Avatar feed
Responses: 40
PO1 H Gene Lawrence
41
41
0
Edited >1 y ago
Good morning Col Mikel Burroughs and all the rest of my RP Family. Are you happy or sad? I would like to say that it is hard to see the best of anything or the bigger picture if unhappiness dwells in you. Seeing only negative things does not permit you to see the purpose of trials or the outcome of your struggles. A happy person tends to see the positive and sees the reward at the end of the journey. All an unhappy person can do is see negative in anything. They constantly tend to pick things apart or find ways to defeat the purpose and goal of any situation. God has a plan for us. Instead of being negative and complain about all the unpleasantries in life, be positive and happy and find something good in what life trials can lead you to. Faith and trust in what God has planned for us, brings us closer to God and His ultimate gift to us, of Eternal Life with Him.
Although I have some difficulties with the following author on some things, I find the piece he wrote on seeing the Bigger Picture of God, to be quite on point. I pray that as you read it today that you will be able to see the Bigger Picture that God has designed for you. Just like precious metals must undergo the refining process of a very hot fire, so do we also need to be refined by struggles. I pray that you have a Blessed day today and always.

Taken from purposedriven.com
Happy People See God’s Bigger Picture
May 29, , 2014 by Rick Warren
“I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News” (Philippians 1:12 NLT)

If you want to be a happy person, you need to look at every problem from God’s viewpoint. Happy people have a larger perspective. They see the big picture. When you don’t see things from God’s point of view, you get discouraged, frustrated, and unhappy.

No matter what’s going on in your life — the good, the bad, and the ugly, God is working out a plan. Paul knew this. He says in Philippians 1:12, “I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News” (NLT).

Ever since Paul became a Christian on the road to Damascus, he had dreamed one great dream: He wanted to preach in Rome, the center of the universe at the time. His dream was to preach the Gospel in the most important city in the world.

But God had another idea. Instead of sending Paul to Rome to preach crusades, God made him a royal prisoner of Caesar, who was at that time Nero. Nero was about as wicked and as bad as you can get.

As a royal prisoner, Paul was chained to a royal guard 24 hours a day for two years, and the guard was changed every four hours. Over two years in prison, he witnessed to 4,380 guards. Who’s the real prisoner here? Who had the captive audience?

This wasn’t Paul’s plan, but it was God’s all along. There were two results of it that we know for sure.

Philippians 4 says that within two years, some of Nero’s own family had become believers because of Paul’s witness in the royal court in Rome.

Secondly, it’s kind of hard to get a guy like Paul to stop moving. In prison, he was forced to be still and, as a result, wrote most of the New Testament. I wonder which had a bigger impact: his preaching in the Colosseum or the books he wrote, such as Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. These seven books have revealed Jesus to millions of people over the years?

Paul knew that God had a bigger plan, and he could be happy because he saw what God was doing through his problem.

Any time you have a problem that’s starting to get you down, you need to do what Paul did — learn to see it from God’s point of view. Ask, “What is God doing here? What’s the bigger picture? What’s the bigger perspective?” Then you’ll be able to face the problem in faith.

