 Spiritual: July 27, 2005 Issue [#519] |
  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: Puditat  
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Spiritual: relating to the spirit or soul and not to physical matter; intangible. Collins Dictionary and Thesaurus
This newsletter explores ideas of the spiritual nature that exists in each and every one of us in an open and non-judgemental manner.
Each editor brings to the newsletter their own backgrounds, experiences, beliefs and opinions. Whether you disagree, agree, doubt or applaud the views expressed, let us all show respect to each other. Together we can learn something about the many varied aspects of the spiritual self and enjoy our differences in true meaning of the Spirit of Community.
Enjoy! 
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Keeping Faith in the Face of Tragedy
Part One
In previous feedback to one of my newsletter issues, megsie2584 posed this question:
How do you learn to trust God again
after a tragedy has shaken your faith?
I will probably spend a couple of months on this topic, because it is a very important question. So often our foundations, the very things we rely on, are shaken when something catastrophic happens. It need not be personal either. It may be something distant, though no less horrific, such as the Tsunami in Asia, or the recent bombings in London, England.
It would be preferable not to lose trust in God when disaster strikes, but I know that in reality it happens every day, everywhere. It is at this point that I want to start. I want to begin with some truths about this world of ours, the people that inhabit it, and our Creator.
There are forces in this world that would like nothing better than to see you and I crumble to our collective -- though far from united -- knees.
1. We live in a fallen world.
Right from almost the very beginning, we have lived in an imperfect world. The world God created was perfect, it existed in perfect balance and everything was good. But Satan had already chosen to go against God and he used what was good to deceive Adam and Eve.
After the banishment of man from a paradise on earth, the flood of Noah's time caused great upheaval. The physical changes that occurred made the way for natural disasters that were not possible before. The earth once had an inner layer of water, and there was no rain, only dew. So when the floods came, the water under the earth -- a cushioning agent, if you like -- was released. Without this buffer, movements under the earth's surface are transmitted in full force. Hence earthquakes and tsunamis.
2. Every person has a sinful nature.
At the fateful moment when the first people ate from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the way was opened for sin. Thus we have people who do terrible things such as bomb cities, persecute minority groups, deal in drugs, drink and then get behind the wheel of a car.
3. God loves you!
God is love.
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:16b
God loves you so much that he allowed His Son, Jesus, to die so that you may live (see John 3:16}. I can not put any more emphasis on what is such an amazing and critical factor!
God does not want to see horrible things happen to you. Many people struggle with "Why did God do this to me?" or "Why did God let this happen?" God does not 'do' things that hurt us. But He does allow things to happen.
Why? There are a million reasons. It could be that a person needs to be humbled; they may need to be brought to a place where they can stop being so busy and listen. Quite often I think it is because when we grow through these things, we become a greater force in reaching those hurting people who are walking, or have walked, through the same hardships. How easy is it to identify with a widow if you have not intimately experienced it?
Will you listen the advice of a person on a subject they have never been through? No? Well, then our own success in painful battles can become the shining light of hope for those still locked in the fight.
4. God never leaves us.
No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses,
so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Joshua 1:5
God will stay with you no matter what. You may not feel His presence, you may think He has abandoned you, but He has not. It is simply our inability to hear Him because our spirit and our mind is in turmoil.
Are you worried that He might forsake you because you have sinned 'yet again'? Consider Moses -- he was not perfect. He got angry, he ran away from God, he refused to do the Father's will, but he was loved, and used mightily by God regardless. Also Jonah, he tried everything he could to go in the opposite direction to what God wanted, and he was very effective when he finally got to do God's bidding. Take note of history's lessons, for in them you will find great hope.
5. The Refining Process.
A lot of what we walk through are tests, trials. Like a baby learning to walk, an adult has much to learn also, and must often go through many failures before being able to progress on. So God allows us to go through certain trials in order to make us stronger, to test our mettle, and to measure our commitment to following and trusting Him. We usually must repeat these lessons time and again until we get the message. Then we are ready for the next level.
Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: "See I will refine and test them,
for what else can I do because of the sin of my people?"
Jeremiah 9:7
An example from personal experience is from when I was a little girl. I used to have nightmares every night, either about the dark, spiders or fire. I learned that if I prayed, I would not have any that night. If I didn't pray, I would. And then I realised, instead of praying "please don't let me have nightmares tonight", I should in fact pray "please don't let me have any more nightmares, ever". Once I grasped this, and prayed it, the situation was resolved. But not without first going through many more nights of distress because I failed to do what I knew worked. A simple lesson, learned at a very young age.
6. In God we have the victory.
When Jesus died on the cross, victory was obtained over sin and death. If we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, then you are assured a place in His kingdom. What need is there to fear death? I would rather die and take my place beside my King than anything else. This is the victory. We need not be afraid, for this earthly life is temporary and the afflictions we feel, short-lived, when you consider it against the vastness of our inheritance in eternity.
Over the next issue or two, I will look at recovering from a faith-shaking experience, and thus hopefully answer the opening question. 
Peace,
Till next time;
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You've covered the imperfections of carnal love very well. Because we are not perfect neither can our love be. Yes, we need the love of God flowing through us and it will not be easy with some people, however, we can always go to God to ask for the His love to fill our hearts and to help us share that love with all others. Thank God for that.
robi4711
 Yes! I second that. 
Oh, Puditat... I am so sorry to see that your series on the fruits of the spirit has come to an end! Every single edition (or fruit) pointed a finger at my own shortcomings, and always made me want to be a better, more "fruitful" human being.
Having said that, I can't wait to see what's up your sleeve for the future! Keep them coming sweetie!!!
windac
*trembles* O, dear! What am I going to write now? I hope that God's inspiration will inspire me to items worthy of reading. Hugs!
Thanks for the great NL, Puditat! Indeed, it is difficult to love in that all-encompassing way that Jesus would have us do. Thank God we have grace and second chances!
Brians Next Novel Almost Done!
Amen!
Great read, Puditat! My church still reads the King James version, so the scripture reads "charity", but we define charity as "the pure love of Christ". You did a great job of illuminating that pure love! Keep up the great work!
Scottiegazelle
Sadly, I often neglect other translations, simply due to time rather than a lack of desire or access. I appreciate your comments. It certainly puts a new perspective on "charity" when you think of it that way.
Thank you again for another wonderful newsletter. Remembering to love as God does is indeed difficult at times. When I was a child my dad had the quote from the Bible regarding me and my house serving the Lord. I read it many times a day.
My kids have grown up with Lamentation's "Great is the Faithfulness" and the unattributed "People need loving the most when they deserve it the least" being their bathroom reading. I can only hope it helped them to make choices too.
I look forward to the next subject to touch your heart!
PastVoices
I am most sure that it would have had a huge influence, whether or not they recognise it or not.
Thank you for the wonderful article on LOVE. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and it reminded me of a talk I once was asked to give to powerful business women. At first, I felt inadequate to talk about success. Then I thought of the greatest success of my life: The ability to love when my life's circumstances would have dictated otherwise. The talk was riveting, most cried. How blessed I felt for testifying on the power of prayer. I told them I had prayed morning and night for three years to have the pure love of God fill my heart. Just writing about it now moves my soul. Again, thank you! With much love and tenderness, Isabel.
Izzie, cc_s princess
Wow! That is dedication to a pure cause. I would pray that we all have such a hunger for the love of God! 
This newsletter is the best! Without God's love where would we all be?
tucket
Where indeed? I simply would not want to experience life first hand without His love.
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