God’s __________ for Providential Pressures (Romans 8:28-30)

    ( __________into our Father’s Family __________)

Nothing sneaks past God. He has stopped millions of things from happening in your life, some pleasant and some painful. He has sovereignly allowed & orchestrated everything that has come into your life, for the loving purpose of molding us into the image of His Son. God uses the pleasant people and circumstances to comfort, strengthen, and draw us to Himself. He uses the painful people and events to turn us away from this world and the selfish desires of our sinful hearts. Which things do you have the biggest problem with, the pleasant or the painful? Right, so let’s take a closer, more biblical look at  __________!

 __________ Cross (Luk 22:39-46; Heb 11:1-2)

Perfectly __________love in human form.
"Gethsemane" (Mat 26:36, the "olive-press" that squeezed out His life blood for us.)
Heart Attitude: "Father, not _____will, but _____will be done"
As a man, he learned __________through suffering, perfectly. (Philip 2:8; Heb 5:8-9)
His cross is __________for our eternal life, __________needs to be added by us.

 __________Cross: (Luke 9:23-26; Romans 5:1-5; James 1:2-8; 1 Pet 4:13; 5:9-11)

The __________people and circumstances in your life are the pieces of wood in your cross. Their imperfections and sins are the splinters that make your life unpleasant. The nails that bind you to them, are your relationship responsibilities, like marriage vows, parenthood, employment, citizenship, church membership, etc.. By the way, please don’t forget that you are often a painful part of the wood in many other peoples’ crosses!

Michael’s Message from His Heart: (After many painful heart surgeries)

"Dad, I need to do something I’ve never done yet."
"I’ve always been my own boss, but I need to surrender to Jesus."

(Months later - )
"Dad, why did God choose me to have all of these heart surgeries?"

(Mike’s own answers, after some serious thought - )
"So that I’d know how much I needed Him." 
"So that when we go to hospitals, we can tell more people about Jesus."

(On the way to one of his most risky heart surgeries - )
"Dad, I think I've learned what's most important in life."
"It's not toys, things, and being busy with fun activities."
"It's relationships with the people you love - especially God."

What’s Your  __________from Your Heart ??

Have you done it yet? Are you truly submitted to Jesus as your boss?
Who is boss of your heart attitude, your thoughts, words, and actions?

Do you really want Him to not only save, protect, and provide for you,
but do you truly want Him to rule over you and discipline you into His character?

Is your life drawing people to God?
Or are you just another irritating splinter on a lot of other people’s crosses?

© God's Way Home, the way of the cross, the way of God's agape love, never changes, yet there are different ways to live it out, depending on your own unique family, church, or culture.  Jesus is the Way, and His cross is the sufficient way to eternal life.  But for a growing abundant life, right now, of peace, joy, and strength of character, we each must take up our own cross of circumstances.  Taking up your cross as Jesus commands (Luke 9:23-24) begins in the heart, with an attitude of submissive faith, joyfully choosing to march toward God's goal of personal holiness for His glory, before and above your natural goal of personal happiness.  The way of "your" cross is simple, but not easy.  It's uncomplicated, yet hard, because self-will naturally stands in opposition to God's will.  It's the way of sacrificing self for the biblical needs of others, especially those who act like enemies.  It means lovingly embracing the painful, providential pressures associated with other peoples' faults and failures, knowing that God will use these crosses to replace your natural, sinful attitudes and actions with the character of Christ (Eph 4).

No, it's not Christian mysticism, nor is it biblical legalism.  It's simply walking in humble submissive faith under God's holy hand of authority.  His Way is and always has been sufficient for relational life and godliness.  Therefore God didn't have to wait for Freud, Maslow, Jung, or any others, to come along and give His people a better way to abundant life. 

God's Way involves a return to His biblical priority of spiritual relationships, in contrast to our natural tendency to overemphasize the physical concerns of personal life, family, and church.  It produces, the fruit of the Holy Spirit and intimate fellowship, both at home & gathered as His church (ekklesia).

No church or family can perfectly live out God's ideal, and over the years we, like most folks, have swung too far toward various extremes.  Yet, hopefully as time unfolds, we're growing closer and closer to the biblical balance on the most important issues.  For sure, we've made enough mistakes to fill volumes.  Maybe you've felt that way as well, but don't give up.  By grace, through submissive faith, in Jesus Christ alone, God will work all things for good, to those who love Him, so that they will be conformed to the character of His Son.