Talk It Over

Think of a problem that has you discouraged. How might your discouragement change if you look at it with God’s bigger perspective?
How have you seen God work in the midst of a difficult situation in your past?
Why do you think God is allowing you to struggle through a hard time?
(41)
Comment
(0)
PO1 H Gene Lawrence
PO1 H Gene Lawrence
>1 y
SGM Major Stroupe - it was my pleasure, my friend.
(6)
Reply
(0)
PO1 H Gene Lawrence
PO1 H Gene Lawrence
>1 y
SrA Ronald Moore - Amen, stomping and clapping.
(8)
Reply
(0)
SGT Kevin Hughes
SGT Kevin Hughes
>1 y
SrA Ronald Moore - I taught my grandkids tonight off of your post. Now they can do the first four lines from memory! Thanks for that! It was fun.
(6)
Reply
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
>1 y
I expect that you are waiting for 2020 with hope and that you may well be grieving for some events in 2019. I expect that you are very thankful for your family members, close friends and many blessings in 2019 Gene & Linda.
I pray that you and I are attuned with the Holy Spirit as 2019 transcends into 2020, my friend and brother-in-Christ PO1 H Gene Lawrence and sister-in-Christ Linda Lawrence.
I pray LORD that YOU are opening the eyes of sincere believers to the fields of those who are on the verge of salvation. Motivate each of us to demonstrate faith in YOU by our actions primarily.
Thank YOU, LORD, for dwelling with the soul of each one of YOUR adopted children. I am grateful for sanctification although at times it is extremely challenging. YOU sanctify each one of us individually and corporately – YOU connect each one of together and at times YOU reveal a brother and sister-in-Christ to us.
I lift the weakest members of society to YOU at the end of 2019 – the preborn, the orphans, the neglected, abandoned and abused children, the newly separated and divorced, widows and widowers. I pray that YOU bless each with hope restored in YOU and I pray that YOU motivate people to come alongside each and listen to them..
I pray that as 2019 draws to a close, YOU bless the sincere believers in YOU by fulfilling the prayers that we have been interceding for so long for them – eternal salvation of loved ones; healing for physical and mental diseases and injuries and restoring families.
I pray that each one of YOUR adopted children and their loved ones sleep well Tuesday night.
By the power and authority of the Name above all names, Jesus the Christ.
FYI SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SSG William Jones PO1 Robert George SGT Steve McFarland COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGT Wanda Shepherd SPC Michael Oles SR (Join to see)
(4)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
Lt Col Charlie Brown
39
39
0
4f50574c
Good morning COL Mikel J. Burroughs Much of the angst in our lives comes from the small stuff. We get worked up over little things and lose sight of the big picture. How often have you had some small thing go wrong and had it derail your attitude for the day? I hear this a lot when people are telling me about an event. They focus on the little things that went wrong instead of the big joy.
From an old English saying (about 1550) Don't lose sight of the forest because of the trees. Keep your mind and your heart on the big picture while looking enough at the details to keep from tripping. Good thoughts going into 2020.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen F. Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen CPT Jack Durish CW5 Jack Cardwell TSgt Joe C. SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Sgt (Join to see) Sgt John H. Maj Marty Hogan SGT (Join to see) LTC David Brown MSgt David Hoffman Sgt (Join to see) CMSgt (Join to see) SCPO Morris Ramsey LTC (Join to see) CPL Dave Hoover SGT Robert Pryor SSG Robert "Rob" Wentworth SP5 Mark Kuzinski
(39)
Comment
(0)
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
>1 y
Great comments Charlie.
(8)
Reply
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
>1 y
I expect that you are waiting for 2020 with hope and that you may well be grieving for some events in 2019. I expect that you are very thankful for your family members, close friends and many blessings in 2019 Charlie.
I pray that you and I are attuned with the Holy Spirit as 2019 transcends into 2020, my friend and sister-in-Christ Lt Col Charlie Brown .
I pray LORD that YOU are opening the eyes of sincere believers to the fields of those who are on the verge of salvation. Motivate each of us to demonstrate faith in YOU by our actions primarily.
Thank YOU, LORD, for dwelling with the soul of each one of YOUR adopted children. I am grateful for sanctification although at times it is extremely challenging. YOU sanctify each one of us individually and corporately – YOU connect each one of together and at times YOU reveal a brother and sister-in-Christ to us.
I lift the weakest members of society to YOU at the end of 2019 – the preborn, the orphans, the neglected, abandoned and abused children, the newly separated and divorced, widows and widowers. I pray that YOU bless each with hope restored in YOU and I pray that YOU motivate people to come alongside each and listen to them..
I pray that as 2019 draws to a close, YOU bless the sincere believers in YOU by fulfilling the prayers that we have been interceding for so long for them – eternal salvation of loved ones; healing for physical and mental diseases and injuries and restoring families.
I pray that each one of YOUR adopted children and their loved ones sleep well Tuesday night.
By the power and authority of the Name above all names, Jesus the Christ.
FYI SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SSG William Jones PO1 Robert George SGT Steve McFarland COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGT Wanda Shepherd SPC Michael Oles SR (Join to see)
(5)
Reply
(0)
Jennifer Lee (Doerflinger) Hill
Jennifer Lee (Doerflinger) Hill
>1 y
Lt Col Charlie Brown, you even chose a Quaking Aspen forest! There is little so peaceful as to lie down & rest in the heat of the day & listen to the swaying boughs & talking leaves. You're always right on point, LTC Charlie Brown.
(3)
Reply
(0)
Lt Col Charlie Brown
Lt Col Charlie Brown
>1 y
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen - Thank you. I appreciate your opinion.
(2)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small
Maj Marty Hogan
38
38
0
Edited >1 y ago
D3b3564e
Sometimes we have to step away for a quick breath to appreciate the big picture. Many times in my career I have focused on one aspect and lost sight of the big picture- as a leader you always have to be cognizant of the whole op from beginning to the end for every area. Hard to balance all those needs- but that is why not everyone does it. Happy New Year and be safe tonight if you are celebrating RP

