Count it all what?

James 1:2-5, NKJV
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

This has become one of my favorite Bible passages.  The "count it all joy" part used to frustrate me until it clicked what James is teaching here. God will give me the wisdom I need in trials.  With this knowledge, that end from beginning, if I ask, I'll be given the wisdom to go through a trial, I have freedom to enjoy the process. 

I've mentioned before that I wanted to be a scientist.  It's fun to me, now that I understand the wisdom available for me in trials, to explore the testing of my faith which produces patience.  I can observe patience having its perfect work.  It's like watching something captivating happen under a microscope, only I get to experience it from the inside out.  The end is always a victory but the process requires a path of growth that fascinates me.

The quicker I remember to embrace God's available wisdom, the quicker the transition to joy during a trial comes.

I love this life!

Copyright 2011  Leah Lambert Smith

Balance

There is an understanding, a passion that is far to one side and there is an understanding, a passion that is far to the other side.  Balance is not in the middle.  Balance is in weaving it all together as a whole.  None of the understanding and passion is lost; it is simply complete.


I love this life.

Perspective

The Pink Elephant:


It looms large between us filling the room.

He feeds it every day, tries to clean up after it. 

He smiles and gives me a glass of tea.  The niceties that are put forth seem tiny compared to the elephant’s massive size. 

Don’t you see you have to reach around a pink elephant to share a glass of tea with me?

Of course he sees the elephant but knows the situation is too large for him to handle.  So, he reaches around and gives me a glass of tea. 

Only Jesus can handle an elephant like that.  In fact, He already has. 

The pink elephant no longer dominates my vision.  I’m free to see the beauty of my friend.  Free to appreciate the massive size of his love as we share tea.

I love this life - Leah

Who am I?

Who am I Lord that you would care for me?

It sounds so humble.

Why speak sometimes as if the moment I was born again is the first time God was aware of me?  He created me!   He sees me as His own.  He has known and loved me always, and will know and love me always.  The love He has for me just is.  There is no past or future to it. 

He cares for me because that is who He is. He chooses to care for me.

Understanding this frees me from the perception that I need to measure up for God to care for me. 

Who am I? 

I am the beloved of the Lord God Almighty!    

I love this life!  I live in the freedom of His unconditional love.

God loves me.  He just loves me.