The best book yet produced on this vital subject is:  THE CROOK IN THE LOT:  The Sovereignty and Wisdom of God Displayed in the Afflictions of Men, written in the 1700's, by the Scottish pastor, Thomas Boston.

The title means, the trial in your allotted circumstances, the thorn in your side.
A new printing of this work of classic counsel is available through, Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 
http://www.SDGbooks.com

A new book, PAIN: The Plight of Fallen Man - God's Prescription for Persevering, by James Halla, MD, is an excellent resource for all of us living in this broken world full of suffering.  It is published by Timeless Texts.

God’s Providential Pressures: 
The Cornerstone of Counseling
© 2001 Sid Galloway www.Soulcare.org  
2002 NANC Conference Notes

Luke 9:23-26

(* Audio tape available through SoundWord Associates - www.soundword.com) 

Everyone has a cross of circumstances to bear.  For me personally, I can now add to my 20 year long migraine, a recent elbow surgery to remove a bone spur on my right arm, and the fact that I might have to have surgery on the left elbow.   Most of all, it has been a difficult trial watching my young son go through six heart surgeries.  The point is that pressures have a purpose.     

Have you ever wondered why persecuted Christian families around the world seem "strong in spirit", compared to so many weak and self-focused believers in America (including me - way too often)?  In order for a Christian family to be a lighthouse in this lost and lonely world, they need encouragement to take up their own crosses and follow the Son - "© God's Way Home" - the way of His sacrificial love.  To do this, they need the socializing influence of a local church (their extended Christian family) to © L.E.A.D. them to maturity through Loving, Equipping, Accountability, and Discipline.  

God’s Purpose for Providential Pressures (Romans 8:28 -30)  

            (Socialization into our Father’s Family Character)

Nothing sneaks past God.  He has stopped millions of things from happening in your life, some pleasant and some painful.  He has sovereignly allowed & orchestrated everything that has come into your life, for the loving purpose of molding us into the image of His Son.  God uses the pleasant people and circumstances to comfort, strengthen, and draw us to Himself. He uses the painful people and events to turn us away from this world and the selfish desires of our sinful hearts.  Which things do you have the biggest problem with, the pleasant or the painful?  Right, so let’s take a closer, more biblical look at suffering!  

Jesus’ Cross (Luke 22:39 -46; Hebrews 11:1-2; Romans 8:5)  

He is perfectly submissive love in human form. 
Hematidrosis (Bloody sweat)
( Gethsemane ” Mat 26:36, “olive-press” that squeezed out His life blood for us.) 
            Heart Attitude:  “Father, not My will, but Thy will be done”
He learned obedience through suffering, perfectly.  (Philip 2:8; Heb 5:8-9)
His cross is sufficient for our eternal life, nothing needs to be added by us.
His example = entrusting Himself to the Father (1 Peter 2)  

Your Cross: (Romans 5:1-5; James 1:2-8; 1 Pet 4:13 ; 5:9-11)  

The painful people and circumstances in your life are the pieces of wood in your cross.  Their imperfections and sins are the splinters that make your life unpleasant.  The nails that bind you to them, are your relationship responsibilities, like marriage vows, parenthood, employment, citizenship, church membership, etc.  By the way, please don’t forget that you are often a painful part of the wood in many other peoples’ crosses!   

My son, Michael’s, Message:

(Throughout his six heart surgeries, one eye surgery, etc.)
            (Salvation)
            “Dad, I need to do something I’ve never done yet.  
            “I’ve always been my own boss, but I need to surrender to Jesus.”  

                (Months later:)
            “Dad, why did God choose me to have all of these heart surgeries?”  

                (Mike’s own answers, after some serious thought:)
            “So that I’d know how much I needed Him.” 
            “And when we go to hospitals, we can tell more people about Jesus.”  

                (On the way to one of his most risky heart surgeries)
            "Dad, I think I've learned what's most important in life. 
            It's not toys, things, and doing a bunch of fun stuff. 
            It's relationships with the people you love - especially God."  

The Heart of Counseling for You, Me, & Every Counselee:

Is your life drawing other people into God’s family, 
or are you just another irritating splinter on their crosses?