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A CALL TO PRAYER
March 8-15, 2010
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will
receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by
evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is
dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin,
when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Do not be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming
down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He
chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he
created.
James 1:12-18
Have you ever wondered where things come from? It is a little bit like the child who asked
his dad "were he came from"? The father did the best he could explaining the process of
conception and birth to his five year old son. As he finished, his son replied, "If you don't
know just say so. Mark told me he came from California and I just wanted to know where I
came from. I'll go ask Mom."
James tells us that all of the good and perfect things we receive into our lives come from
our Father above who blesses us without changing who He is. Among those blessings is a
crown of life that we will receive for persevering under trial. It is something that God has
promised to those who love Him. This is more than the sucker you used to get for surviving a
trip to the doctor's office. This is the result of succeeding in the trial that God has used to
bring growth and change into your life. It is a permanent reward for going through a
temporary test.
Why is it that when we are in the middle of those tests we feel like they are going to kill us
when in reality they are meant to perfect and mature us. Could it be that we haven't yet
learned to look to the source of our good and perfect gifts? Prayer is meant to help us refocus
our attention on the One who is the giver of the good and perfect. Let's look again.
Pastor Dave Westman
March 8-15, 2010
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will
receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by
evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is
dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin,
when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Do not be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming
down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He
chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he
created.
James 1:12-18
Have you ever wondered where things come from? It is a little bit like the child who asked
his dad "were he came from"? The father did the best he could explaining the process of
conception and birth to his five year old son. As he finished, his son replied, "If you don't
know just say so. Mark told me he came from California and I just wanted to know where I
came from. I'll go ask Mom."
James tells us that all of the good and perfect things we receive into our lives come from
our Father above who blesses us without changing who He is. Among those blessings is a
crown of life that we will receive for persevering under trial. It is something that God has
promised to those who love Him. This is more than the sucker you used to get for surviving a
trip to the doctor's office. This is the result of succeeding in the trial that God has used to
bring growth and change into your life. It is a permanent reward for going through a
temporary test.
Why is it that when we are in the middle of those tests we feel like they are going to kill us
when in reality they are meant to perfect and mature us. Could it be that we haven't yet
learned to look to the source of our good and perfect gifts? Prayer is meant to help us refocus
our attention on the One who is the giver of the good and perfect. Let's look again.
Pastor Dave Westman
Sequim Worship Center
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