trials

  • Chinese Job

    “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,” James 1:2  NASB 1995 Various trials – How about the trial of living in poverty—for your entire life!  Of growing old with nothing but worn out shoes, a few sticks for a fire, an old coat, and a small bag of food.  Job was reduced…

  • Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (rewind)

    “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,” James 1:2  NASB 1995 Joy – Although we investigated this verse more than six years ago, I thought it might be reconsidered in light of Job’s story, especially our discovery about the complexity of Job 10:20.  Do you suppose Paul would have written this verse…

  • Not Going There

    So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.  Acts 5:41  NASB Rejoicing– When the disciples were beaten and instructed no longer to proclaim Yeshua as Messiah, they reacted in a way that is not easily understood.  They rejoiced.  This seems particularly strange given…

  • Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (2)

    “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,”James 1:2  NASB Joy– I don’t think we listen to James.  We simply do not regard trials as joyful. I don’t regard trials as joyful.  If I really look at my own emotional response to James’ instructions, I discover that his words don’t penetrate my heart.  Trials…

  • Count Your Blessings

    for just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:5 NASB So also – Are your sufferings in abundance? Are you pressed by a world of troubles? Do things in life seem to be at the breaking point? That’s exactly how I’m feeling…

  • Leading Characteristics

    Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,  James 1:2  ESV Count – “Never confound the trial of faith with the ordinary discipline of life, much that we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive.”[1]  If we take Chambers’ insight seriously, we soon discover that…

  • Hurricane Force

    Deep calls to deep at the noise of Your cataracts; all Your waves and Your billows have gone over me. Psalm 42:7 (Hebrew text – translation Hebrew World) Your – You’re waiting for the big one.  Floating on the ocean, slipping over the little waves with relative ease, you wait for the one big thrill,…