HIDDEN IN PLAIN VIEW

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Difficulties                          Tribulations                    Storms

Problems                 Trials                    Tornados                      Pain



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Heartache                        Fear               Anguish

Despair                     End of your rope               Horror



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Disaster                              Floods               Hurricanes

Famine                 Devastation                Disappointment                                     



Why?                                         Why?

                           Why?                                  

                                                                  WHY?


                                DEATH

    THE LOSS OF THE SACRED

                DEATH OF YOUR PRECIOUS ONE

THE WORST YOU COULD IMAGINE

                        AN INCOMPREHENSIBLE LOSS

            UNBEARABLE, SEARING PAIN




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                                                              Why?

 Why?                           WHY??                                 Why?


                                     WHY!?!??




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Though we will never know as we are known until we are with The Lord in glory


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Though often the answer is simply the fact that we live in a fallen world


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Though at times the answer is as simple as we brought the problem on ourselves, in part, because of mistaken decisions made while going through a new experience or difficut times . . . .



God's Word provides specific answers to the questions: 


Why are trials and tribulations a part of our life here on earth?


Why must we go through severe pain, suffering, agony and  hardship?










Here are some examples of reasons for suffering, tribulation and trials, Hidden In Plain View:


.  .  .  knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character; and character, hope   .    . 
                Romans 5: 3-4

.  .  .  that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 
                Romans 6: 4

.  .  .  that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  
                Romans 6: 6

.  .  .  for he who has died has been freed from sin.  
                Romans 6: 7

.  .  .  that we may also be glorified together.   
                Romans 8: 17

.  .  .  that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.            
                II Corinthians 1: 4


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.  .  .  that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us;              
                II Corinthians 1: 9-10


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.  .  .  that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body .  .  .  .  .  .  in our mortal flesh.       
                II  Corinthians 4: 10-11

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.   .  .  for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.             
                II Corinthians 4: 17

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.  .  .  lest I be exalted above measure.     
                II Corinthians 12: 7


.  .  .  that the power of Christ may rest upon me.    .  .  .  .  For when I am weak, then I am strong.    
                II Corinthians 12: 9-10

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.  .  .  for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord . . . . that I may gain Christ and be found in Him . . . .  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.       
                Philippians 3: 8-11


.  .  .  that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 
                II Timothy 2: 10


.  .  .  for it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren       
                Hebrews 2: 10-11


.  .  .  that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.     
                Hebrews 2: 17-18

.  .  .  though he was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.  And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him  .   .   . 
                Hebrews 5: 8-9


 

It is in the gymnasium of affliction that men are modelled and fashioned in the beauty of holiness, and all their spiritual powers are trained for harmonious action. It was meet also that they should suffer, in order to complete their service. Like their Lord, they had to be made perfect through suffering; and if they had not suffered they had not finished the work which he had given them to do. They needed tribulation, moreover, that they might be made like their Savior; for a saint untroubled, how can he be like the man who wore the thorn crown? Never smitten, never slandered, never despised, never mocked at, never crucified, then how could we be like our Head? Shall the servant be above his Master, or the disciple above his Lord? From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "What And Whence Are These?," delivered February 25, 1872. Image by Bas Lammers under Creative Commons License.

.  .  .  for whom the Lord loves he chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.  
                Hebrews 12: 6


.  .  .  that we may be partakers of His holiness.  
                Hebrews 12: 10

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.  .  .  for He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  
                Hebrews 13: 5


.  .  .  that the testing of your faith produces patience.  
                James 1: 3


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.  .  .  for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.    
                James  1: 12


.  .  .  that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.    
                James 5: 11



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.  .  .  that the genuineness of your faith   .  .  . may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ   .     .   
                I Peter 1: 7

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.  .  .  for to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps   
                I Peter 2: 21


.  .  .  that we, having died to sin, might live for righteousness                   
                I Peter 2: 24


.  .  .  that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.    .    .    .    that He might bring us to God  .     .       .     
                I Peter 3: 16-18

.  .  .  for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God           
                I Peter 4: 1-2

.  .  .  that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 
                I Peter 4: 13

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 .  .  .  for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.     
                I Peter 4: 14


.  .  .  that you may be tested   .  .  .  .   Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.   
                Revelation 2: 10


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These 30 passages provide specific reasons for trials, tribulations, sorrows and suffering.  God's Word tells us: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."   Romans 8:28



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We can take great comfort in the truth that The Father is faithful to answer the prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ Who, while on the earth, prayed:

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.  John 17: 20-23 

The experience of trials and sorrows are integral to the work The Father accomplishes in our lives. 


"Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate."     
                Hebrews 13: 12 

"Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach (as we seek the lost, praying in the place of Christ: 'be reconciled to God').  For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.  Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.  But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." 
                Hebrews 13: 13-16





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Sing Praise To The Lord
Mark Chandler

WALK BY FAITH

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Before God flung the stars into space, He had today in mind.  He had this very week in mind.  In fact, He had you in mind.  And He knew exactly what He was going to do.  God is never at a loss to know what He is going to do in our situations.  He knows perfectly well what is best for us.


"Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear"      Isaiah 65:24


God will never lead us astray; He knows exactly where He is taking us.  Our job is to obey, to live in close fellowship with God as we walk our earthly path.  In the process of this simple arrangement, God engages us in His eternal plan.


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct your paths."                                                          Proverbs 3: 5 & 6



"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about
your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than
food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the
birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather
into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are
you not of more value than they?  Which of you by
worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the
lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil
or spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in
all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now
if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today
is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not
much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?"
or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?"
For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your
heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore
do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry
about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own
trouble."                                                                                                 Matthew 6: 25-34


"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests
be made known to God; and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus."                                                        Philippians 4: 6 & 7



" .  .  .  in everything give thanks  .   .    ."                                            I Thessalonians 5:16



"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen."                                                               Hebrews 11: 1



" .  .   .  Be content with such things as you have. 
For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor
forsake you."  So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is
my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?"                      Hebrews 13: 5 & 6



"Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For
we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain
we can carry nothing out.  And having food and
clothing, with these we shall be content."                                        I Timothy 6: 6-8





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Sing Praise To The Lord
Mark Chandler

HE IS RISEN! HE LIVES!!!

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Sing Praise To The Lord
Mark Chandler

A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD

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Sing Praise To The Lord
Mark Chandler

I KNOW WHO HOLDS TOMORROW

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Sing Praise To The Lord
Mark Chandler

YOUR GREAT NAME

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PRAISE THE NAME OF JESUS

PRAISE THE NAME OF JESUS

HE'S  MY  ROCK! 

(The Lord is my Strength and my Shield - Psalm 28:7)

HE'S MY FORTRESS    

(The Lord Lives!  Praise be to my Rock!  Exalted be God my Savior! - Psalm 18:46)

HE'S MY DELIVERER

IN HIM WILL I TRUST

PRAISE THE NAME OF JESUS

(God is our Refuge and Strength, a Very Present Help in Trouble - Psalm 46:1)





Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church. 
He is the Beginning, the First Born from the dead
that in everything He might be preeminent.                  Colossians 1:18
                               


Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the Heavenly places in Christ   .    .             Ephesians 1:3



The mystery which has been hidden from ages
and from generations, but now has been
revealed to His saints.  To them God willed
to make known what are the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory.                                   Colossians 1: 26 & 27                                                 



If then you were raised with Christ, seek those
things which are above, where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your
mind on things above, not on things on the
earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden
with Christ in God.  When Christ Who is our
life appears, then you also will appear with
Him in glory.                                                                    Colossians 3: 1-4





Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness,
humility, meekness, longsuffering;
bearing with one another, and forgiving
one another, if anyone has a complaint
against another; even as Christ forgave
you, so you also must do.  But above
all these things put on love, which is the
bond of perfection.  And let the peace of
God rule in your hearts, to which also you
were called in one body; and be thankful. 
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do
in word or deed, do all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through Him.                                                       Colossians 3: 12-17






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Sing Praise To The Lord

Mark Chandler

SUFFERING AND TRIALS OF LIFE: ARE THEY A BLESSING OR A CURSE?

GOD'S BLESSING AND MERCY



A person who is 35 years old probably prays differently at age 35 than when they were 14 years old.

A person who is 72 years old probably prays differently at age 72 than when they were 26 years old.

This could be partly due to the amount of life experience a person has had, and perspective gained.


BY FAITH, I BELIEVE:

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.  For we do not know WHAT we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

BY FAITH, I BELIEVE:

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

BY FAITH, I BELIEVE:

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

BY FAITH, I BELIEVE:

"Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect.  Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?  For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.  Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."




Part of understanding Blessings from our Heavenly Father is well communicated, I believe, in this wonderful song by Laura Story, called 'Blessings'. 


I pray this song ministers to your heart.




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Sing Praise To The Lord
Mark Chandler