BUT rejoice (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the 

fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, 

as though something strange were happening to you.

 BUT rejoice in as much as you participate 

in the sufferings of Christ, 

so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.

1 Peter 4:12-13

I have used this verse many times over the last 3 years to remind myself to not say "why me? 

Why did my daughter have to suffer and die?" As much as I don't like that she is gone, the circumstance does help me feel closer to God.

 He was the greatest example of suffering when He gave up His Son to suffer for us.

 I will be Overjoyed when His glory is revealed. 

You may feel what you are going through right this very moment is a fiery ordeal.

 Remember God's word NEVER promised us life would be easy!

 BUT remember who is there with you.

I like BIG BUTS the Bible cannot lie (logo)

BUT remember the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:17-18)

You may say to yourself,
“My power and the strength of my hands
have produced this wealth for me.”

BUT remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant,

which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18
God is so good.

BUT whoever loses his life (Mark 8:35)

 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,

BUT whoever loses his life for

My sake and the gospel’s will save it.

Mark 8:35

God is calling us to give up our pride and comfort zone to proclaim we believe in Him. The amazing part is that it is not really giving up anything because His love, forgiveness, peace and grace overwhelmingly give us is a much higher gain.

BUT the advantage of Knowledge (Ecclesiates 7:12)

Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, 

BUT the advantage of knowledge is this:

Wisdom preserves those who have it.

Ecclesiastes 7:12

This verse speaks for itself

BUT in the living God ( 1 Timothy 6:17)

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches 

BUT in the living God,

who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

 1 Timothy 6:17

Money is one of those subjects no one wants to talk about. Money is not evil it is what you do with the money that makes a difference.  God is the only thing we should put our trust in once a person gains this concept they can live richly and enjoy all things.

BUT Give me only my daily bread ( Proverbs 30:8)

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, BUT give me only my daily bread.

Proverbs 30:8

This has always been one of my favorite verses. I don't want to be poor where I am tempted to steal neither do I want to be so rich that I do not depend on God. #lovelifewhereimat

BUT that He loved us (1 John 4:10)

This is love: not that we loved God, 

BUT that He loved us and sent His Son

as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4:10
I realize that God loves me no matter what BUT of late I realize that my sacrifices do make  a difference in my relationship with Him. What am I willing to sacrifice? TV time, personal time, my wants, desires? Even in our personal relationships I have found that the more I am willing to sacrifice my own desires the closer I feel to my love. 
Think about it?