"COUNT IT ALL JOY!"

James 1:2-4                          (ESV)

"2 "COUNT IT ALL JOY", my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

There is very little to be happy about when you are going through trials or temptations.  Remembering the guilt and shame of my younger years, wallowing in muck and mire of sinful desires, did not seem very productive at the time.  I had a pastor friend who used to say that "Sin will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay"!  The truth in those words cannot be overstated as proven in many obituaries over the years.  

The author of the book of James is believed to have been the half-brother of JESUS.  One would think that if anyone would have believed that JESUS was the CHRIST it would have been those who grew up with HIM.  But James reportedly was not a "believer" until AFTER the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of JESUS.  James had to go through unbelief just like everyone else.  But his period of unbelief brought about a strong resolve that JESUS was the CHRIST, WHO came into the world as a propitiation for all the sins of mankind.

To "COUNT IT ALL JOY" when you are in the midst of trials and temptations is not the "natural" thing to do.  It is quiet easy to welcome the "woe is me" syndrome as we are faced with difficulties.  But James instructs us to "COUNT IT ALL JOY" because the struggles we experience will develop us into vessels that will ultimately glorify GOD in all we do.  When we "COUNT IT ALL JOY" in the face of various kinds of trials we are acknowledging that GOD is in control and we are only here to glorify HIM!

Being worthy to glorify GOD is not something that any of us should gloat in.  To have been CHOSEN to be a Child of the KING is an honor above all other honors, but none of us have done anything deserving of this honor!  When we are being put through the purifying fire we need to remember to "COUNT IT ALL JOY", as we are demonstrating that GOD's grace is enough!  We are not called be elevated in "this world" that will pass away (1 John 2:16-17).  We are called to "COUNT IT ALL JOY" when we have the opportunity to suffer for HIS sake!!

"EYE HATH NOT SEEN!"

1 Corinthians 2:7-9                       (KJV)

"7 But we speak the wisdom of GOD in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which GOD ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of "this world" knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the LORD of Glory.

9 But as it is written, "EYE HATH NOT SEEN", nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which GOD hath prepared for them that love HIM."

Eight years ago today my mom celebrated what would be her last birthday on this earth.  The woman who gave birth to me, changed my diapers, nursed me when I was ill, and nurtured me like no other, didn't even know she was ill until February 05, 2008.  On that day my doctor turned to her and said "Miss Alice, I don't have as good of news for you.  You have stage 4 Breast Cancer"!  She slipped out of "this world" 22 days later with very little fanfare from "this world".  But in the next world her eyes were made to see things she had never seen before!  

Eight years ago today I was brought out of a 17-day medically induced coma!  Since waking on July 09, 2007, my brain had experienced a hemorrhage that statistics show are 80% fatal!  Most of you have heard this story before and are familiar with my recovery that includes no physical "deficits".  But you have to understand that this is a story that never gets old FOR ME! 

You see, I see this as GOD working in my life an indescribable WORK, a WORK that only HE can receive glory for.  The same physician who told my mom she had cancer wrote in my medical records in September 2007 "However, he has had a remarkable recovery that can only be defined as a miracle from GOD"!  A few years later when I inquired of my doctor how he would have PROJECTED the outcome would play out, he said he thought "IF" I made it out of the hospital that I would live in a nursing home for a period of time and eventually die there.  My doctor is a great man of faith, but the "evidence" he was presented with painted a pretty bleak prognosis!  

Just as my doctor would have NEVER dreamed my recovery would be so complete eight years later, mankind cannot SEE how GOD can do the things HE does!  If they could HE wouldn't be much of a GOD to celebrate!  My doctor of 29 years is a devout Christian and he has seen GOD work many miracles, but he didn't SEE me recovering nearly as well as I have.  I didn't work any harder at my rehabilitation than others, but GOD had HIS HAND on me and that makes all the difference in the world.  No my friends, "EYE HATH NOT SEEN" what GOD is capable of, so don't ever limit what you think GOD can accomplish!  

"AND I WILL DO IT!"

Isaiah 46:8-11                 (ESV)

"8 REMEMBER THIS AND STAND FIRM, recall it to mind, you transgressors, 

9 remember the former things of old; FOR I AM GOD, and THERE IS NO OTHER; I am GOD, and THERE IS NONE LIKE ME, 

10 declaring the end from the  beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'MY counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all MY purpose,' 

11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, "AND I WILL DO IT!"

Isaiah 41:-10                  (ESV)

"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your GOD; I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU, I will help you, I will uphold you with MY righteous right hand."

One of the hardest verses in the Holy Bible for me to read is Psalms 27:14, "Wait for the LORD"!    Patience has never been a virtue of mine.  The phrase "making something happen" should have been my part of my name as I have always had a tendency to be doing something, "even if it's wrong"!  The thing is, when GOD desires to do a work in your life, HE generally requires no assistance!

