# Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

k-nayee · 29 days ago

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Between Faith and Flesh Grotesquerie x Midnight Mass

wc: 2.8k a/n: incase it was unclear, this is a little cross-over between Grotesquerie x Midnight Mass while also being an Actor!AU. Might be a lil confusing but wanted to make something new lol

Traveler M.List

ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˏ⸉ˋ‿̩͙‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙.·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ‿̩̥̩‿̩̩̥͙̽‿̩͙ˊ⸊ˎ

"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....James 1:2-4."

The familiar warmth of the chapel enveloped you as you delivered the final lines of your morning homily, your voice calm yet resonant in the quiet space.

Sunlight filtered through the modest stained-glass windows, casting soft hues of gold and amber across the worn pews where Crockett Island's tight-knit congregation sat.

The scent of salt and damp wood lingered faintly in the air—a reminder of the sea just beyond the church walls.

Your gaze swept across the group, catching the faces you had come to know so well over the past year.

The mayor's daughter Leeza Scarborough sat in the front row, wide eyes attentive on you as she folded her hands neatly in her lap.

Even Sheriff Hassan stood near the back as his son Ali sat near him listening intently, despite knowing how outdated many were to his Islamic faith.

These people, they had become your family in a way—this island, with all its quiet mysteries, had grown on you.

You closed your sermon with a passage on resilience, something that had always resonated with you—like how faith, similar to the sea surrounding them, could be both steady and tumultuous.

"We find strength not in the absence of struggle, but in how we rise after the waves pull us under." Your words hung in the air for a moment, met with soft nods and murmurs of agreement from the congregation.

"Let us pray," you began, your hands resting gently on the altar.

As you spoke your thoughts wandered briefly, like they often did, to Riley Flynn—a name you had known only through the accident that had first led you here.

His absence was a constant echo in the small populace community, felt even when it wasn't spoken aloud.

As the congregation stood to leave, you lingered near the altar to exchange kind words with those who came up to you.

A soft word here, a warm touch on the shoulder there—each gesture felt like a testament to how far you'd come.

This role, unexpected as it was, had become more than just a position. It was your calling.

"You've really made a place for yourself here," Anne said quietly, her expression sincere as she approached.

"Thank you Mrs. Flynn," you replied, offering her a gentle smile. "Means a lot coming from you."

And it did. Especially knowing how much of the weight of her son's sins pressed on her mind.

It still surprised you sometimes how much the town had accepted you. Even when being the first ordained woman pastor—something that should have sparked outrage, especially in a small traditional community—the people had welcomed you with open arms.

Or at least most of them had.

The familiar sound of heels clicking sharply against the stone floor caught your attention.

Bev Keane.

She always had an aura of cold disapproval, her gaze flickering over you with barely concealed distaste.

"Another lovely service I'm sure," she said, compliment laced with her usual acidity. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she continued, "But I wonder if perhaps next time you might include more...traditional teachings? Some of the congregation finds your progressive messages a bit, well, out of step."

Her words stung, but you kept your expression calm refusing to rise to her bait.

Bev had never approved of your leadership from the start—the idea of a woman in your position, however temporary, was something she barely tolerates.

With every sermon you gave, every interaction with the townsfolk that went well, her bitterness seemed to deepen.

"I'll take your suggestion under consideration," you kept your tone firm. There was no point in arguing with Bev directly—it would only lead to more confrontation.

One thing you had long since learned about Bev's resistance was that it was more about control than doctrine.

She craved the power that came with influence over the church, and your very presence threatened that.

Bev's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Of course. Well I'll leave you to clean up. God knows there's always work to be done."

With a stiff nod she turned on her heel and marched away, her presence lingering even after she disappeared through the doors.

As the last of the congregation departed, the chapel fell into a serene silence once again.

You exhaled softly, feeling the weight of the morning settle on your shoulders.

Despite the support of the community, moments like these reminded you of how precarious your position was.

You knew she was waiting for any excuse to discredit you—an outsider who had stepped into a role she believed was hers by right.

Busying yourself by tidying up, your hands smooth the fabric of the altar cloth as you cleared the space for the next service.

The chapel, now empty, felt both peaceful and solemn.

