"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patients..." (Jame 1:2-3). Tests, trials, tribulations, and suffering. We all know them well. We will all, as children of God, go through them. "Indeed, all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12). They slowly conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. Without them we remain stagnant, stop growing, and can even fall backwards. They keep us close to God by seeking Him in prayer. I am just an ordinary man. No different than any other believer. But the Lord mindful of me and smiled on me and said it was time for more trails, tests, and suffering to bring me closer to Him. It has been over a year now, and He has lead me through more than I could have ever imagined. I would never wish this on anyone! In the past year, I lost my wife, my family, my possessions. My health was taken from me. I now have a heart condition also. I should be with our Lord now but He said "not yet"! I sometimes feel like Job. A dear sister said to me that the Lord gives His hardest trials to His strongest soldiers! But I have seen how frail and weak I really am. He has humbled me greatly. But I have no strength within myself. It is HIS strength that sustains me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears mush fruit, FOR APART FROM ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING." (John 15:5). So stop looking to the counsel of the world and friends for understanding these things and deliverance from the. They will cease when His will for us is completed in these things. Seek always His will and purpose first and always...He will never turn you away. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3: 5-6).
So why do we suffer so greatly as beloved children of our Father in heaven? There are many reasons. But the most important is this: "These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:7). Yes I suffered, and I am still being refined by His fire. And I thank God for it. Even though I don't fully understand it...I TRUST Him! "TRUST in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5). "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19). In all my trials, tests, and suffering, He has sustained me. I have clothes on my back; He feeds me; He shelters me! And so He will with all of His children. "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will NEVER let the righteous be shaken." (Psalm 55:22). Without the Lord I would have surely been shaken and overtaken by these times if I looked to myself. But, he would not let me fall! His hand is on me...on us...at all times. Keep your eyes on the prize! Because He tells us this: "And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will HIMSELF restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Peter 5:10).
I write this to you because we must not be fooled by the enemy that we will not suffer as followers for Christ Jesus. So I want to repeat His Word's: "Indeed, all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12). And as brethren, we are all here to help, support and comfort each other in His Word's. Giving us an unshakable hope and faith.
God bless you all and stay the path He has set before you. Lean on Him always...trust Him...Love Him!
"And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will HIMSELF restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Peter 5:10).
So why do we suffer so greatly as beloved children of our Father in heaven? There are many reasons. But the most important is this: "These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:7). Yes I suffered, and I am still being refined by His fire. And I thank God for it. Even though I don't fully understand it...I TRUST Him! "TRUST in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5). "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19). In all my trials, tests, and suffering, He has sustained me. I have clothes on my back; He feeds me; He shelters me! And so He will with all of His children. "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will NEVER let the righteous be shaken." (Psalm 55:22). Without the Lord I would have surely been shaken and overtaken by these times if I looked to myself. But, he would not let me fall! His hand is on me...on us...at all times. Keep your eyes on the prize! Because He tells us this: "And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will HIMSELF restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Peter 5:10).
I write this to you because we must not be fooled by the enemy that we will not suffer as followers for Christ Jesus. So I want to repeat His Word's: "Indeed, all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12). And as brethren, we are all here to help, support and comfort each other in His Word's. Giving us an unshakable hope and faith.
God bless you all and stay the path He has set before you. Lean on Him always...trust Him...Love Him!
"And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will HIMSELF restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Peter 5:10).
**Prayer Updates:**
**Prayer Board Update!** 
Let's lift up 
In Jesus' Name.
** Let's lift up 
