by Hazel Straub
When life is cold and stormy, relationships tested and fraying, betrayed, do you despair or see these circumstances as opportunities? Two people can face the same challenges but view them completely differently. One despairs, loses heart, grows bitter feeling victimized, throws a self-pity party and shakes their fists in frustration. They relied on their own wit, strength and strategies, without success. The other one looks and sees the stage set for major change, due to God’s intervention. This one, dies to their flesh, pride, and independent ways. Instead they envision troubles as an opportunity and expect God to shine and get the glory. It is at the darkest hour that they see how only God can deal with the insurmountable problems, healing, restoring, and bringing new life.
Troubles are the catalyst for personal, family, church, city and national new life. Restoration and revival happen when God’s people unite in humbling themselves, change their minds and turn away from their sins, cry out to God for mercy and seek him with all their hearts, putting him first. Your response brings either life or death.
“If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health.” (2 Chronicles 7:13–14 MSG)
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Pure Glory 
God wants us to choose life, but does not force us!
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By: The Gospel of Barney on 03/01/2015
at 6:17 am
Oh yes, God desires us to live abundant life but we have to choose it. It’s so much enjoyable to enjoy the warmth of his love rather than existing in the shadows hungry and forlorn. No pressure but I prefer the sweetness of his love!
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By: Pure Glory on 03/01/2015
at 7:39 am
I love this, but there is a third option.
God;’s a busy Guy. He’s entrusted me with my difficulties and a viciously terminal illness, because he knows I can handle it.
I don’t have to cry out to Him. he’s made what I am, and that is…harder than anything which will try to break me. My strength comes from Above, but it’s my duty to exercise it independently.
When I get to the Big Debriefing, I hope to be able to say that I held my position to the end, and when the last magazine was empty, I pulled my Ka-Bar and made it a knife fight.
And after that, when I was on the ground, my teeth still rent my opponent’s heel.
Not out of pride, but because God trusted me with this.
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By: Andrew Budek-Schmeisser on 03/01/2015
at 8:06 am
God sifts his fingers of love through the hard things that come our way. While we are fighting the battle he sends angel reinforcements to help us win the battle.
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By: Pure Glory on 03/03/2015
at 10:41 pm
Reblogged this on meanlittleboy2.
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By: meanlittleboy2 on 03/01/2015
at 9:57 pm
Thank you for the reblog! Blessings.
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By: Pure Glory on 03/04/2015
at 4:38 pm
I am a first-time visitor to your blog, so I started with the most recent post and am working my way backwards. I sense a theme already! God uses upside down logic (to our human senses) to grow our faith and to show the possibilities through Jesus christ!
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By: Debbie M. on 03/03/2015
at 5:53 am
Debbie, welcome to Pure Glory! Nothing is impossible when we put our trust in God! We want to have a now word from the Lord that will encourage and spark new life. There are many posts in our archives to explore. See the archives on side bar.:-)
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By: Pure Glory on 03/04/2015
at 5:17 pm