James 1:3-4 says “you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
We find joy in God
as we persevere through trials with God’s help, and our faith in God matures and is strengthened.
1 Peter 4:13 - But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
2 Corinthians 12:10 - Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10 - Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Oh, boy, is this ever true. I attend a weekly prayer meeting to pray for our country, and everyone who attends faithfully has been under extreme testing, health wise, in the last several months.. I went through such a terrible time from last November through June.. having 5 hospital surgeries to attend to my gall bladder problem … I had a ping pong sized stone blocking the tube to the pancreas. I was told that first night in the emergency room by each of five oncologists, one at a time, that I had pancreatic cancer.. .. that after one c scan!! I calmly told them “no way. I wouldn't receive that until I heard God in no uncertain terms tell me I had it.” And I didn't, it was that pesky stone..
Our prayer leaders have had ongoing problems.... Nita, has had arteritis of the brain for a couple of years and was on prednisone for those two years that really upset her with other health related problems.. her husband , our leader recently has had heart issues where by after an ablation he was told he'd probably need a pacemaker , but it turned out after some surgery he didn't need that but his regular daily exercise of running has been strongly curbed for the duration until they can determine exactly what is going on. Our friend David has had an inner ear issue that makes him extremely ill and dizzy and keeps him in a lying down position most of the time. Maureen came down with a horrible pancreatic cancer in her tube to the gall bladder and after a couple of surgeries is now undergoing chemo. All of us having strange things come upon us and we all are trusting God to see us through and He has.. but it hasn't been without suffering, some amount of trepidation,, and just not being able to function. Well under our circumstances, but we have all been faithful to meet together on Friday nights to pray! And we have become stronger in faith, stronger in body, stronger in our servanthood for God.
For me, let me tell you , truly, I am a timid person. I don't like to draw attention to myself, but I have been changed for this season. I wrote a pointed letter to my pastor whom I love, but felt we needed to hear more from Him about these times.. we spoke about it today and praise God he still loves me, saying he was pleased to know that his people cared so much about the church and included him with their heartfelt concerns. It was refreshing to have our talk and it accomplished much. I spoke out in Sunday school today.. about these things. I mean this next election is very important that Christians get out and vote their biblical principles and if you see evil in the world and have the confidence from wince it comes.. vote accordingly to see righteousness replace evil! And that doesn't always fall along party lines. You must know what each candidate stands for.
Writing these posts once would have been impossible for me, but now I have a holy fire within me that urges me on, and I am prayerfully hoping it is received with the love that is, also, behind it! It is so important; so when I am in my prayer closet here at home, I am so thankful and joyful that He is so faithful to us.. He allows things to come upon us to test us and strengthen us for His purposes.. And when I hear His small still voice in my spirit I joyfully turn my full attention to Him and wait patiently for a new assignment. There is NOTHING as joyful as realizing that in some small way you have been living your life in the center of His will for your life.. I wouldn't give anything for that joy that fills my heart!
