e-mail 11/16/6

There is a very touching little story told of a poor woman with two children who had not a bed for them to lie upon and scarcely any clothes to cover them. In the depth of winter they were nearly frozen, and the mother took the door of a cellar off the hinges and set it up before the corner where they crouched down to sleep, that some of the draft and cold might be kept from them. One of the children whispered to her when she complained of how badly off they were, "Mother, what do those dear little children do who have no cellar door to put up in front of them? Even there, you see, the little heart found cause for thankfulness. -( Charles Spurgeon)

Last night as we came in from Prayer Meeting, our hearts filled with gratitude for the beautiful way that God's people came through in some loving and much needed situations this week, we settled down to do our daily reading beginning in James. At the top of my page was handwritten this note: "The presence, purpose and power of God is best discovered through difficulty."In James 1:2-4, we read, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing."

In the last few weeks, I have wondered if this last procedure on my hips was really worth it. The pain has been horrible at times, the medications made me feel bad and out of sorts and yet this has been the first of all the procedures I have had where I can tell there has been some relief from pain. I am told that it is only temporary relief for about 6 months but I am trusting that God will let it last longer. It is very easy to not understand why we have to go through the trials and pains of this life but always it is for a reason. In my personal life, everything has happened so I can help someone else who might go through something similar. God does not just allow pain and suffering to come our way because He likes it, it is for our good. We must never lose sight of the fact that God knows the future and He is going to do what is best for us even if we don't like or understand.

When Job didn't understand why he was going through such trials, he sat in pity and questioned God. God's reply to him (paraphrased) was "who are you to tell me what to do, where were you when I flung the stars into space, what right do you have to question Me?"

Like Job, my problem comes sometimes when self-pity steps in, when I start feeling sorry for myself or feel useless. None of us are useless. Each of us has something to do in this life for Jesus. The choice is ours about what we will do about it. The story has been told about a man who stole the shoes off his dead baby to buy a bottle of liquor. How low can a man stoop to do such a thing! However, God turned this man's life around and upside down and he became a Sunday School teacher, teaching God's word. Eventually, one of his converts led to the conversion of someone else who led someone else to know Christ and eventually led Billy Graham to know the Lord. We never know for certain how God is going to use our difficult times or who He is going to reach as a result of our going through something we don't like or did not plan for. Remember that God is watching to see how we handle the diversity.

The season is upon us when we are reminded of being thankful. I am not sure I will ever understand why the government decides that taxes are due in December and every major bill we have during the year comes due just at the time we want to be the most helpful and thankful to others. I recently heard of another plant located here in Georgia that is laying people off from work at this time of the year. Apparently Satan does not like our being filled with gratitude and he wants to shut it down. We should be determined not to let it happen. This is the time to be grateful for the good and also the bad. If we start thanking God for the bad, perhaps Satan will get the hint and leave us alone when he sees that his plan is not working.

Thank you for your prayers for me, for the 40+ shoe-boxes for Samaritan's purse, they will be delivered tomorrow to Hazlehurst for pickup. Special thanks to Barbara who will help us get them delivered. Many children around the world will have Christmas and we will have a small part. Praise the Lord! There is still so much more to be done. Please participate with your church and help as many as you can, opportunities will be mentioned at church in coming weeks. Your financial cost will be minimal and God will bless you beyond your wildest dreams. And whatever you do, remember to do it while you are.....

Sharing God's Love,

Peggy

James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."