Job where he was when He was laying the foundations of the earth. it seems as though each time God asked His servants in the old testament a question, it wasn't because He wanted an answer but instead it was to give them the revelation/reminder of Who He Is.<br /><br />but...i will admit that this passage bothers me. need to chew on it.unnamed ladhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00147841736324054200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-1437915374760726152010-02-15T08:45:13.053-05:002010-02-15T08:45:13.053-05:00Thinking on this one. I may be way off, but I beli...Thinking on this one. I may be way off, but I believe though at times we may be vile for calling God into account and flinging our questions up at Him, in His compassion He understands why we ask. <br /><br />I might need to be matured in this area, but I've also loved how David spoke so openly to God, asking, probing...<br /><br />Certainly we don't understand His ways, but He always understands ours.<br />~ WendyWendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-44548006362898631042010-02-15T08:33:33.785-05:002010-02-15T08:33:33.785-05:00I have to concur with Denise. Although I have to s...I have to concur with Denise. Although I have to say suffering until the death sounds like a horror unimaginable.Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-13164494979581362072010-02-15T07:37:52.205-05:002010-02-15T07:37:52.205-05:00I have found that suffering can bring a more humbl...I have found that suffering can bring a more humble and compassionate spirit to the sufferer but can also open up doors of judgment from those who look on. I suppose there is always that desire to figure out why something is happening. The answers may vary from person to person, or from place to place. I think of the blind man in scripture. The disciples asked Jesus who had sinned to cause him to be born blind ~ the one born blind or his parents. Jesus' answer was neither. It was so God's work might be made manifest in him (John 9:2-3). Surely suffering has its many reasons and purposes.Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15680733899712516437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-31327407173573580512010-02-15T02:42:53.114-05:002010-02-15T02:42:53.114-05:00The gap between what we think we are and what we r...The gap between what we think we are and what we really are is revealed in the test of suffering.<br />Truth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1920734279360907280.post-5670330895550548872010-02-15T01:05:10.470-05:002010-02-15T01:05:10.470-05:00In my suffering, I am made stronger, and wiser. Th...In my suffering, I am made stronger, and wiser. Then, I am able to share what I learned through my trials, with others going through similar trials.Denisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09275456448997619944noreply@blogger.com