It was in these quiet moments that you often found yourself reflecting on the journey that had brought you here—from your small-town upbringing, to your studies, to this remote island where you now stood as the first ordained woman pastor.

The soft chime of your phone broke the stillness. Pulling the device from your pocket, you faintly smile at the name on the screen. Nick.

The message was short but familiar—a photo of him post-workout, his face flushed with exertion with a cheeky grin plastered across his face.

Nick: Finishing up my workout. Just wanted to give you an update :)

Your could feel the warmth creeping up your neck.

You weren't sure why you were smiling so much—after all, it was just Nick being...Nick. Friendly, teasing, always with that infectious charm.

But somehow, the way your eyes lingered on the photo for a beat too long made you acutely aware of something deeper. Something you weren't sure you should be feeling.

Shaking your head slightly, you reply back.

____: Glad to see you're keeping busy!

You hit send, already imagining the smirk he'd have seeing your response.

As soon you tuck away your phone, intent on finishing the cleanup, another buzz came almost immediately.

Nick: Hope you weren't doing anything unholy with that picture of me ;)

The heat had spread to your face and a startled laugh slipped past your lips.

You quickly type back.

____: Behave Nicholas. I'm a pastor remember?

You knew he was just being playful, but it didn't stop the way your heart skipped slightly at the implications.

Unholy. The word reverberated in your mind longer than it should have.

Before you could dwell too much on it, another text came through.

Nick: Sure sure I believe you ;) Anyways got a surprise for you

Your fingers hesitated over the keyboard, curiosity piqued.

____: A surprise? What kind?

Nick: You'll see. Just finished that project I told you about. Check your email when you get home. And no peeking. You promised

The reminder made you chuckle. ____: Fine fine I'll wait. It better be good especially with all this mystery!

You added a playful emoji at the end, the excitement clear in your message.

His response was immediate, and you could practically hear his voice.

Nick: Oh it's good. Don't worry I know you're going to love it.

You smiled at the screen, shaking your head at his confidence. Of course he'd know.

The faint echo of your steps on the wooden floor snapped you back to the present, making your thoughts drift back to his arrival, how it had all begun.

It was almost a year at the time when Father Pruitt had left on his pilgrimage, leaving you in charge of the church—a transition you hadn't anticipated but had eventually embraced.

And just as you were starting to find your footing, Nicholas Chaves had appeared, adding a new dynamic you hadn't expected.

Before he arrived to Crockett Island, you recall the unexpected email you received: a simple inquiry from the actor who was looking to deepen his understanding of priesthood for an upcoming role.

He wanted to shadow someone in the clergy, someone who could give him an authentic insight into the life of a pastor.

And he'd heard about your rather unique position on the island...

You of course were slightly taken aback by his openness and easy way he'd talked about his work.

It wasn't every day someone like Nick came knocking, but you had agreed mainly from intrigue of the whole situation.

Even when Bev became immediately suspicious of him—practically interrogating him when he first arrived—the rest of the town welcomed him warmly, charmed by his easygoing nature.

"Another distraction," she'd muttered once when Nick had offered to help you carry boxes of hymnals inside one time. "This is a church not a social club."

Her words always came with that same bitter edge, though by now you'd learned to brush them off.

He stayed in Father Pruitt's old house with you during that time in one of the spare rooms.

As you finished locking up and made your way toward the small home, your thoughts drifted back to him.

You never planned on feeling so affected by him. Yes he was charming, but it was more than that—there was something about him that drew you in even when you tried to resist it.

And it wasn't just his looks—though you couldn't deny the way your breath occasionally caught when he smiled at you in that boyish way of his.

No. It was his presence. The way he carried himself—confident yet curious, never shying away from asking questions about your work and sermons, about faith itself.

He was genuinely interested, even if he wasn't fully immersed in it like you were.

In all, conversations with Nick were easy; late-night talks often ended up stretching longer than intended as you discussed everything from theology to the little absurdities of life.

And yet despite the growing comfort, there had always been a tension simmering beneath the surface.

The first time you felt the it was when he'd sat in on one of your late-night study sessions, helping you prep for Sunday Mass.

His quiet attentiveness as he listened to you practice, his casual lean against the doorway as he watched with a smile tugging at his lips.

