23 Mar 2010, Posted by spittingimage in General, No Comments.

Trials and Tribulations

As
I write this entry, I have just returned from a four night business conference
and had the pleasure in being able to take my wife. What I find interesting is when you are
trying to take that step and walk by faith where the littlest things (things =
attacks and trials) come from. I will
not bore you with the details, but I can honestly say that I am not surprised
by the circumstance. Here is the thing,
when we are attacked we cannot control the situation, but we can decide on how
we are going to respond to that attack.
The Book James put is like this: “James
1:2-4 (New International Version) “2Consider
it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you
know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must
finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I like the saying that says we cannot control
our days or what happens every hour, but we can make a cognitive decision about
how we let our attitudes dictate the course of our action. For instance, I was blindsided today by someone
who I would never have guessed could give into rage and/or lack hospitality,
but nothing will surprise me anymore given today’s course of events. I could have chosen to respond in a very
negative way, or I can take the words of James and put things into the bigger
picture.

Here
is the thing, we are going to make mistakes, it is not the sin nor the mistakes
we make that marks the type of Christian we are. Rather, it is the course of action and
attitude that we chart our path through the course. I could have chosen the path that leads to
anger, which leads to rage, which would be followed up by more sin, or I can
choose to weigh my response and to consider it pure joy when trials and
tribulations come my way. I thank God
that He is patient with a sinner like me and that He gives me mercy and grace
to not only say that I am forgiven, but to also say that I am a child of
God. I am royalty and I need to accept
that things are this earth will come and pass us by, but we should be training
for the long race ahead and be asking ourselves, “how do you plan on finishing
this race. The Christian race where
others in your paths will ask you where your hope comes from and how your life
is different from theirs?

No
matter what curveball life throws at you, next time take a step back and
reflect (say a little prayer) and ask God to guide you through His Holy Spirit
and to make your path straight and your footsteps sound. To God be the glory, forever and ever,
amen!!!