A Life of Gratitude

  Recently I was talking to a friend and a memory instantly popped into my mind. God often uses my kids to teach me things and that memory taught me something, once again. My daughter and I used to have matching t-shirts that said, “Besties.” One day we were wearing the shirts (before she grew out of hers) when she looked at my shirt and pointed to the period after the word "Bestie." She asked, "What's that, Mommy?" I responded, "That's a period." She looked up joyfully and said, "No, that's a polka dot!" I love those sweet little words, "No, that's a polka dot." There are times when it feels as if things are hopeless or have come to an end. When we aren't sure if we heard God correctly or maybe think we've missed the mark. It can feel like there's a big period at the end of a dream, a goal, or a relationship. I’ve recently been praying over a situation that seems a though a big period has been slapped on it.

"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 This verse feels a little off, doesn't it? Facing trials of many kinds doesn't just naturally lead to pure joy. As I read this verse today, I realized it doesn't say, " feel  pure joy." Instead, it says, " consider it pure joy."  The definition of the word consider  is: to  think carefully about something, typically before making a decision or to  regard something as having a specified quality. If we consider those definitions, James isn't saying that trials of many kinds will be joyful, he is saying that we should think carefully about our trials before we make up our minds about them. He is even requesting that we regard our trials as having that specific quality---joy.  Wh

Life is hard. As humans we face so many difficult, heart-ripping circumstances that make it almost impossible to move forward. Trying to reconcile why things happen or make sense of the messes we find ourselves in can be entirely overwhelming. Whether we are being affected by things out of our control, combating personal sins and temptations, or we’re suffering devastation caused by the sins of others, God’s Word has the prescription for moving forward. 1.  We must strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. 2.  Run the race God has set before us. Not limping through but running with endurance. 3.   3.  We must keep our eyes on Jesus, the One who initiates and perfects our faith.   Regardless of what we are facing, this prescription is a guarantee. God tells us to strip off every weight that slows us down. When a bed is stripped, all of these sheets, blankets, and pillows are removed. The bed is completely bare. That is what God w