Now, as you made your way up the steps, you wondered what this surprise of Nick's could be.

You pushed the front door open, the familiar scent of wood and old books greeting you.

It was home now—at least for the time being. Letting out a sigh, you set your bag down and make your way to the bedroom.

Changing your robes and veil into a more comfortable sleepwear, you grab your laptop and settle into bed.

There in your inbox, you find a sent email from him.

Three video files, each with a timestamp of about an 50 minutes. The subject line read simply: For You.

You frowned in confusion but quickly clicked on the first one. The video loaded, and as it played, the familiar face of Niecy Nash popped up on the screen.

A soft laugh escaped you—a TV show? It wasn't what you were expecting, but you were intrigued.

As the episode unfolded, you were drawn into the storyline.

It was refreshing actually, seeing a concept that brushed against the edges of a religion that's intertwined with your own daily life.

By the second episode you were completely hooked. You'd grown attached to the characters, loving the way they navigated this warped world of morality and sin.

The storyline itself was intense and unpredictable in how it blended the very faith you preached into something so viscerally raw.

But then your heart leapt a little as Nick—or rather, Father Charlie finally appeared on screen.

You smiled, unable to resist snapping a picture of the scene and sending it to him with a simple teasing text.

____: Look who just showed up on my screen.

Your phone buzzed almost instantly, but you ignored it.

You were too caught up in watching him; your eyes tracing the way he moved, the way his expression shifted with every word.

It was surreal watching him play a priest when just a few weeks ago, he had been standing beside you in the church helping with the altar cloths.

Every close-up of his face had your heart doing an odd little flip. You'd shared conversations with that face, shared jokes and moments of comfort.

The goofy smile on your lips was hard to suppress as you watched him banter with Sister Megan, the two having a light giggle over stolen fries.

You couldn't help but draw parallels between the man on the screen and the man you had grown close to—the actor who had been nothing but kind, thoughtful, and, admittedly, a little flirtatious.

And then the scene change.

The camera panned across a dimly lit, sparsely furnished room. Your eyes narrowed, focusing in on the figure sitting at the edge of a bed.

It was Father Charlie—his broad, bare back flexing as he sat, hunched slightly. The room was silent except for his soft labored breathing.

You watch with growing confusion as his breathing deepens.

A soft sound escapes him—a low moan—and suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifts entirely.

Your eyes widened upon realizing what you were seeing. Father Charlie is pleasuring himself.

The sounds of his quiet sighs fill the room, and you freeze as you try to process what you're watching.

The camera caught it all: the soft sighs, the slow measured pace of his hand, the quiet moans that grew more strained with every movement.

You felt your breath hitch, heat creeping up your neck as you watched too stunned to look away.

You know it's just a show—it's just acting—but seeing Nick, someone you know, in such an intimate and vulnerable moment...it shakes you.

Your body feels hot, heart pounding as Father Charlie quickens his pace, his breath becoming more erratic, moans growing louder.

A strange warmth unfurled in your chest that you immediately tried to suppress.

It felt wrong to watch this—wrong to feel anything about it.

Your fingers tremble as you reach for your laptop, the desire to pause or stop the episode battling with the inexplicable pull to keep watching.

And then it changed again.

The camera cuts to him standing at a basin, his back to the facing you once again, the muscles in his back flexing under the low light.

You blink rapidly as he begins to wash his hands, the sound of the water almost deafening in the silence.

That's when you notice it—the chaps. He's wearing bottomless chaps, the skin of his thighs and backside completely bare.

"Sweet baby Jesus," you whisper, hands shaking as you press a hand to your mouth in attempt to contain the heat that spreads across your face.

It wasn't over.

Father Charlie moved toward a small wooden box, opening it with a reverence that made your stomach twist.

He reached inside and pulled out a flogging whip—a thick, multi-tailed instrument of punishment.

His expression is solemn, his lips moving in silent prayer as he prepares the whip, his fingers brushing reverently over the strips before raising the instrument of self-punishment.

Your heart hammers in your chest as you watch, unable to tear your eyes away as Father Charlie strikes himself.

The sharp crack of the whip fills the room and you flinch at the sound.

