OUR DAILY BREAD : IF DAY

[cimi]

February 19
Friday


IF DAY

READ:
James 1:1-11
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My brethren, count
it all joy when you
fall into various trials,
knowing that the
testing of your faith
produces patience.
__James 1:2-3
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February 19, 1942, was a fascinating day for Canada. It was "If Day" --a World War 2 staging of a fake Nazi invasion of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The intent was to show what it would be like "if" Canada fell under the harsh occupation of Nazi forces, and so that Canadians would support the war effort more fully.

As one person described the event "If Day brought home the reality of Nazi occupation. Manitobans got a very bitter taste of nearly every aspect of Nazi brutality." The key word there is nearly. While "If Day" was a valiant attempt to educate people about danger in the world, it could not begin to recreate the actual suffering that was sweeping Europe.

Real trials in life are not ifs--they are whens. In fact, life's most profound lessons cannot simply be observed, they must be experienced. It is there, in actual seasons of heartache and loss, that we gain greater insights into life, faith, and our need of God. To that end, James wrote, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:2-3).

Trials come because we live in a broken world, but we decide if we will learn the lessons taught. There are no "ifs" about it--it is an important way to grow. __bill Crowder
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````````````````Though you cannot see the outcome,``````````````
```````````````Trust the Lord--He knows what's best;``````````````
``````````````````Be assured he sees your trial,``````````````````
``````````````And He's with you in your test. __Hess```````````````
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Tough times can teach us to trust.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ James 1:1-11*************

1 James, a bondservant of
God and of the Lord Jesus
Christ, to the twelve tribes
which are scattered abroad:

2 My brethren, count it all
joy when you fall into
various trials, 3 knowing
that the testing of your faith
produces patience. 4 But let
patience have its perfect
work, that you may be
perfect and complete,
lacking nothing. 5 If any of
you lacks wisdom, let him
ask of God, who gives to all
liberally and without
reproach, and it will be
given to him. 6 But let him
ask in faith, with no
doubting, for he who doubts
is like a wave of the sea
driven and tossed by the
wind. 7 For let not that man
suppose that he will receive
anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded
man, unstable in all his
ways.

9 Let the lowly brother
glory in his exaltation,

10 but the rich in his
humiliation, because as a
flower of the field he will
pass away. 11 For no sooner
has the sun risen with a
burning heat than it wither
the grass; its flower falls,
and its beautiful appearance
perishes. So the rich man
also will fade away in his
pursuits.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

"MY brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials"
(v.2). The Greek word translated "count" can mean "to lead" or "to
regard." A form of the verb translated "fall" appears in the story of
the Good Samaritan. We are told that a man "fell among thieves"
(Luke 10:30). Rejoicing in trials means taking leadership in our
response. Despite the apparent randomness of trials that we seem to
"fall into," God is still in control and can use them to develop our
character. __DENNIS FISHER