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!