Each lash is deliberate. His body jerks with every strike, a soft grunt escaping him with every hit.

His whispered prayers mix with the sounds of his punishment, the intensity of the scene almost unbearable as it goes on, each crack of the whip sending a shiver down your spine.

It's too much. You couldn't take it anymore.

Your hand shot out, scrambling to close the laptop with a thud. For a moment you couldn't move.

Your body felt both heavy and weightless at the same time, suspended in the strange space between what you knew and what you had just witnessed.

The room around you suddenly felt too small, too close.

Shakily, you brush a few stray strands of hair from your damp forehead, trying to steady yourself.

You were a pastor—dedicated to God, to the people you served. You weren't supposed to feel like this.

Closing your eyes tightly, you try to will the feeling to go away and dissipate like the smoke from the candles you had blown out earlier in the church.

But the heat in your face, the trembling in your hands, didn't fade.

You felt as though you had been thrust into a battle between your devotion to God and the temptation of something far more dangerous—something you could no longer ignore.

The dim screen of your phone in your peripheral catches your attention.

Hesitant, you picked it up, and your stomach drops at the sight of Nicholas's message.

Nick: What do you think?

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bloggin-by-zama · 7 months ago

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#James 1:2-4

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faithfullyfound · 5 months ago

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In Order To Live You Must Die

My faith often fluctuates. Sometimes I'm on fire for Jesus while other times I don't read my Bible and forget the Spirit's presence. When things are going good in my life I tend to be more likely to read my Word, pray, listen to worship music, and spend time with God. However, when I face trials in my life I tend to not read my Bible, not pray with faithfulness, and forget to include Jesus in my life.

This year/month has been hard for me. I have struggled with many things that were often my fault, but sometimes the result of others' failures. As I felt more pain being added into my life the more I left God last on my To Do list. I began to make myself the front of my life, listening to my own voice instead of the Holy Spirit's.

But I was looking at these "trials" all wrong.

Matthew 16:25-28 states, "25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. 28 'Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.'”

The only way to save our lives and truly live is to give up our desires, wants, and control to allow God to control our lives. Anyone who wants to live according to the world will lose their life chasing after things that will never fulfill them. And anyone who is trying to control their own life will fail. What good would it be to have everything yet gain nothing? When you live for the world your soul lacks, you lack. What is better than gaining God's love and experiencing the Son of Man's glory.

James 1:2-4 showcases the joy that we should have in the midst of our suffering because it results in endurance/perseverance that strengthens our faith. "2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

When we are in the midst of suffering and we allow Christ in and make Jesus the center of our lives, we are creating something good out of our suffering. When we are acting according to our flesh we lack everything but when we act with the Spirit we lack nothing.

In order to truly live and experience Christ our vices and our wants must perish so that we can allow the Spirit of the Lord to increase.

I pray this week that you and I can strengthen our faith, as we go through hardships I pray that we put God at the center of it all. We go to Him for answers to our questions, not society, not parents, partners, friends, books, the internet, but God. I pray that through our sufferings we embrace God that we do not look to Him as a genie but a God that can grant wisdom and loves us more than we love ourselves. Amen.

#never forget that even when you feel as though you have no one you always have God #faith in jesus #bible study #christian faith #christianity #christian girl #christian blog #jesus saves #jesus #christian art #bible #christian girl blog

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kamsspice · 17 days ago

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i’m not a christian anymore but my grandma was telling me about the philosophy of suffering in christianity and this passage from james 1 reminded me of the thesis of fullmetal alchemist:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything

In FMA (at least brotherhood), what Ed comes to learn is that when we walk through life, sacrifices we make and the challenges that we face are not an equivalent exchange. That what we lose, we get something back and then some. That you leave with the lessons that that experience gives you and you are able to do something further with that. You are made more complete, a heart of full metal.

#fullmetal alchemist #fma #fmab #edward elric #fullmetal alchimist brotherhood

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ihopeinjesus · 5 months ago

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‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭

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saras-devotionals · 8 months ago

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Quiet Time 3/11

What am I feeling today?

