April 6, 2015 – James 1:12

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. James 1:12Steadfastness and perseverance and loyalty are traits that are choices against all odds.  These are treasured qualities by our Lord God and are rewarded.  This reward is not a gift coupon to be redeemed on earth, but is redeemed for the crown of eternal life.  The perfect gift for someone who chooses Jesus and keeps on keeping on.Once a friend gifted me with a tiara sprinkled with sparkling faux diamonds.  The light that emanated from the tiara dimmed as the day ended and darkness fell. The crown promised from God our Father sets us aside as His prized possession.  The crown of life comes from the One True God who created all the lights in the heavens.  He is unchangeable.  He is truth, not shifting or creating a shadow.  He chose to give birth to us by giving us the Word, Jesus.Even as He chose us, we choose Him…to be a part of His everlasting Kingdom where there is no darkness and no evil. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:6Choosing to follow Jesus is a surrender of our hearts, our souls and our minds to the One and Only and leads to life everlasting, the crown of life.  We die to self and live forever in Jesus.  When life’s responsibilities and dark places threaten to overwhelm us, that is the time for complete surrender.  A dear friend recently told me, “ I’m just going to let God work this out.  Because He can do that better than me.”  Amen and AmenSo don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession. James 1:16-18