CREATIVELY USE ADVERSITY

I really like the simplicity of THE MESSAGE!  I'm really a simple person..maybe with a few cock-eyed ideas, I admit.  But I do admire simplicity.  Here is a passage from Luke 16:9 which tells us simply how to use  adversity creatively.  "Use every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."

It took two pages in my journal this morning to get to the heart of what God was trying to say to me.
I'll try to be brief.......What does creative survival look like for me?  Jerry and I have been gifted with more than enough unless we live a really long time. And Jerry and I are responsive to the needs of others, both those within our family and those outside of the family. But should adversity strike, how generous would we be then?

It does the heart good to be able to help someone else in their need.  I remember when I was a young stay-at-home wife and mother and yearned for a bit of money of my own. I did some minor work for Jerry's office and was paid $100 a month to spend it any way I wanted. I admit that I did purchase a coat lined in fur that I really loved, but mostly I discovered people in need. For example, one woman didn't have the money to pay her electric bill.  I'm glad I no longer remember the others. But, my heart rejoiced with this freedom and the ability to be of help in some small way.  Jerry is generous and we are now a team when it comes to giving.

But, I think I may have missed the crux of the message in Luke entirely, don't you?  If and when I am in adversity it is more than likely a spiritual adversity.  When do I hunger and thirst?  Many times I feel as if I am hungering for God.  Hungering for a stronger faith?  Ill with self and selfishness?  Yes. Desiring attention, status, fame, honor, goodness?  Yes, and Oh, my goodness..that's PRIDE!

Yes, I certainly can see how I need to be creative when it comes to adversity!  So, in my simple way, here are my bare essentials:

1.  Pray, pray, pray to be content with the gift of love God spreads upon me and desire no other gift!
2.  Stay in the Bible for the Word of God and God's companionshp there is essential to my life.
3.  Begin to see all the places which emphasize self as destructive for me and remember  God's rewards will come in Heaven and Satan's rewards belong to the earth.
4.  Begin to enjoy secret good again.  Do the deed, but don't tell!! What's secret brings more blessing.

These things I share with you because I care about you. If you're reading this, you must care about the world.  Let's pray together that our adversities may be overcome in order to free us to free the world.