“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
Comments: We like to think of ourselves as mature Christians. Or, at least we want to be one. This is how that happens: Trusting God and what He has said in times of difficulty.
In His Love, Cindy
Before you go, please see my page Who Is Jesus? Hundreds of people have viewed this page! Have you?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
Perseverance:the quality of being someone who continues to make an effort to achieve their aims, even when this is difficult or takes a long time
To say that my pup, Henry, perseveres is the understatement of the year. If he wants something, he never gives up! Here’s an example:
Henry starts softly barking at me. I don’t know what he wants. I keep saying, “What? What?” He doesn’t give up. Finally, he starts doing twirls. That’s one of his tricks. Now I get it. He wants a treat!
Henry sleeps in my bed. For some reason, he wants me to get up every morning at 6:30. In fact, he insists on it! After he gets me up, he gets in his dog bed and goes back to sleep!
About 9pm he’s ready for bed. He gets his favorite toy and waits for me to put him up on my bed.
In the photo below, Henry is hiding from me because he thinks I’m going out and I’ll put him in the bathroom. Why? Because he saw me put on make-up! (I’m not kidding!)
Below Henry enjoys the electric blanket. (Do you think he’s spoiled?)
Every day at 4:00 pm he thinks he is supposed to get a special treat. Trust me, he won’t give up until he gets it. When my son was keeping Henry for a couple of days he forgot to give him his 4:00 treat. Henry literally went and got the bag of treats!
Henry knows what it means to persevere. He wants what he wants and he never tires until he gets it. Watching him reminds me that perseverance is effective. God reminds me that if Henry can persevere, so can I! So can you!
I hope that adding a little humor to this admonition will give you a laugh and help you to be as persevering as Henry!
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3 NIV
“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.” James 1:12 NIV
“…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;” 2 Peter 1:5-6 NIV
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
I heard Aaron’s first seizure at 12:38 this morning. The second was at 2:37. As I often say, Aaron would appreciate that I am using the precise time.
Not long after 4:00 I heard him rustling. It wasn’t a seizure. I listened and knew that he was out of bed. He went to the bathroom and then back to his room. I heard his door close.
I got up and went to his room, fairly sure of what I would find. He had changed his pajamas and was getting ready to climb back into bed. Read the rest of the story here.
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Read my page Who Is Jesus?
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 NIV Read full chapter
Persevere: to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement (Dictionary.com)
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
“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.” James 1:12 NIV Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
If I’m going to call my blog “REAL Christian Women”, I’m going to have to get real, right?
So I’m going to tell you about a time, not too long ago, when God felt far away. It seemed like my faith was losing steam, and my zeal and enthusiasm for God were draining away. Have you ever felt like that?
Satan was putting discouraging thoughts in my mind. I kept hearing this: “Who do you think you are?”
I couldn’t feel God. I didn’t feel like praying. I didn’t even feel like going to church. I didn’t feel like reading my Bible. I just wanted to watch TV, play games on my ipad, and eat junk food.
But instead, I did pray (although without emotion). I did go to church. I did read my Bible. And I continued to write my blog. I went through the motions; all the while Satan whispered lies in my ear. (Who do you think you are? You can’t write a Christian blog!) At the time, I was ashamed because I thought they were my thoughts!
But Jesus said, “When (Satan) lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44.
Satan is also called “the accuser”.
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” Revelation 12:10 NIV (emphasis mine)
But then God . . .
Then, one Sunday morning in church, we sang, Jesus Draw Me Nearer by Keith Getty. As I sang the words, I knew God was explaining things to me.
May this journey bring a blessing, May I rise on wings of faith; And at the end of my heart’s testing, With Your likeness let me wake.
God was testing my heart! I realized that God was making me stronger. If I lost all emotion, all feeling and joy, would I still pray? Would I still read His Word? Would I still serve Him?
Yes, Lord. I will. Let me pass the test. Make my heart pure. Make me strong.
Did God let Satan test me? I think He did. Once I realized that I was in a test, I became stronger because I knew those thoughts of doubt were lies from Satan. I knew God wanted to make me stronger.
So the next time God seems far away or something happens that you don’t understand – maybe you’re taking the same test. Maybe God is making you stronger!
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV
Persevere: to maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly (Dictionary.com)
“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.” Proverbs 17:3 NIV
I am thankful for my church and my pastors, especially my Minister of Music, Ricky Clark, who always seems to be leading us in a song that is straight from the heart of God.
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
“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.” James 1:12 NIV Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
I want to tell you about a time, not long ago, when I felt like God was far away.
I felt like my faith was losing steam and my zeal and enthusiasm for God were draining away.
Satan was putting doubts in my mind. I kept hearing this: “Who do you think you are?”
I couldn’t feel God. I didn’t feel like praying. I didn’t even feel like going to church. I didn’t feel like reading my Bible. I just wanted to watch TV, play games on my ipad, and eat junk food.
But instead, I did pray (although without emotion). I did go to church. I did read my Bible. And I continued to write my blog. I went through the motions; all the while Satan whispered lies in my ear. (Who do you think you are? You can’t write a Christian blog!) At the time, I was ashamed because I thought they were my thoughts!
But Jesus said, “When (Satan) lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44. Satan is also called the accuser of the brethren. (See Revelation 12:10)
But then God . . .
Then, in church, we sang, Jesus Draw Me Nearer by Keith Getty. As I sang the words, I knew God was explaining things to me.
May this journey bring a blessing, May I rise on wings of faith; And at the end of my heart’s testing, With Your likeness let me wake.
God was testing my heart! I realized that God was making me stronger. If I lost all emotion, all feeling and joy, would I still pray? Would I still read His Word? Would I still serve Him?
Yes, Lord. I will. Let me pass the test. Make my heart pure. Make me strong.
Did God let Satan test me? I think He did. Once I realized that I was in a test, I became strong because I knew those thoughts of doubt were lies from Satan. I knew God wanted to make me stronger.
So the next time God seems far away or something happens that you don’t understand – maybe you’re taking the same test. Maybe God is making you stronger!
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV
“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.” Proverbs 17:3 NIV
I am thankful for my church and my pastors, especially my Minister of Music, Ricky Clark, who always seems to be leading us in a song that is straight from the heart of God.
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Romans 3:3-5 NLT
With Love, Cindy
Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?
Real Christian Women 