How many times have we made the statement there is nothing I can do.

How many times have we made the statement there is nothing I can do.  All I can do is pray?  

“Listen carefully to James and other inspired writers of Scripture; there is rarely nothing you can do.  Being still and knowing he is God is a long shot from nothing.  Trusting in a God you cannot see is a long shot from nothing.  Counting it all joy is a long shot from nothing.  Submitting is a long shot from nothing.  Confessing sin is a long shot from nothing.  Resting in Christ is a long shot from nothing, and hear this one really loudly praying is a long shot from nothing.” Copied Beth Moore, James Mercy Triumphs

 “If we’re willing, God is our song when we are happy, our escape when we are tempted, our hope when we’re despairing, our joy in tribulation, our strength in weakness, and our immortality in dying.  Ultimately, He Himself is our health.

Copied Beth Moore “James Mercy Triumphs.”

There are so many out there that have illness or else are tending to someone who is ill. This might somehow be an encouragement.  It was to me.  This particular lesson was based on James 5:13-16.

I have not experienced death or dying, however, I have sat at the bedside of several that were.  My heart was broken and I experienced the helplessness that comes with the territory.  I had the hope and joy and strength of knowing my loved one would close their eyes here and open their eyes to see the Lord.  Even though it was the hardest thing I ever endured to say goodbye I knew I would see them again.  It is difficult enough to with stand the pain of loss but to know in your heart that you would never see them again would truly be finality in the worst form.

I cannot remember ever a time in my life when the hurt or loss was greater than in the loss of my daughter.  For me the pain was unbearable and I have no doubt had Christ not held my hand that I would have fallen into despair possibly to never return.  At the time I could count it as Joy and that was my hope and my strength because I knew the God personally that had taken her and I knew she knew Him personally and was with Him.  It did not erase the pain or the grief but it carried me through to the other side.  “Without Him I would be nothing, without Him life is in vain, without Him I would be dying, but thank Jesus, thank God I’m saved.”  The song came into my mind as I typed the last sentence.  One might think that coincidence, but I count it as God’s personal song, He put in my heart right at that moment to write and share with my readers.  I can never write anything unless it is coming from within my heart which is why I have been shamed more times than I have been praised.  You see, it is when the Lord has the keys that it brings praise, but when I have them it brings shame.

I am a slow learner.  I have to get kicked in the teeth a couple of times before I get the message.  However, the very next time I begin to speak or write about something that may be controversial and my heart beats out of my chest like a tom tom then I will put it away and wait on the Lord to take control of my reigns again and know that I have taken the bit in my mouth and am running away with it.

Yesterday in Bible class, LaVelle made mention of second chances and her opinion on the matter.  I believe I agree that when we are given a second chance it needs to be used to correct an error in our lives.  I am so glad my Savior not only gives me second chances but thirds and fourths and fifths.  Some of us are just so hard headed that we have to have the whip cracked over our heads until it comes around our neck and beats stripes all the way down our backs.  However, how sad it would be if we never felt those stripes and bent to His will and picked ourselves up and let him wash us clean and once again walk on down the road in the direction he has directed us to go.

Knowledge is not very much good if we do not put it into action.  My head spins from all the information that has been put into it as of this year alone.  It amazes me how alive the Word has become.  Each time I do something and look in the mirror it hits me, your life is like a breath of warm air exhaled into the freezing cold.  There it is and now it is gone. I read that just yesterday and know it is what I am to do but there I did it and now what do I do to correct it?  Why didn’t I put in practice what you showed me yesterday Lord?  Why do I continue to fall on my face in failure? 

Guess what?  I know the answer.  It is called learning to live by faith.  It is called learning to believe and trust God.  It is called being human.  So do I say to myself, “OK it is alright that is just the way I am.”  That is not what my God said to do.  If ye love me keep my commandments.  Repent, ask forgiveness, and run the other direction, because if you don’t my arm of mercy will stretch just so far and then I will have to get your attention and when it snaps you back to face me; it will not be a fun trip.  And it never has been, but after it is over, the beauty traded for ashes builds a more powerful relationship for me.  

My pride would be in tact if I could just learn the lesson the first time.  And then I could take glory in it and not in Christ that took my weakness and performed his will in spite of me.  I love it when I see him take a failure and make a victory of it.  I believe that is what increases my faith.

Trusting in a God you cannot see is a long shot from nothing.  And watching Him change lives, encourage, ease pain, heal the sick, save the lost, and speak to my heart in so many different ways,  is a long way from nothing.