Happy Monday! Where is the month of July going? I cannot believe it’s almost August. As time continues to fly, I can’t help but be reminded how urgent it is for us to draw nearer to God every day. We can do that my memorizing scripture.
If these free downloadable coloring pages are helping you memorize scripture, please like and share.
Monday, Tuesday, it’s always a good day to memorize scripture : )
This verse was posted back on March 29, 2021 as a wallpaper for your devices, if you’d like to keep the verse in front of you.
Recently I have been reading in 2 Corinthians from The Modern Life Study Bible. In 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 Paul talks about dealing with stress. There is a little commentary in the margin that I had to reread a few times. Let me just preface this by saying I am not disagreeing with the following, there were just some things that made me go hmmmm.
“Tension, conflict, weariness and suffering are common place in our world but some hold out that God will bring life struggles to an end. They assume that a relationship of Christ ushers us into peace, even prosperity… as long as we live on this earth we will experience the unbreakable connection between trouble and hope. It may not be pleasant but it brings lasting benefits… James challenges us to find joy in our various trials because they produce patients which in the end makes us mature (James 1:2-4). As long as we attempted to obey Christ we can count on having to deal with stress but whatever strain we feel today reaps riches to enjoy for eternity.”
The Modern Life Study Bible, Thomas Nelson 2014
I agree with some of this, “Tension, conflict, weariness and suffering are common place in our world but some hold out that God will bring life struggles to an end.” Hmmm, well shouldn’t we hope that God will one day end all the strife in the world? Perhaps I am not reading that correctly. Maybe not this side of heaven but God will end all suffering when Jesus returns. I am looking forward to that day. Shouldn’t we hope that God will end our whatever current crisis we are enduring? Shouldn’t we hope that God will put an end to the chaos and craziness in our world?
I also agree with, “They assume that a relationship of Christ ushers us into peace, even prosperity…” Regardless if we walk with or without God, if we are in a relationship with Him the rain, the stress falls on the just and the unjust. Being a believer, Christ follower, Child of God, a Christian doesn’t mean a life prosperity. So I’d rather have the stress with God then without Him which I believe there is a peace maybe not so much ease and prosperity but with God there is a peace, He is the Prince of Peace. John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Just because we have a relationship with God doesn’t mean we won’t encounter hardships here on earth. John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Even Jesus encountered some rough times. I can think of one very rough day.
“…the unbreakable connection between trouble and hope.”
The Modern Life Study Bible, Thomas Nelson 2014
Hmmm, not sure what is meant by that. The now and the not yet? That is a difficult place to be. But I believe there is always hope in any situation.
There are some benefits to following Christ.
Matthew 16:24,25 – If we lose our lives for His sake we will find them.
Hebrews 12:8-11 – We are God’s children and when He disciplines us that is evidence we belong to Him as His chlidren.
James 1:2-4 – James encourages us to find joy in our trials, for trials produce patience. We don’t need to ask for patience when we have enough trials in front of us to help us cultivate patience.
1 Peter 4:12,13 – Facing these trials can cause us to waiver in Christ. Trials in this life are pretty common but they can produce some great results. We can experience the suffering of Christ so that we can also experience His glory.
God never said it would be easy to follow Him, He never promised that. But He did promise that He would never leave us or forsake us. Deuteronomy 31:8 – “
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” He said in Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
The conflicts, tension, and weariness won’t come to a complete end until Jesus returns. There is always hope, Jesus is our only hope, He is the only hope this world has. So if there is going to be conflict and stress in this world, I’d don’t want to take another step with out God by my side. After all He has overcome the world.
Happy Monday!!! Hope everyone enjoyed a great celebration this past Fourth of July! Our country may be going through some tough and turbulent times right now, but God is in control and we are still a free country. For that we can be truly thankful to God.
Some of you may have noticed that scripture memorization here happens in different translations. I don’t think God expects us to remember every translation or just one. For myself, different translations help me to better understand the original words of Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, etc.
For me the goal is to have the meaning in my heart and mind. The best I am going to do with my memory is have a general idea where the scripture lives, (numbers aren’t my jam) if I can recall the book, I’m good and even then those wires can cross. I hope these coloring pages help.
Please remember to like and share. Thank you.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (NKJV)
Some people interpret this verse to say God will not give more than you can bear. That He won’t put you in a situation that is so overwhelming that you just can’t go through it. Others will say this verse is being taken out of context, that, that’s not what it means, that it pertains only to being tempted.
The Greek word for temptation; peirasmos: an experiment, a trial, temptation, can also mean test and tested. Well, I agree and kinda disagree. I may be splitting hairs here, but bear with me. Did God give Job more than he could handle? Did God give Mary and Joseph more they they could handle? Did God give Jesus more than He could handle? Job, “A man who so feared God and fled from evil at all costs. When he was 70 years old, God allowed terrible temptations brought by the devil to fall upon him.” Job was tempted, his fear in God and seeking to flee from evil at al costs, was Job’s way out. Joseph wanted to secretly divorce Mary, – Matthew 1:19, but he didn’t, God provided an angel to encourage Joseph to remain with Mary. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan. The night before His crucifixion and angle ministered to Jesus, -Luke 22:41-43. They all could have given into temptation at any time. But God provided a way out. Ok so Jesus being an example, He was fully God and fully human here on earth, so… He had a bigger advantage, none the less, He could have in His humanity not go to the cross.
In the midst of temptations and the trials in our lives we are tempted to take matters in our own hands, by either manipulating others or a situation in order to get out of it or get our way in order to just get through it or get what we want. We can be tempted to walk away from God or our faith because it just doesn’t seem to be working.
BUT GOD, is faithful! “The more than we can handle” in a trial or a bad season isn’t the season itself as some interpret. I tend to agree with that. I think “the more than we can handle” is the temptation to sin in that hard season. No one wants to go through hard times. I know I don’t and it’s so easy for me to complain and whine and get angry. And it gets me no where. I am learning to ask myself – what does God want me to learn from this? I still wrestle with God and that’s ok, because it can be an intimate way to get closer to Him. God is faithful. He will provide a way out, search Him, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life!
There have been many men and women who have given their lives for our freedom. Posting a little early for the holiday weekend. Take some time to make some space for creativity and relaxation, print this coloring page, pour yourself a cool glass of lemonade and relax. Remember that God is still in control, He sees what is going on in our world, it’s not a surprise to Him. We still live in a free country.
The Kedge Anchor 
You must be logged in to post a comment.