Monday, May 16, 2011

Keep your Head up: James 1:1-12

  I know that sometimes spirits get down and some of you are struggling with things that others can't even imagine.  I just want to encourage you with God's Word, after all, it is our foundation and authority.  In James 1:2-4 James tells his readers to count it joy when they go through trials.  Now I will be the first to admit that this is easier said than done.  He goes on to tell them that the trials bring endurance to make us complete.  He then goes on in verse 5 to tell them if they lack wisdom in the midst of the trials to go to God Who will give that wisdom generously.  It is okay to question God with the right questions;  What are you going to teach me through this Lord?  How can you use this for your glory?  He then goes on to say in verse 12 that the one who perseveres is blessed and will receive "the crown of life which is promised to those who love Him."  There are many applications that we can take away from this as we all go through trials.  My goal was not to be "preachy" but rather to build you all up.  I hope this is received in the spirit that I am typing it.  Remember that God values you so keep your hands to the plow as you do what God has for you.  Also know that it is through trials that He molds us to His image.  You never know how your example in the midst of a trial can impact others.

Grace and Peace
Fundamentals

19 comments:

  1. It is saying that we should look to God and ask how he can use tough times in our life to his advantage

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  2. Ember- alot of times I feel discouraged when things of events don't go perfectly. I know that almost everyone (me included) needs to be asking in tough situations: how can God use me through this? Is my heart open and willing for God? Are other people seeing a diffrence in the way I handle this, versus others? Are my actions representing God? I,WE, need to be asking these questions alot more of ourselves. Think, if everyone in Lakewood Park middle school were to just spend the rest of this year complementing each other and building them up we would be a rock solid group of teenagers!!

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  3. Connor- ya....... we should always look to GOD, as He is always there for us. we should set an example for the people around us by making and doing the right thing. and God uses us but we have to be open to him using us.

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  4. ~ i agree completely with everything Ember said! Sometimes we get so caught up in our own way of how we think things should turn/work out! we need to just stop worrying and step back and let God take COMPLETE control over the situation. We need to trust Him! He's GOD He knows what He is doing!!

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  5. we should alwas go to God in prayer when we are in a hole. We should be make a good example for the yonger people so that they follow the right thing.

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  6. It made me think that we should spend more time thinking about what went good in a situation than what went bad. Because sometimes when something goes wrong we get to disapointed that we dont look to what really went good.

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  7. - I have to agree with Mary and Ember! We should ALWAYS turn to God first because He is the only one who can solve our problems and He takes complete control over EVERYTHING! <3 Gabi

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  8. i love knowing that even in hard times and when we feel that no one is on our side, God is always there!! no matter how hard times get, we can always count on God and he will help us. we can go to God for advice and know that he will never lead us astray. God has complete control over everything, even when we feel as though we know what would be best for us. it kind of reminds me of Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

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  9. although i am not going through anything right now, i found this post very encouraging. and now i know what to verses to go to look for advise when something does come along...thank you for posting this!!!

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  10. We need to be positive in our rough times and know everything happens for a reason.. we need to trust in God and what he is doing and let God be in control! -Kendall :D <3

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  11. I Agree with everyone we need to do at our best abilities

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  12. I agree... I feel like a fool alot and i need to go to God alot more.

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  13. ya i sa a good example of that tonight with my granpa. well he is the most active person i know so sitting still in a hospitil for a month is not ideal. for the first few weeks u could tell that he was really not liking it but then he started praying for other situations and he was content.but know he is keeping his head up and trying everything he can do to get out by friday even though he probly wonttill monday. if he can pray for stuff in that situuation i think we can pray atall times and keep our head held high.

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  14. This is a great encouragement. It reminds me that God will always listen to me and teach me through any situation.

    ~Kayla~

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  15. i agree we need to take on trials and temtations and learn from are mistakes if we mess up, because after all they are just tests we have to face and over come.

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  16. God's got great timing with me. He knew that i needed to read this. I am still facing a 'raging sea' that i've tried to control, but i knew i couldn't. i knew that i had to give this all to God, but i was too stubborn to let go.
    But, when i did let go, God helped me see a new way out. I need to look at the positives of this situation, because i know that they're there. When i look at the positives, God shows me a reason why this is happening. With my situation, he showing me how to become a better friend.

    What does HE show YOU?

    -sarah ledger

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  17. i feel like i am always questioning God, and i sometimes worry that God will eventually just get sick of me and get bugged by me. But He promises, "I will never leave you," period. that simple. that is what i, and everyone else, has to hold on to, that He will ALWAYS be by our side, through every trial, hard times, great times, mellow times....all the time.

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  18. it is ok to quiston God. i sometimes feel like He is ignoring me. He has just probubly allready answered my quiston, or is going to in the future. NEVER GIVE UP ON GOD.

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  19. If I face a trial I will pray and come to him. God will mold me to be Christ like and persevere through tuff times. Next time when I have difficult times, I will question God because he wants me to come to him. Recently I had a difficult time and I didn't go to God. That got me in a mess.

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