Good morning!
"the testing of your faith" I was thinking where this most fits into my life, and of course there's always many little tests here and there in a sinful world, but for me, the classroom where I take most of my tests lately is where I work. I know this isn't a huge surprise considering I work with mostly non-Christians, but the real test for me, which I confess to feel I've failed at rather than stood firm under, is in working with my managers. Where I work, the managers aren't typical and aren't easy to work under. It gets stressful and hectic there more often than not, and the daily test is to not grumble, complain, or gossip about the management. I work with the other full-time ladies, and they too understand the strain this puts on them. But engaging with them in all this unchristian talk and useless venting is no perseverence under trials. It's giving right into them in the way of my Old Self. It's not good. And I confess to doing this with deep sadness and upset at myself, because I feel I've been a horrible witness, if one at all!
I pray this morning that God would give me his perspective on this situation, and his power to refrain from the "bad talk" and rather display a respectful attitude for their position. I don't respect their behavior all the time, but I do need to respect their God-created position.
I know that persevering in this with God's strength and a godly attitude will produce Christian maturity in me that itself will be the witness I long to have at work.
I know I have the weapons to fight Satan's temptations to gossip and complain.
I'm asking you girls to please pray for God's strength to increase in me so that I may honor God with my work and my speech at work better. Please pray that I may develop patience and perseverence under these moments which are my major trials right now. Thank you!!
And thank God for his unending grace with which I can enter a new day as a whole woman!!
Have a beautiful first day of February, girls! We're living in a snowglobe today from all the snow we got yesterday :)
~Cait
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
James 1:3-4
"The disappointments of life are simply the hidden appointments of love." CA Fox
The world has it right when they say that the tough things in life "build character." But if this is all that some think will come from challenges, then they are to be pitied, because our heavenly Father wants to fill us with hope--the hope of a Savior, the hope of heaven, and the hope of intimacy with the God-man who wants to be our best friend in this life--Jesus.
It is encouraging for me to think that I might not always be the girl I am today. Though I will never be nearly perfect (until Jesus comes again), and though God may not test me in a way the world views as "hard," it is encouraging to think that God could carry me through trials in my life to mature me and better equip me to encourage others. When I think of some of the inspiring people in my life or people in the Bible, they are people who have been through something hard or just through life!-- a series of daily of trials--and have found victory in their Savior. I know that if I were suddenly a grandma, hurled through time, and had the same attitude and amount of experiences as I do know, I probably wouldn't be a very good one. haha
anonymous poem from a Feb.1 devotion:
"This is from Me," the Savior said,
As bending low He kissed my brow,
"For One who loves you thus has led.
Just rest in Me, be patient now,
Your Father knows you have need of this,
Though, why perhaps you cannot see--
Grieve not for things you've seemed to miss.
The thing I send is best for thee."
Then, looking through my tears, I plead,
"Dear Lord, forgive, I did not know,
It will not be hard since You do tread,
Each path before me here below."
And for my good this thing must be,
His grace sufficient for each test.
So still I'll sing, "Whatever be
God's way for me is always best."
Monday, January 31, 2011
Extra Thought
I found this the other day and since it's winter and snowy and we're all busy, and our verses for today and tomorrow are about choosing joy when trials (and stress) come, I thought it applicable and ...beautiful.
Have a relaxing evening, and enjoy!
Love you all ~Caits
Real Stress Relief
Have a relaxing evening, and enjoy!
Love you all ~Caits
Real Stress Relief
James 1:1-2
The first thing I did when I was reading these verses was go online and look up the passage in as many other translations as I could find. I like doing that when I'm reading Scripture because most of us have grown up reading the NIV Bible. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but seeing especially common verses over and over again can diminish their impact over time. That's why I find it eye-opening when I read familiar passages in other translations, seeing how the same words can be conveyed with new meaning.
Most of the translations were quite similar in the way they worded James 1:1-2. One that particularly stuck with me was worded as such... "When you face hardship of any kind, consider it an opportunity for joy." Opportunity. A chance to do something.