SGM Steve Wettstein PO3 Phyllis Maynard SrA Ronald Moore (Join to see) MSG Andrew White SrA John Monette SP5 Dennis Loberger LTC Eugene Chu TSgt Deane Bray SN Donald Hoffman LTC Tom McNew SGT Wanda Shepherd Maj Kim Patterson SrA (Join to see) SPC Douglas Bolton PO3 Craig Phillips CWO3 (Join to see) MGySgt (Join to see) Col Carl Whicker CPL Douglas Chrysler
(38)
Comment
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
LTC Stephen F.
>1 y
I expect that you are waiting for 2020 with hope and that you may well be grieving for some events in 2019. I expect that you are very thankful for your family members, close friends and many blessings in 2019 Marty.
I pray that you and I are attuned with the Holy Spirit as 2019 transcends into 2020, my friend and brother-in-Christ Maj Marty Hogan.
I pray LORD that YOU are opening the eyes of sincere believers to the fields of those who are on the verge of salvation. Motivate each of us to demonstrate faith in YOU by our actions primarily.
Thank YOU, LORD, for dwelling with the soul of each one of YOUR adopted children. I am grateful for sanctification although at times it is extremely challenging. YOU sanctify each one of us individually and corporately – YOU connect each one of together and at times YOU reveal a brother and sister-in-Christ to us.
I lift the weakest members of society to YOU at the end of 2019 – the preborn, the orphans, the neglected, abandoned and abused children, the newly separated and divorced, widows and widowers. I pray that YOU bless each with hope restored in YOU and I pray that YOU motivate people to come alongside each and listen to them..
I pray that as 2019 draws to a close, YOU bless the sincere believers in YOU by fulfilling the prayers that we have been interceding for so long for them – eternal salvation of loved ones; healing for physical and mental diseases and injuries and restoring families.
I pray that each one of YOUR adopted children and their loved ones sleep well Tuesday night.
By the power and authority of the Name above all names, Jesus the Christ.
FYI SMSgt Lawrence McCarter SSG William Jones PO1 Robert George SGT Steve McFarland COL Mikel J. Burroughs SGT Wanda Shepherd SPC Michael Oles SR (Join to see)
(7)
Reply
(0)
CWO3 Retired
CWO3 (Join to see)
>1 y
Marty, Happy New Year to you my friend.
(6)
Reply
(0)
SSG Michael Doolittle
SSG Michael Doolittle
>1 y
LTC Wayne Brandon - Very True.... Put everything on the table to be examined and looked at in depth.... Hidden documents, not hearing from those involved, lead the blind to lead the blind....
(3)
Reply
(0)
SSG Robert "Rob" Wentworth
SSG Robert "Rob" Wentworth
4 y
Oh so very true Cpt. Marty Hogan...
I need to read this thought DAILY...
It’s a great reminder...
Stay warm in Iowa my friend!
We made it to 54 degrees today...
1:15 on the Clock...
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close