"Now the Lord was angry with me on your account, and swore that I would not cross the Jordan, and that I would not enter the good land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.  For I will die in this land, I shall not cross the Jordan, but you shall cross and take possession of this good land."  (Deuteronomy 4:21-22)

I was studying through this chapter this morning and stopped on these 2 verses.  I read them several times and found myself getting really upset with Moses.  He blamed his sin on the people!  How could he do that?  He's writing Scripture ... how could he just blame his sin on someone else?   Wait a minute!  Whoah Colleene, before you get too mad at Moses, remember ...

"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."  (Romans 15:4)

Okay, with that in mind, I just finished with the book of Numbers.  So, it was fresh in my mind the real reason Moses was punished by God and was not allowed to enter the promised land.  "But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."  (Numbers 20:12)  So, I asked God, 'Why did Moses say this in the Scriptures?  It seems like a lie?  Why's it there?' 

Have you ever heard anyone say 'be careful what you pray for'? 

God began to show me plenty of instances where I had rationalized my sin because of something done by someone else in my proximity.  I'm a reactor, taking in what others do and behaving in ways that reflect my perception of their behavior towards me.  (Boy, that's a self-centered sentence! But it's true!)  Unfortunately, many times, my reactive behavior is worldly rather than godly.  There are times when I immediately know I've sinned and I'm on my face before God seeking forgiveness.  Other times,  I rationalize my behavior or thoughts based on the wrong assumption that 'I didn't deserve that', or 'he/she made me mad'.  How silly!  I mean, when you really sit and think about that, isn't it silly? 

First of all, I don't deserve anything but eternal damnation and the wrath of God.  I'm a sinner, through and through.  Wicked to the core without the redemptive work of Christ in my heart.  I don't deserve any special treatment from God, or anyone He's created.  Secondly, no one can "make" me mad.  No one can force me to feel or display any emotion.  The emotions I feel and display are an overflow of what lies within my heart.  If godliness, love, forgiveness, gentleness, meekness ... the righteousness of Christ lie there, my emotions and reactions will be Christ-like, selfless, and glorifying to God in all circumstances.  If sin lies within my heart, however, explosions of anger and wicked hateful thoughts will abide.

When I sin, I would do well to pray as David did, saying, "Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.  Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me."  (Psalm 51:4-5)  If soneone does or says something that is an irritation to me, or causes me hurt of some kind, I am responsible before God to honor Him with my behavior.  If I react in a self-centered, worldly display of bent emotion, then I sin against Christ who redeemed me and lives within me.  Further,if I then rationalize my sin claiming 'but, you made me mad!', then I sin more gravely, as Moses did in Deuteronomy 4, casting blame for my sin upon another.

Oh Lord, create in me a heart that is clean and humbled.  May I take full responsibility for my sin and fall on my face before Your holiness, knowing that You have all power to cleanse.  Come Holy Spirit and fill me, giving me the ability to remain grounded in Christlikeness at all times, rejecting the tremendous fleshly urge to react to my surroundings in fits of varying worldly emotion.  Make my mind to be honest with myself and others, seeing my estate clearly, that I may ever know my deep need for Your grace at every moment.

Don't worry, I'm not going to talk about Bon Jovi. 

I was reading in James this morning and the Lord just sort of stopped me in my tracks and had me meditating on this passage.

"For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."  (James 2:26)

James draws comparisons here between body and faith, and spirit and works.  I must admit that I was perplexed at this comparison and got pretty excited when God began laying upon my heart some level of understanding on this passage.  Let me just share what He laid upon my heart.

• The spirit dwells within the body just as works dwell within a life of faith.
• The spirit is that unique characteristic which sets humans apart from animals.  Humans are made in God's image, having flesh and spirit, unlike animals, which are merely flesh.  Comparatively, works (done for God's glory and for the benefit of others) are that characteristic that sets believers apart in the eyes of the world as those aliens who are born of God, spiritually made in Christ's image --  little Christs --  Christians.
• The spirit is breathed into the body by God at human conception just as good works are breathed into the life of one given faith by God at the new birth. 

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."  (Ephesians 2:10)

James 2:26 is a glorious verse to help us to analyze our walk with Christ, friends.  Are we dead or alive?  Do our lives show evidence of a spirit born anew in Christ?  Are we about the business of doing good works prepared for us beforehand by God?  Are we looking to the world like the workmanship of God created in Christ?  Or do we look like the pagans?  I don't know about you, but this puts me flat on my face before the holy God of the universe, pleading with Him that He make me obedient.

