Dear Steve and Cathy,
Just a note to let you know that you have really ministered to me with every
message you send.  Sooner or later each one of us experience trouble of some
sort, sometimes overwhelming us.  There was a time when my husband and I
felt the "bottom just dropped out."  It helps to know others who have come
through similar circumstances victoriously!  I save all your messages for
future reference and also for sharing with others.  You are truly my brother
and sister in Christ!
In Christ,
Arlene Talbot

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stephen Hall [mailto:sossteve@...]
> Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 4:11 PM
> To: Focus on the Word; Church of God
> Subject: [CoG] Why Talk About Troubles?
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> NOTES  FROM  THE  VALLEY - July 8, 2001
>
> "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
> death, I will fear no evil for you are with me."  Psalm 23.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> TOPIC:  WHY  TALK  ABOUT  TROUBLES?
>
> "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with
> suffering."
> Isaiah 53:3
>
> "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
> weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we
> are - yet was without sin.   Let us then approach the throne of grace with
> confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our
> time of need."
> Hebrews 4:15-16
>
> Recently, someone I dearly love asked me why Notes are always about Cathy,
> me and our family and the troubles we've been through.  The person making
> the inquiry thought Notes should focus more on the positive aspects of God
> and our faith.  I'm certain, if this dear person felt that way, there are
> others among our readers who are asking the same question.  This week's
> edition seemed like an opportune time to answer that question.
>
> Let me begin by saying that God has blessed Cathy and I beyond measure.
> Nothing we've written in Notes has ever been meant to indicate any
> dissatisfaction with the way He has dealt with us.  Quite the
> contrary.  We
> are constantly amazed by His love, grace and generosity towards us.  But
> that wasn't always the case.  In the beginning, we knew God only as the
> omnipotent, omnipresent, creator of the universe, giver of the
> commandments
> and final judge of us all.  We read about Him and listened to what others
> had to say about Him and came to know Him in our heads.  We were in awe of
> Him, maybe even somewhat afraid of Him, but I don't think you could say we
> were in love with Him.  He was God the Almighty of the Old Testament:
> strict, stern and distant.  The King of Kings and we were His subjects.
>
> Then, like little babies, we began taking our first tentative steps of
> faith.  And, like little babies, we fell often.  But with each
> failure, came
> a startling revelation about God.  He was always there.  With our
> first tear
> or frustrated cry for help, His hand would extend.  And if we reached for
> that hand, the judge of the universe would shed His black robe, step down
> from His high throne, and take us in His arms.  He would pick us up and
> comfort us.  And through that experience, head knowledge became heart
> knowledge; the stern judge of the universe became our loving
> "Abba" Father;
> and fearful subjects became trusting and adoring children.
>
> When God led us to begin doing Notes from the Valley roughly three years
> ago, it was with the revelation that troubled times and failures had
> provided the impetus for the growth in our relationship with Him.  Not
> because that's how He likes to work, but because that's when we
> were finally
> open enough to let Him work in our lives.  Cathy and I don't live in the
> troubles of our past.  But we do draw on the lessons of that past.  They
> remind us of the need to stay open to God's leading in good times and bad.
> They encourage us with their evidence of God's unfailing
> faithfulness to us
> in every situation throughout the years.  God wanted us to share those
> lessons with you.  To remind you and encourage you that, whatever your
> situation, His hand is always there - reaching out to you.
>
> We chose an excerpt from the 23rd Psalm as the header for each edition of
> Notes from the Valley because we believe it describes life in
> this world the
> best.  It's a valley filled with sin and overshadowed by the wages of that
> sin - death.  Not exactly a vacation spot for Christians.  But fortunately
> we are just passing through and don't have to call this place our
> home.  And
> we don't have to face our journey alone.  God has prepared the way.  The
> Holy Spirit illuminates the path.  And Christ is our companion.   A
> companion who knows the road, having traveled every troubled inch of it's
> length before.  A companion who is prepared to travel every
> troubled inch of
> that road again - to be with you.
>
> In Hebrews, Chapter 12 (the Message translation) we read:  "Keep your eyes
> on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in.  Study
> how he did
> it.  Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that
> exhilarating
> finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the
> way: cross,
> shame, whatever.  And now he's there, in the place of honor,
> right alongside
> God.  When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story
> again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed
> through.  That
> will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"
>
> One thing there is plenty of in this world is trouble.  There's
> also plenty
> of advise on how to deal with it.  But the best and simplest advise comes
> straight from the words of our Heavenly Father,  "Keep your eyes
> on Jesus."
> No matter where you are or what troubles are confronting you, He's been
> there.  He knows the way.  He'll show it to you.  Just take His
> hand.  Each
> day with Him is one day closer to home.  That's the message we
> try to share.
>
> "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
>
> We remain your brother and sister in Christ,
> sheltered under His wing, and overwhelmed by His love.
>
> Steve & Cathy Hall
>