Keep On

In the book of James you will find plenty of verses about perseverance and keeping on. I am encouraged and challenged by this. Keeping on is HARD!! It is hard to keep hoping for deliverance when it seems like too many months have gone by and this trial is still going. It is hard to rejoice when I am being robbed of 12 hours a day with my baby boy. It is hard to think on things that are lovely, pure, right, etc when it seems like weekly bad news comes. It is hard to find time to pray when I am exhausted and burnt out.
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But despite being hard it is what I am commanded to do. It is what we, as Christians, are commmanded to do. It is through persevering that God's work is completed in us to that we are made perfect, lacking nothing. It is through perseverance that we find God's strength for the day and hope for tomorrow. It is through keeping on that I find rejoicing not in my circumstances but in my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is in keeping on that I learn to be content. It is in keeping on that I learn to submit all things unto the Lord, to WAIT for Him and His PERFECT timing for deliverance. Keeping on is sometimes easy, it sometimes does come naturally, however sometimes and especially during trials it is a matter of choice. Will I keep on? Will I sumbit my ways therefore unto the Lord that He will lift me up in due time? Will I press on??
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My answer is a resounding YES!! With the help of the Holy Spirit I will keep on. I will press on toward the goal keeping my eyes fixed on the Author and Finisher of my Faith. When I commited my life to Christ this was not what I was expecting to occur in my adult life, with my family, my child. However, not my will but Thine be done O Lord. The blessings far outweigh this trial. The love that God has given, the peace that truly does surpass understanding, the grace to endure, the mercy and forgiveness when I fail. O Lord you are so awesome. How mighty are your works O Lord how great are your deeds!!!

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These were the points from the sermon on Sunday:
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1. I'm going to worship God: whatever the cost--my notes: do not let anything deter/interfere with my worsjip of the King!!
2. I am going to avoid conflict: whatever I hear
3. I am going to embrace reality: whatever I face--my notes: This is the place God has put me, this is the trial God has allowed me to endure--KEEP ON!!
4. I'm going to believe God's word: whatever I see--my notes: He is still sovereign, Right, and my Fortress!
5. I'm going to expect Deliverance: whatever I feel--my notes: God is coming, deliverance is coming--wait for it. KEEP ON!!

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KEEP ON

You won't be disappointed!! I sure am not!!!