Monday, March 17, 2014

Count it ALL JOY!

 "Blessed are they who observe His decrees, 
who seek Him with all their heart."Psalm 119:2.
In the world's eyes, to be blessed would mean 
that you don't have problems, 
you have the money to do 
the things you want to do, 
you are healthy, 
and your life falls in pleasant places.
But, and this is a big but, 
we can't escape trials and challenges. 
In James 1:2 we read, "Count it ALL joy 
whenever you face trials of many kinds." 

At a party last Friday, I met Jessica Cox.
She was born without arms 
but she would not trade her life for the world. 
She is the world's first licensed armless pilot!

An amazing lady, she said something to the effect 
that if she had a choice, 
she would choose NOT to have arms. 

Her greatest accomplishment is 
maturing from someone 
who was angry and upset about being differently abled 
to being able to celebrate that 
and use it as an opportunity 
to give hope and inspiration to others.
Today she is an awesome Christian motivational speaker
 who shows us that with God nothing is impossible! 
Truly when we seek God with all our heart,
 our trials and challenges become stepping stones 
to all God wants to accomplish through us! ❤️

 "He saved us and called us to a holy life, 
NOT according to our works 
 but ACCORDING TO HIS OWN DESIGN 
and the grace bestowed on us 
in Christ Jesus before time began..." 
2 Timothy 1:9
We can't become holy on our own, 
no matter how we try, 
no matter how we do it step by careful step. 
But it IS GOD'S DESIGN that we be holy, separate. 
He made a design, 
like an architect makes architectural plans. 
He laid the foundation in Christ, 
and He promised to finish this work He has started in us. 


That gives me great confidence 
that if I deviate from His plan, 
He will do everything to get me back on track!

 "Give and gifts will be given to you, 
a good measure packed together, 
 shaken down and overflowing, 
will be poured into your lap. 
For the measure with which you measure 

will in return be measured out to you." Luke 6:38
I am still thinking about the reading in Isaiah 58,
about the fasting God desires- 
freeing someone who was burdened 
by unforgiveness, hunger, 
homelessness, thirst for the truth...
We need to be generous not only 
to people we know, 
but also to strangers, 
to those who cannot pay us back. 
How hard will it be to take a challenge 
to be randomly kind and generous to a stranger? 
Today. Then tomorrow. Then the next day.
❤️ ❤️ ❤️

That would mean opening my eyes 
to the need around me. 
Not concentrating on my needs. 
I wonder if I am up to it?!!!

Are you?


 
I find a lot of inspiration
visiting here:

So many WONDERFUL blogfriends
to discover!



4 comments:

  1. The artwork is beautiful!

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  2. Anonymous10:15 PM

    Blessed, your message spoke to my need today! Thank you!

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  3. Thank you for introducing me to your new friend. So inspiring to see someone who overcomes. And your beautiful artwork inspired me too.

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  4. Great post! I am familiar with Jennifer Cox, but what an incredible story! A pilot? Wow, just wow! How encouraging that we can truly count IT ALL joy, my friend! Blessings from UNITE, Jen

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I am so glad you dropped by! You are a blessing!
:^) Patsy