Verse of the Day 2/5

Verse of the Day 2/5

James 1:12   If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life's difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God!  The Passion Translation (TPT)

The ESV translation for today's verse says "blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial".  I read the verse in The Passion Translation this morning, which puts it in more modern language but doesn't change the meaning.  The beginning of the chapter says "when you face meet", when you face trials.  One key word is when, it will happen, you will face difficulties.  The TPT translation says that when you pass the test with faith, true happiness comes.

 A year ago at this time my wife Jean went through cancer surgery where; among other things; a third of her liver was removed.  The surgery went well and she passed that test with faith.  Yesterday she was supposed to have a PET scan and there were some complications and mis-communication between doctors and insurance.  After being scheduled some time ago, it didn't look like it was going to happen.  Jean got frustrated and anxious about it, but decided to pray and leave it to the Lord.  When she was at the hospital for some blood work they told her, that if she was available right then they could do the scan.

We're still waiting for the results of the scan, but the results from the blood work were good.  Jean and I feel blessed.  When you face trials, turn them over to the Lord of eternity,  He is in control in this life and for eternity.

These thoughts brought my mind to the Fernando Ortega song "Lord of Eternity".  It is a prayer we can say when we face those trials.

Lord of Eternity

Blessed is the man

Who walks in Your favor

Who loves all Your words

And hides them like treasure

In the darkest place

Of his desperate heart,

They are a light

A strong, sure light.

Sometimes I call out Your name

But I cannot find You.

I look for Your face,

But You are not there.

By my sorrows, Lord,

Lift me to You,

Lift me to Your side.

Lord of Eternity,

Father of mercy,

Look on my fainting soul.

Keeper of all the stars,

Friend of the poorest heart

Touch me and make me whole.

While we wait for the results of the scan, we'll turn it over to the Lord of eternity, asking to make her whole.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass[a] he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.