Where do you turn when you're troubled? Do money, success, popularity, or other factors serve as substitutes for God?

For they have forsaken me and made this a place of foreign gods; they have burned incense in it to gods that neither they nor their ancestors nor the kings of Judah ever knew, and they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.

~Jeremiah 19:4

Lately, I have been turning to God for my troubles.  There no material things that can make your troubles better.

Have you ever fought with God? What issues were you fighting about?

“If a man divorces his wife
    and she leaves him and marries another man,
should he return to her again?
    Would not the land be completely defiled?
But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers—
    would you now return to me?”
declares the Lord.

~Jeremiah 3:1

There's no doubt in my mind that I have fought with God.  One thing that I've possibly fought with God about is someone that might be the right one to be with in a relationship.  When I feel something about them, I've wanted to ask God, "If the situation is not meant to be, then please, take these feelings away so that I don't fall brokenhearted!"  Overtime, I've been persistent about this request, but really, I think God is really telling me "No," and "you must hold on to those thoughts and feelings."  This, in result, has shown me that I must trust in His guidance.

What would you most like to see changed about your world? Does Isaiah speak to that change?

“See, I will create
    new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
    nor will they come to mind.

~Isaiah 65:17

I would say that Isaiah does speak of the changes I wish to see in this world.

If you had been a Jew in Jesus' day, would you have been disappointed in the Messiah? Why did Jesus choose to come as a suffering servant rather than, say, a triumphant army general?

He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

~Isaiah 53:3

I don't think I would be disappointed; I believe Christ came to us in the form he did to show that it is better to be humble than to be full of pride, like an army general might be.

Do you think God is using powerful leaders today to accomplish his will? How?

There are powerful leaders that are appointed to their positions, but not all of them have been following God's will.

Try to put yourself in the circumstances of the Jews back then. Would you have found the prophet's words comforting?

but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

~Isaiah 40:31

I believe that I would felt comforted by these words.

In your life, what experience has called for the most courage and faith? How did you respond at the time?

“Assyria will fall by no human sword;
    a sword, not of mortals, will devour them.
They will flee before the sword
    and their young men will be put to forced labor.

~Isaiah 31:8

A time when you are awaiting to have your first surgery, and the way I respond to that is by praying to God for strength and trust in those that will be attending to my care.

Isaiah describes people who felt afraid and abandoned by God. Have you ever felt like that? How does Isaiah message offer hope for us today?

At this my body is racked with pain,
    pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;
I am staggered by what I hear,
    I am bewildered by what I see.

~Isaiah 21:3

It is very easy for us to feel like God has abandoned us at a tragic moment in our lives.  The big thing that we need to always remember is to have faith in God because he is always there and won't leave us forsaken.

What do you think Isaiah would say if her were writing today about such supoerpower countries as the United States and Russia?

This is the plan determined for the whole world;
    this is the hand stretched out over all nations.

~Isaiah 14:26

If you drafted a spiritual "last will and testament" for your friends, what would you say?

As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed; the time is here for me to leave this life.

~2 Timothy 4:6

Do you have any personality traits that make Christian service seem difficult? What specific "training instructions" did Paul give Timothy that might also apply to you?

 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

~I Timothy 4:7-8

This question requires deeper thinking.

Which of these responses tempts you most? Why?

Stupid people express their anger openly, but sensible people are patient and hold it back.

~Proverbs 29:11

Anger will destroy you before it destroys anyone else.  Control your temper!

People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm.

~Proverbs 14:17

If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are.

~Proverbs 14:29

Hot tempers cause arguments, but patience brings peace.

~Proverbs 15:18

If someone has a hot temper, let him take the consequences. If you get him out of trouble once, you will have to do it again.

~Proverbs 19:19

Don't make friends with people who have hot, violent tempers.  You might learn their habits and not be able to change.

~Proverbs 22:24-25

Stupid people express their anger openly, but sensible people are patient and hold it back.

~Proverbs 29:11

People with quick tempers cause a lot of quarreling and trouble.

~Proverbs 29:22

Pride will lead to your downfall.  Humility is far more rewarding.

He has no use for conceited people, but shows favor to those who are humble.

~Proverbs 3:34

People who are proud will soon be disgraced. It is wiser to be modest.

~Proverbs 11:2

Arrogance causes nothing but trouble. It is wiser to ask for advice.

~Proverbs 13:10

The Lord hates everyone who is arrogant; he will never let them escape punishment.  Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall.

 It is better to be humble and stay poor than to be one of the arrogant and get a share of their loot.

~Proverbs 16:5, 18-19

No one is respected unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way to ruin.

~Proverbs 18:12

Wicked people are controlled by their conceit and arrogance, and this is sinful.

~Proverbs 21:4

Jealousy grows like a cancer.  

