01.28.10

My heart is very full right now. I am reading many things, just not much time to write them here. I'll start with the passage that has stayed with me all week from a sermon Sunday night. From James 1 starting with verse 2:

Consider it all you, my brethren,
when you encounter various trial,
knowing that the testing of your faith
produces endurance.
And let endurance have its perfect result,
so that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking nothing.

I have to comment here about endurance. This word did not mean much to me until last September, as I am not an enduring person of late. But, I trained for eleven weeks for a sprint triathlon last year. How much better I understand this athletic language now! I trained six days a week almost without fail. I added a little more distance or laps each time until by the day of the triathlon I knew I could swim, bike and run the distances of the race. God really taught me a lot about preparation and sticking to something til the finish.

But if any of you lacks wisdom,
let him ask of God,
who gives to all generously
and without reproach,
and it will be given to him.

But he must ask in faith
without any doubting,
for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea,
driven and tossed the wind.

So, I have lacked much wisdom in understanding the workings of this world and the people around me. I had not been asking for wisdom! How often do we think we do not know what to pray...but here, James tells us unequivocally, "PRAY FOR WISDOM". But, then comes the hard part..."ask...without any doubting". This is where I have to pray, "Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief!" Jesus promised that in this world we would have troubles, but to take heart, because HE has overcome the world!!!