Under His Wings

  James 1:2 ESV Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds because I know the testing of your faith developed perserverance. I love how the English Standard Version words this verse. I have faced many kinds of trials through the years.  I also love how themes come up from time to time.  Joy has come up the past few days. My husband Tim referred to this theme of joy during his sermon last night. He was preaching from John 15:7-17.  Tim focused on verse 11.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. Tim mentioned joy in trials. He used the example of the biggest trial we faced together in 1999.  Finding out at 5 months that our second child, Gabrielle Renee, had a fatal birth defect called anencephaly. He talked about our decision to carry Gabrielle despite my doctor encouraging us to induce labor early. "What is the use of carrying a child who is going to die?" He kept on asking.  ...

Rejoice in Lord. He makes no mistake.  He knoweth the end of each path that I take.  For when I am tried and purified.  I shall come forth as gold"  Rejoice in the Lord by Ron Hamilton video of song and testimony from Ron above. This song was written by a man named Ron Hamilton.  At the age of 28, he lost his left eye to cancer.  After the surgery, he was nicknamed "Patch the Pirate," which gave him the idea to start a children's ministry by the same name.  It's the program my church uses.  It was instrumental in bringing my son Nate to the Lord back in January.  He is preparing to get baptized.  He is so excited as am I.   What a blessing! Rejoice in the Lord...yes we can rejoice in the Lord in the good times, like Nate's salvation, but it's not so easy to do so in the bad times, is it?   I was talking to a friend over the weekend about a tough time her family has been going through.  I told it is h...