Nov 17

  • tmbcello
    tmbcello added a text contribution Control
    As I read these verse I think about control. What I try to control, what I can control, and what is out of my control. Whether to worry or not - in my control. To pray asking for needs and thank God for who he is- in my control. Experiencing peace - not in my control, but try to. Understand things outside of my knowledge base - not in my control, but try to. A peace that guards my heart and mind... Read more »

Nov 4

  • tmbcello
    tmbcello added a text contribution Tempted versus Tested
    So this passage is saying that God will not tempt us. There are other passages saying that God will test us. How can those not be the same thing? Is allowing us to be tempted, not tempting in the first place? Does this make God an accessory to Temptation? I guess to get this answer I have to go back to the beginning. It was not God's choice to allow sin into this word... it was ours. God being an... Read more »

Nov 2

  • tmbcello
    tmbcello added a text contribution Oh to be Wise
    What is to gain by being wise? 1. depth - wisdom shows that you understand circumstances, people, consequences, and applicable knowledge at a deeper level. 2. joy - to bring back a theme from the earlier verses, when you have perspective, which comes with wisdom, you can see beyond the circumstance and to hope and joy... even in trials and suffering 3. relationships - people search out and seek... Read more »

Oct 29

  • tmbcello
    tmbcello added a text contribution But how?
    Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds... That seems impossible. The very nature of trial means hard, difficult, and it is not somewhere you want to be. I know joy is not happiness, but joy is still hard to have in tough times. the testing of your faith produces steadfastness... To be steadfast you must have been steady before going into the trial. So it is not that... Read more »