Amen Brad.

And what a hard thing for that pastor.  Pastors have an awesome
responsibility, but they need care too.

Vicki

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brad D" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: [ECHURCH-USA] Trials, tribulations, Tests


> Vicki,
>
> The pastor and his wife of the church we attended years ago now are
> divorced, she's living with another man and he is teetering mental
> stability. They began their marriage similar to David and Bathsheba. I
> believe God honored their marriage as they came to Christ after their
> marriage and served the Lord sincerely , he was the man who baptized
> myself and my family, but the world was allowed to sneak in and stole
> their values and began to lose the focus of joy being on the other side
> and so reaped what they sowed. Grace and mercy and strength and focus,
> knowledge, wisdom and understanding be with us all.
>
> Brad
>
>
> on 10:28 AM 7/31/2005, Vicki and The Rors said:
> Brad,
>
> Good thoughts here.  Thanks for sharing.  I've been thinking on what
> separates us from non-believers, or those who turn from God instead of to
> him in the midst of trials.  You shed some light on that for me.
>
> Vicki
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brad D" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2005 7:00 AM
> Subject: [ECHURCH-USA] Trials, tribulations, Tests
>
>
>  > 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
>  >
>