OUR DAILY BREAD             Thurs., June 15, 1995   
---------------

READ: James 1:1-8

               
                    HIGHER MATH       

     "Count it all joy when you fall into various
    trials, knowing that the testing of your faith
                produces patience." 

                                   --James 1:2-3

Mathematical formulas work well with numbers, but not
with people.  That's why this equation in James 1
sounds unworkable:

        FAITH + TRIALS = PATIENCE

One might better try to mix oil and water.  But what
makes this formula work is confidence in God's unfailing
love, which allows for all the human emotions that come
with life's trials.

Shirley and her husband Roy proved that this equation
is still up-to-date.  Here's their story:  Roy was told
that in 6 months the plant where he worked would close 
but he would receive severance pay.

Shirley wrote, "Praise the Lord for that -- but also
praise the Lord that He loves us so much He's given
us yet another trial in our lives.  (This will be the
fourth time we're starting over in the 13 years we've
been married.)   At first I panicked and questioned
God's love.  But I kept reading my Bible, stopped
feeling sorry for myself, and started to pray for
others.  As long as God gives us this roof over our
heads (and even if we lost it), I'll thank Him."

So when you face trials, you can "count it all joy"
if you add faith, knowing that God's love will never
fail.  As you do, you will develop an attitude of
patient expectation, confident that God will do what 
is best.
                                -- Dennis J. De Haan

        Afflictions may test me,
          They cannot destroy;
        One glimpse of Thy love
        Turns them all into joy.

                        - Willett

-------------------------------------
           THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 
-------------------------------------
      The first lesson in patience
 is learning to count our trials as joy.
----------------------------------------------

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Psalms 64-66

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