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!  Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you -- unless indeed you fail the test?"  (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Yesterday morning was one like many others.  I saw my husband off to work, finished my Bible Study for the morning, and headed off to the shower.  In the midst of my shower, I began hearing some loud banging sounds, which to me sounded like they came from within my house.  I thought someone was either trying to break down a door or was already inside throwing things around.  Immediately, I was filled with fear thinking all sorts of serious problems with the coupling of an intruder in my home and my being in the shower.  My obsessive- compulsive mind began playing out scenerios -- and all were horrific, when suddenly the Lord brought to my mind...

"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."  (Matthew 10:28)

"Do not fear, for I am with you;  Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."  (Isaiah 41:10)

A most amazing calm flooded my soul and I began thinking rationally, the fear having completely subsided.  I finished my shower (so I wouldn't be slipping all over the place in soap and shampoo), got out and locked the bathroom door (after hearing another loud bang), dressed and loaded my Beretta, prayed and then went through the entire house room by room.  Praise the God of heaven and earth that there was no one in my home, that I didn't have to use my gun, and most of all -- that He replaced my fleshly fear with a heavenly trust in His goodness, no matter the outcome.  Only God can do that!

I searched the entire house, inside and out, never finding the source of the noise.  Maybe it was the Lord testing my faith?  Maybe it was the Lord showing me what He could do through the power of His living Word planted deep in my heart.  Whatever the case, glory be to the Lord! 

I must confess that last night I talked to my husband about the whole thing and I did tell him that I might start taking a shower with a locked door and my loaded AR15.  So, maybe my faith still needs a little boost, Lord.  Come Lord Jesus and grant me faith that brings the peace that surpasses all understanding.  May I not live with a spirit of fear, knowing by whom I've been bought and by whom I'm kept.  Thank you for the measure of faith You miraculously granted to me yesterday morning.  May my heart and mind be united to trust in You!

"I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)

Proverbs 31:10-31 ... We're all familiar with this passage admonishing us as women to be busy about service to our Lord and family.  I've been guilty of reading this passage and of thinking all her activities happened in one day.  I've sort of looked at this passage as an account of "one day in the life of a godly wife", and thought I fall so short because I don't make my own clothes out of the finest materials, buy and sell land, physically feed the poor, and function joyfully in sleeplessness ... all on a daily basis.  I think to read this passage this way would be likened to pulling one detail out of one of Jesus' parables and building a doctrine upon it.  Parables are intended to teach an overall lesson, not to be plucked apart and have whole doctrines based on single points.  This story of the "excellent wife" is intended the same way, I believe.  There are many nuggets for us here, but one overall teaching.  We'll hit the nuggets first, and then the beautiful overall encourgement for us as wives and as Christians.  By God's grace, and for His glory alone, may we be excellent!

"An excellent wife, who can find?  For her worth is far above jewels.  The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good and not evil all the days of her life."  (31:10-12)

This introduction is very important and shows the main thrust of what King Lemuel is teaching here.  He's not teaching about one day's work, but a life of service.  After v. 12, he proceeds to give a list of examples of the various ways this woman proves her excellency in joyful service to her Lord, husband, children, servant girls, and the poor.  The list is by no means exhaustive, nor is it prescriptive for us.  It is descriptive, giving a few details about her heart for servitude. 

"She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight." (31:13)

We make the mistake of focusing too much on the things she did and miss her attitude.  Here, Lemuel puts in a jewel for us, ladies.  Work with delight!  Do you scrub your toilet with delight?  Do you wash and fold the laundry for the 5,466,798,901st time with delight in your soul?  Do you wash those mud prints off the tile floor with joy in your mind?  Do you prepare food for your family day after day with pleasure? 

"She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is still night and gives food to her household and portions to her maidens."  (31:14-15)

Okay, so my grocery store is not exactly considered to be "from afar".  The point is that she makes sure her family has food.  She goes to whatever lengths necessary, all things considered, to put food in the mouths of her family and all those under her care.  She gets up before daybreak -- that's not really that early, ladies.  The sun comes up here around 6:30 a.m. (Of course, that changes in different parts of the year with Daylight Savings and all).  Now, don't go setting your clock for 6:29 and think you're okay.  The point is, get up early enough to be able to have things in order to feed your family in the morning.  That will depend upon your family, when everyone has to be ready for the day's work.  For my family, it's 5:00 a.m.  For yours, it may be different.

