Comments on: The other shoe http://online.worldmag.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/ A forum for discussion of news that arises at the intersection of Christianity and culture. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:06:14 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: JaneDoe http://online.worldmag.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/comment-page-1/#comment-305374 JaneDoe Sun, 25 May 2008 18:26:46 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/#comment-305374 "This is the day that the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it" Also when enjoying the blessings that God has given us we must remember that those gifts came from the Lord and not from our own achievements. “This is the day that the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it”

Also when enjoying the blessings that God has given us we must remember that those gifts came from the Lord and not from our own achievements.

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]]> By: NitroBob http://online.worldmag.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/comment-page-1/#comment-304689 NitroBob Fri, 23 May 2008 01:15:57 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/#comment-304689 Joanneb - excellent outlook on life! "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" Matt. 7: 9-11 The trick to understanding this passage is to understand the term "good gifts". For what is good in our eyes is not always what God considers good for us. We go through life thinking we must be God's favorite and that we, of course, should get everything we want. I can honestly say, most of my life, that has been the case. But, real spiritual growth (i.e., dependence on God) and wisdom occurs when things don't work out as I planned or when I am afflicted in some way. But, the true mystery lies in the interactions between all of us. Sometimes my troubles can be a blessing to others. I am too narrow-minded to see it, but God knows what He is doing; just like an artist who is constructing a mosaic, God sees how all the objects of His creation come together to form the beautiful picture. I can't wait to join Him in heaven just to see how it all comes out. You never know. Perhaps praying for the rain to fall on my fields is the worst possible scenario for my neighbor. On the other hand, a little drought in my life may be a blessing to others. With the countless blessings and second chances I have received, I certainly cannot complain. Joanneb – excellent outlook on life!

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” Matt. 7: 9-11

The trick to understanding this passage is to understand the term “good gifts”. For what is good in our eyes is not always what God considers good for us. We go through life thinking we must be God’s favorite and that we, of course, should get everything we want. I can honestly say, most of my life, that has been the case. But, real spiritual growth (i.e., dependence on God) and wisdom occurs when things don’t work out as I planned or when I am afflicted in some way.

But, the true mystery lies in the interactions between all of us. Sometimes my troubles can be a blessing to others. I am too narrow-minded to see it, but God knows what He is doing; just like an artist who is constructing a mosaic, God sees how all the objects of His creation come together to form the beautiful picture. I can’t wait to join Him in heaven just to see how it all comes out.

You never know. Perhaps praying for the rain to fall on my fields is the worst possible scenario for my neighbor. On the other hand, a little drought in my life may be a blessing to others. With the countless blessings and second chances I have received, I certainly cannot complain.

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]]> By: joanneb http://online.worldmag.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/comment-page-1/#comment-304657 joanneb Thu, 22 May 2008 23:13:39 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/#comment-304657 I used to be like the woman Andree was talking about, then decided to just enjoy the good times and be thatnkful for them. I wasted a lot of my early life meessing up my todays by worrying about my tomorrows. However, earlier this Spring I was in the midst of praising God for an illness-free winter, when I got laid flat on my back by pneumonia, while most of my children got bronchitis. Oh well, the earlier praise was still valid, and if I'd spent all winter worrying about the potential for pneumonia in the Spring, what a waste that would have been. Now I praise God when I can go out and play with the children and work in the garden and I can breathe as often and as deeply as I want to. I used to be like the woman Andree was talking about, then decided to just enjoy the good times and be thatnkful for them.

I wasted a lot of my early life meessing up my todays by worrying about my tomorrows.
However, earlier this Spring I was in the midst of praising God for an illness-free winter, when I got laid flat on my back by pneumonia, while most of my children got bronchitis. Oh well, the earlier praise was still valid, and if I’d spent all winter worrying about the potential for pneumonia in the Spring, what a waste that would have been.
Now I praise God when I can go out and play with the children and work in the garden and I can breathe as often and as deeply as I want to.