Just really wish I wasn’t awake right now. I was struggling to fall asleep last night and I only got a few hours of actual sleep. And my cat have been meowing and scratching at my door for about two hours now and I wish she’d just give up because I’m so so tired. I’m also back in school and this week is just going to be so hectic and I’m just not looking forward to it. I just feel like crying and giving up.

Bible Plan: healing what’s hidden

Holding on to Hope

God doesn’t operate as humans do. He uses the foolish to shame the wise. He makes a no-name shepherd into a king. He lets the last go first. He prays for his enemies. He turns the other cheek. He overcomes evil with good. He defeats death itself by submitting himself to death. And he births hope out of suffering.

Yeah you gotta admit, but human standards, God operates in a really weird way that most of us struggle to understand.

Don’t give up. Keep holding on to hope because God is faithful to provide it and because you are not alone in the struggle. Trauma may have been what brought you here, but soon enough, God’s redemptive love for you will take you to places so rich with joy and purpose you can’t even imagine them yet!

Right on time with the last thing I wrote was that I want to give up, isn’t it cool God can work like that? That He’s just always aware and gives His word in such a timely manner? Yeah He’s pretty awesome and just mind boggling and insane to fully comprehend.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

The formula this passage gives us: suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. Of all the ways we’d expect hope to be produced, suffering wouldn’t have been at the top of the list. And yet, here we see that it is the unlikely place where hope is actually found. And you know what, it makes sense, because what would call for the need of hope if we didn’t suffer at some point?

Ephesians 3:20 NIV

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”

Yeah that’s so true and sometimes I forget it when things don’t always go my way. God is literally all powerful, like insanely so. And sometimes I can be selfish with that, asking for things for me when really I don’t deserve anything. Why should He give me what I ask for? There’s no reason! But all the more reason to be grateful when He does!

James 1:2-4 NIV

We all know there are no quick fixes to trauma. It’s going to take patience and grit but do. not. give. up. What does he mean by “let perseverance finish its work”? I’m inclined to believe that he meant something like this: Don’t give up when you’re already partway there. Don’t let it all be for nothing. Yes, the pain is awful, but if you keep moving forward, it will mean something someday. Somehow, this terrible experience will be recycled for something good even though it doesn't make sense right now. And I really do believe that from past experiences. We don’t go through things without reason, trust that it fits in the plan some way down the road.

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freetospeakknowwhatimean · 3 months ago

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Perseverance

Is to be persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success (oxford dictionary) or in biblical terms is faithfully enduring and remaining steadfast in the face of opposition, attack, and discouragement. Perseverance involves patience- the ability to endure without complaint and with calmness (James 1:2-4). Perseverance also includes persistence in accomplishing goals and permanence for a lifetime of commitment (2Peter 1:5-7).

James 1:2-4 NIV

2Peter 1:5-7

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control perseverance ; and to perseverance godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

In every life trial and tribulation in the moment of it all it feels never ending. As if we are never going to make it out or to the end of what we are going through or after. It’s not only in the bad things but also in the good things. Whether we’re trying to get out of an abusive controlling environment/relationship or we’re trying to make it out of medical school.

We’re just trying to make it out.

God doesn’t allow us to go through challenging periods of our lives for no reason. If it came easy then it didn’t challenge us and if it challenged us it made us wiser and stronger never weaker. When we endure through the challenges we feel we can do anything in this life we feel untouchable as if nothing can ever tear us down in that moment.

We stayed and remained faithful persistent steadfast calm as possible patient as possible and committed to the end of the challenge we were blessed with. Many times we see our blessings as curses when in reality they are lessons. Every challenge is a teachable moment and anything that teaches us is a blessing. If we were not taught then we wouldn’t know how to face the challenge if it were to come again or know how to help another brother or sister in their face of challenges.

Being able to persevere through all the challenges is a gift not everybody perseveres or even wants to because if we choose to we’re all able to. May we pray and remain faithful through the challenges because the one that endures through it is blessed and I hope you keep on persevering!

God bless you. ❤️

#perseverance #persevere #encourgement #scripture #bible verse #blessed #faith

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faith-avenue · 2 years ago

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Look at stress as a blessing because it allows you to see your faith in GOD and learn perseverance to overcome challenges in the future. 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.

