The Rewards of Difficulty and Misfortune

John Bunyan was 32 when he was arrested for preaching at his own church. He was sent to Bradford prison in which he spent twelve long years in a cold, damp cell. Those in authority promised to release him if he would only stop preaching. He refused to let his circumstances get him down and he kept a positive attitude during this time. Bunyan even went as far as saying that God had turned his prison into a blessed place. He encouraged his fellow prisoners, prayed and wrote at least six books during this time. He actually saw this adversity as a great time to study the word of God and ponder the spiritual aspects of life.

Bunyan was released from Bradford in 1762 and was arrested again for preaching 3 years later. He accepted this greater difficulty as just another opportunity to read, meditate, and write. During the next 6 months in the dark and depressing prison, Bunyan wrote his masterpiece- The Pilgrim's Progress.

Bunyan's greatest triumph was a result of his greatest difficulty.

While my situation is different in the reason for my incarceration the resulting circumstances are exactly the same. My attitude determines the value of this situation. I will gain nothing from this experience if I only grasp the thoughts of the tragedy and never meditate on the value of the triumph.

I believe that God uses every battle to shape a man to become a better warrior for his purpose. We must search for the seed of good in every difficulty.

I pray for grace through this everyday.

In Him,
Bryan

WEAR ABC 3 :: Top Stories

WEAR ABC 3 :: Top Stories

Can Sorrow be turned to Joy?

Can sorrow be turned to Joy? That was my journal entry for 5-24-2010. I have spent days contemplating that thought. The majority of the time spent at this place I try to either work, study, pray, exercise or sleep. I search for places to retreat into silence. It is hard to do. Many seek me out to talk and much of my time is spent listening to family problems, convictions, sentencing issues, and a host of other issues of equal or lesser value. For many here the sorrow now stems from the pain that sits upon their families. They want to provide & protect. You can tell in their faces and between their words that they are resentful and are ready to fulfill the duties of which are required as Fathers, husbands, and children. There is another subsection that have no sorrow. They have a roof, 3 squares and ample time to figure how they can do it better next time. Another group is that of no sorrow. They do not know how. They have been here to long. They feel nothing other than angst in having to move into a world in which they not lived in for 10, 15, 20 years. Its sad and it breaks my heart. I talk to each. They are looking for that joy, even the ones that don't care. I know they must think about it deep inside. This place is another world. The chains are heavy but with God's help they can be broken. The issues with each are strong. I pray that God will give me correct words daily to speak and that I will be a light in this dark black place. That he will strengthen because the burdens of many weigh heavy when they are constant on the mind. I hear many. No matter were we are in life we can listen to others. Joy can come from sorrow. Peace can come from despair, Except it and it will happen.

"A Christian is a key hole through which other folks see God" -Robert E.Gibson

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trust in you." Isaiah 26:3

BMO 2010

Perfectly Calm 6-1-2010

"On that day, when evening came, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side."
Mark 4:35

After a long day of ministry and healing Jesus loaded upon the boat with His disciples to escape the crowds for a rest. As they were traveling to the eastern shore, Jesus was exhausted and fell asleep in the front of the boat. A violent storm arose scaring the disciples and they woke Jesus. It was at that time that He stood up in the boat and spoke three words "Hush, be still". The wing and waves became perfectly calm from three small words spoken from His mouth. The disciples became afraid. They were no longer afraid of the storm. The fear that they now exhibited was the reverence for the super natural power of Jesus Christ.

Now I really do not know what I believed about this power prior to my current situation and accommodations. I can now say that I believe in that power. I believe He answers prayers because He has. I believe He can do miracles because He has and I believe He can speak and calm storms because I have seen it.

I can often work myself up into a storm that my mind cannot handle. There are many many times when I feel Him stand and say to me "Hush, be still." He says I am in control. I bow before Him laying my request at his feet. I try to stay perfectly calm and wait. I wait upon His answer.

Dan Crawford wrote in reference to this verse.
"Christ said, "Let us go to the other side"- Not to the middle of the lake to be drowned."

"Peace is the Feeling when we finally trust Him to calm the storm"

BMO 2010

John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33


"I believe in the sun even if it isn't shining. I believe in love even when I am alone. I believe in God even when He is silent" -Unknown-


Holding Fast,
Bryan

5-21-2010

I recently read a story about a tragic accident that occurred during a canoe trip in Maine. The person writing had come to a small dam on the river and had put into shore to portage around the obstacle. A second boat arrived and attempted to traverse over the freezing water. Unable to reach him, they watched in horror as the man struggles desperately to swim downstream against the backwash at the base of the dam. He only struggled a few minutes and died of hypothermia. Immediately his body was sucked down into the water and he emerged 10 yards downstream. What he had tried in vain to achieve in the last moments of his life, the currents accomplished within seconds of giving against that ended up delivering him when his human body fought no more. Had he dove deep and stayed calm the current would have delivered him.

I am all to familiar with this story. Sometimes we get into situations our human nature kicks in and we make decisions that are outside God's will. We fight against the current and its the very current that we could save us/ We must, at times, back up and understand where we are, how we got there, and dive deep into the current of integrity, honor and commitment and make decisions that honor HIM!!!