Two Standard Deviations From The Mean:

I was asked to write a small article for a local church organization and I thought I would preview it here first.

Two Standard Deviations From the mean

Every year before the actual semester begins, my school offers (forces) a mandatory benchmark
over all the materials learned the year before. This is to ensure that you didn’t manage to forget
everything during those long summer months; hence eventually attempting to prepare us for the
board exams. The unique thing about this exam is that it is graded based on an average. As long
as you are within the average or two standard deviations from the average, you will pass.

So this year, true to form, I took the benchmark exam and waited with anticipation for the
results. I opened my email and was relieved to see a 65% (which was considered passing). I
jumped up—I shouted—I was extremely excited! I had managed to scrape by.

Later in the evening as the excitement settled, I started to think….I only mastered 65% of the
material….yet I was still glad that I was just as clueless as the rest of my class. It didn’t bother me
that I had forgotten 35% of the material or that ….70% or higher was considered conventional
passing. Just as long as I was like everyone else, I was satisfied. And MORE importantly, I
was relieved at the fact that I would not have to retake the exam. I then extended this to an
even bigger analogy…how many times was I happy being a “within two standard deviations”
Christian?

Often times when I look back on my Christian walk, I have been guilty of being satisfied with my
51% because my neighbor was sitting at 40%. I mean, there are a few who are high achievers.
But when you average all of us together, I am right there in the middle of the bunch. I am sure
this will let me scrape by past heaven’s pearly gates…or will it?

As I really begin to think about it, I am not so sure that this is what Christianity is about at all. In
fact, what I just described to you are some of the signs and symptoms of a lukewarm Christian
(as per Francis Chan). I am not guaranteed admission into heaven or even a glimpse of Jesus
because I am better than the next guy. Just because everyone fails does not mean Jesus grades on
a curve. You see, His blood is too precious for us not to be living according to our calling or for
us not to be striving for better.

Don’t get me wrong; sin is second nature to us. We are constantly fighting battles against the
flesh and there will be days when we will fail. The question is not whether we will fail or fall, the
question is whether we are okay with that or do we keep pushing for better - striving to beat the
odds. Remember, God looks at the heart. David wasn’t called a chaser after God’s own heart
because he was blameless and perfect, but because even after he failed he sought to be better and
to do better.

So today, dear brother/sister, don’t be satisfied with where you are because you’re “average”.
Strive to be better. For those of you who are not currently passing - don’t worry. There are still
opportunities to remediate or to relearn the material and take the exam again.

As Paul states, let us keep pushing and striving for the prize of the upward call (Phil. 3:14).

Thank you and may God bless.

Sunday Morning Thoughts From the Pulpit:

Nervousness, fear, palpitations, could be used to describe some of the myriad of feelings jumbled together as I first stepped on stage. Although I do this periodically (mostly because I am forced to, not by choice) the feelings never change. I still have a mild case of stage fear, which hits me every time. I guess its part of what makes it so you don't become too overconfident.

The view from the pulpit is much different from that of the pew side. ‪As you step up you see all the faces of your fellow believers looking back at you and you can even tell what some of them are thinking (by the way if you haven't already learned, the pastor can see that you are texting on your phone, laughing at a joke that was not his, or spaced out-even if you think you are being subtle. It brings much appreciation to the pastor who does this every Sunday and makes it look like a piece of cake. ‬


Edited (I had to add this in): I have to shout out to my honorary sister lisa who was making hand gestures and laughing (even when there was no joke). I think we trained ourselves to be suuuper supportive of each other. So this was her way of showing support--it was a bit distracting =D (just kidding- love you)- also I wonder if pastor's kids or wife do this sorta thing during the service to keep him motivated! I know I try to support new speakers as much I can by nodding along- smiling --and giving them my full attention.

As per request. It’s true it has been a while since I have done a Sunday morning thought from the pew-side, but this past Sunday I had the rare opportunity to be on the opposite end of the spectrum for a few minutes. I was asked to share the youth message over the course of spring break. I am going to share a secret…I get stage fright…..and nervous and also don’t feel that I am adequate at giving messages. I prayed and for a while there have been a few thoughts that have been stirring in my heart some of them may have been mentioned here and there in my blog. Here it is:

Leading a Victorious Christian Life - avoiding Sin and conquering the flesh:

We live in a society that is impatient with failure. I doubt that any person reading this was greeted with a “great job son, great job daughter” when they brought home a failing grade. In fact some of you may still have the scars to prove it. This intolerance of failure trickles down to our Christian walk. Often times when we see a fellow brother or sister that has failed in their Christian walk we tend to ostracize them and keep a distance from them, thinking “what could God possibly do with this downcast Christian?” But if we really think about it we all fail or have failed in our walk with God. Some of us fail more often then others; some of us fail on a greater scale; but the bottom line is we all fail.