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allegraforchrist · 4 months ago

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What’s up what’s up what’s up… another conviction coming to you live at 5:23pm (JHB)! I went to the mall to sort out my bank card, and get a vaccine. However, both tasks took more time than I expected. The bank took 30 minutes overall of my time (at 3:13-3:40pm) to get my card, cancel the old one and sort out my online accounts. Then I went to the clinic to get a vaccine, and I had to wait 20 minutes until 4:00pm. Then I realized the medical aid doesn’t pay for the vaccine itself! Only the admin fee and shot procedure. So I had ask for R2060 from my parents to pay for it off my account. Then as I went to the till, I realized my phone’s Apple Wallet was connected to my old card and doesn’t work. So I had to switch the cards on my iPhone, taking me 10-15 minutes, at the till, on their public wifi. After that I paid for everything and left. Then I had to book another Uber because my previous Uber canceled my return trip, and left with R123.00, for only a one way trip, instead of two-way. I was frustrated at this point. I was so angry because I had to wait longer to sort out my tasks, and get home at 4:44pm.

And what did I learn?

One, I had to forgive my Uber driver because despite him being paid for a two-way trip, I made him wait longer than expected, on his business time. I should’ve picked one Uber at a time, instead of hoping for one to wait on my time.

Two, I didn’t plan for the time and importance of each task. I didn’t call the clinic to ask how the vaccine will be paid. And I didn’t sort my cards out on my phone, to avoid delay at the clinic. I waited 20 minutes at the clinic, I could’ve swapped the cards and everything.

This was a lesson on planning and patience. I’m not happy at the outcomes, as it cost me more than I wanted it to - time and money wise. But that’s what Jesus wants me to finally understand: I have to take more care into planning my spontaneous tasks, and works. I need to have more patience, by understanding how much effort it’s going to take to complete these tasks, and with who’s involved. That although the situation is hard, I can’t complain what I set myself up for - good and bad. And I can’t complain against other people, because of a character I don’t know they have. That I take responsibility, instead of being upset and ungrateful for the bad moments.

(James 1:4 “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.)

(2 Peter 1:5-6 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness.")

Now I can say that I have to learn a life lesson, and prepare better for the experience or task I’m given, through the Spirit.

Jesus loves you 🩷

#christian blog #christianity #christian girl #christian #christian faith #christian girly things #christian bible #faith in jesus #christian vent

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unitedbyprayer · 8 months ago

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(via The Testing Of Our Faith Produces Endurance)

The Testing Of Our Faith Produces Endurance

https://www.unitedbyprayer.com/united-by-prayer-wall/the-testing-of-our-faith-produces-endurance

Whether we are faced with fleshly temptations that rise up from our old sin nature or testing trials that come from above, we know that God takes all things and weaves them together for the good, to those that love God and are called by grace through faith in Christ, according to His purpose. Loss of hope and discouragement should not replace our joy in the Lord. Difficult trials and disappointing happenings are used by God to test our trust in Him and to draw us into a deeper dependency upon His faithful provision and His unconditional love. We are to meet our various trials with an attitude of joyful thanksgiving, knowing that The Testing Of Our Faith Produces Endurance. If we meet endurance with a godly attitude of complete dependence upon God and trust in His unfailing Word, we discover that the end result of that testing trial will be the perfecting of our faith as we grow in grace and draw closer to our Heavenly Father - in love. Let us be increasingly aware that the trials of life are used by God for our eternal benefit and for His greater glory.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Our United Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You that Your grace is sufficient for every trial and difficulty that we will face in our lives. May we be ready and willing to patiently learn the lessons that You would teach us in each situation in life, knowing that we are being perfected in the process. Help us learn to patiently endure with joyful thanks. In Jesus' name we Pray, AMEN.

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bite-sized-christianity · 2 years ago

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☔️Day 3: Seek Refuge in Him ☔️

Have you ever been caught in a rainstorm before? Think of that moment when suddenly rain begins to fall from the sky. You blink and instinctively look upwards towards the sky. What do you do next? You look for a place to escape the storm, right? When we face "storms" in life our instinct is to lessen the pain and escape the proverbial rain. But we must be careful where we seek refuge from our struggles:

⛈Turn away from addictive substances that alter your frame of thinking.

