What was James thinking?

 

Above photo: I was brought up in a small village at the bottom
of Ben Bhan (Gaelic for 'White Mountain' and pronounced Ben Van)

Each card / project tells a story:  This is my entry for the Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge this week.  The project is based on the following text: "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance" (James 1:2-3). 

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The challenge this week is to create a project which incorporates various shades of the same colour.

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Whatever was James thinking?
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O my!  What was James thinking when he penned these words?  "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials!" (James 1:2).  Was he crazy?  I'm sure you will agree - trials are most definitely not pleasant and yet James clearly tells us "...consider it a great joy!"  ..

Last night...

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.... I was reading a book called 'Your Life is Your Ministry and Your Storm is your message' by Miriam Kinai.  In her book, she covers the testimony of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (See Daniel Chapter 3 for a full outline of their testimony).  Briefly: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down and worship a statue which King Nebuchadnezzar sets in place for all the people in his kingdom to worship.  They refuse because they worshipped the one true God alone.  King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished that they could endure such a fiery trial and not be harmed and realised that this was because the LORD was with them. 

In her book, Miriam Kinai says:
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".... we can see that the ministry of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was actually how they lived their lives in the storm.  They were able to preach (without a microphone) to King Nebuchadnezzar and his counsellors who were listening by watching them closely whilst they were in the midst of their fiery storm, and what their lives preached was that their God was the only true God worth worshipping."

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Miriam goes on to say:
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... "Therefore, understand that your life is your ministry and your storm (problems) is your message and continue being faithful to God right in the fiery trial whether He cools it today or lets your enemies heat it by compounding your problems." 

Do not be afraid to trust God and bite the bullet, for how will unbelievers like King Nebuchadnezzar and his counsellors know that your God can deliver you from the middle of a fiery legal, medical, marital, ministerial or financial crisis?  How will they know that He can raise you up unless they see you rise up from your fallen position? 

How will they know that He is powerful if they do not see Him lose your bonds and set you free? 

How will they know that God alone is enough if they do not see you in the fiery trials without family or friends but still doing okay?  Therefore, regardless of your specific fiery trial, remember that your life is your ministry and continue preaching with your actions by doing the right thing...... your life may be the only evidence they ever see that proves to them that Jesus is still alive......"

I believe that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would be overjoyed to know that their faith and patience has encouraged so many people down throughout the years.... myself included and I'm sure many more could resound a loud "AMEN" also.
                   
                                                                                                         ~ Wendy