The testing of our faith comes when things don’t turn out the way we prayed or thought they should. Do we get offended with God or do we………

trust that he works all things together for our good as stated in Romans 8:28?

I know some things are just reaping what we have sowed. Galatians 6:7  Be not deceived: God is not mocked:whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap. This should be an easy time to realize that it was just our choices that got us into our situation.

When we are disobedient or have sin that we have not repented of we can expect the discipline of the Lord, if we belong to Him. It is the same with our children, in order for them to learn and grow we have to discipline them.

Hebrews 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are trained by it.

There is the time though when we are walking in the light of His word, being obedient, have confessed our sins, and we are still in a place that we can not understand. You may even say Lord I am doing everything I know to do!

It is in this place that we have to trust in Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding.

1 Peter 4:12&13  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though something strange has happened unto you:But rejoice, in as much as you are partakers in Christs sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials; knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be complete lacking nothing.

So in these times of testing, ask the Lord for the patience and courage to pass the test. Remember to have a good attitude and to thank God for all you have daily! It is in these times that we truly see what we are made of.

Our character and what is in our hearts will come out of our mouth. Do we trust God or do we revert to doubt and unbelief and tie Gods hands?

I want to encourage you in the place of testing to know it is a season that will pass and I believe the better our attitudes the faster we will get to the other side. Remember, we don’t fail tests with God we just get to keep taking them!

~ Jenay Green

I know it is easy to give thanks when everything in your life seems to be going well, but it is a different story when things are hard. Reality is that we all go through difficult seasons and God tells us in His word to give thanks in all things.

 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

I believe the reason God tells us this is because when we murmur and complain we are displaying more faith in the devils lies or in our current circumstances than in Gods ability to……

take us through or deliver us.

When we give thanks, even when we see no reason to in the natural, we are looking through our eyes of faith and trusting God with all our hearts and not leaning to our own understanding.

2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us “For we walk by faith, not by sight. It is one thing to read this scripture, but another thing to apply it in our lives. If we never have opportunities to apply Gods word, then how can we ever grow?

Giving thanks when life seems to be crashing around you, gives God an opportunity to be God in your life. Sometimes when things are good, we tend to think we have something figured out, like I got this, right?

Giving thanks is a weapon of warfare against the enemy. I believe a thankful heart moves God. He is a good good father and I know when my kids are thankful it makes me want to do more for them.

On the flip side I believe that when you are unthankful, murmur or complain that you empower the satan, which comes to steal, kill, and destroy according to John 10:10.

If we really believe God is good and that He loves us then we know that He is working all things together for good according to Romans 8:28

I KNOW how difficult this to give thanks in all things, but it is what God tells us to do and that it is His will for us. We always want to know what Gods will is, so here it is! If we desire to walk in His will and please Him then we WILL give thanks in all things.

I desire to walk in the truth and I know that Gods word is the truth that will set us free, if we are doers of the word and not hearers only! God help us to give thanks in all things, in Jesus name Amen.

~ Jenay Green

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1-2

I find it to be therapeutic & I enjoy seeing the immediate results we seldom see in life.

As I began carefully choosing which branches to cut & how far down to go, I felt………

the overwhelming sense that the Holy Spirit wanted to teach me something through my bushes & that my life has been carefully and lovingly pruned by my Heavenly Father.

  Soon after salvation over 20 years ago, I began going through many trials in my own life as well as the lives of my family- sicknesses that would last decades, financial distresses, and just the challenges of raising 5 children.

 I realized back then, that if I would allow The LORD, He would uses these things to shape me into the image of His Son.

 If my bushes had emotion & could speak I’m sure they would have objected to my pruning.         “that’s too much!, Don’t do it now, it’s not the right time- wait until Fall.”  I’m sure I have said these same things to my Heavenly Father also. At the beginning, I didn’t realize how much pruning I would need.

 Look at the photo of the pile of branches- can you believe that is from just 1 bush!  So also the fire (trials) in my life have brought the dross (sin, ungodliness) to the top to be skimmed off.

  The LORD removes these things through repentance & His leadership in these areas. Many times I didn’t even realize it was there until the fire was applied to my life.

  My goal for my bushes was to trim the branches closer to the trunk.  Sometimes we get so focused on doing good things for Jesus that we grow out too far from Him.  Yes, we have foliage at the end, but there is not a heart afire w/ intimate devotion to the person of Jesus.

As I finished pruning the bush I thought how my children would comment how ugly the bush is now because I trimmed so much. But in my eyes it wasn’t ugly, I knew it would come back and fill in, it would grow foliage closer to the trunk. 

After being cut back to half it’s size it would now preform for the purpose for what we planted it & not consume everything around it.

The truth is that even though my Father prunes me because he loves me, in the midst I feel like a bare, ugly little bush. It’s during these times I have been humbled & must go to my Father and ask how He sees me.

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those the LORD loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.”  Hebrews 12:5-6.

…He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who are trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” Hebrews 12:10-11

LORD, we ask for grace that we may see our pruning for our good. That we would yield to your leadership- your way of thinking and doing things that we may we shaped into the image of Christ and bear much fruit for your glory.  In Jesus name. Amen 

Nesha Tullis

 Everything we receive from God, beginning with salvation, comes through faith. God wants to be trusted, like any Father would, right?

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1 

God is perfect in all His ways, and he is a good Father. If we have the blessing of a earthly father that has loved us and shown us we can trust him, it could be easier to trust God as the Heavenly Father we have never seen.

If you have not been able to trust……..

your earthly Father, whether you have never met him, or maybe he has died, or has mistreated or abused you in some way, then you may be having a hard time trusting in your Heavenly Father.

God knows this, because he knows you better than anyone else.  He also loves you more than anyone else loves you.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

Jesus died for us while we were sinners to redeem us back to right standing with God. If you have made Jesus Christ your Lord and accepted His sacrifice as payment for your sins,then you are a child of God!

 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

If this is you, then the good news is that you have the best Father there is. 

 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to those that ask Him. Matthew 7:11

God sees the big picture, so we should pray to our Heavenly Father about all decisions, because he is going to lead us into the best path for our life. As hard as it can be to give it all to God, it will produce the most fulfilled life of all.

It is hard to trust in what we do not see. Believing God will show up, when everything in this natural realm screams the opposite. The voice of the enemy is saying, Why are you believing that? Are you stupid? Look at this situation, it does not make any sense, and if God loves you so much, then why is this happening?

This is where the test comes, do we really trust God in the midst ,or do we abort the promises through doubt and unbelief?  Proverbs 3:5&6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not not on your own understanding: In all your ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct your paths.

I always say, my own understanding will get me in trouble. I have a very limited understanding of the big picture or what is best for me.  Trusting in what you can’t see is one of the hardest things  to do, but the rewards of having faith in God are eternal and amazing! God is trustworthy!