Over the past semester and few weeks I have been able to take part in a small bible study covering the book of Romans. And I want to take this time to share with you what I have learned.

Romans 8: 4-8

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Galations 5:16-17

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

This is crux of the Christian Dilemma: an ongoing battle between the flesh and the spirit. The flesh, which is self gratifying, self pleasing, me, me, me, me, instant gratification vs. the spirit: which is constantly in tune with spirit of God and wants to do his will.

How will we be able to conquer the flesh and walk victoriously by the Spirit?

1. Awareness

Awareness plays a key role in helping upkeep our Christian walk.

Matthew 26:41:

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Remember when you were first baptized… you still had that new Christian smell on you. It’s like you were wearing all white and trying to avoid the mud-puddles of life. Aware of your surroundings and thus escaping the 'sin that so easily ensnares'.  Often times when people get new cars they get really protective; I’ve even seen some extreme cases in which people place plastic over the seats. As time wears on—usually after your parent spills chaya on the cup holders, your kids leave lip-gloss to melt in the back, and there are a few pairs of used socks in the pockets—you become less concerned with the upkeep.

Recently there was a study done by MD Anderson on aseptic technique. The IV Room in a pharmacy is a place where aseptic technique is mandatory. The pharmacist or technician who enters the room has to be garbed in a certain attire before entering the room and follow certain procedures before beginning the prep. MD Anderson being a cancer research hospital, does several chemo drips (ALL THE TIME) so they thought it would be more efficient to keep a pharmacist in the IV ROOM at all times rather then going back and forth. Over time they wanted to test their protocol and they studied the regular pharmacist who had to garb each time they entered the room vs the pharmacist that was already garbed and stayed in the room. Which do you think had more contamination of product? The one that was inside the room (ready and prepped and had less exposure to the outside world). Although they had several hypothesis for why this was the case, one of the main reasons was because the pharmacist inside the room became “desensitized”, less conscious, less aware of his surrounding (probably taking for granted that he/she was in the “clean room”). 

You see brothers and sisters when we loose awareness of our surroundings there is a possibility that we may contaminate what was meant to be holy. Awareness is key to overcoming the flesh. Knowing that although our adversary is vanquished he has not vanished, although he is not prevailing he is definitely present, will keep things in perspective.

2. Preparation

In order to overcome the flesh and dwell in the spirit there is a certain amount of preparation that goes into place. I once heard a message on the “off season Christian” or the “Christian in training”. The best example for this can be found in sports. You see, Dirk Nowitizki and Jeremy Lin are able to make buzzer beater shots because of the prep work they put in during the off season. They train and practice and make all sorts of shots so that during game time they are able to perform. Eli Manning- Quarterback of the New York Giants- was asked by a reporter how he was able to make a particular pass. Do you know what his answer was? MUSCLE MEMORY. He had made this pass so many times that he doesn’t have to stop and thinking about it when the time comes. It comes naturally.

We like to think we are super Christians- meaning when the battle comes we are suddenly going to be filled with Spirit be able to cast out demons conquer and walk away victorious. Then when things don’t work we like to get mad at God. Any time there was a battle moment (spiritual warfare) there was always preparation before that moment.  David was filled with the Spirit several times before the famed battle with goliath, Daniel prayed 3 times a day (EVERY DAY) before his lion’s den moment. Jesus fasted 40 days for his battle with temptation against Satan.  These men of God did not wake up and just face the battle hoping God would show up. They had spent time on their knees doing the prep work and had seen the results previously.

Brothers and Sisters if we want to conquer the flesh we have to prepare- there has to be time when we are sitting in the presence of God and growing strong with him. The more we feed the spirit, the flesh is starved. It is easy to be feeding the spirit when you are constantly plugged in, when there is meetings every Monday-Saturday. But when we step away-whether college or work or elsewhere that’s when we really need to be aware of what we choose to feed. Many Christians gain the freshman 15 (which all went to the flesh and the spirit lay starved).

3. Avoid Rationalization

Rationalization is quickest relapse to sin.

What happens when you give a mouse a cookie? (IT will ask for some milk).  We like to test our temptations. WE think we can conquer them by our own might and no one likes to admit that there is something that could have power over them. Let me just say—it is better to admit that you are weak in a particular area of your life then attempt to conquer temptation, fail, and feel the guilt.

