May 22 Care Group

After some amazing rhubarb crunch and brownies we sang about our Father's Deep Love for us and how faithful He is.  Here are the themes we discussed:
-Why does God allow us to suffer?
-As gold is refined by fire, so we are stripped of impurities as we "fight the good fight of faith."
-We are called to share the sufferings of Christ.  In small ways He lets us understand more profoundly how Jesus suffered for us.
-It exalts Christ when we are provided for through sufferings and trials.  When we give glory to God and don't curse Him in suffering it gives Him glory.
-We become more compassionate toward others when we've gone through trials.  He works things into us for His glory and then uses us to reach others.  Then we will be less prone to judge others and be critical.
-It's good for others to be used to help us through to find an answer.
-It's humbling to need Him and be reduced to a place of need.
-There are things we go through that we won't see the fruit of until heaven - just like how we are looking at the underside of the woven tapestry.
-Romans 8:16-18 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
-2 Cor 4:17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.
-Our afflictions don't feel slight or momentary now.  We can go through seasons of not knowing how God is working any good in our situation.  It can challenge our relationship with God to truly grasp that He feels compassion for us and yet allows the suffering to come.
-We are called to always try to comfort and help anyone who is suffering.
-Lam 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
-The Lord doesn't afflict the sons of men willingly.  We are blessed to actually be able to understand suffering in a clearer way than generations of old.
-In Job's day they associated suffering with sin.  Israel cried "Why does the righteous one suffer?"
-We know Christ is at work now.  He's making us fit to bear His eternal glory someday.
-For some of us God uses our suffering to bring us to Christ in the first place.  God is so wise that we can't fathom the good He's working in situations.
-Rom 8:28 "For those whom He foreknew..." - His goal is to make us like Christ.
-Could there be anything more wonderful than realizing He has formed His Son in us?
-Every Psalm ends on a note of hope!
-Acts 9: 15-16 God spoke to Ananias to go lay hands on Saul and said "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."