LIFE LESSON FOR TODAY, 1/20/14

JAMES 1:2-6

² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect 
and complete, lacking nothing.  
⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all 
liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like 
a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.   


HISTORICAL CONTEXT

James was a servant of the Lord and he was
sharing God's wisdom with the twelve tribes
of Israel. He was telling them to have patience
and to hold onto their faith when they experience trials and tribulations. 


LIFE LESSON FOR TODAY: "REACHING OUT"


I had to learn the hard way to be careful who 
you reach out to for help or advice when you
are going through hard times.  Here's what 
happened to me when I didn't seek the Lord's
help during my trials:

 Problem #1

I was having trouble with the "boss from
hell" at my job.  My husband was in sells
and I could see he was tired when he got 
home.  All my girlfriends had kids too and
they kept interrupting our phone call.I was
not able to finish explaining my situation 
before another child's crisis emerged.  I 
finally gave up and said, Talk to you later."     
 

Problem #2

I had a lump and needed out patient surgery
to determine if I had cancer. I was so nervous
that I called a friend while I was in the waiting 
room. All she said was, "Did you get a second opinion?".  I wanted to reach through that tele-
phone and slap her!! My mother kept saying,
"Promise me that you will give your life to God
when he heals you today.  I have already said 
a prayer. I was so mentally distraught after that
telephone call that I said, "Yes I will".    

Problem #3

My youngest son was born after 8 months 
of pregnancy.  He only weighed 4 pounds. 
He came home from hospital after 3 weeks. 
He had severe asthma and had frequent trips
to the emergency room. He was hospitalized
when he was 2 years old. My husband had to 
stay home with our other son. I had to be
strong and comfort my sick son. I was a good
actress and hid my nervousness. 

Solution to Problem #1

Things got better on my job because my boss' husband got transferred to another state. Of 
course, she went with him. I found out later
that some Christians ladies at my job had got
together that week-end and had group prayer.
They prayed for her soul and for her to be put
at another department.  I wasn't familiar with 
the power of prayer at that time. I just said 
that those were some praying ladies!

Solution to Problem #2

The surgeon said that my tumor was non-
malignant.  Whew! Thank you doctor, was
my response to my good news.

Solution to Problem #3

My doctor referred me to a Jewish Hospital
who had done trials with youngsters using
natural remedies.  None of the medical was
keeping his asthma under control. My new
doctor was from this hospital and did the
referral. I was assigned a nurse practitioner 
who trained my how to monitor my son's
symptoms with a peak flow meter. They 
worked with my local hospital since it was 
closer to my home. The hospital paid for my 
supplies and training. Natural remedies wasn't
a popular method of medical treatment at that
time. I also learned to do percussion therapy. 
It's the method used on children that have cystic fibrosis. Their Vitamin B regimen lessened the 
severity and frequency some children's asthma attacks. I was trained how give the breathing treatments on the Nebulizer at home. Predisone
medicine and the Nebulizer stopped the frequent  Emergency Room visits. The epinephrine shots 
didn't work on my son anyway. I had to quit work
to do all of these therapies and his asthma did get under better control.

I know now that the scripture in the Bible book 
of Hebrews 13 is true. It says, that  " the Lord
will never leave you or forsake you". My doctor 
and me were not responsible for my blessings.
The solutions to my problems were due to the 
Lord's grace and mercy. I was not even going to church during my tribulations. I didn't keep my promise to my mother after I was saved from
cancer. I started attending church and studying
my Bible several years later.  I could clearly see
that the Lord did not leave me nor forsake me.