Tuesday, July 15, 2008

I'm gettin' a crown!

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12

If you are one of those people who think this crown is only a word picture or a symbol, PLEASE do not read any further!! You will be wasting your time. Honest.

I believe God. He promised me a crown because I love Him. That's what the verse says!

Cancer certainly improves your perseverance, if you let it. The Dr appointments, the waiting during the tests, then for the results and the continual battle for your mind to rest on TRUTH and not lies, are my new "work outs." The more I walk in faith, believing God and who He is and that He is truth, the better I do and the stronger my spirit is. I am persevering.

I was reading this verse this morning in James, in the whole context of the chapter too, and it stood out like a neon light to my mind. If you are suffering in a trial, go to James 1. It is powerful stuff!!

The verse tells me these truths:
I am called blessed because I persevere under trial. Wow! I don't always feel blessed believe me.
But faith is NOT a feeling my friends, especially my girl friends. It is from God and we have to choose to exercise it in our lives.
Once I am approved--shown growth through the trial, become stronger in Christ..
I will receive a crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. WOW!
Obviously I cannot receive a crown from God unless I am in His glorious presence...that kind of goes without saying here.

I am so thankful I serve a God who loves me and Who keeps His promises!!

I was thinking about all this crown stuff because Tony Snow just died--from cancer..
Every time I hear of a death from cancer or see a little bag on a track with someone's IN MEMORY OF on it, it causes me to pause..Tony is healed now. He is no longer battling anything.
He is free from pain and suffering.

I will close with Tony's own words. A man who persevered since his diagnosis of colon cancer in 2005.

"What is man that Thou art mindful of him? We don't know much but we know this: No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak and frightening our prospects, each and every one of us who believe, each and every day, lies in the same safe and impregnable place, the hollow of God's hand."

Because I believe God and because I know He keeps His promises, I know Tony got his crown.

Safe in the hollow of His hand,
Bonnie

1 comment:

Waitingfaithfully said...

Beautifully written my friend!

Thank you for sharing Tony's precious words as well. "Safe in the hollow of His hand", creates a sweet picture in my mind of God's strength and loving protection over us.

A crown! You think it will be especially designed just for us? I do!

Blessings to you purple shirty girl!

Tina