Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Dividends of Suffering




Day 7

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Roman 5:3-5

Jennifer's prayer: "Lord, give my descendants such wisdom in the things of God that they will see their difficulties and hardships as opportunities for You to develop Christlikeness in them. Complete Your full work in their hearts." Jennifer Kennedy Dean

My prayer:  "Lord, teach me what this verse really means and how to pray for my descendants in relation to it.  I do want my children to have hope and to have hope it appears they must have character to produce it, and to produce this character they must have perseverance and to possess perseverance they must suffer at times.

Lord, help me not to always want to bail my children out of everything hard that they go through.  Help me to look upon their trials, hardships and sufferings as character builders that will lead them into a closer walk with you.

Give them discernment to know when their bad choices produce needless suffering and when You are allowing hardships so that they may grow more Christlike.  Let them not be given to resentment and bitterness but be joyful, rejoicing in knowing that they are joining in the fellowship of Your sufferings and it will produce dividends that they will profit greatly from."

In Jesus' Name, Amen.


A little touch of Christmas:


This ornament is over sixty years old.  It used to grace the top of my husband's Christmas tree when he was a little boy!

  © all photographs and text property of Dianne Hogue unless otherwise noted