A Mark of Maturity - Faith in Trials

There's so much going on in the lives of other people - people we know who are going through trials and pain.  A couple adopted triplets and one passed away....the other two fighting to survive, surrounded by loving and caring parents, family, and hospital staff.  A two month old baby diagnosed with leukemia, beginning treatments today.  A middle-aged former-coach of mine having a heart attack and in critical condition.

It's easy to get down about these trials, even if they are not in our lives, but in the lives of others. It's easy to begin to think that everything is bad, and that there's nothing good...that it's all pain, but no joy. But, you don't have to look very far to see good.  People helping people by giving financially to help others in a time of need, people preparing meals to hungry teenagers or for a basketball tournament hospitality room, people helping clean up a basketball gym so that the cleaning personnel doesn't have to do it alone, or with only a couple of helpers.  There is good all around, despite the sadness and heartache.

As a Christian, one of the key marks of maturity is found in the trials of life.  When we are able to see beyond the pain of a situation, and keep focused on our strong faith in God, even when we may be hurting inside, that is when we will know that our faith is mature - or at least maturing.  When we may want to fall apart, we don't, because we are clinging to The One who can make us strong and help us cope.  We can do nothing on our own, but we have power in Him.  Our trials come to prove our genuine faith.  It comes so that we will give praise, glory and honor to Him.  If we 'fall apart', we're not showing our faith in God to a lost world, and we're not proving to Him that we believe He will do what He says He will do.  We have to learn to say, "The LORD is my strength.  My heart trusts in him, and I am helped."

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 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 1:6-7

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:1

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.  The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

Psalm 28:7-8

Nothing's Too Big for God!

From time to time, when people are going through various struggles, I hear or see (on Facebook) others "encourage" them, telling them that God won't give them more than they can handle.  I always read that wondering why that is what many in the world believe.  I think the scripture that this fallacy is referring to is 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

A few days ago, this picture came across Facebook.  It explains what the Bible teaches in a great way. Instead of the emphasis being on ME or on YOU, the emphasis is where it belongs - on GOD.  WE can't possibly handle everything we might be given - there is no way you and I could handle some things alone. Only with GOD are we able to make it through the pains and trials that may come and will come in life.  

GOD gives us the strength we need.  GOD carries us through those times.  GOD handles the tough times for us if we will allow Him to do so.  He WANTS us to rely on HIM and not on ourselves.  Perhaps that is why He is allowing us to go through a certain trial.  Maybe He's trying to show us that HE is there and we don't have to do it alone.  

The LORD give strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. Psalm 29:11

God - Our Protector

This is Lucy. She is a Great Pyrenees and serves as a guard dog for some of our goats. Lucy is friendly and will let us pet her, but is very protective of the goats, especially the little ones. One of the little goats had to have a shot last week. My husband said Lucy cried the whole time he was working with the little goat. Isn't that sweet?


These little goats just lie around and jump up and down on the hay bales. They even get on Lucy and play on top of her. They don't know she's there to guard them. They sense no danger.


Unfortunately, sometimes there is danger. Little foxes like to sneek up during the night and get baby goats. We saw several last spring and occassionally a little goat would disappear. But, not since Lucy has been around! She is doing her job by protecting the goats.

Sometimes we are like these little goats...completely unaware of danger that may be lurking nearby. But we read in the Bible that Satan trys to snatch us - catch us off guard. He wants to harm us - just like the predators that try to get baby goats. 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

But God is ready to protect us. As Christians, He is our Shepherd. He is willing and able to help us, if we will rely on Him.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear...Psalm 46:1-2a

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Thank you, God, for protecting me and strengthening me - even when I don't realize I'm in danger.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

EEEEK!!! A Mouse!

A month ago....I thought I saw something run across the floor. I actually thought it was a big spider. A few days later I saw a few mouse droppings and immediately called hubby and asked him to get some traps. He got the traps and put them out a few days later. That very night we caught a little mouse! We put another trap out for a few weeks, but never had any more trouble, so took it out.

Yesterday morning....I was making the kid's lunches for school and went into the pantry, which is in our laundry room. My son, Zachary, and hubby were in the laundry room, too. As I opened up the pantry, out came a little mouse!"EEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!!!!!! A MOUSE!!!"I screamed and the little mouse ran out and OVER my son's foot - YUCK!!!! Immediately hubby went to get another trap and sat it out. I was expecting to catch the mouse last night, but we haven't - yet.

But here's the problem.....hubby is out of town for a few days. If the little mouse gets in the trap, what am I going to do?????? I don't know if I can take it out. Maybe I could talk one of the kids into doing it for me, you think??? Maybe we can pick a number and the looser has to take it out. That seems fair, doesn't it??? We'll see.

God will give us strength in times of need - even if I end up having to take out a mouse :).

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 41:10