"She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.  She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong."  (31:16-17)

I must confess, I'm not a Real Estate agent nor a body builder.  I don't have enough money at my disposal to buy an acre of land, much less a field. (Just for curiosity's sake, I checked the price for a field on a road between home and church last night.  It was $700,000 for 50 acres!  This lady won't be buying that field!)  And, I don't lift weights enough to have any noticeable biceps.  So, what's the teaching here for me?  I believe it is to have in mind ways you can benefit your family financially and to work diligently.  It may be helping out with a family business, cutting coupons, planting a garden, mending clothes to get a few extra miles out of those play pants, sacrificing expensive toys for yourself, planning trips so that you may reduce mileage and save gas money, and the list could go on.  Strength comes from a working life, as opposed to softness that results from a life of leisure.  There's definitely a broad teaching here that we are to work hard and not to be caught up in worldly, leisurely laying around on the couch watching TV and eating the proverbial "Bon-Bon's". 

"She senses that her gain is good; her lamp does not go out at night." (31:18)

Does this lady ever go to bed?  We already read earlier that she gets up before daybreak to feed her family.  I believe this teaches that she is not anxious for physical rest because her heart finds so much joy in service.  She's busy past dark.  Darkness comes at different times of the evening, depending upon the time of year and your location.  So, again, don't get too hung up on an exact time.  This is a matter of avoiding slothfulness, not a prescription for sleep deprivation. 

"She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.  She extends her hands to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy."  (31:19-21)

Here, we can learn to be just as mindful of stretching our hands to the poor as we are of stretching our hands to our work.  Both are a part of our nature in Christ.  We give ourselves to our work and to the needy -- pouring ourselves out for the benefit of others.  Isn't this the Christian life?

"She is not afraid of the snow for her household.  For all her household are clothed with scarlet.  She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen.  Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future."  (31:21-25)

Do we have to wear the finest clothes made of the finest materials in order to be godly?  Certainly not! (James 2:1-5) The broad teaching here is that we take the measures necessary to care for our family, clothing them.  We clothe them and ourselves as God provides.  But, most importantly, we, by God's grace and the work of the Spirit, are clothed in godly character, strength and dignity, smiling at the future because we trust a sovereign and good God to provide for our every need.

"She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."  (31:26)

We are to think before we speak, making sure the words we say are edifying to others and glorifying to God.  (Ephesians 4:29,  Colossians 4:5-6, Proverbs 16:24) We are also to study hard so that we may teach well. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)

"She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.  Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her saying, 'Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.' Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." (31:27-30)

Here's the overall message, ladies ... Take care of what God has given you.  Work hard with joy in Christ.  Pour out yourself to the service of others to the glory of God, who has called you to do so.  As women, the most important ministry we've been given is our families.  We are our husbands' helpers and our children's caretakers and teachers.  Remember though, this call to work hard with joy in Christ is not just the call to wives, but the call to all Christians.  We all fall desperately short, so may we pray for strength from the Lord! May we be granted energetic hearts for service and abundant joy in Christ that overflows and extends to all those in our care.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."  (Ephesians 2:10) 

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for  men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." (Colossians 3:23-24) 

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."  (Colossians 3:17)

"As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore."  (John 6:66)

I've studied this passage so many times before and heard so many people say various reasons why they think the disciples withdrew from Christ.  Most of what I hear is that they left because they had such a hard time with His teachings in John 6:26-58, about eating His flesh and living forever.  In fact, this is the core stance of many who believe that the bread and wine, partaken of at communion, become the actual body and blood of Jesus, to be literally and physically consumed.  I would purport that this interpretation makes the grave mistake of skipping 7 very important verses of Scripture.  To say that the disciples withdrew from Jesus because they couldn't accept the notion of physically eating His flesh would be to completely neglect and ignore John 6:59-65, and a another key truth, which I will outline in the rest of this blog.

