Thursday, August 22, 2013

At Liberty, and Choosing Joy

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." James 1:2-4

I just noticed that it has been two weeks since I visited my page and wrote you all a note! At the time of the last post I had no idea the turn of events that would come. Not that it is of any consequence to any of you (and I won't bore you with it for long), but a situation has been dropped in my lap that I would never have chosen. The above verse is the one that I have been hanging on to and trusting God to perform in me. As our pastor went through the book of James years ago, he brought to my attention that, "when ye fall into diverse temptations" means "when you find yourself in the midst of a testing that is 'all around you'".  At this time, without my choosing, I am working full time (five and 1/2 days per week) at my post office job, which is a testing that is suddenly "all around me", and there is nothing I can do about it except choose to count it all joy! I keep being reminded that a neighboring PO clerk only took her position in another office for a two month period (this decision directly affected two other offices). For me that seems like a long time, but I know that it is not. 

Today the Lord used the chapter that constantly reminds me to choose God's precepts. 
Psalm 119:41-48 "...for I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgements. So shall I keep thy law continually forever and ever. And I will walk at liberty; for I seek thy precepts." 
I understand 'at liberty' here to mean 'in a wide place'! The Lord brought to my mind that as long as I am walking with Him, claiming His Word and obeying it, I am at perfect liberty even if feeling hemmed in and 'bound' by my circumstances. What joy, that a Christian who is walking by faith is walking in a wide place with their Lord. I am thankful to the Lord that I have this freedom in Jesus Christ. 

I'm glad that you walked by Darling Hill and hope that you have a good day.

Tomorrow evening, Lord willing, we will be going to see the new babies. Our nephew and his wife had their twins: Madison and Katelyn were born on Tuesday the 12th. Thank you to those who prayed (as it's listed as one of the requests here). I will post a picture or two when I finally get to see them!

Choose Joy even amongst unchosen circumstances!

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