Happy Is the One Who Endures Testing...

This past week, I have been reading Beth Moore's new book Audacious, one I purchased last September, one that has been waiting on me, again, until God's Perfect Timing.  Interesting how He does that.

This morning, I spent more time in these pages, pausing over several scriptures on pages 62-66.  Would you please take a moment...or two...to marinate on these Words of Life?

• Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love Him.  James 1:12.  (Now, if you are female, re-read and use the pronoun she.)
• I wonder if just learning to be quiet during times of testing and allowing Him to take over counts for being "happy"?  I am witness that this does increase one's peace of mind!
• You rejoice in this, though now for short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith -- more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire -- may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  You love Him, though you have not seen him.  And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy.  1 Peter 1:6-8
• Hummm...if like me, are you feeling like a failure?  Happiness...rejoicing...joy?  In great trials?  In great various trials...for when it rains, my friend, it tends to just hurricane in my life!  Yes, I have been such a failure at this...until just recently.  Maybe I am finally learning this lesson?
• May we read two more?
• Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside the encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.  Hebrews 12:1
• Thanks be to God who gave me the desire to get back into His Word, I am finally able to run...some...still getting in shape!  With sadness, I report that my lack of running in this cloud of people watching my testimony has not always resulted in the best testimony for Him.  So...why run?  Keep reading...
• What eye did not see and ear did not hear, and what never entered the human mind -- God prepared this for those who love Him. I Corinthians 2:9
• Why run?  He wants more for us than we even know we want for ourselves.  Yes!  He has this prepared right now for us...just in His timing.  I just imaging one of those connect-a-dots...dot-by-dot He's making the connection that will reveal what He has prepared for you and me.

I recommend this book, one God placed on Beth Moore's heart, one for which she carved out the time for someone who needed to read this one.  That one?  Yes...me.

Blessings.