If there are areas in your life that you know are triggers for temptation, avoid them. Whether it be a party, movies, television, shopping (yes I SAID IT), it is better to avoid these things and pray so that you are constantly feeding the spirit.

So if you do all this will you avoid falling short due to sin forever?? Will never fail again? No!

Romans 7:15-20
15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

This is Paul speaking- here he admits that he doesn’t always do what he wants even if he knows right from wrong. He struggles with this battle just like us everyday.

How does he feel about this?

Romans 7:24
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

He feels that he is wretched; he understands that the path that he is on leads to death. But the most significant aspect of this for me is the fact that he asks “WHO” will save me from this death. He does not ask “what” – as in what object or what plan.

Romans 7:25
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

In verse 25 he answers his own question. Jesus Christ has saved us through his grace. We alone can never be victorious only by his grace and free gift are we able to be victorious and by our faith we are justified and made righteous.

Overall I am blessed to have had the opportunity, although I complain and will always reject the offer at first glance. It is an excellent learning opportunity.

Dear Readers:

I hope you are blessed by the words- they may not be adequate or eloguent but they are helpful. We should all keep each other accountable when it comes to our Christian walk.

Thanks For Reading:

Regina Roy

Wordless Thoughts

Thought of the Day: Via Pastor Shibu Thomas

Our Pastor sends out "thoughts of the day" each day and this was today's I just thought I would share because it's cute:

The Holy Alphabet

                    A-lthough things are not perfect
                    B-ecause of trial or pain
                    C-ontinue in thanksgiving
                    D-o not begin to blame

                    E-ven when the times are hard
                    F-ierce winds are bound to blow
                    G-od is forever able
                    H-old on to what you know

                    I-magine life without His love
                    J-oy would cease to be
                    K-eep thanking Him for all the things
                    L-ove imparts to thee

                    M-ove out of "Camp Complaining"
                    N-o weapon that is known
                    O-n earth can yield the power
                    P-raise can do alone

                    Q-uit looking at the future
                    R-edeem the time at hand
                    S-tart every day with worship
                    T-o "thank" is a command

                    U-ntil we see Him coming
                    V-ictorious in the sky
                    W-e'll run the race with gratitude
                    X-alting God most high
                    Y-es, there'll be good times and yes some
                    will be bad, but...
                    Z-ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

Sunday Morning Thoughts From the Pewside

Standing In the Gap with Zeal and Faith

Sunday Morning Thoughts from the Pewside:

I realize its been a long time since I have done one of these, mostly because I am usually so busy during Sunday mornings doing things like children’s church along with other things that I don’t get time to focus in on one particular thing that I took away from the day. I take away sooo many little things.

This past Sunday, however, I heard a message and was inspired and would like to share my thoughts from the pewside =)

We had a guest pastor come and speak, and he stated his topic was going to be “standing in the gap” with zealousness and faith. He asked us to turn with him to Psalm 106:28-31


28They ⁽A⁾joined themselves also to Baal-peor,
 and ate ⁽B⁾sacrifices offered to the dead. 
    

29Thus they ⁽C⁾provoked Him to anger with their deeds,
 and the plague broke out among them. 
    

30Then Phinehas ⁽D⁾stood up and interposed,
 and so the ⁽E⁾plague was stayed. 
   

 31And it was ⁽F⁾reckoned to him for righteousness,
 to all generations forever.

The pastor spoke specifically about Phinehas, who is mentioned in verse 30. Until this time I had never heard of Phinehas. So I listened intently as he explained the story behind the verse. He asked us to turn to Numbers chapter 25. Here we see the story of the Israelites approaching the last stop before entering the promise land. Pastors might say that this is the last opportunity for the enemy to trap the Israelites and ensure that they never reach their destination.

******This is paraphrased, Read the actually story in Numbers Chapter 25*********

From verse 1 onwards we can see that the Israelites are enticed by the Moabite women who live nearby and have fallen astray starting to worship Baal. The lord was angry with Israelites and speaks to Moses asking him to take action in verse 4.

While the people of Israel are weeping, one of the men from the Israelite tribe decided it would be a great idea to parade his sin around. He takes a Moabite women and walks with her in FRONT of the crowd, and takes her to his tent. Phinehas, seeing this takes a spear and goes inside and kills both the man and the woman. God sees his righteousness and stops the plague against Israel.

God then speaks of the Phinehas’s Zeal and willingness to do the will of God. He calls him into the covenant of the priesthood.

Going back to the passage in Psalms we can see that Phinehas is remembered for being the one to end the plague even generations after the incident. No one could forget how he stood in the gap.

