I know to many people thing that when you become a Christian your problems go away.  NOT.  Sometimes they get worth because the devil will say.  Oh yah lets see how long you hold on to God with this wammie.  And the harder we hold the harder Stan will try to pry us loose.  But we have to hold on for our very life.  And Jesus will come and rescue us from the shark infested waters (Satan) and bring us home.

--
Christ is either Lord of all or he is not Lord at all.
Karen Carter '74



> A thought while reading this morning in James. I love that book *smile*.
>
> "James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve
> tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my
> brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of
> your faith produces endurance." --James 1:1-3
>
> I've read this many times, sometimes while in the midst of difficulty and
> sometimes just to remind me of how ought react when I do run across
> difficult times. I've noticed before that this scripture says to consider
> trials as joy because we are then strengthened by those trials, I noticed
> today what this  scripture doesn't say however. There are two things it
> doesn't say, one I noticed before but I'll jot it down anyway, and the
> other aspect will follow.
>
> It mentions that "when" we encounter trials, not "if" we encounter trials.
> Perhaps this seems like a gloomy thought, that we will definitely
> encounter things in life we will suffer and struggle through, and we will
> not escape rough times, but I am somewhat of a mixture between and
> optimist and a realist. A realist when things are rolling along fine, and
> an optimist when it is time to batten down the hatches as the storm
> approaches and the winds begin. It would be nice if we, being God's kids,
> were protected from the affects of the world here, but the point is "bad
> things happen to good people". Friends and relatives pass on, some knowing
> Christ, and some not. People steal from us, damage our property, our
> feelings, our will, our relationships. We even drag ourselves through mud
> if we have a mind to. Fact is, we will experience struggles just like the
> scripture says when it says "when" you do, not "if" you do. That is a very
> wise thing to know that a preparation of mind set and faith can keep us
> protected in faith that we do not begin to doubt or waiver.
>
> The second thing I noticed today when reading which is a continuation of
> the thought of not wavering, was that it said that trials are the
> "testing' of your faith brings endurance, and not the "killing" of your
> faith. How many times have we seen in life, folks we know who seem to be
> believers yet when  a close relative dies or something bad happens, they
> walk away from faith. What separates us from them? Without entering
> judgement, I can only consider my own faith and consider, pray, and ask
> God that what I have is a genuine faith, given and strengthened by God,
> when such times counter attack it. If it indeed is faith of and in God, I
> indeed can consider trials as joy because I know that what ever happens in
> this life, I am in the care of God, that the "killing" of my faith or
> relationship is not an option, and according to God's word, this
> scripture, enduring such trials will only make me stronger. So then with
> the knowledge that trials bring strength to our faith, ought we then look
> to enter trials purposefully? No, just as we are forgiven for sin, we
> ought not purposefully enter sin. We then would be testing God. Just as
> the Scripture continues to talk about wisdom, and if you do not have it,
> ask for it and he'll give it to you. Wisdom keeps us from entering such
> purposefully or ignorantly.
>
> So next we find ourselves in the midst of a trial, a rough time in life,
> it will indeed strengthen us if we do in fact consider it a joyful
> strengthening of our faith with the full knowledge that God is with us and
> will see us through it. Albeit might not be as we expect in every or any
> situation but nonetheless we will come out smiling joyful with God's hand
> on our life. How much more pleasantly and less stressfully can we endure
> trials if we consider it a joyful thing  even in the midst of it, rather
> than not. It never said it would be easy, but God knows we are built to
> have need to look towards a safe haven in the future of a situation, or
> feel hopeless, therefore inspired such scripture and indeed the entire
> gospel message of hope for us beyond this physical life.
>
> Brad