Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 NLT
I started working the other day after taking some extended time off to adjust to life without my dog.
After 10 years together, and 16 for him on this earth, he graduated to doggie heaven. After almost a month of not being behind the wheel, my tolerance for frustration had diminished. Holiday traffic didn’t help.
Frustration tolerance, the ability to focus, muscular strength, our faith. These are all things that weaken when we don’t use them and strengthen when we do.
Resistance develops strength and endurance. Comfort and ease make us fat, dumb and lazy. Doing hard things makes us better people.
What I’m thankful for this year is all the life lessons that God has so generously shared with me. Hard times come. Good times go.
But you will persist.
We live. We die.
So live for something important.
Where does God want you to add value?
Do it wholeheartedly.
This last year, the rough pruning of the Lord removed some long-standing unfruitful branches of my life, or things that had become idols. Many things that no longer served my growth into Christlikeness got hacked off. Pruning hurts. But it’s for our future growth.
Now, I’m pressing into my relationship with God. I’m inviting others along for the journey. Let the fine tuning begin!
In loving memory of Maximus, the dog who reminded me to love unconditionally by loving me unconditionally. You were a great ministry partner. Rest in peace little buddy. I’ll see you soon!
Father in Heaven, I give You my full permission to remove anything in my life that gets in the way of my relationship with You. I choose to make You my highest priority and my highest authority. Be my God and my Lord this day. Amen.
Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.
Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.
Ecclesiastes 12:4-5 NLT
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