Peace of mind makes the body healthy, but jealousy is like a cancer.

~Proverbs 14:30

Don't be envious of sinful people; let reverence for the Lord be the concern of your life.

~Proverbs 23:17

Don't be envious of evil people, and don't try to make friends with them.

~Proverbs 24:1

Anger is cruel and destructive, but it is nothing compared to jealousy.

~Proverbs 27:4

Fear of people is unnecessary if you trust God.

You will not have to worry about sudden disasters, such as come on the wicked like a storm.  The Lord will keep you safe. He will not let you fall into a trap.

~Proverbs 3:25-26

If you flatter your friends, you set a trap for yourself.

~Proverbs 29:5

Conceit is ugly.  A conceited person forgets God's place in his or her life.

You may think everything you do is right, but the Lord judges your motives.

~Proverbs 16:2

Too much honey is bad for you, and so is trying to win too much praise.

~Proverbs 25:27

The most stupid fool is better off than those who think they are wise when they are not.

~Proverbs 26:12

Let other people praise you—even strangers; never do it yourself.

~Proverbs 27:2

Rich people always think they are wise, but a poor person who has insight into character knows better.  You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you.

~Proverbs 28:11, 13

 Although all of these proverbs have some good wisdom to them, I think I like the ones on jealousy the most because my past has been full of jealousy towards others.

Do you know anyone whom Proverbs would call a fool? If so, how should you relate to him or her?

A fool doing some stupid thing a second time is like a dog going back to its vomit.

~Proverbs 26:11

 

I can't really think of someone that I know that would fit under this proverb.

What attributes of a sluggard do you recognize in yourself? Do you think of these as serious?

Go ahead and take your nap; go ahead and sleep. Fold your hands and rest awhile, but while you are asleep, poverty will attack you like an armed robber.

~Proverbs 24:33-34

 

There are time that I do catch myself as Lazy.  Not all time are serious but I need to stay upon the path that I feel I feel I should be disciplined towards.

In your upbringing, which had the most effect: punishment and discipline, or verbal instruction and encouragement?

Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life.

~Proverbs 22:6

 

I guess it would be verbal instruction and encouragement that would be the most effective upon me.

What do you look for in a mate? How does your list compare with Proverbs's raiting of attributes such as physical attractiveness?

Better to live on the roof than share the house with a nagging wife.

~Proverbs 21:9

 

I love for kindness, loyalty, a good sense of humor and someone with a good amount of intelligence.

Have you said anything recently that you wish you could take back? What are the most life-giving words you've spoken lately?

Pay attention to what you are taught, and you will be successful; trust in the Lord and you will be happy.

~Proverbs 16:20

 

Sadly, there's nothing I can think of as of recent!  I would say that the most life-giving words that I have said to someone was words of how much I care for them.

Can you remember a specific rexperience that represents, for you, "real living"? How about "real dying"?

What you think is the right road may lead to death.

~Proverbs 14:12

 

Now this is a tough question to give a clear answer.  It is even harder to try to remember an experience that represents real living or dying.

Think over the last two years of your life. To whom do you listen? Who has the greatest influence on you?

Keep company with the wise and you will become wise. If you make friends with stupid people, you will be ruined.

~Proverbs 13:20

 

I listen to a lot of people.  I have had many influential people in my life that it is pretty hard to just pick one.

Think of the riches and the poorest people you know. Have stereotypes about wealth and poverty affected your attitude toward them?

Wealth protects the rich; poverty destroys the poor.

~Proverbs 10:15

 

On occasion may I have a poor attitude towards those that are either rich or poor.  Then again I should speak for myself.

What are your plans for success? Is God's will the basis of your plans, or is it an after-thought?

To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding.

~ Proverbs 9:10

 

My plans for success are finding a full-time job, being the true love that I'm meant to be with, marry and have a family.  All of this, I believe, is in God's will and I believe they will all come in His time.

What is the worst injustice you have ever experienced? Do you feel some of the anger expressed in the cursing psalms? Where you able to forgive?

Happy is the one who seizes your infants
and dashes them against the rocks.

~Psalm 137:9

 

The worst injustice that I have experienced was when I had professors tell me that they didn't believe I should be allowed to pass through college.  This was a very frustrating matter.  But now that I have overcome their tauntings and showed them that I could succeed, it has made it easier to forgive.

How should Jesus' second coming affect us and how can we prepare for it? What extremes does Paul Warn against?

There is no need to write you, friends, about the times and occasions when these things will happen.

~I Thessalonians 5:1

 

I think we will see two sides to this.  One, those who do consider Jesus as their savior will be happy to see the second coming, and second, those that have not come to such a conclusion will be fearful.  But one thing is for sure: Christian or not, we will all be judge justly in the end.