Pontederia cordata, Plaisance National Park, Quebec, Canada
Good morning, beloved,
We went to the Morton Arboreteum yesterday..no, the above picture is NOT mine. First impression, I’m amazed as my children age, my anxiety level decreases. I become much more of a people and landscape watcher. 🙂 Second impression, I’m amazed at the creativity of our God! I think I could take a laptop out there and write all day. 🙂
Adult monarch butterfly. Photographed at Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois
I kept the words of Jeremiah in my brain all day yesterday. Did you? It was good to “chew” on them as I went through each part of my day.
Another thing, that I have started doing is listening to a short devotional on my kindle (I’m sure you could do this on many other devices) before I go to bed. In fact, I’m in bed. Kay Arthur, Precepts for Life, is taking me through Ephesians. And, it is changing my sleep. Seriously. I’m not having bad dreams. My nights are peaceful. I would like to pass on the suggestion to you…
Well, here is the verse of the day:
12Blessed (happy, [a]to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.
There are a couple words to flesh out in this short passage.
Patient-“lit., “to abide under” (hupo, “under”), signifies “to remain in a place instead of leaving it, to stay behind,” …”to endure bravely and trustfully,”… suggesting endurance under what would be burdensome.”Â
Are you catching this? James is telling you. Not suggesting. You are blessed when you abide UNDER, remaining in a place of suffering, enduring it bravely and trustfully…(remember Jeremiah 17:7-8) Make the Lord the object of your trust through your trials. Hold on through what is burdensome to the end. You will be blessed. What an amazing promise!!
Why should you?
…for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor’s] crown of life
Crown– the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games…
So, stand through the trials, the crown of the life awaits. Heaven awaits. Love Him. Praise. Him…
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