Eve of Fasting: Suffering Successfully

    May all your expectations be frustrated;
    May all your plans be thwarted;
    May all your desires be withered into nothingness...
    That you may experience the powerlessness and poverty
    of a child and sing and dance in the compassion of God
    Who is Father, Son, and Spirit.
    Amen.
    ~Brennan Manning's blessing

In Growing Slowly Wise, David Roper refers to James' Dictum: "Suffering Matures Us," and in the chapter titled Suffering Successfully, he writes, "When trouble comes we have two options. We can view it as an intrusion, an outrage, or we can see it as an opportunity to respond to it in specific obedience to God's will. This is that rugged virtue James calls 'endurance.'"

Tomorrow (Friday), is one opportunity to respond in obedience to God by fasting and praying for Adam. I will be basing my posts on the book of James, and writings about it found in Growing Slowly Wise.

Why James?

An easy answer is to reply with another question, "Why not James?" My Quest Study Bible states that "If you're looking for practical ways to live as a Christan, you've come to the right book....expect a string of hard-hitting, specific, practical instructions to help you live an authentic Christian life." Does that sound helpful? Yes! Is that why I chose James? No!

On page 18 of his book, Roper writes, "Finally, I'm drawn to James because he makes sense: he speaks to those instinctive and essential truths that enable us as human beings to associate with one another in kindness, courage, faithfulness, love, and delight." Do I want to make those my truths? Yes! Is that why I chose James? Again, no!

The choice was actually much easier. My dear friend, Evelyn, walked up to me at church and handed a copy of Growing Slowly Wise to me. She did not provide any reason other than she thought that I would like it. If you know Evelyn, you know to revere these types of events as God speaking through her. It just so happened that I had decided to reactivate the prayer blog for Adam, and along comes Evelyn with this book! I love that God provides for me in so many ways!

The reality is that we will not get to experience much of the book in our time together on Friday. My hope, however, is that you might pick up a copy to guide you through the book of James, and that we all learn to suffer successfully!. As I wrote the prior sentence, I could not help but think of Amy. Does anybody reading this know of anybody who has suffered more successfully than Amy Root? I do not. She has chosen to respond to an incredibly difficult situation by viewing Adam's accident and slow recovery as an opportunity to respond in obedience to God's will. She must respond, daily. All I am asking is for you to respond one day (tomorrow).

Suffer a bit in hunger. Suffer a bit by spending time in prayer rather than in the sports page. Suffer a bit by passing up lunch with co-workers or friends. Suffer a bit more by passing up Friday dinner and movie. Instead, spend that time with God. Rather than the usual Friday, find yourself singing and dancing in the compassion of God. You will not regret it.

It's your choice.

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

    "Therefore, "consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds." Cheer up! Sing! Rejoice! God is making of you a better a thing than you ever thought possible."
~David Roper, Growing Slowly Wise

You are redeemed!



I look forward to praying with you, tomorrow. See you at breakfast!

I Want to See Your Glory!

Let's see it on February 1st!

I am sitting here, listening to Pandora, and felt a chill go down my spine as Let it Rain played. I have always loved this song. In the middle of this song, Michael W. Smith recites these words from Psalms:

The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
    let the distant shores rejoice.
² Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
    righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
³ Fire goes before him
    and consumes his foes on every side.
⁴ His lightning lights up the world;
    the earth sees and trembles.
⁵ The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.
⁶ The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all peoples see his glory.

~Psalm 97:1-6

There are many songs based on Psalms, but this one gets me in a special place with God, and the emotion in the reciting (what Smith does is much more powerful than mere reciting, but I cannot think of the word to use) of the above verses gets me every time. How can one listen to this and not want to see God's glory? I want to see it. Do you?

Many of us have had a front-row seat to God's glory as we have experienced, heard about, read about, or otherwise followed the healing of Adam Root. Adam has defied doctors and doubters with his progress. He has surprised many by walking, talking, and even riding a bicycle! 

Amy, and my fellow prayer warriors have not been surprised. We are simply thankful. Thankful that God has heard our prayers and chosen to answer them with healing. Not an instantaneous healing, but a slow, methodical healing. In the case of Adam's recovery, it is as if God is slowly peeling away Adam's afflictions. Something tells me that God is using Adam to keep us disciplined in our prayers and faith.

While Adam is regularly in my prayers, it is time to rally folks together. Adam needs to reclaim his memory. So, let's join Amy in prayer on Friday, February 1st (see Please Join Us...) Let's lift Adam up, together, as we fast and pray for God to restore Adam's memory.

We will pray as we have in the past. Fasting is suggested, but not required. A devotional will be posted on the evening of the 31st, at each meal time on the 1st, and one more in the evening (read more details).

I look forward to praying with you on February 1st. Let's experience God's glory (and His healing power), together!