James 1:2-4
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance haveits perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Um, I don't know about you, but I have a hard time being joyful in the midst of trails and temptations. I live in a house that is over 100 years old. 100 year old homes have problems. When my sewer backed up and my plumber discovered a crack in the ceramic pipes I have, I was looking at a MAJOR project. The plumber was going to have to break up my basement floor, dismantle my deck that I had built just 18 months before. Under the deck was all cement.
My garage sits under my deck and the plumber would need to dismantle some of the cinder block wall to get to the broken pipe. I was facing a $10,000 or more project. For a moment, I felt like I made a mistake buying an old house. But in the back of my mind, I knew that the Lord had opened the door for this house for me. I started praying about the situation and put it in God's hands.
The plumber was able to repair the pipe in the garage...he only had to remove 3 cinder blocks and replaced them without changing the appearance of the garage. He never had to take up my basement floor nor dismantle my deck. My final bill was $2,000, but that was a heck of a lot of less than $10,000. I had to praised the Lord for his intervention in this situation.
Um, I don't know about you, but I have a hard time being joyful in the midst of trails and temptations. I live in a house that is over 100 years old. 100 year old homes have problems. When my sewer backed up and my plumber discovered a crack in the ceramic pipes I have, I was looking at a MAJOR project. The plumber was going to have to break up my basement floor, dismantle my deck that I had built just 18 months before. Under the deck was all cement.
My garage sits under my deck and the plumber would need to dismantle some of the cinder block wall to get to the broken pipe. I was facing a $10,000 or more project. For a moment, I felt like I made a mistake buying an old house. But in the back of my mind, I knew that the Lord had opened the door for this house for me. I started praying about the situation and put it in God's hands.
The plumber was able to repair the pipe in the garage...he only had to remove 3 cinder blocks and replaced them without changing the appearance of the garage. He never had to take up my basement floor nor dismantle my deck. My final bill was $2,000, but that was a heck of a lot of less than $10,000. I had to praised the Lord for his intervention in this situation.
Romans 5:2-6
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Sometimes our trials have to do with people we allow in our lives. Through misunderstanding, abuse, deceitfulness, infidelity, lying, backbiting, divorce, misrepresentation, or just plain meanness, people hurt us. I have experienced every one of these scenarios in my lifetime. It is painful when people you trust hurt you. I know that I have also hurt people. Thank God for His grace, mercy and forgiveness.
I am now much more forgiving. Forgiveness is for you, more than the other person. Forgiveness releases the other person's hold on you. When you harbor anger, bitterness and un-forgiveness against another person, you allow them to hold you hostage. You give that person power over your life. Let it go. Give the pain to Jesus.
I write these blogs after reading Scarlett Lillian's book Prosper, A 40-day journal to seek God's will for your photography business. I am never quite sure what direction my post will take, but I attempt to be led by the Holy Spirit in the hope that I am reaching someone who needs to read what I have written. Know that I am praying for you.
Thank you, Lord, for using my words to reach someone who may be searching. You can use any media to reach people, thank you for allowing me to touch other's lives.
I love You, Lord
Pamela
Sometimes our trials have to do with people we allow in our lives. Through misunderstanding, abuse, deceitfulness, infidelity, lying, backbiting, divorce, misrepresentation, or just plain meanness, people hurt us. I have experienced every one of these scenarios in my lifetime. It is painful when people you trust hurt you. I know that I have also hurt people. Thank God for His grace, mercy and forgiveness.
I am now much more forgiving. Forgiveness is for you, more than the other person. Forgiveness releases the other person's hold on you. When you harbor anger, bitterness and un-forgiveness against another person, you allow them to hold you hostage. You give that person power over your life. Let it go. Give the pain to Jesus.
I write these blogs after reading Scarlett Lillian's book Prosper, A 40-day journal to seek God's will for your photography business. I am never quite sure what direction my post will take, but I attempt to be led by the Holy Spirit in the hope that I am reaching someone who needs to read what I have written. Know that I am praying for you.
Thank you, Lord, for using my words to reach someone who may be searching. You can use any media to reach people, thank you for allowing me to touch other's lives.
I love You, Lord
Pamela
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