Sometimes there are short seasons of getting ‘pounded on”. Has that ever happened to you? This past week has been a challenge for me. And for me the biggest thing I have learned is to keep my mouth shut!  I did not want to argue with the enemy. I knew it was an attack. So I shut up and did NOT talk about how I felt. Sometimes feelings aren’t always truthful. I have found when I follow my feelings around I get slammed sometimes.  Feelings don’t rule – God does. So in the middle of my mess I found short verses to speak. And then shut up!

Let me show you what I mean. In each of these circumstances this past week I had to exercise my faith. I’ll be truthful, I was NOT happy about it. I was mad. I couldn’t believe that all of this stuff was happening at once.

• I interviewed for a job last week. It took about a week longer to get through all the hoops at HR. They didn’t like the letters or awards I had submitted so I had to redo everything. It was rather frustrating. I had to ask for new letters from some of the people I know. Yet, it was worth it – I got hired. I haven’t worked at the School District for about 8 years. God provides!
• Then the very next day, my daughter was in a car accident. She is fine, but my car got crunched. It is at the shop now. It’s not road worthy yet. She got hit right by the gas tank on the passenger rear side. Thank you Lord, that the car did not burst into flames. Again – God protects!
• I woke up with a terrible wrench in my neck last Friday (the day of the accident), and was unable to hold my head up straight. Because I am stubborn, I didn’t go to the Dr until Sunday afternoon. They gave me some muscle relaxers and today I am finally able to sit at the computer and type. Again – God heals!

I am not sure how things will work out with this car. We have about 3 weeks to get something up and running so I can go to work and get my kids to school every day. And my car insurance people are dragging their feet. So once again, I get to stand up and not give up – God is not finished with me yet!  And now I know why God asks me to be joyful during this season of testing – because that is NOT my natural response!!!

Thank you for your prayers my friends 😉   Diana

Trials and Temptations

 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.  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.  For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business

 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. (James 1:2-123 NIV)

This song made me smile today!

IF YOU’RE GOING THROUGH HELL – by Rodney Atkins

Well you know those times
When you feel like there’s a sign there on your back
Say’s I don’t mind if ya kick me
Seems like everybody has
Things go from bad to worse
You’d think they can’t get worse than that
And then they do

You step off the straight and narrow
And you don’t know where you are
Use the needle of your compass
To sew up your broken heart
Ask directions from a genie
In a bottle of Jim Beam
And she lies to You
That’s when you learn the truth

If you’re going through hell
Keep on going, Don’t slow down
If you’re scared, don’t show it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you’re there

Well I been deep down in that darkness
I been down to my last match
Felt a hundred different demons
Breathing fire in my back
And I knew that if I stumbled
I’d fall right into the trap that they were laying, Yeah

But the good news
Is there’s angels everywhere out on the street
Holding out a hand to pull you back upon your feet
The one’s that you been dragging for so long
You’re on your knees
You might as well be praying
Guess what I’m saying
If you’re going through hell
Keep on going, Don’t slow down
If you’re scared, don’t show it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you’re there

Yeah, If you’re going through hell
Keep on moving, Face that fire
Walk right through it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you’re there

If you’re going through hell
Keep on going, Don’t slow down
If you’re scared, don’t show it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you’re there

Yeah, If you’re going through hell
Keep on moving, Face that fire
Walk right through it
You might get out
Before the devil even knows you’re there
Yeah you might get out
Before the devil even knows you’re there
Yeah.

Read more: Rascal Flatts – If You’re Going Through Hell Lyrics | MetroLyrics