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“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into
divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and
entire, wanting nothing.”-- James 1:2-4 (KJV)
Patience
(replaced with “perseverance” in some editions of the Bible) is a difficult
concept. Drivers don’t like to be delayed. That can lead to road rage. One
click of a button can order us almost anything. We don’t even have to move from
our seat.
Is
this healthy? Does an easy, even lazy, life prepare us for future challenges?
Uh, no. Absolutely not. It can lead us to become addicted to comfort.
An easy life moves nobody forward.
Choices
and consequences have molded each of us into who we are today. Each person goes
through challenging times that can also smooth over their rough edges. Please
enjoy the examples below:
“Sometimes He Lets It Rain” (lyrics taken from shelsi-eric.blogspot.com)
She
sees the storm clouds gather
The
sky is turning cold and gray
She
knows that something's coming
When
she starts to feel this way
She
pleads for intervention
But
heaven offers no relief
And
she would understand if she could only see that
Sometimes
He lets it rain
He
lets the fierce winds blow
Sometimes
it takes a storm
To
lead a heart where it can grow
He
can move mountains of grief
And
oceans of pain
But
sometimes he lets it rain
When
her heart surrenders
To
the Master in control
Her
spirit learns the lessons of the tempest in her soul
When
it's no longer raging
She
can see how far she's come
Through
the wisdom and the mercy of the Son
Sometimes
He lets it rain
He
lets the fierce winds blow
Sometimes
it takes a storm
To
lead a heart where it can grow
He
can move mountains of grief
And
oceans of pain
But
sometimes he lets it rain
(Tyler
Castleton/ Staci Peters)
Vocal:
Kathryn Nelson
Also
found on the 2002 Stephanie Hill album, Promise
Venus Flytrap
All
living organisms have a need for struggle and growth. Motivational speaker John
Bytheway speaks here
about these carnivorous plants:
- True sunlight
- Pure water
- Adversity (This plant needs to be put outside during cold weather. If a person tries to protect it from the cold and keeps it inside, the Venus Flytrap will die. Winter strengthens it. The plant appears to be dead on top, but the root system is still alive and offering protection. The rest of the plant comes back to life at the end of the cold season.)
Caterpillar/butterfly
This is one of the most familiar changes
in the animal kingdom. The struggle involved in the process may be less well known.
Emerging butterflies need to struggle to get out of the
cocoon, or they won’t have the strength to fly.
Their bodies remain swollen with fluid, and their wings don’t have the
necessary power. Please see a sweet story on the subject entitled, “Struggle is
good! I want to fly!” here:
My Conclusion
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also
glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are
not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”-- .”--
Romans 8:17-18 (KJV)
******************************
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when
he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised
to them that love him.”-- James 1:12 (KJV)
Do you want to fly? If so, how hard are you willing to work?
c
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