One of the first Scriptures I have ever memorized is one that has stuck with me for 20 years. It reminds me to get perspective in tough times and to see with different eyes because of the goodness of God. Here are those verses:
James 1:2-4 (NASB) --- Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Why did I memorize it? Someone gave me a tape of an awesome preacher that I thought a lot of (he has since fallen big time). I listened to that sermon over and over and found the concepts of the verses etched in me, in my heart.
They tell us that trials will come our way, and that we need to be ready for them because the results will be OK and even for our good. Can we humans handle that? Some can. Some can't. But God's plan for us is perfect. That is where the Bible comes into play. It give us perspective. These verses do that.
Strange thing about these verses is where they are placed. My life verse is the one right after them. James 1:5 says this: If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. (nlt) They are linked by the page and reference and by how they have impacted my life and others by sharing them. God has used and will use His truth to change us and re-charge us. The Bible is built for that.
Do we have perspective? Much like the famous milk ads (GOT MILK?) is the question I pose to us today. Got perspective? So many times, we don't and we don't want it either. Yet, here is our gracious and giving God preparing us for times that will try us, test us and then turn us around. How we get perspective will change how we look at and live life.
Mark Batterson in his book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day put those thoughts like this (page 72):
"July, 23, 2000, could have been and should have been the date on my death certificate. And I wouldn't wish what I went through on anybody. But I've discovered that the worst days can actually turn out to be our best days if we learn the lessons God is trying to teach us. He wants us to learn to see bad experiences through the good we have gained from them."
James 1:2-4 (NASB) --- Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Why did I memorize it? Someone gave me a tape of an awesome preacher that I thought a lot of (he has since fallen big time). I listened to that sermon over and over and found the concepts of the verses etched in me, in my heart.
They tell us that trials will come our way, and that we need to be ready for them because the results will be OK and even for our good. Can we humans handle that? Some can. Some can't. But God's plan for us is perfect. That is where the Bible comes into play. It give us perspective. These verses do that.
Strange thing about these verses is where they are placed. My life verse is the one right after them. James 1:5 says this: If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. (nlt) They are linked by the page and reference and by how they have impacted my life and others by sharing them. God has used and will use His truth to change us and re-charge us. The Bible is built for that.
Do we have perspective? Much like the famous milk ads (GOT MILK?) is the question I pose to us today. Got perspective? So many times, we don't and we don't want it either. Yet, here is our gracious and giving God preparing us for times that will try us, test us and then turn us around. How we get perspective will change how we look at and live life.
Mark Batterson in his book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day put those thoughts like this (page 72):
"July, 23, 2000, could have been and should have been the date on my death certificate. And I wouldn't wish what I went through on anybody. But I've discovered that the worst days can actually turn out to be our best days if we learn the lessons God is trying to teach us. He wants us to learn to see bad experiences through the good we have gained from them."
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