When the children of Israel were about to cross the Red Sea in Exodus 14:14, GOD told them "The LORD will fight for you, and YOU HAVE ONLY TO BE SILENT!"  GOD will not share HIS glory with anything or anyone (Isaiah 42:8)!  HE only requires us to be obedient to HIM.  One of my biggest challenges has been moving TOO FAST to be able to hear from GOD.  Sometimes GOD uses strange and drastic things in our lives to accomplish HIS Plan.  Being able to recognize HIM, and HIS working in our lives, is a vital part of following HIM.

GOD is GOD and the only thing HE cannot do is be unholy.  In everything HE is Holy and good.  The thing is, mankind sometimes can't see HIS Holiness because we are inherently wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).  But we can't be "good enough" on our own, we have to TRUST IN HIM and HIS saving abilities.  No matter what GOD assigns you to perform, know that with HIM "ALL THINGS" are possible (Matthew 19:26) and HE doesn't require assistance from me!

"AND I WILL DO IT" is not a conditional promise.  The fact is in the next two verses GOD declares ""Listen to me, YOU STUBBORN OF HEART, you who are far from righteousness: I bring near MY righteousness; it is not far off, and MY salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel MY glory."  Not because Israel was worthy of anything, but because of HIS glory did GOD choose to show HIMSELF to Israel.  

Wanting to see GOD do a work isn't a bad thing.  However, waiting for GOD to work in HIS timing is something we MUST become comfortable with.  When GOD says "AND I WILL DO IT" we don't have to be concerned that HE will not remember.   When the a Creator of the Universes says "AND I WILL DO IT" you can rest assured it will happen.......in HIS timing!!! 

"WHY DO YOU STARE AT US?"

Acts 3:9-16                      (ESV)

"9 And all the people saw him walking and praising GOD,

10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.

12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or "WHY DO YOU STARE AT US", as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?

13 The GOD of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob, the GOD of our fathers, glorified HIS servant JESUS, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he (Pilate) had decided to release HIM.

14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

15 and you killed the Author of life, whom GOD raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

16 And his name-by faith in HIS name-has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through JESUS has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all."

The Jews, nor Romans, nor any other man, killed JESUS.  HE sacrificed HIMSELF on the altar of Calvary as atonement for my sins, for your sins, and the sins of all mankind.  To believe that JESUS was "murdered" would dictate that mankind either was more powerful than GOD or the devil might have won a victory over GOD at sometime in history.  

You have heard me state in my writings that GOD has a Plan.  If this FACT were not true then "fate" or "chance" might play a roll in life's happenings.  We don't have to understand GOD's Plan.  As a matter of fact, HE wouldn't be much of a GOD if humans could figure HIM out and know why HE does everything HE does?  Scripture doesn't tell us to try and figure out why GOD does everything HE does.  However, many times in scripture we are told to TRUST HIM!

Peter and John didn't go to the "Beautiful Gate" of the temple on a mission to show off their healing powers.  As a matter of fact, Peter said I verse 12 that they DIDN'T heal him.  GOD healed this man for HIS OWN Glory!  Peter and John didn't have to understand how or why, only that GOD directed them to assist the man and he was made whole!  

 "WHY DO YOU STARE AT US" was not an indictment on the Jews lack of faith in Peter or John's ability to heal, rather the Jews lack of faith in an invisible GOD being ready and able to work miracles for HIS glory!  GOD is GOD and only HE can do what HE wishes.  Isaiah 46:9-10 says "remember the former things of old; for I am GOD, and there is no other; I am GOD, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I WILL ACCOMPLISH ALL MY PURPOSE".

In the hospital waiting room last Saturday morning a family was waiting for their grandchild to be born, just like we were waiting for ours to be born.  Around mid-day the grandmother walked by and told us their grandchild "did not make it"!  We were dumbfounded!  Sadness, hurt, grief, pity.......a flood of emotions swamped me as I searched for "words" to comfort, but what could I say?  If I had been a Multi-Billionaire I could not have given the family enough money to fill the gaping hole in their hearts and lives!  

Just like Peter and John were being stared upon by the Jews, I found myself JUST STARING upon this grandmother in her position.  WORDS weren't adequate.  When GOD's Plan does fit into our narrative should we try to find a reason or explanation for it?  Should we attempt to find comforting WORDS to aid those in need?  No one wants to be the one saying "WHY DO YOU STARE AT US", and most prefer NOT being the one staring at others!  Sometimes we just have to realize we aren't GOD and we don't have the answer to life's questions.  We might have to just have faith in HIM that HE knows what HE is doing.  HE didn't consult with me before Creating the Universes, and HE doesn't need help from me running HIS Creation!  HE just needs me to worship HIM!!!

"THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM!"

Romans 1:21-23                     (ESV)
"21 For although they knew GOD, "THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM" as GOD or give thanks to HIM, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal GOD for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."



It seems this passage of scripture comes to my mind with a regrettable frequency lately.  Decisions that are being made around "this world" are in direct defiance of the Word of GOD, and the people making these decisions act like they believe they are doing what is best for those involved?  Thus, "they became futile in their in their thinking" makes a bit of sense, although a "sad" sense.

