Why do we fall?  Why do we have pains, why does bad things happen to us?  Why does God give us 'all kinds of trials and tribulations'?  So we can learn to let Him pick ourselves back up.

I have really bad headaches.  Or, to put it a better way, I have had one headache for the last like ten years of my life that gets better and worse everyday, but never goes away.  Sometimes the pain is unbearable.   Sometimes I black out and wake up with something akin to an alcoholic hangover.  But why?  Things like this happen to build us up.  To either help us with future troubles or to help others with theirs.  My headaches have given me a higher pain tolerance, which has in turn given me strangth to deal with all sorts of physical and mental pains.  I have also been able to relate to others who have been going through hard times and I have been able to comfort them.

Always look for the silver lineing.  It might not be entirely visible, and it might be slightly tarnished, but it is always there.

~Josh~

There was a man who was saved by Christ,

And his soul was bought by a terrible price.

But the Dark One was keen to corrupt his pure soul,

And upon this man he planned to take a great toll.

And Satan threw darts, at the man and his heart,

And sent to him trouble, with all his Art.

But God made the trouble, into sorrow and pain,

And Satan was foiled, noting did he gain.

But the man was confused,

He was lost and alone it was true.

And God laid his hand on him and said:

“I have saved you from a worse fate in Hell.

And with the trouble coming you would have surely fell.

Pain and Sorrow you can handle; these you can face.

And of the greater pain that was coming there is now no trace.

For I have brought this upon myself as you shield.

And you will come with me soon to the Green Fields.

In Heaven you will soon arrive,

And for eternity you will evermore thrive.”

Jeff was a good businessman.  He also was in the habit of using methods that were rather back-handed and sometimes downright illegal.  One day, Sunday to be exact, Jeff heard the pastor at his church tell the congregation to “repent, so that God way heap blessings on you!” 

So when Jeff got home, he prayed:

“Dear God,

Give me glory in both your eyes and in the eyes of men.

Give me wealth and success, and help me to strengthen my relationship with my wife.

And help me give up my lying and cheating ways.”

Then, remembering he had an important business meeting the next day, he added:

“But not yet.”

God responded:

“Yes Jeff, I will give you glory in the eyes of men.

I will give you wealth and success.

I will make your marriage the greatest marriage you could wish for.

I will give you all this, and much, much more…

But not yet.”

The Battle of Life

(By Joshua )

A lone soldier sits on a battle field that reaches the ends of time.  All around the battle wages, and the soldier kneels, wounded.  As tears fill his eyes, and life ebbs from his body, emotions tear at his heart and soul.  His heart is pierced by arrows of sorrow, lances of pain, and despair hacks at the barriers of his mind.  What is he fighting for?  If it’s not the destination but the journey that matters, not the victory but the battle, then this is not worth it.  What is he fighting for?  Why should he jump back into the fray?  If all that comes of this mission is pain and suffering, why does he bother?  If it all ends in death, why not either surrender now or just give into the cuts and gashes and die? 

The soldier looks down at his shield, laying scratched and dented on the blood soaked dirt.  The emblem of his liege Lord is emblazoned on the center.  A cross, red as freshly spilled blood.  The silvery grey of the shield held dents, long scars where axes, swords and spears had connected.  But the cross was unharmed.  It seemed to glow with it’s own light.  Looking down at his breastplate, the same emblem was over his heart.  The armor around it was hacked and scratched, but the cross, and is heart, remained untouched.

The soldier pulled off his helm and shook out his sweaty black mane of hair.  He looked at the helmet, the cross emblem sat in the center, protecting his mind.  Realization dawned on him, he had a purpose!  He was a protector, an example!  He looked up and saw the Enemy attacking a group of un-armed people.  Placing the helm over his head, he picked up his shield, hefted his sword, and raced with new strength into battle! 

As he drove off the Enemy, the people watched him, some with anger, some with wonder.  Some walked up to him and asked “Why did you save me? I was going to die anyway!”  Others came to him and said, “Thank you!  You have let us see the light and given us another chance!  Now tell us, who is the Lord you serve, so that we may serve him to!”  As they said this, their clothing shimmered and was replaced by armor, theirs head, heart and shield protected by the Cross.  The soldier smiled, turned, and headed back into the battle.  As he fought on and saved more and more from the fiery swords of the Enemy, his simple helm and arms became more elaborate, his shield disintegrated and melded with his sword, making it a greater and more formidable weapon.  New power and skill was bestowed upon him, and he heard in his mind a voice saying:

“Blessed are those who have a part in the first resurrection.

The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.”

And the battle of Life with the Enemy waged on…

Good day, I am Josh.  This is my first time with a blog, and I know how they are usually used.  I do not intend to use my blog in that exact way.

I am a Christian, and my Blog is to be used to reach out with the Word.  I will post thoughts about my life, problems I am having or other's I know are having, and encouragement to those who are suffering the same.  I love to write, so you will probably see alot of poems, short stories, etc.

I hope you enjoy my blog and the messages I hope I can convey to all you who read.