Are They Trials or Testimonies?

I'm not sure if I have mentioned my brother's best friend Bobby on here before. He and my brother have been buddies all of their lives. They got into trouble together as youngsters, made some dumb decisions together as teens, and they were both called to preach as young adults. Currently they are in the same Bible College.
This past weekend Ben and Bobby came home to discuss the possibility of having a youth revival at my church with young preachers from the college. This has been okayed, and I'm very excited about it. Prayers for the revival starting now would be very much appreciated.
Anyway, back to Bobby, he preached yesterday morning at my church, and let me tell you what, for a 21 year old "kid" he STOMPED ALL OVER MY TOES. It was an AWESOME message.
And you know what, he gave me some perspective on some things. If any of you have been reading my last several posts, you know that things have been a bit crazy around here lately and that the whole situation with Alaena's dad has been a bit up in the air.
And I'm not going to lie. I've really been stressing it. Because I just don't understand it all, and I want an answer. A clear answer as to how to handle the situation, and right now I don't have that. And I've seen this time of not knowing as a trial that I would just rather get past.
But Bobby's message pointed out yesterday. Trials are times that make us grow. Trials are times that give us the testimonies that we use to give hope to others who walk down the same paths we are on after us.
And I can't say that I understand what's going on around me any better than I did before. But I can say that I'm trusting in the Lord to use it to make me stronger. I'm relying on Him to make this trial a testimony. Because no matter what, I can look back over every part of this situation, and I know that the Lord has been by my side. And He will always be there.
I don't know what you're going through today, but trust me, the Lord is there, and He is using this trial to make you stronger. He is giving you a testimony to help other brothers and sisters along their way! Just trust Him.

An Update

To all, well, I know it's been a week since my last post. A lot has been going on since then. Some really good stuff, some really bad stuff. Just a lot. Anyway, I don't have much time this morning, but I kind of wanted to give you a little update.
Mark's trial was continued until May so it's another period of waiting and wondering what is best on that front. I talked to him, and he seemed to be on cloud 9 about it for a few hours saying that God was on his side.
I'm not sure what happened after that, but the next day he called me, and his words were almost indistinguishable, and I could tell he'd taken something. And he was ranting about how the world was against him.
When he gets like that I dont' really know what to say. Because in my mind it's very obvious that God has given the boy more chances and has kept him out of harm so many times, but it's like Satan has him so bound in deception that he can't see the truth.
And last Thursday he got to his lowest point. He went out onto his parents property and slashed himself up, intending to bleed to death. His mom found him in a puddle of blood and called 911. Fortunately they got there in the nick of time, and he's now in the hospitals mental care facility.
His only words to his mom have been that he wanted to end up in the funeral home, not the hospital. I ask that all of you would keep both him and his family and Alaena and myself in your prayers.
As I've said many times before, I don't understand this deep level of Satan's deceptive power. But I do know the only one who can free Mark from this. And he needs that freedom more now than ever.

Psalm 23
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

I'm sure that we've all read this Psalm about a million times, but to me it never gets old. Verses 1-3 are the Scripture of the day today over on Bible Gateway. And I must say that I really needed to hear them again today.
Why you ask? Well because I'm in a kind of battle of the spirit today. I'm not sure of how to feel about something. Alaena's dad goes to court today facing some pretty big charges, and I really don't know what I want to happen.
On one hand, his being put away would mean a time of potential peace. No phone calls in the middle of the night from anyone in a drug induced stupor. No angry threats. No wondering if he'll show up and try to take Alaena.
Then on the other hand I think that the father of my child will be in prison. Possibly until she's 3 or 4. He saw her for the first time ever this past Sunday night. It was a very hard decision on my part because he has not lived up to his part of the deal about getting straight, but my final decision rested on the "what if something happened to either of them" during this prison sentence. So he came to church and met her.
And I think he saw what he's missing. And possibly he regrets the decisions he has made. Problem is, I can do nothing to unmake his bad choices. And I can't make the decision of what will happen to him for those choices.
So I must sit here waiting and wondering what will happen and wondering what I want to happen. So today I needed to remember that the Lord is my Shepherd, and He's in control of it all. And that no matter the outcome of today's trial, He will give peace to my soul. Please keep Mark in your prayers today. No matter what, he needs to trust in Christ.

Something Great to Do

Well, I know I'm probably like the last person to do this because I have been so out of the blogging loop over the last several months. I wrote my letter. And I wanted all of you to have the opportunity to do so to. It will not only be a blessing to you but to others as well, and all of the proceeds out of this project will benefit Compassion International.
So go check it out!!

Coming Forth As Gold

Job 23:10-11
10But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

These are some verses that I have learned to love. Because they remind me that the trials in my life are for a purpose. They make me stronger. They make me shine all the more with the likeness of Christ.

As I've shared here, my family has been facing some trials. But those trials will not kill us. No, we may not understand the why, but we definitely know who holds us. We know that He will continue to hold us. And we know that because He's held us through every past trial. He's been there with us through every fire.

So we're going to stay in His path. We're going to hold to His footsteps.

How about you? Are you facing something today that you just don't understand? Well, just stay with Christ. He will never leave you or forsake you. He's holding you through every trial you face. And He's making you into something stronger than you ever imagined you would be.