Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the chilly day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! When I stepped outside in the 50 degree weather this morning, a hazy half moon was shining and the very cold north wind was blowing! BRRR! But, when I look at the weather in other places, I am thankful I live in Florida! Snow and freezing conditions and icicles hanging off people's glasses... not for me!
I actually saw a couple people in shorts yesterday. It was overcast and about 60, but I guess if you have lived in the North, this is warm weather to some. When I drove to the Park, after doctor appointments, I saw a lot of cars and it looked like some patrons were watching a gator sunning on the bank, although there was not a lot of sun. A great white heron was watching intently for an unwary fish to come by, and squirrels were busily scampering around, twitching their tails, and leaping on the trees! God is Good!
From the Promise Bible NLT:
Where do I find the strength to keep going when I'm tempted to give up?
Galatians 6:9 Don't get tired of doing what is good, Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
Endurance comes from keeping our thoughts on the promise of the harvest, not the problems of the moment.
Philippians 2:12-13 Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
We do not endure through our own strength alone. God is at work in our lives. He gives us the strength to keep going when we are exhausted and the reasons to keep believing when we are discouraged.
What purposes do endurance and perseverance serve in my life?
1 Peter 1:6-7 Be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
2 Peter 15-9 Make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted. they have already forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin.
Endurance is like the fire that purifies precious metals and hardens valuable pottery. It cleanses, clarifies, and solidifies our faith. Living through the trials and tests of life is often the most significant way to discover the riches of our faith.
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