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]]> By: REG http://online.worldmag.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/comment-page-1/#comment-304559 REG Thu, 22 May 2008 19:22:25 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/#comment-304559 7- Thank you, thank you, thank you! A balanced view!! 8- aplly #7, and realize the blessings wherever they exist, and that God works in reality. 7-
Thank you, thank you, thank you! A balanced view!!
8-
aplly #7, and realize the blessings wherever they exist, and that God works in reality.

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]]> By: krm http://online.worldmag.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/comment-page-1/#comment-304555 krm Thu, 22 May 2008 19:15:51 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/#comment-304555 The real trick is to remember that your external circumstances are not where you generate real joy or happiness. Good times, bad times, these aren't what drive teh real joy or happiness. The real trick is to remember that your external circumstances are not where you generate real joy or happiness.

Good times, bad times, these aren’t what drive teh real joy or happiness.

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]]> By: Doreen http://online.worldmag.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/comment-page-1/#comment-304478 Doreen Thu, 22 May 2008 16:23:11 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/#comment-304478 Suffering enables us to appreciate the blessings, and the blessings help us weather the suffering. Suffering enables us to appreciate the blessings, and the blessings help us weather the suffering.

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]]> By: Karen O http://online.worldmag.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/comment-page-1/#comment-304453 Karen O Thu, 22 May 2008 15:47:02 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/#comment-304453 Kimberly - But before Solomon (assuming he is indeed the writer) got to that part, he had to go through the "all is meaningless/vanity" (or "what's the point?") phase. Ecclesiastes can be a depressing book or an encouraging book, depending on one's focus in reading it. I'm thankful that he got to the point of realizing that it is okay to just do the work God has given one to do, & enjoy the fruits of one's labor. Kimberly – But before Solomon (assuming he is indeed the writer) got to that part, he had to go through the “all is meaningless/vanity” (or “what’s the point?”) phase.

Ecclesiastes can be a depressing book or an encouraging book, depending on one’s focus in reading it.

I’m thankful that he got to the point of realizing that it is okay to just do the work God has given one to do, & enjoy the fruits of one’s labor.

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]]> By: llama http://online.worldmag.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/comment-page-1/#comment-304401 llama Thu, 22 May 2008 14:26:19 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/#comment-304401 The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Seculars say - easy come, easy go. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

Seculars say – easy come, easy go.

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]]> By: kimberly http://online.worldmag.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/comment-page-1/#comment-304398 kimberly Thu, 22 May 2008 14:23:44 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/#comment-304398 Isn't Ecclesiastes all about enjoying the good moments as they come along and prasing God for them? <i> So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun. </i> Isn’t Ecclesiastes all about enjoying the good moments as they come along and prasing God for them?

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.

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]]> By: adios http://online.worldmag.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/comment-page-1/#comment-304372 adios Thu, 22 May 2008 13:45:24 +0000 http://www.worldontheweb.com/2008/05/22/the-other-shoe/#comment-304372 "Today I am blissful about a wonderful thing God has brought into my life. Do I dare give myself over to its full enjoyment, or will I be put to shame, even as I am in the midst of praising God for it?" Enjoy it absolutely! I think were we go wrong is when we are in a happy season or moment we then want to sustain it forever. It is humans always wanting an encore as Dr. Lewis would say. Enjoy the happy moment. Appreciate the significance in the suffering moment. Realize they are often layered together. God is back of it all trasforming us. “Today I am blissful about a wonderful thing God has brought into my life. Do I dare give myself over to its full enjoyment, or will I be put to shame, even as I am in the midst of praising God for it?”

Enjoy it absolutely! I think were we go wrong is when we are in a happy season or moment we then want to sustain it forever. It is humans always wanting an encore as Dr. Lewis would say.

Enjoy the happy moment. Appreciate the significance in the suffering moment. Realize they are often layered together. God is back of it all trasforming us.

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