It is really heartbreaking to know that some actually "knew GOD" but have chosen to trust in their own talents and abilities.  GOD gave us all an ability to steer clear of certain problems, but some of our "hearts were darkened" and our actions reflect NO Godly direction.  "THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM" as GOD or give thanks to HIM for even the air they breathe, the water they drank, nor the ability to walk and talk!  Especially our reasoning skills are a blessing that cannot be taken lightly.

If we "claim to be wise" and we "become fools", our decisions may reflect our relationship with The FATHER, and that is a humbling thought!  What becomes more frightful is when when we "become fools" we actually "claim to be wise" THINKING all the time we are doing what is best!  Leading with "no guidance" from ABOVE can be one the the most dangerous and humbling actions known to man.

The main thing that "this world" doesn't do is "THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM" with their actions. GOD is not Honor Bound to bless our actions no matter our intentions.  This may come as a newsflash to some, but we are created to glorify HIM, not glorify ourselves!  GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED!  Isaiah 42:8 says "I am the LORD; that is MY name; MY GLORY I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols".  HEAVENLY FATHER, cause me to GLORIFY YOUR NAME and let YOU be honored by my words.  I pray that "THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM" will never be said of me!

"I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH!"

Isaiah 14:12-15                       (KJV)

"12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of GOD: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; "I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH".

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

"

The enemy, Satan himself, thought he would conquer "this world" and set his eternal domain "into heaven" and be worshipped by those he deceived for ever and ever.  He THOUGHT he would ascend to heaven and assume his kingdom which he imagined to be the biggest and best.  Can you fathom thinking "I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH", only to be "brought down to hell"? 

Keeping our focus on the things of Heaven would seem to be an easy task.  Hebrew 12:2 instructs us that we should be "looking to JESUS, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of GOD".  To understand that the CREATOR of these Universes actually desired to have a personal relationship with a "wretch" like me though sometimes seems a bit far fetched.  To keep our focus off the things of "this world" and on heavenly rewards is even more difficult when we consider who is trying to gain our attention?

The enemy, in all of his craftiness (Genesis 3:1), would like nothing better than to get us to buy into his lie that "I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH".  He wants to carry as many with him to hell as he can, and he is being pretty successful!  Yet we make his job easier when we desire to have our will placed above GOD's will in our lives.  Surrendering to the will of GOD in our lives entails giving up what we want in favor of letting GOD direct our paths.

There are those who believe that they can make wise enough decisions to get them through this life?  "I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH" is the mentality they live with, that is until their bodies become vulnerable to death, disease, or illness.  When we are exposed to the TRUTH and find out that HE is "THE MOST HIGH" then it could be too late.  My prayer is that I continue yielding to JESUS and live a life that acknowledges that HE IS THE MOST HIGH!!!

"CALAMITY!"

Isaiah 45:5-7                      (ESV)

"5 I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no GOD; I equip you, though you do not know ME, 

6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides ME; I am the LORD, AND THERE IS NO OTHER. 

7 I form light and create darkness, I MAKE WELL-BEING AND CREATE "CALAMITY", I am the LORD, WHO does all these things."

There seems to be a misconception that GOD would not cause anything that humans believe is bad for them.  We seem to think that a loving GOD would never do anything we perceive as not good.  But later on in Isaiah 55:8-9 scripture reports "For MY thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways MY ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways and MY thoughts than your thoughts".  To understand that GOD's way are so far beyond what humans consider as "good" is probably beyond even our comprehension.  

We want to believe we know and do what is best in our lives.  But who are we to say what is best when GOD says HE can MAKE WELL-BEING AND CREAT "CALAMITY"!  The word "CALAMITY" has been described as "a disaster; grievous affliction; adversity; misery".  We try to plan for whatever may be ahead in our lives, but when we exclude GOD from our plans we risk "CALAMITY" with no plan!  "CALAMITY" with no plan causes people to either trust in the LORD or trust in themselves.  "CALAMITY" with a plan (and Planner) simply becomes a inconvenience!  

When our trust is in the LORD "CALAMITY" only means GOD has an opportunity to display HIS power and might, for us to believe "I am the LORD, and there is NO OTHER, besides me there is NO GOD"!  GOD forms light and HE creates darkness.  When we can't see the way we should go, our GOD can create Light to direct us in the way we should go (Psalms 119:105).  When there is NO LIGHT, it is hard to take a step for fear of walking in the dark!  

The darkness comes at times to remind us of Who is the LIGHT!  JESUS HIMSELF said in John 8:12 "I AM the Light of the world"!  Yet we want to remove JESUS from everything we do to display how intelligent we think we are.  But in Romans 1:22 scripture records "Claiming to be wise, they became fools"!  We think we can see more clearly by removing the Light that guides and directs us?  We are acting as fools and creating our own "CALAMITY"!!!