Weebles, Wobble

On Wednesday, April 11, I began a Bible study at our church, Calvary Christian Center. Our topic is the book of James from the New Testament Bible.

James has a lot to say about trials and how we can grow in the midst of them.

He starts his book with a somewhat strange statement:  "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (Some translations use the word patience.) James 1:2,3

I’m sure that not many of us put the words, pure joy and trials in the same sentence. Yet James wants us to know that it is possible.

When I hear the word, patience, the first thought that comes to my mind is waiting on or for something. However, the word patience really means: “To hold one’s ground in conflict, bear up against adversity, hold out under stress, persevere under pressure."
                                                                                        
Truly this is not a passive resignation to adverse circumstances, but a positive steadfastness that bravely endures. It is an active, strong, unshakable trust in God that finds it base in belief in the integrity of God’s character, His Word and His care.

The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

That makes me think about a popular toy that came out in July of 1971. The Weebles, those roly-poly toys that were egg-shaped with a weight located in the bottom-center. The weight kept them standing. No matter how hard you tried to knock them over they would pop right back up. The popular saying for Weebles was: “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down.”

Jesus Christ is the weight within us that can keep us from being knocked down and destroyed. No matter how many difficult circumstances come our way. No matter how many times we feel as though we are being knocked off our feet we can still pop back up. Not in our own strength but in the strength that comes through the Lord.

Romans 5:3-5 tells us: "...but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
We are constantly in a transformation process.
 
How thankful I am for a Heavenly Father who loves me so much that He will help me to hold my ground in conflict, to bear up against adversity, to be able to hold out under stress, and to persevere under pressure. In the midst of it all He gives me HOPE and does not disappoint me.

My prayer for you today.

Father God, I ask that you would bless those who read this blog. Help them to know and understand that you can give them joy, strength and HOPE in every situation they face in this life. I pray you would help them feel Your love in a tangible way today. In Jesus Name, Amen

If you would like to join our study on the book of James, I invite you to come on Wednesday nights to Calvary Christian Center located at 426 Laurelwood Road (beside the Coventry Mall/food court side). The class starts at 6:30pm and goes till 8pm. If you have any questions or would like prayer please feel free to call the church at 610-323-0480 or send a message to Mckinleyclm@gmail.com

Transition vs Transformation

I’m not sure I know many people who like change. In fact, a lot of people have difficulty with change at all. Whether we like it or not transitions come into our lives all the time.

The word transition means, ‘Passing from one place to another.’ It is a change that occurs on the outward. Like moving from one city to another, or getting married, having a baby, going off to college, etc.

There are a couple of ways transitions can come into our lives.
One way is by the personal choices we make.  We make choices every day...good and bad.

Another way is by the choices others make. These transitions are out of our control. And more times than not they come unexpected, uninvited, and unwanted. And there is nothing we can do about it.

Growing up my mother would always tell me, “The choices you make will not only affect you, Cindy, they also affect those around you.” It took me some time to realize the full impact of that statement. But how true it is.

Now, the word transformation means, “Total Change”. It’s a change that happens on the inside of us. It's like the transformation that takes place when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. What a beautiful out come!

I truly believe that God will use every transition that comes into our life to draw us closer to Him. That is, if we will allow them to. He does not cause bad things to happen, but He will use them to make us a stronger person who can bring glory to Him. He will take us through the process of being Totally Change for the better.

In 1999 something happened in our family that totally caught me off guard. In a matter of seconds my whole world was turned upside down. Not because of something I had done but because of a choice someone I love dearly made.

A transition that quickly moved me from one direction to another in a matter of seconds. For the next five years I found myself undergoing a deep transformation process. It was not easy! In fact it was one of the hardest things I have ever faced in my life.

Some things I have learned about Transitions and Transformation

1.  Transitions Will Come
Transitions are going to come, one way or another. They will altar our journey in a direction we may not wanted to travel.

2.  Transition Will Transform Us
We will be transformed by the transitions that come unto our life. However, what we are transformed into is up to us. We can choose to become bitter or better.

3.  We can always turn to God
2 Corinthians 1:3-4,  in the New Testament says:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles...

I can’t tell you how many times I read and re-read these verses. Turning to God caused me to trust Him more than ever before. Turning to Him not only gave me the comfort I needed each day but HOPE knowing that He was working in the situation.

4.  What’s on the inside will show up on the outside.
Some people can be read like a book just by looking at their faces. If our heart is filled with pain and suffering it will show up on our face. In the same way, if our heart is filled with joy, and peace that too will show up.

I pray for you today. No matter what transition has come into your life may you find the comfort, peace and HOPE that comes through Jesus Christ. May you run to Him and allow Him bring about a ‘total change’ in your life that will make you a better person, not a bitter person.

He Is Not Here!

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just a
s he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” 

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Matthew 28:1-15

May you and your family have a wonderful Resurrection Day!
Happy Easter