“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” (James 1:2)
I don’t know about you but I can’t remember the last time I “considered it pure joy” whenever I faced trials of many kinds in my life! A lot of times I’m “bummed” to see them come! So many times as Christians we try to pray away or rebuke the devil when hard times come our way believing it is an attack by the enemy. Sometimes, this can be true but sometimes it is a “test” directly from God! A lot of Christians believe that “being blessed” or being “successful” means being void of hardships but what more of a blessing could we ask for but when God allows hardships in our lives to come that they may cause us to grow in our walk with Christ! “…because the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:3-4)
The Bible teaches us in Acts 14:22 that “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” As Christians we must realize that hardships must come and hardships we must face but by the grace of God he sustains us and gives us victory! He allows us to face hard times so our faith may be refined by fire and proven genuine! It is through hardships that he is molding you into a mighty soldier of God!
So how will you respond the next time you face hardships? See it as an opportunity to grow in the faith! Remember, God will never leave you and will walk with you even during times of testing! Consider it a blessing!
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Sunday, February 26, 2006
What do you have to give?
“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer-at three in the afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:1-6)
People have needs and wants all around us. Sometimes however, God will give us not what we want necessarily but what we need. The crippled man we read about above thought that the money he wanted may solve his problems but Peter and John saw past that; they saw what the man needed! They saw a man that was crippled and without hope. They had seen a man that struggled his whole life and was looking for answers! Peter and John didn’t have much to offer him (as far as material things go) but what they did have, they gave him and that was Jesus Christ!
Maybe you are wondering today, “What could I possibly do to help someone in need?” “I’m not a gifted speaker”, “I don’t have much money”, “I don’t have many gifts or talents”. Can I encourage you to give people the one thing that you do have; Jesus Christ! Peter and John did and it changed this use to be crippled man’s life forever! Whose life or destiny could you change today by simply giving them Jesus!
People have needs and wants all around us. Sometimes however, God will give us not what we want necessarily but what we need. The crippled man we read about above thought that the money he wanted may solve his problems but Peter and John saw past that; they saw what the man needed! They saw a man that was crippled and without hope. They had seen a man that struggled his whole life and was looking for answers! Peter and John didn’t have much to offer him (as far as material things go) but what they did have, they gave him and that was Jesus Christ!
Maybe you are wondering today, “What could I possibly do to help someone in need?” “I’m not a gifted speaker”, “I don’t have much money”, “I don’t have many gifts or talents”. Can I encourage you to give people the one thing that you do have; Jesus Christ! Peter and John did and it changed this use to be crippled man’s life forever! Whose life or destiny could you change today by simply giving them Jesus!
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
"Seasons"
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
My most enjoyable times or should I say, "seasons" of the year is during the fall months. I greatly look forward to this time of the year because the weather is cooling off, hunting season is here, and the holidays are upon us! Sometimes I think to myself, "Wouldn't it be great if we could just stay in this mode all year!?" If that were the case I would almost bet I wouldn't appreciate this "season" of the year like I would if there weren't other seasons that took place in different times of the year.
It's kind of like our journey with God...As believers we will go through different "seasons" in our lives. While some may be very pleasant, there will be others that we would rather "skip through" or avoid all together! What I've learned is "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" and God wants to teach us something through each of these seasons we go through in our spiritual journey.
So what type of season do you find yourself in currently? What is God trying to teach or say to you right now? Learn to appreciate the time or season you are in right now! You'll be able to appreciate the more enjoyable seasons once you've experienced the difficult ones. You can make it!
My most enjoyable times or should I say, "seasons" of the year is during the fall months. I greatly look forward to this time of the year because the weather is cooling off, hunting season is here, and the holidays are upon us! Sometimes I think to myself, "Wouldn't it be great if we could just stay in this mode all year!?" If that were the case I would almost bet I wouldn't appreciate this "season" of the year like I would if there weren't other seasons that took place in different times of the year.
It's kind of like our journey with God...As believers we will go through different "seasons" in our lives. While some may be very pleasant, there will be others that we would rather "skip through" or avoid all together! What I've learned is "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" and God wants to teach us something through each of these seasons we go through in our spiritual journey.
So what type of season do you find yourself in currently? What is God trying to teach or say to you right now? Learn to appreciate the time or season you are in right now! You'll be able to appreciate the more enjoyable seasons once you've experienced the difficult ones. You can make it!
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