Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Pure Joy

The above reminds me of how I react to "those"circumstances in my life that take me by surprise and are not comfortable. But James has had a little important info for me lately.
Have a fourth that is filled with PURE JOY! Why do I say that? Read on.



I am in the process of reading the book of James. It talks of things that go against the normal grain of my flesh. Such lovely things as, "Considering it PURE JOY, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds". Why? "Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance". What good is perseverance in my everyday muck and yuck? "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Have I been persevering lately? Not in all things.
So today my goal with the help of the Holy Spirit of course, is to get out of the way and let perseverance take over. She has a work to complete and she will not give up until she has a mature finished product.
Wonder what I will look like?

So today when I face trials---I will try and consider it pure joy.

Here is a little something from my devotional by Elisabeth Elliot--hmmmmmmmm. :)


To accept adversity, obviously, goes against the grain of all of us. We don't like adversity. Acceptance takes fortitude and faith--faith that Somebody knows what this trouble is all about and has the situation well in hand. In other words, acceptance is submission to God Himself. Often the real proof of our obedience is the willingness to submit, not only to adversity, but also to the specific individuals whom God has put over us (and sometimes this comes to the same thing--those individuals spell "adversity!"). Take a close look at what James says: whatever tests our faith leads in the end to the right sort of independence.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO YOU! Enjoy your time with your family.

And I hope that you don't have to have trials today! But, that's a great reminder of the perseverance that we all need. I'm going to crack open James too. D

Halfmoon Girl said...

I love James- one of my favorite books of the Bible. What a great topics- acceptance, adversity, perseverance.

A Captured Reflection said...

Hey there. Hope you had a great 4th of July. I've been super sick, bed bound and bathroom bound. Vicious. Bless my son for sharing his bug with me. It was the kind of bug that you thought - hey will this ever end? I'm up today and have my two darlings at home, but I still feel pretty weak, but soooo joyful at not feeling sick after how ever many days. In response to your comment about new things, I had a couple of thoughts - but do test them - one that the Lord never rushes us into anything, there is a calmness and an assurance, but that the Devil loves to rush us out of timing. The second that there is something new coming for you. So it could be timing being the key. Just some thoughts and reflections.

Shelly said...

Mmm....thank you for this post. The idea of submission to ALL - that's just good stuff.

Tracy said...

My, my, my.......You just had to move on from testing your faith with trials to submission. Well, I called for you earlier today and Ju Ju answered. You couldn't come to the phone so God and I moved right along. I had already been in my kitchen (miraculously alone for 3 minutes) repenting (truely turning away from my behavior in my thought life and flesh life). This lasted until the next nasty thing came from you know who. I MUST develope perseverance! There can never be the love of God present and I can never be of use to Him to carry out His purposes if I do not develope and mature. Hope you had a great 4th by the way. We had water baloons and sparklers. Anyway, love that you are in James. Chapter 3 has been convicting me lately. I am having a proceedure (to check upper gastro. blah blah blah) Friday at 11:30am, so lets talk tomorrow.

I love you and am desperately crying out for the Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to teach and "cause" me to love the unlovely.

Love,

Tracy

Deena Peterson said...

I am LOVIN' these pictures you're blogging!! Keep it comin'!!