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GOD'S WILL... - man's will' 'The Lord is not slack concerning His promise....not willing that any should perish.' 2 Peter 3:9 Theologs have discovered that God has two wills. He has a perfect, permanent will and He has a permissive will. And there's no conflict when you understand it. God's permanent will is unchanging and unchangeable. He wills for the sun to shine on earth. He has set the seasons in all hemispheres. He has determined a beginning as well as an ending for this earth. He has created man completely different from beasts. However, when it comes to relationships with man, He allows certain things to happen. He will give refuge to anyone who will trust Him for it. However, man can choose to live in the briar patch, and God will not dull the thorns that stick him. Man can choose to live in moral darkness and God will not force him to come to the light. God has a way of righteouness for man to walk. And when an individual accepts God's offer to walk with Him, that person is in God's care and keeping. Whatever happens in that pathway is by God's permission. He will allow adverse circumstances in order to strengthen us, and to remind us from whence cometh our help. Each case is different. Whatever happens, He permits it because He is molding us for eternity. He knows how to use adversity to polish His jewels (His children). However, God will allow a man, and men, to walk independent of Him. That's their choice. Yet to walk without the Lord creates endangerment and vulnerability that often ends in disaster and emptiness, a lostness that happens here, and can go on into eternity. Never say, 'God did this to me.' Rather, be honest and say, 'Look what happened to me because I am out of God's will.' --wade burton 4/7/08 wtb26@nctv.com burton's bantering: 'Lord, I want to go this way'. 'Okay, but that is not my way.' 'Lord, why did you desert me?' 'I beg your pardon.' ** A guy was looking for a perfect woman to marry. One who was beautiful, wise and spiritually on target with the Lord. A friend asked, 'Have you found her'? 'Yes,' said the guy. 'Did you marry her'? 'Nope.' 'Why?' 'Because she was looking for a perfect man.' 
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