Archive for July 16th, 2008

Yesterday I was talking with one of our family friends and I made a statement that made her stop and say wow you should right that down.  And I guess I should of because I don’t remember exactly what it was now…but it was something to the effect of the fact that since God works through our flaws to make the amazing happen (so that He can get the glory and not us) that He has a lot of things He could do with in my life.

And I begin to sit and think about this and how in some regards that could be taken as an arrogant statement but I truly did not mean it in that manner.  I really meant it with a heart that understands how tainted and ugly my life is in comparison to God’s standards.  I struggle with issues that I know God has been dealing with me for years on and yet I still allow sin to creep into my life.  And I know that as you read this you can probably identify that same area in your life that it is been hard for you to give up.

Well know here is the place that we need to get to and I really just began to understand yesterday.  As I was praying with my son before bedtime as I do every night, I had a joy come over me or better yet described as a peace that I knew was from God.  It came over me just as I was praying for all of the concerns that were on my heart and that God would take care of and prevail on.  The peace was not a peace that God was going to fix them instantly but yet a joy during the tribulation because I know that God is going to make me into a better person and a far better vessel that can be used for His glory.  And I believe that is what James meant with:

James 1:2 (New International Version)

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

See there is joy in trials because God is using this trial to make you into a better person…a more usable person!  And isn’t that where our heart should be as a Christian is that we want to be the best tool possible.  Have you ever gone to Silver Dollar City or Williamsburg and watched the old blacksmith work a piece of iron.  It takes a lot of fire and hammering before that iron is anything useful.  So keep your joy, the trial maybe hard and it may hurt but it is for your benefit and for God’s glory in the end!

On a side note, as you may have noticed from yesterday’s blog that I moved the website and thought I had lost all of my blogs, all my email, and all of my wife’s email, however the Lord is good and I have been able to recover it all.

So as always remember to give thanks in all and God Bless ~ Tyler