When troubles come your way consider it an opportunity for great joy
When troubles come your way consider it an opportunity for great joy
James 1 : 2
The credit crunch is providing plenty of reasons for many of us to live in fear and if the media has it’s way it can be easy to think there really is no hope for the coming year and yet I see signs of things improving every day…. when….? When I changed the way I was looking at things.
I haven’t been affected by the credit crunch at all although I would love to blame it…! My finances have been affected by my inaction. I did nothing, I sold nothing so therefore I earned nothing. Not difficult to understand that equation really.
My path is exactly where I want it to be right now and I believe that. Our actions determine where we will be at every given moment and even inaction is a decision to do nothing and so therefore still action.
I kept asking the question WHY I am doing nothing but to no avail. My life right now has stopped and instead of fighting it with fear and worry I am now embracing it and looking forward to what’s next. I have decided to focus on joy and faith, which of course my new found faith in Jesus Christ has definitely helped me achieve.
I have come to the realization that all personal development is the bible but with God removed! Even the law of attraction that is so popular right now is focused on in the Gospel and includes praising and acknowledging God. So if you have had no luck attracting your desires you may want to consider adding that part and turning to Jesus Christ so that you may learn His lessons and begin to know Him.
Having said that because it has worked for me it really doesn’t mean it will work for you. I guess we all need to find our way back home and we all have definitely journeys to take. I would still encourage you to open your heart to seeing knowing God as one of those journeys.
Here is the full verse James Chapter 1 verses 2-8
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
If you are finding yourself unstable stop and ask God for wisdom. Not stuff (I tried that!) but wisdom, faith and the courage to endure. When I began to ask for that I began to feel a sense of joy return to me and the realization that where I am in my life is perfect for my spiritual growth. Anything I lose on this journey in terms of stuff (car, house, art etc) can be replaced. These are low value possessions.
The high value comes from being loved and loving others, loving and knowing God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, having a mind, body, soul, being able to dream, experiencing joy & gratitude, feeling the wind on your face. These are free and high value yet so easy to take for granted.
If you are experiencing troubles right now may God bless you with his wisdom and guidance so that you may see it through to the end. Remember it is there to support you in getting stronger. Pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. We will all come through this and when God blesses us with what we need it will be 50 times better than anything we could have imagined.
Stay strong. 
Two more deaths because of debt
This really is getting scary. The number of people who believe that the only option they have is to take their life because of debt.
Did you know that if you rang your credit card company and asked them if you could pay a token payment for a few months they would have little option but to say yes! Even if that payment was £1 a month.
The first death was a 34 year old student who had £40,000 on credit cards and the second a father who took his own life by cutting his throat.
Nothing ever needs to be that bad that you take your own life…. really! Talk to the national debt helpline and find out your options.
If any of the staff at any of the companies that you owe money to are rude or disrespectful immediately tell them you want to speak to someone else. I don’t care how much money you owe no one has the right to speak to you in any manner that isnt 100% helpful.
The worst that can happen is you go through IVA or bankruptcy… and I say that is the worst when compared to taking your own life.
Please talk to someone, get help, ring the people you owe money to and pay them a nominal amount. As long as each month you pay something small they can not accuse you of non payment.
Do you want to know the secret to becoming unstoppable? - it's all about building self