How are you sustained through trials

James 1:2-4 Count it ALL JOY, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, and lacking in nothing.

In this series I am going to be focusing on trials and how our God sustains us through them. Over the last almost 18 months my family has endured many trials everything from me losing a job and our daughter developing seizures. Thankfully I can say that those things are being rectified. When you are allowed to go through trials you must remember that God still loves you, as I write over these next few weeks know that my family is still enduring trials, a couple of weeks ago my dad was diagnosed with a rare type of thyroid cancer, I can't really say his chances of survival but I must trust that God knows what He is doing and I can say this He has us in the palm of His hand (testing of your faith produces steadfastness). I want to leave you today with one of my favorite poems

Footprints in the sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,

is when I carried you.”

Philippians 1:18-23

So much to write about...

...Never at any point in my life have I had more to write about than now. I can't even think strait I have got so much on my mind. I really need to process before I sit down and put the words to paper. I will say this I am truly thankful for the prayers that we have received. My God is so good to us and He is sustaining us at every trial. Some of the things on my mind are as follows.
1. How are you sustained through those trials
2. Why? Me? Now?
3. (off the previous subject) Why? are we as the American church fighting about who's right and who's wrong
4. Books I am reading and how God has used them to impact my life

New Books I'm reading

Sorry for the long delay, I don't have much time since starting the new job, so the posts are going to take a bit longer, I have been doing some really great reading recently and for this post I will be sharing with you what I'm learning. Soon we will get back to the regularly scheduled program.

Fresh Wind Fresh Fire: Basic synopsis. If your not praying you should be, you can't expect anything to happen if your not having an ongoing conversation with God, It starts at home and in your heart. I can't expect my marriage to change, my church to change the crazy stuff going on around me to change if I'm not telling God about what I'm going through...I also need to be specific, not because God doesn't know (He already does) He wants to hear your voice, He wants you to know Him and His heart for you. It's part of having a relationship talking and LISTENING. When it also comes to giving glory I really must give God ALL the glory, I realize that I am talented BUT and that's a really BIG BUT it all comes from Him alone He is the one that makes me talented. I will be hopefully be delving into this more soon (Lord willing)

The other book I'm reading (again) is Wild at Heart I have just started this but I'm convinced more than ever that I need to have the adventure spirit reborn in me. Now that doesn't mean that I can run off but I need to remember that it is a vital part of my manhood and being a husband and father. I should be more like William Wallace than Woody Allen. Every man want's to be real but there is this notion pounded into him from the time he's a little boy that he must quell that adventure spirit. Again I am hoping to delve into this soon too. Blessings for now

Nick