"Sweet Fruit for Bitter Times"- James 1: 1-12

What an amazing sermon we heard this morning.  One both John and I feel was preached just for us ;)
Pastor John read from James 1: 1-12.   ¹

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,  To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:   Greetings.
 ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
 ⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰ But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
 ¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. "

Trials can make you either bitter or better.  It is not a question of if we will have them, but when.  We can choose our response to them.  We are told in 1 Peter 4:12-13 what our response should be:

^"12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 

We can find in Job 23:10 what Job's response was to trials.  " I have kept to his way without turning aside. "  What a blessing to have a faith so strong to endure trials like Job. We weaken and wimper at the slightest trial and ask God, "Why me?" ( I am not pointing fingers, but speaking from personal experience.)
Our faith will always be tested.  The example of a muscle was used.  A muscle will only grow if it is continually worked.  So will our faith, through every trial. 

Trials help us to mature as a Christian as it leads us to surrender to God.  Through prayer, we can pray for wisdom and patient endurance to get through these trials.  God answers these requests as He gives liberally and will use these trials as a stepping stone in growth for us.  Another story used as an example:
       A donkey once fell in a deep well.  Those who found him thought that there was no way to get him out, so they started throwing dirt into the deep hole.  Instead of being buried alive, the donkey used the dirt as a step up until he was high enough that the men were able to grab him by the ears and haul him out.   This is what we need to do with the trials that we come across in our lives.  Instead of allowing us to be buried by them, we can use these trials as stepping stones and over come them.

To hear this sermon yourself, or to hear more like it, visit NorthStar Baptist Church in Quesnel, BC or click on this link and find the messages tab.  You won't be disapointed!
http://www.northstarchurch.ca/

GOD BLESS!

What a great reminder for John and I as we are going through this moving phase.  We ask for your prayers that our house may be sold soon, that we may be able to purchase our own home here.  I was actually joking with John the other day that everything that we own is going to be new all over again because we have been without it for 3 months.