THE CHALLENGE OF LIFE-AND THE STRENGTH TO PERSEVERE

THE CHALLENGE OF LIFE- AND THE STRENGTH TO PERSEVERE Let us face it LIFE throws all kinds Of challenges at us Some are expected- And some are totally unexpected The surprise health diagnosis The unexpected job loss A surprise death or birth- WITHIN our own family We have to be STRONG Just to survive- And we have to PERSEVERE Through it all On our journey through life In Luke chapter 8 Jesus tells us HOW difficult it is To grow strong roots And reach spiritual maturity “As for the seed That fell among thorns They are the ones Who have heard But as They go along They are choked by the anxieties And riches and pleasures of life And they fail to produce MATURE FRUIT” Luke 8:14 Don't let the WORD of God Get choked off In you Don't let disappointment Or anxiety Or the PLEASURES of life Take you away From the Word of God Let your roots Attach themselves to God Attach themselves To Jesus And not only will you persevere But you will thrive And PRODUCE much fruit For GOD'S WORD IS ALIVE “IF the part of the dough Offered as firstfruits Is holy Then the whole batch is holy If the root is holy So are the branches” Romans 11:16 “By their FRUIT You will recognize them …..... Likewise-every good tree Bears good fruit But a bad tree Bears bad fruit” Matthew 7:16-17 I have been feeling Some anxiety lately Due to health- And to a couple other personal matters ANXIETY can be A great ENEMY OF FAITH It is when We are under attack That we really NEED OUR FAITH It is then That we need to dig deep And attache our faith to God And attach our faith To Jesus That is how we PERSEVERE During difficult times That is how We fight off the CHALLENGE To our faith “Consider it PURE JOY My brothers and sisters WHENEVER you face trials Of many kinds Because you know That the testing Of your faith PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE Let perseverance Finish its work So that you May be mature-and complete NOT lacking anything” James 1:3-4 We will EXPERIENCE Abundant times in life Some happy-some difficult Dear Lord-what we PRAY for most And what we know YOU WILL PROVIDE IS THE STRENGTH TO PERSEVERE Robert P. Wallman 9-18-15 Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Jessica Mesman Griffith