For those of you who are in the know about these things, this is a ColdPlay album. But it is also the new series that our Pastor just started this morning. He is going to use it to start the book of James. I am very excited because this is one of my favorite books of the Bible.
We went through the first half of the first chapter this morning and I am convicted yet again. I love it when I hear a message that totally convicts me. They all should, I know, but sometimes I am really not listening I suppose. :)
If you want to check it out, and I suggest that you do, click here. It was a great message and there are discussion questions to help you delve deeper. But again I totally digress...
I am feeling convicted that I need to live the life even when I am in despair. I also need to be joyful. Something that Jeff said this morning was that "Desperate despairing people do desperate despairing things." Wow...that has so been me in so many situations. The most recent biggie was the year after Emily was born. I was totally desperate, no joy in site. I did however reach out to a couple of trusted to friends for awhile, but then like I always do I went back into isolation. Joy cannot be experienced in isolation, it must be experienced as a part of the larger community. But I can totally tell each of you that I probably do this more than I realize!
Despair is one of death's friends. Joy is not. James is urging us to fight for joy through faith. And this is what I urge you to do as well. Fight through that despair, don't isolate yourself, fight for joy!
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces (perseverance) endurance.
James 1:2-3
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