⛈Turn away from toxic people around you who will only add to your stress because of their own brokenness.

⛈Slow down and turn away from trying to bury your head in the sand and not face your issues.

☀️Repeatedly in the Bible the Lord asks us to come and turn to Him.

James 1:2-4 reads:

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. (James 1:2-4)

Consider the following:

😇Your struggles in life are a way for the Lord to "prune" you. He wants you to seek him in everything that you do. He wants to shape and guide you into your purpose. Turn to Him and pray for his guidance!

😇The deepest struggles in life can often leave us reeling and angry. But the Lord never harms us! He wraps us in His eternal love and grace. Give Him your pain and take refuge in His strength!

😇When you lean on God in your hardest struggles you are developing a deeper relationship in Christ. This will give you roots that will help you through all of life's struggles!

✏️Day 3 Homework: ✏️

🙏What is your gut instinct when you face trials and struggles in life? Who do you turn to when things get difficult?

🙏When was the last time that you sat quietly in prayer?

If it has been a while since your last prayer consider praying the following prayer aloud:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for loving me eternally. Thank you for being with me through all of life's struggles. Holy Father I need you each and everyday. I am not strong enough to walk through life without you. Uplift and guide me each day. Reveal to me the purpose you have for my life. I surrender to you, Lord, and ask that you use this time of struggle to reveal your glory and majesty. Use me as a vessel to reveal your miracles on earth. Let me walk in the ways you wish for me. I take refuge in you, Lord, because I know that with You all things can be achieved!

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!

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wmproprt · 11 days ago

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Christians, this is our moment. God put us here, at this time, for a reason. 🙏

As we face the challenges ahead, let’s remember the words of James 1:2-5:

“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. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

This election, we must stand together in faith, knowing that good will conquer evil.

Let’s show up on Tuesday with strength, conviction & hope for a brighter future. Our voices matter—let’s make them heard.

WATCH: @KariLake’s Message To Christians Heading Into Election Day

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#Youtube

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themerelypersonal · 12 days ago

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it's all so quarky

I was reading today in this book about Zen how the present troubles or ceaseless thoughts help us to in our spiritual practice. It reminds me of this verse in the bible I return to often which is James 1:2-4 which says, "2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

I love finding my way back to the teachings of the Bible paired with Zen Buddhism and other spiritual ideas I find interesting. I have returned to the great god or really the universe and it has brought me back into its loving embrace. I am full of joy that I can be in communion again with the great universe as woo woo as that sounds. I thought that everything I had learned the first 25 years of my life had been moot but I am overjoyed to find its relevance in my life and to see those same verses I loved through fresh eyes.

In this book on Zen Buddhism, it talked about this concept of "shoshin" which is this idea of the "beginner's mind." It gave this example of reading a passage of a book that you find particularly interesting and it touches you. You read it once, and find it profound and can't stop thinking about it. Perhaps you ponder that idea while buttering toast, shaving your legs, and even into the next morning's cup of coffee. However, say, following that cup of coffee, you read that passage three more times, or four-- are you still holding onto its meaning? Are you finding you are just reading it for readings sake? Shoshin is approaching things through fresh eyes. Each moment, you have just left the womb and its uncomfortable. You must be reborn constantly. It's quite beautiful. I remember when Ezra was a baby and how he would be fascinated by a clock hanging on a wall. He would stare at it and smile and I would suddenly look at that clock with a new perspective. This little ticking handle on its face with symbols around it like a roulette. This simple wonderful mundane thing. It forever changed the way I saw clocks and other things. Suddenly, a cold water bottle was life changing. The feeling of my bare feet on morning grass earlier was as fulfilling as a shower and feeling the sun against my cheeks made me feel like I had been kissed by god. This new perspective in the last few months has been wonderful. Cheers to the season of the cocoon.

There was this other concept in today's reading of that book that I found really interesting and will add it to my unfolding essay on the present moment which is about the passage of time. This human called Dogen-zenjo said of time that it goes from the present to the past. How interesting and ridiculous and strange! I have been thinking about it all day, all through my evening climb, with me while I shaved my toes which I can barely reach now, and up unto this present moment that finds my fingers hitting the keyboard like a piano. I just looked up this Dogen-zenjo character and actually find that he believed that time was non-linear and that this present moment has inside of it all of time. He did not see any difference between the past, present, and future. Well which is it? Did he believe time unfolded from the present to the past or that the present is and will always be. Perhaps both? I know that Zen speaks of dualism. Boy, my head hurts. I'll be mediating for this till the end of time, pun intended.