Indeed, the notion of "eating" Jesus' body was difficult for those sitting under His teaching.  The difficulties were with their attempt to make His reference literal, rather than spiritual, and with the fact that they had not been granted from the Father to understand or believe.  Clearly, from the beginning of this particular teaching in John 6:26, Jesus speaks in spiritual terms.  The grumbling disciples were looking for physical signs from Jesus and for physical things they could do in order to earn salvation. (John 6:28, 30-31)   They gravely misunderstood the gospel!  Their eyes were focused on the world rather than God.  They were listening with physical ears rather than ears enlightened by the Spirit.

"Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, 'I am the Bread that came down out of heaven.' (John 6:41)

We know that Jesus certainly didn't come down out of heaven as a literal loaf of bread.  He came down as He who would spiritually nurture and "feed" His flock, as their their Bread.  Jesus was speaking in spiritual terms.  Those who were grumbling were those without ears to hear what He was saying.  Jesus referenced that fact when He said, "Do not grumble among yourselves.  No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.  It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me."  By this, Jesus explains why they do not understand His teaching.  They are not part of the group of "everyone who has heard and learned from the Father".  Therefore, they deny His teaching, distort its meaning, and they walk away, completely rejecting the perfect spiritual nourishment Christ alone can provide.  They will never believe unless the Father draws them and gives them understanding that Jesus is the only source of nourishment for their souls.

The disciples also continually referred to God's having provided manna for their ancestors to eat in the wilderness, again proving their focus on the earthly.  Jesus corrected them in John 6:49-51 when He said, "Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."  Here, Jesus was clearly teaching them to focus on Him with a heavenly-minded view, not with an earthly-minded, worldy view.  He drew the contrast between physical eating/physical death and spiritual eating/spiritual life, which, when nourished by Christ is eternal in God's presence.  When Jesus said "one may eat of it and not die", he could not have meant they would live eternally in the flesh.  We know that this would not be true, for all physically die.  Therefore, it is clear that He spoke in spiritual terms here as well.  Christ also taught here that He is the glorious fulfillment of the manna in the desert of Moses' time.  God sent the Israelites bread from heaven to sustain their bodies.  God sent Christ (Bread) out of heaven to sustain our souls in redemptive grace. 

The reaction to this teaching on the Bread of Life was grumbling from the unbelieving disciples, and they said, "This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?"  (John 6:60)    The reaction was not departure or withdrawal. 

So, what made these same grumbling disciples later withdraw in John 6:66?

It was the doctrine of Limited Atonement, my friend.  Immediately after the disciples said Jesus' teaching on the Bread of Life was "difficult", He said, "Does this cause you to stumble?  What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.  But there are some of you who do not believe." (John 6:61-64)  "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father."  (John 6:65)  What do you think these unbelieving disciples thought about this statement?  What did they do?  "As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore."  (John 6:66)

So, why did they leave?  Because of what He said to them in the previous verse.  Because He told them they did not believe and that they could not ever believe unless it was granted them from the Father.  He told them that salvation was not of them, not of the flesh.  He took glory away from them and gave it all to His Father!  He told them that His teaching was spiritual and the source for eternal life.  Because of this, they left.

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth."  (Colossians 3:2)

"The people spoke against God and Moses, 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.'" (Numbers 21:5)

Today, God really spoke to me in this passage about treasuring what He has provided for me.  Often I tend to grumble about God's perfect provision, thinking I know something that would be " better" for me -- much like the discontented grumbling of the Israelites.  Do you do this?  God has a perfect plan for my life, yet I question what He's doing and concieve plans in my mind to change the course He's set.  Shall I thwart the hand of the most high God?  May it never be!  It's unthinkable -- yet my heart desires to do it.  Wretched sinner that I am!

God's ultimate and perfect provision for me was the sending of His beloved and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who was obedient to death on the cross in my stead.  How many in this world loathe Jesus Christ?  How many think of Him as "miserable food"? 

"Jesus then said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." (John 6:32-33) 

Christ, as the glorious fulfillment of the manna in the desert, is the true Bread out of heaven!  Oh, that I would  be completely satisfied in Him and have faith that God's provision is perfect for me!  That I would embrace the plan He has for my life, accepting what He gives with thanksgiving and faith, knowing that He is a good and faithful Father who only gives good gifts to His children.  I pray this for myself and every reader whom God leads to this blog.

