Butterfly
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours, as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would expand and be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into the wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would never be able to fly.
1Pe 4:12-16 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Suffering and affliction is a part of life that all must come through sooner of later. These things make us all stronger and better equiped for the future. They teach us that we need God and that we need prayer. Through them we learn to rely on someone beside our self. WE learn to rely on God!!
1Pe 5:9 -10 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 ¶ But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Through these things God makes us perfect. He is able strengthen and settle us in the faith. It happens to all people . All wether good or bad suffer through affliction it is a fact of life. We must die before we can go be with Christ.
Ecc. 12:1-14
When troubles come we either learn to pray or we rebell against God and fall away. I find it strange that often people who say they believe in God, will quit coming to Church when they are haveing troubles of life. Just when you think that they would draw neigh to God.
Php 4:5 -7 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Jas 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.
As we pray through our struggles God gives us the things that we need, in that one day we will be able to fly.
I asked for strgength .... God gave me DIFFICULTIES to make me strong
I asked for Wisdom ............ God gave me PROBLEMS to solve
I asked for prosperity ........ God gave me BRAIN AND BRAWN to work.
I asked for courage ............. God gave me DANGER to overcome
I asked for Love .................. God gave me TROUBLED PEOPLE to help
I asked for Favors ............. God gave me OPPORTUNITIES
I recieved nothing I wanted ......... God gave me everything I needed!!
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Rom. 8:28
Wether it be prison, sickness, or death no matter what it can all be for the good.
Paul and Silas in prison.... the jailor and household saved...
King Hezikiah sick turned his face to the wall and prayed. Teaches us the power of prayer.
Abel's death .... Heb 11:4 ¶ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
James 1:2-12
Through our suffering and tribulations are we manifest in Christ Jesus. Let us endure with patience... let us wait on the Lord.... let him do it his way.
Ro 8:17 -18¶ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Cor. 1:3-7
11/28/99
Butterfly
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours, as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would expand and be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into the wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would never be able to fly.
1Pe 4:12-16 ¶ Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Suffering and affliction is a part of life that all must come through sooner of later. These things make us all stronger and better equiped for the future. They teach us that we need God and that we need prayer. Through them we learn to rely on someone beside our self. WE learn to rely on God!!
1Pe 5:9 -10 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 ¶ But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Through these things God makes us perfect. He is able strengthen and settle us in the faith. It happens to all people . All wether good or bad suffer through affliction it is a fact of life. We must die before we can go be with Christ.
Ecc. 12:1-14
When troubles come we either learn to pray or we rebell against God and fall away. I find it strange that often people who say they believe in God, will quit coming to Church when they are haveing troubles of life. Just when you think that they would draw neigh to God.
Php 4:5 -7 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Jas 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.
As we pray through our struggles God gives us the things that we need, in that one day we will be able to fly.
I asked for strgength .... God gave me DIFFICULTIES to make me strong
I asked for Wisdom ............ God gave me PROBLEMS to solve
I asked for prosperity ........ God gave me BRAIN AND BRAWN to work.
I asked for courage ............. God gave me DANGER to overcome
I asked for Love .................. God gave me TROUBLED PEOPLE to help
I asked for Favors ............. God gave me OPPORTUNITIES
I recieved nothing I wanted ......... God gave me everything I needed!!
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Rom. 8:28
Wether it be prison, sickness, or death no matter what it can all be for the good.
Paul and Silas in prison.... the jailor and household saved...
King Hezikiah sick turned his face to the wall and prayed. Teaches us the power of prayer.
Abel's death .... Heb 11:4 ¶ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
James 1:2-12
Through our suffering and tribulations are we manifest in Christ Jesus. Let us endure with patience... let us wait on the Lord.... let him do it his way.
Ro 8:17 -18¶ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Cor. 1:3-7
11/28/99