When tragedy, problems, stress, etc. strikes, many times our first instinct is to panic. And that is not our fault. God made humans with emotions and those emotions usually do what they want. That's what sin has done to mankind. So when I say that our first reaction to trials is a negative one, that implies a lack of a choice. The decision to panic was made before we could even think about feeling anything else. So how, then, can we consider hardship an opportunity for joy?
Maybe we can't choose -- at least not right away. But once our mind and body have recognized a problem--a trial--we do have a choice. We can let ourselves run away with it, get worried or angry or sad or frustrated. OR... we can do what might not be so easy. We can fall to our knees in prayer to our Father and ask Him to give us happiness, despite what might be happening in our lives. Ask Him to show us an opportunity, the chance to see the circumstance with joy. Because when the world seems to be crumbling around us, it's our last thought to smile. Sometimes we simply want to be angry or hurt because that's the easiest thing to do. Yet what does God tell us time and time again? "My grace is sufficient for you..." (2 Cor. 12:9) He has proven Himself faithful, since the beginning of time, and so He will always be. His past promises are guarantees for the future, and worthy reason to continue crying out to Him.
We all know our Lord never said this life would be easy. But asking for His help is as easy as breathing. So when trials of life hit us, let's do the easy thing -- sit down and have a heart-to-heart with our Daddy.
Most of the translations were quite similar in the way they worded James 1:1-2. One that particularly stuck with me was worded as such... "When you face hardship of any kind, consider it an opportunity for joy." Opportunity. A chance to do something.
When tragedy, problems, stress, etc. strikes, many times our first instinct is to panic. And that is not our fault. God made humans with emotions and those emotions usually do what they want. That's what sin has done to mankind. So when I say that our first reaction to trials is a negative one, that implies a lack of a choice. The decision to panic was made before we could even think about feeling anything else. So how, then, can we consider hardship an opportunity for joy?
Maybe we can't choose -- at least not right away. But once our mind and body have recognized a problem--a trial--we do have a choice. We can let ourselves run away with it, get worried or angry or sad or frustrated. OR... we can do what might not be so easy. We can fall to our knees in prayer to our Father and ask Him to give us happiness, despite what might be happening in our lives. Ask Him to show us an opportunity, the chance to see the circumstance with joy. Because when the world seems to be crumbling around us, it's our last thought to smile. Sometimes we simply want to be angry or hurt because that's the easiest thing to do. Yet what does God tell us time and time again? "My grace is sufficient for you..." (2 Cor. 12:9) He has proven Himself faithful, since the beginning of time, and so He will always be. His past promises are guarantees for the future, and worthy reason to continue crying out to Him.
We all know our Lord never said this life would be easy. But asking for His help is as easy as breathing. So when trials of life hit us, let's do the easy thing -- sit down and have a heart-to-heart with our Daddy.
James 1:1-2
Pure joy is obviously hard to have when we go through tough trials. It's all too easy to feel sorry for ourselves, vent or take it out on others, question what you possibly did to deserve it, and blame others for what we might be going through. Does this really make us feel better about it though? Even though our natural reactions come too easily, we need to take James' advice to "consider it pure joy."
By James saying that we should have a joyful attitude toward everything we go through, it means that we have no reason to worry or be angry. He isn't just giving us false hope to get us through, he really means what he says. Another comforting part of this passage is how James addresses us as brothers/sisters. It reminds us that we are not alone, and can go to each other with our problems and get through them together.
One thing to think about is, not only is this hard for us, but for those around us. When we have people that are close to us going through rough patches, sometimes we just tell them what they want to hear and make them feel like they have a reason to be angry even more, when we should be trying to encourage them with the same message of hope that we are trying to live by. Having this attitude can also be an opportunity to witness to others about the reason for the joy that we have from our gift of salvation.
If we can be thankful for the hard situations God puts in our path, just think of how much more grateful we will be for all of the daily blessings He provides for us! I hope all of you are having a wonderful day!
-Jess
By James saying that we should have a joyful attitude toward everything we go through, it means that we have no reason to worry or be angry. He isn't just giving us false hope to get us through, he really means what he says. Another comforting part of this passage is how James addresses us as brothers/sisters. It reminds us that we are not alone, and can go to each other with our problems and get through them together.