Oh Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!  On those days when I feel discontented, refocus my eyes on Christ who is my Bread from heaven!  God, when I start thinking my plans for myself are better than those You have for me, fix my eyes on Christ, my Treasure and Satisfaction.  May my discontented heart feast on His goodness, His mercy, His loving forgiveness.  May my wicked heart be changed by Your Word and cease its striving, knowing that You alone are God!  Thank you for the manna You so faithfully and patiently provided for those grumbling Israelites in the desert.  Thank you even more for the redemption in Christ You so faithfully and patiently provide for me, Your servant who finds herself a grumbling spiritual Israelite.  Lord, may I never forget the Egyptian bondage from which You have rescued me! 

"Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the  hearing of the Lord;  and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp."  (Numbers 11:1)

Today I read this verse in my study and God impressed upon me these 5 things:
   

1. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever.
2. His anger burns just as much today against the sin of complaining as it did in this passage of Scripture.
3. I am guilty of the sin of a complaining spirit and God hears!
4. If I have a complaining spirit within me, which may be strictly in my heart, or verbally expressed, it proves that I'm not thankful for the good things God provides for me and I am not trusting Him to give me exactly what is best for me.
5. It is only by the forgiving grace of God through the sacrifice of Christ that the outskirts of my town have not been consumed by the burning anger of God because of my sin!

Thank you Jesus!  God, please grant me repentance for the complaining thoughts and words that come forth from my mind and mouth.  My thoughts should continually exalt You, and my words should only sing Your praises! 

Today, I want to honor a dear brother who has gone on to be with the Lord Jesus.  Elder Ward, late pastor of Main Street Baptist Church in Lexington, KY has had a huge impact upon my life for the glory of Christ!  This blessed man passed into eternal glory on the evening of April 25, 2008.  I thank God for the many years of faithful preaching this man has accomplished by the power of the Lord.  He always said he would preach the sovereign grace Gospel of Truth until his dying day.  He did just that, praise God!  I heard him preach at the Women of Grace Conference in Aurora, OH just days before the Lord took him home and thank my Jesus for the gift of having heard him preach just one more time.  He was a jewel in the lives of many of the brethren and has been such an encouragement to us.  He was always thankful for each day God gave him to be "in His service one more time"!

Elder Ward was the founder of the Sovereign Grace Bible Conference (http://sovereigngracebibleconference.org/index.asp)  and the Women of Grace Conference, both of which God has enabled me to faithfully attend for the past 2 years.  I hope to never miss a single year of either of these conferences as they are both packed full of Biblical wisdom, sweet fellowship, and refreshing encouragement for the thirsty soul.  There is not yet a website for the Women's Conference, but I'll update this entry as soon as one has been uploaded. 

Please pray for Elder Ward's wife, Brenda and her church family as they rejoice at Elder's glorification but mourn his absence in their lives here on earth. 

Three days full of solid Biblical teaching and encouragement for pastors, church leadership, and their blessed wives who were able to attend.<< MORE >>

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves were comforted by God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."  (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)


So often, when we know that a brother or sister is going through some type of trial, we search our past experiences to find whether or not we've suffered the same way.  Then, we go to them and share our past experience and tell them that we've been there, and that we know what they're going through, and that we'll be praying for them.  This morning, God spoke to me through this passage of Scripture in 2 Corinthians, letting me know that if I comfort others in this way, then I do not honor Him in my comforting of them.  While it may be fine to share my experiences with my brethren, this is not considered the "comfort" spoken of in the Word.  If I tell you that I've been there, so what?  How does that bring you any benefit?  We are told in v. 4 that we are given comfort by God so that we may share that same comfort with another who is experiencing the same trial.  When life is difficult, my God comforts me through His Word and shows me the hope that shines through the darkness and pain.  That shining hope is Christ! Jesus tells me that He's been there and that He knows what I'm going through, because He's been tempted in every way.  He's also suffered in every way.  Now, that is comforting, because I know that Christ persevered through all trials and suffering, yet without sinning!  In fact, He suffered with great joy!

So, next time you hear of a trial in a sister's (or brother's) life, you may search your mind for examples from what you've suffered ... you may even decide to share them ... but, don't fail to search your heart for the Scripture God used to bring you comfort.  Share that!  Then, through God's grace you will comfort your sister (or brother), and thereby honor God in so doing.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand;  and we exult in hope of the glory of God.  And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;  and perseverance, proven character;  and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."  (Romans 5:1-5)