16^th August 2010

SEEDS FOR HARVESTING 5/31

James 1:2-3
"Count it all joy, when you encounter various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."

Why should our "faith" need testing?
Can we say at any stage of our discipleship journey
that our "faith" is complete?

We find it difficult to accept that certain "trails"
are a part of God's plan for us.
And yet these "trials" are a part of
being disciples of Jesus.

Why should we expect any less testing of our faith
than the early martyrs experienced?
The Living Word challenges us with
"You have not yet resisted
to the point of shedding blood."
One of the joys of our journey of "faith"
is the unexpected that God has planned for us.

Through our testing we
learn the meaning of "endurance."
As we weather the storms of life and with God's help
our "faith produces endurance."

This is our joy, out of "trials" comes
strength, endurance, determination
and unshakable "faith."
This is how God equips us
to face the next "trial" with courage

All this only has meaning for us
if we are convinced that it's a part of God's plan for us.
This is what the "knowing" is all about

Bob Imms 15.8.10