Trials and Storms

As we go through our Christian walk we will undoubtedly go through seasons of trials and storms. This is not something that we can avoid. It happens. It is called life.

James 1:2 says “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” Did you read that? “Count it all joy.” So, we are told by the word of God that in these trials we are to “count it all joy.” I do fully believe that verse but we have to admit that it can be tough to walk out. No one wants to hear when they are struggling, “isn’t this great! This is wonderful!” No, we want to say, “this stinks.” (or worse)

James 1:3 continues by saying, “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” There is that word again. Patience. I don’t know why I come across that word so much in my walk. Oh yeah, maybe because that is where I struggle, with my patience. I am sure many of you also struggle in this area as well. We have become a microwave society. We want everything right now and we want it fast. We don’t want to wait on anything. If your microwave takes four minutes to make popcorn get a new one so you can get it done in two minutes.

Verse 4 conntinues, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The last two words always get me, “lacking nothing.” Meaning that we will be perfect without needing anything else. Yeah, I am not there yet. I am still lacking quite a bit. But he’s still working on me, to make me what he wants me to be.

For those of you who don’t know my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer back in October. She has since undergone surgery to remove the mass and that went well. Last week she began chemotherapy. Through each of these steps we have believed in God’s healing power and we still do. We do not know why Deb has to go through this particular storm in her life but we know that God has a plan. In the past few months we have seen our Elder team hit hard with health issues. This is when it gets tough to “count it all joy.”

The Lord did give me a word for my wife a few months ago and that is through this adversity she will be able to speak into women’s lives more boldly and help women who really need a blessing. And that through this she will use the enemy as a footstool to elevate herself into a position of authority being able to speak over these things.

I have always believed that the Lord does not give us anything that we cannot handle and through each trial we can either choose to just get through it or gain something from it. But even with the knowledge that we are gaining something from this experience comes the thought, “I do not want to go through this.” After all, isn’t that what Jesus said? In Matthew 26:39 Jesus said, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

That is what we really should be striving for. Not our will but His will.

Happiness or Joy?

As I start this entry I am struggling for a title. My family and I just returned from a week at Disney World. We had a great time and it was the perfect thing to do for Deb before she begins her chemotherapy (more on that in my next entry). One of the things that I found interesting is all of the people that were running around having a great time yet they still seemed to be so lost. Don’t get me wrong, it is great when families get together and spend some time in activities enjoying one another. But in many ways I found it sad that amidst all of the activity people had no idea about real joy.

We all have times when we are happy or sad but the joy that the Lord provides transcends all of that. It is the joy of knowing that we are loved by a God so much that He had His son die for our sins. It is the joy in knowing that everlasting life is ours since we confess Jesus as our savior. It is the joy in knowing that God has a plan for our lives and a plan for our children’s lives as well.

So amidst all of that frenzy I could not help but feel sad for the people that seemed to be having a great time. Because their “great time” is so temporary. But because our Lord loves us and we strive to know Him more initmately we can know true joy, not just temprorary happiness.

In a nutshell I believe that is what we are here to do. Through God’s love explain to people that there is more to life than what the world has to offer. That there is greater fulfillment in the Lord than we could ever get at any theme park. So we must press on and show people God’s love each and every day so that one day they might know true joy too.

Be blessed,

Pastor John

What Will the New Year Mean to You?

As we begin another year we look forward to another year of what we can accomplish in the Lord. We look forward to the challenges that the Lord will give us and how we can accomplish what we need to do to further His kingdom.

It is easy get bogged down with the “big things” and miss the little things. We need to make sure that no matter what stage of our walk we are at that we move forward to grow more Christlike each and every day. We don’t want to wake up next New Year’s day and not have grown spiritually. It is a walk. A journey.

In that journey we don’t arrive until we receive our ultimate reward. So why should we be satified with the status quo? Why should we be content with anything less than the Lord wants for us?

The Lord wants us to grow stronger in our walk so that we will be fully equipped for the work that he has for us.

I challenge each person who reads this with wanting more and more of what God has for us. Be hungry to grow and be strengthened in your walk and don’t be satisfied with mediocrity since the Lord wants excellence in every aspect of your life.

Push forward in your knowledge of the Word. Strive to pray harder and be more available to people that need your love. We spend so much time doing “stuff” that we miss out on ministry opportunities like just being there for someone who needs encouragement or just an understanding ear.

Make this your best year by growing more in the Lord than ever before!