Over the last number of months I have had the opportunity to read the biblical and helpful blogposts of our sister, Holly Sands, through the ministry of United in Christ Jesus. Joy brought my attention to the content of something Holly had written this past Monday. Both Joy and I thought it may be helpful to share her thoughts with the ladies in the church.

May your feet be firmly planted on the goodness and kindess of our Savior as we cast all our cares on Him. - Pastor Steve

Grace and peace to you, my dear sisters.

I'm sure you are all quite busy this week in preparations for the Thanksgiving meal and enjoying friends and family. I pray you all have a very blessed and enjoyable time.

Since it is Thanksgiving week, I want to exhort us to maintain thankful spirits. I don't necessarily mean being thankful for family, friends, and food (although we should be grateful for all the blessings the LORD has granted), but I am primarily referring to being thankful under trials.

Not too long ago, I was having coffee with a dear friend and we were discussing James 1:2-4:

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (NASB)

How does the apostle expect us to be joyful when we encounter trials?

The trials that test our faith are working a particular grace in us; a grace which will perfect and complete us. The trials are sent by a loving Father to discipline (or train) us to become more like Him. We can rejoice in this for it is a privilege and honor to be loved in such a way, with our LORD's eye carefully watching over us, sending things to sharpen and mold us into His image. He carefully orchestrates and overlooks each trial and test to make sure it has its desired effect. Not an inch more will be given or an inch less will be left off, until He has completed the good work in us.

It is easy to give mental assent that this is true, however the real "test" comes when you are faced with situations that sucker punch you and leave you reeling. It is then that you must choose to remember that no matter how painful, frightening, and confusing your trial may be, the LORD remains faithful and true. He is good. He is nothing but good.

Make it your aim to be able to say with Thomas à Kempis:

"Whatever You do with me, LORD, cannot be anything but good. You are blessed if You leave me in darkness; You are also blessed if you leave me in light. You are blessed if You comfort me, and always blessed if You cause me to be troubled. I will receive from Your hand good and evil, sweet and bitter, joy and sadness, and will give You thanks for all things that happen to me" (Thomas à Kempis).

What a beautiful heart of thanksgiving! What a beautiful picture of trust! May you be challenged to see each situation (good or bad) as a blessing from the LORD. He knows exactly what He is doing with you.

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus,

Holly Sands

QUOTE FROM J.R. MILLER

The promise is not that the Lord will remove the load we cast upon Him, nor that He will carry it for us — but that He will sustain us so that we may carry it.

• He does not free us from the duty — but He strengthens us for it.
• He does not deliver us from the conflict — but He enables us to overcome.
• He does not withhold or withdraw the trial from us — but He helps us in trial to be submissive and victorious, and makes it a blessing to us.
• He does not mitigate the hardness or severity of our circumstances, taking away the difficult elements, removing the thorns, making life easy for us — but He puts Divine grace into our hearts, so that we can live sweetly in all the hard, adverse circumstances.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" Philippians 4:1

~ J.R. Miller (1840-1912)

QUOTE FROM ELIZABETH ELLIOT

We only have this present moment. We do not know if there will ever be another one. Therefore, when we accept what God has given us today with thanksgiving, with grace, with good cheer, it is amazing how all these questions about the future and/or the past rather evaporate. The words, "fear not," occur close to a thousand times, I think, in the Bible. Do not be afraid.

If the worst thing that can possibly happen does happen, as I have experienced in my life a couple of times, I can stand here and assure you that the grace is going to be there when you need it. However, the grace is not given for imaginations."

~ Elizabeth Elliot

"For too insecurely does he stand who does not cast all his care upon [the LORD]."
~ Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)