JOY

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"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come

your way, consider it an opportunity for great

joy.  For you know that when you faith is tested,

your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it 

grow, for when your endurance is fully developed,

you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

(James 1:2-4 NLT)

I have lived longer than most of you.  One of the things

I have noticed over all these years is that life is full

of problems, pains, disappointments, trials etc.  That

is simply life.  But why does God let it be that way?

I have been a student [at least a reader] of the Holy 

Bible for over sixty years.  And the thing I am finally

beginning to see is God has a purpose in all this turmoil.

One.  If we did not have all these problems we would

think that we could handle it.  We would not realize

that very little is really under our control.  And instead

of seeking God for help, we would slide straight into

the Devil's hell.

Two.  Once we turn to God and give him control 

over our lives, the problems continue, BUT.  

The purpose is different.  Let me explain.

In our area there are some big buildings that they

call, "gyms".  Now I have not been in them.  I have

too much work to do to spend time there.  But they

tell me that people actually pay money to go in there

and "work out".  They work hard on a machine going

no where just to work up a sweat or get sore muscles.

You get the point, all that effort is for the health of 

their bodies.

After I am the property of God, all the trials, tests,

hardships, disappointments etc. are used to develop

me into the person God wants me to be.  Then when

this life is over I will be the kind of person He wants 

me to be in body and spirit.

Yes these problems hurt.  But I am happy to know

that in the end God is using them to help me.

TESTING

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After a long life I have made up my mind that life it's self

is made of simply one problem after another.  In fact when

things go too well, or smooth for a while - I wonder what is

wrong.

Right off I have to admit that God has always pulled me 

through one way or another.   But here I am again with 

a bunch of problems facing me.  No, I am not worried 

about it because ultimately God will work them out.

But, why can't I have a rest from them now that I am

an old man.  Has there not been enough problems?

I was reading in my Bible this morning in several different

places and three different passages hit me between the 

eyes.  Let me share them with you first, then a word

of encouragement.

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations,

knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance:

and perseverance, proven character, ..."

(Romans 8:3,4 NASB)   

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you

encounter various trials knowing that the 

testing of your faith produces endurance."

(James 1:2,3 NASB)   

"We count those blessed who have endured.

You have heard of the endurance of Job and

have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings,

that the Lord is full of compassion and is 

merciful."

(James 5:11 NASB)   

Now if I did not have a relationship with Jesus 

Christ, these problems might be an effort to make

me get my mind off of my abilities and look to him

for help.  A lot of us will not turn to God until we

are knocked down and can only look up.  Then the

problems are still a blessing.

But I have been walking with God a long time.

[True, not near as close as I should.]  so why do

I still have problems.  The above Scriptures make

it clear that they are to help me endure, to strengthen

me and help me become stronger in my life with

God.  All through life God gives me problems to 

develop me into the person he wants me to be.

For this I should PRAISE GOD.

But consider one more fact.  It is true only of those

who love God.

"And we know that God causes all things to 

work together for good to those who love God,

to those who are called according to His purpose."

(Romas 8:28 NASB)   

There you have it.  If I love God, EVERY problem

that comes my way ultimately works for my good.

NOW HOW CAN YOU BEAT THAT?

TODAY'S QUOTE

"Trials are medicines which our gracious and wise

Physician prescribes because we need them; and He

proportions the frequency and weight of them to

what the case requires.  Let us trust His skill and

thank Him for His prescription."

-Sir Isaac Newton  

A SHORT MEDITATION

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There are a number of things I thoroughly enjoy in life

besides eating.  One of them is watching the hawks in

this area soar around the sky.  Another is being outside

when a storm front comes in. [If it is not too cold.]

This morning sitting on the front porch, enjoying the 

incoming storm front, I saw a hawk soaring above having

a great time.  It was not high, giving me as good look.

I noticed that it keep it's self pointed into the wind, or

the storm if you prefer.  It was taking advantage of the 

storm for it's self.  Shortly more hawks joined it.  There

were a total of seven hawks in a group out for a "joy

fly" in the storm.

What do I learn from this?

God said through St. James:

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you

encounter various trials, knowing that the

testing of your faith produces endurance.  And

let endurance have its perfect result, so that you

may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

(James 1:2-4 NASB)  

Yesterday was just such a day for me.  It was Monday.

You know about Mondays.  It seemed that everything

I touched went wrong, backwards, to the dogs.  Each

machine gave me trouble and seemed to have other

problems in addition the the one I was attempting to

repair.

But I did remember the above admonition.  It was 

tough.  But throughout the day I kept reminding 

myself of the above Scripture and endured. (Sort of) 

Then last night after some rest and refreshments,

it came back to me real clearly.  On two different

machines that were driving me nuts, God (Not my

mind) clearly lead me in directions that were not 

even in my thinking.  You and I both know that

they begin to work properly then.

When the day was over,

I was able to count it all joy.

TODAY'S PROMISE

"... the LORD who created you says,
'Do not be afraid - I will save you.
I have called you by name - you are mine.
When you pass through deep waters,
I will be with you;
your troubles will not overwhelm you.
When you pass through fire,
you will not be burned;
the hard trials that come will not hurt you.
For I am the LORD your God,
the holy God of Israel,
who saves you...'"
(Isaiah 43:1-3 GNT)

******************

"The promises of the Lord can be trusted;

they are as genuine as silver refined

seven times in the furnace."

(Psalms 12:6 GNT)

1. Meditate on God's Promises.

2. Plead the Promises at the throne of Grace.

3. Act in Faith that God Will Perform His Promises.

(William Gurnall)