One thing to think about is, not only is this hard for us, but for those around us. When we have people that are close to us going through rough patches, sometimes we just tell them what they want to hear and make them feel like they have a reason to be angry even more, when we should be trying to encourage them with the same message of hope that we are trying to live by. Having this attitude can also be an opportunity to witness to others about the reason for the joy that we have from our gift of salvation.
If we can be thankful for the hard situations God puts in our path, just think of how much more grateful we will be for all of the daily blessings He provides for us! I hope all of you are having a wonderful day!
-Jess
James 1:1-2
Good morning!
After reading these verses this morning and pondering my applications and observations, I found that many many situations returned to memory in which I have reacted to "trials" in an emotional, short-sighted way. I can clearly remember knowing that God didn't want me to worry, much less be anxious or angry about the situation at the time, but the trial however big or small was usually overpowering enough - or my emotions were - that is was too easy to not be joyful.
Thinking this through, I realized that emotions, i.e. joyful emotions, are a blessing, but others like anxiety or frustration or anger often produce no good at all. I tend to struggle with reacting in accordance to my emotions, and I know this about myself to the extent that I prayed this morning for help to be patient and slow to anger and instead, quick to prayer and joyfulness next time I face a trial...which I know I will at some point!! It's important to take an honest look at our emotions and not immediately trust their accuracy in defining the situation. Just because I feel one way, doesn't mean it is. I learned today that God desires that I choose joy ~and other godly reactions/emotions~ over our natural reaction when a trial fills my life. He wants me to remember his past goodness, and how in the future He will only continue to be good and faithful with his promise "that in all things [he] works to the good of those who love him" (Rom. 8:28).
As much as a challenge this is, God's strength is enough to fulfill it! Praise Him for that!
~Cait
After reading these verses this morning and pondering my applications and observations, I found that many many situations returned to memory in which I have reacted to "trials" in an emotional, short-sighted way. I can clearly remember knowing that God didn't want me to worry, much less be anxious or angry about the situation at the time, but the trial however big or small was usually overpowering enough - or my emotions were - that is was too easy to not be joyful.
Thinking this through, I realized that emotions, i.e. joyful emotions, are a blessing, but others like anxiety or frustration or anger often produce no good at all. I tend to struggle with reacting in accordance to my emotions, and I know this about myself to the extent that I prayed this morning for help to be patient and slow to anger and instead, quick to prayer and joyfulness next time I face a trial...which I know I will at some point!! It's important to take an honest look at our emotions and not immediately trust their accuracy in defining the situation. Just because I feel one way, doesn't mean it is. I learned today that God desires that I choose joy ~and other godly reactions/emotions~ over our natural reaction when a trial fills my life. He wants me to remember his past goodness, and how in the future He will only continue to be good and faithful with his promise "that in all things [he] works to the good of those who love him" (Rom. 8:28).
As much as a challenge this is, God's strength is enough to fulfill it! Praise Him for that!
~Cait
James 1:1-2
"Consider it pure joy, my [sisters], whenever you face trials of many kinds..."
This is our command from the Lord. Hmmm.....do I consider it pure joy in the face of trials? Not always. Not often. Our sermon yesterday began with an unfinished statement. "I'll be happy when..." Fill it in for you. "I'll be happy when...I'm over this cold, I get that new job/raise, I get to be with the one I love, I get to spend some quality time with my hubby when our schedules mesh better, I lose some weight, I get the new car, or I'm done with this trial--of sickness, awkward exposure, pain, waiting, whatever it might be."
I know how to thank God when he has helped me through a trial and it is over, but I am praying for the strength to thank him in the midst of it. Romans 5 reminds us that perseverance produces hope. God only allows what we can handle, and he gifts us with these trials to draw us close to him, to give us an opportunity to glorify him and to stand out in the way that we handle trials. It's going to look weird to the world when we are happy despite the flat tire, the dying grandma, the lost baby, or the lack of success that this world views as success.
I am praying to grow through trials, instead of merely going through them. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Love you girls...praying for us to see trials as opportunities to love God and others this week. Christ has already conquered each one for us!
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