The "present moment" has been this pesky thing for me the last few months. I can't get over it! It's the most absurd fun thing I've ever contemplated besides maybe gravity. Time! I remember reading in Carlo Rovelli's book on time earlier in the year or maybe last year about how time and heat are interconnected and without heat, there would be no ticking of time. Should I say, instead, I must be in the present heat environment? Its all so interesting to ponder. I've been listening, slowly, to this book on Thermodynamics. Its been a field of study I have neglected and I'm curious to know what I learn next.

gahhh, you are a quarky god.

SRV

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thebutterflyeffectarchives · 12 days ago

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it's all so quarky

gahhh, you are a quarky god.

SRV

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riearchivistfornow · 25 days ago

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Extreme Discipleship

TeensXcite 2014.12.20 Extreme Discipleship

The key verse is from Joshua Chapter 1:8-9

Judges 21:25 NIV

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.

In those days, they had rejected God as their King and had man for kings, then they rebelled and they had split up.

The moment the people of God rejected Gpd as their King, everything went downhill for them. Things will get tougher.

James 1:2-4 NIV

If things are getting tougher, what do we do? As FCBC, we are called to be extreme desciples.

"Tomorrow may be tougher, but no matter how tough it is, we will match up and not let tomorrow break us." - US Navy Seals' motto.

Your life will get tougher and tougher everyday. We need to understand that.

"We were promised sufferings." - C.S. Lewis

1 Peter 1:12 NIV

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

Don't find it strange that life will get tougher. God promised that he will be with us, not that life will be smooth.

Luke 9:23-25 NIV

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

When you face troubles:

1. You must endure it and persevere.

James 1:3-4 NIV

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.

Enduring means to stand firm and stay put, but peseverance means to keep moving, dispite of that hardship.

Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We are called not to be Christians, we are called to be Jesus. We have to learn what it means to pesevere till the very end. We can boast of that victory of Jesus Christ. Jesus can pesevere because he draws his strength from the Lord.

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Are you going through tough situations in life? How we can go through tomorrow? it is by drawing from the strength of God. Are you going to draw strength from God when we are in troubles times.

We still need to have our own strength. When your strength is running out, he will renew it and give him your strength.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Have you trained yourself up for tomorrow? Have you been doing your quiet time everyday? You must always train yourself for tomorrow. You must prepare yourself for hardship that is going to come. "Mind over Matter" works only when your method can work. It is not that simple. If you are not spirirtually ready then you will not be able to do it. The devil doesn't want you to finish the race.

Hebrews 12:1 NIV

2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

God is in it to see that you will finish the race. Satan wants you to finish the race.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill

Be strong and courageous.

James 1:12 NIV

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

"If you are going through hell, keep going."

Winston Churchill

2. We need to embrace whatever that comes tomorrow.

Embrace: To except willingly and enthusiastically.

James 1:2 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

We have to be able to consider it, our troubles, pure joy. A lot of us have the difficulty to endure and pesevere through. Why? Because we do not find it pure joy.

While other worldviews lead us to sit in the most of life's joys, forseeing the coming sorrows. Christianity empowers its people to sit in the most of this world's sorrows. Tasting the coming joy.

Before it is writen down in history, it is writen down in courage.

Matthew 14:25-31 NIV

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

"A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are made for."

"A great ship asks deep waters."

Many of us are hiding, as lomg as you allow fear to be in your life, we can never do great things.

The devil wants you to be afraid. Moses is a leader that led Israel, yet he was afraid to speak, he slurs and he stutters.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

Jesus considered his own death pure joy.

Either step forth in faith or step back in fear. Fear feeds on fear, so the more you step back, the greater is grows and cripples you. The more you move forth in faith, the only thing you lose is the fear that hinders you.

#ArchivistRie #fcbc.org.sg #2014 #TeensXcite

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