[Faith-talk] Good Night Message for Tuesday, November 6 2012

[Debbie]

I also remember a saying I heard back in my college days-in the 70's-that 
instead of saying "if only" say "next time".  Learn from the past, but let 
it stay there!

Debbie Human
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul" <oilofgladness47 at gmail.com>
To: "Faith-talk,for the discussion of faith and religion" 
<faith-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2012 9:45 PM
Subject: [Faith-talk] Good Night Message for Tuesday, November 6 2012


> Hello and good day to you all wherever in this world you happen to reside. 
> I hope that your day went well or is going well, and I hope also that, 
> with the U.S. presidential and other people about to be elected, that at 
> least one of the candidates you voted for made it.  Let's not forget the 
> statewide or local questions on the ballot either.
>
> "If Only" by Ruth Andrews is the article for today.  I'm sure that we've 
> said those words at various times in our lives, but here's Ruth's take on 
> it, rendered as follows:
>
> Have you heard or thought or said any of the following: "If only I had 
> grown up in a better home or neighborhood," "If only I did not have a 
> handicap," "If only I had received more support and understanding?"
>
> Such comments are said with the assumption that your life now would be 
> better if you did not have a particular past. You did not choose your 
> past, but you do not have to be a slave to it, either. You can rise above 
> the past or let it defeat you.
>
> Let us see what King Josiah did in 2 Kings 20-23. His grandfather, 
> Manasseh, was a murderer. Josiah's father, Amon, disobeyed God with idol 
> worship and was assassinated by his officers.
>
> Josiah could have followed the evil example of his grandfather and father. 
> Instead he chose to emulate a godly ancestor, David.
>
> Josiah destroyed all the images and symbols of idol worship. He had the 
> temple cleaned out and restored. During the restoration, a lost scroll 
> containing God's Word was found and brought to Josiah. As he read, he saw 
> how far his people had strayed from God.
>
> During his reign Josiah tried to keep the people turned to God. Because 
> Josiah repented, God promised Josiah that the kingdom of Judah would not 
> be destroyed in his lifetime.
>
> Our world today likes to blame "someone else" for its ills. We hear or 
> read of a person being convicted of abusive behavior or causing a death by 
> driving drunk, but the guilty one casts blame on everyone except himself. 
> He acts as if he had no choice but to be destructive and hurt others.
>
> As adults we do not have to be controlled by a troubled past, 
> disadvantages, or physical handicaps. We have somewhere to turn. Our 
> perfect mentor and role model is God.
>
> Ask God to show you what He wants you to learn and to apply from your 
> past. Your experiences may enable you to encourage someone else who had a 
> difficult past.
>
> Galatians 4:6-7 says that God is our Father. Believers are sons of God and 
> heirs in Christ.
>
> If you did not have a good role model growing up, you can imitate God (cf. 
> Eph. 5:1). If you need comfort, cry out to God. He will answer your 
> prayer. Read and meditate on Psalm 57:2 and Psalm 121:1-2. As you read 
> through the Psalms, you will find passages that relate to almost any 
> experience that has touched your life.
>
> I trust that this article has ministered to you this day or evening.
>
> And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, 
> individually and collectively, throughout this night or day and especially 
> in these last days in which we live.  Your Christian friend and brother, 
> Paul
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