Take home message:

Phinehas had it in him to stand up for something that was right. He saw sin, he stopped it immediately, he didn’t leave room for questions or concerns. This may be a tad gruesome and over the top for some readers but lets put it to light using present day settings. How many of us watch our fellow brothers/sisters/friends fall into sin causing an erosion of their family life, a church crumbling, a people coming undone and do nothing about it. This plague was a punishment from God and 24,000 people died! BUT one man was willing to stand up and do what was right and because of him the rest of the people were saved.

Dear readers we live in a generation that has turned away from God in so many ways. Sin can be found even in our local churches (the very house of God), how long do you think God is just going to stand by and watch? And lets say he has unleashed a plague? Are you going to stand in the gap with zeal like Phinehas? Are you going to be one that ends it. Let’s take serious consideration on our stance and what we are called to do.

Happy Thinking

Regina Roy

Wordless Thoughts

The Waiting Period

So a few weeks back one of the youth leaders in my church asked me to do a youth message. I always get nervous when asked to do things like this, because although I can speak publicly and give speeches, messages are a different. Messages are not an art of eloquent speaking (although this helps), it's something given from God, meant to edify the body you are speaking to.

I prayed (also asked Roshan and Rony to pray) and came up with the following thoughts and I wanted to share them with my readers (if you attend my church you heard this on saturday). I feel that this applies to all christians (or it should at some point and time in your walk).

I hate waiting. I am sure I have written on here about my disdain for waiting and my love for refreshing when waiting on emails or checking through the blinds every 3-5 minutes when waiting for the mail or packages to arrive. While preparing these thoughts I was reminded of a particular lesson in children's church about patience. The children were given to options 1) They would get a small piece of candy right then and there 2) If they held out and didn't request the small candy they would get some better prize at the end (which they were not told specifically what it was). Can you guess which they chose?-(Just in case you couldn't...it was the first option).

But this phenomenon of instant gratification isn't only seen among children, it's engrained within our society. "I think it, I want it, I need it". We have been labeled a "Fast Food Nation"- Meaning by the time I order that Big Mac and reach the first window it better be ready with a side order of fries and a large Coke.

At times, as Christians we approach God using this same mindset. We throw up a prayer and expect him to answer immediately and ask "would you like some fries with that?"

Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work like that. I have heard pastors speak and say that God has three answers  1. Yes, 2. No, 3. Wait. It's this last one that people have the most difficulty with and it's what I would like to focus on.

Although we hate waiting, the Bible has many positive attributes contributed to waiting. In Psalm 27:14 it says "Be brave and wait upon the lord", In Isaiah 40: 30, 31 "Those that wait upon the lord shall rise up on wings like eagles..."

Whether we like it or not at some point in our Christian walk we are going to experience what is considered a "waiting period." The time frame may vary from person to person. For some it may take a week, for others a month, for others a year, for some FIFTEEN years. I have considered these past few months (and the next few months until August) my waiting period.

I believe that God gives us waiting periods in order to teach us, and in teaching us that we may learn, in learning we may grow, and in growing we become more and more the way he wants us to be in accordance to his will.

I would like to share three particular things that I believe that God teaches us during our "Waiting Period."

1. Trust

Part of the reason we hate to wait so much is because we are secretly control freaks. Waiting means that we have no idea how long before said thing happens, no idea what means will be used, or through what method it will be achieved. Basically, we are not going to be able to pencil it into our planners. This leads to some of our control being relinquished to God (OH NO!).

A few months back our fearless choir leader came back from his extended vacation (his family has moved there) for a week and he shared with the church about the difference between being knee deep in water vs being immersed in water. When you are knee deep you still have control of your motions and direction over your body, when you are immersed the water has control over you. Just like this, its about time that we become immersed in God and allow him to have control over our lives and our "waiting periods". Don't you think that the God who created the universe and knew you from your mothers womb, knows what's best for you?

In the book of Genesis, we run into the character of Joseph. Joseph was given a great promise, but he had a looong waiting period before he ever saw it come to reality. Throughout his waiting period, Joseph stayed true to himself and to God. He trusted the promise and eventually it all worked out even better then he could have imagined.

When we are giving waiting periods, if we could just learn to trust God, our ride would be much smoother, and eventually everything will be as it should (without us having stress ulcers and heart attacks, or strokes).

2. Humility

The second thing that I believe God teaches us during our waiting period is humility.

Deuteronomy 8:2,3

2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word [1] that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

This particular passage talks about the Israelites who had to wait forty years before reaching the promise land. During this time God humbled them and taught them to rely on him and his goodness. It is very easy to become christian snobs or christian rock tappers. To believe that it is our own self righteousness that moves God to answer our prayers. God gives us waiting periods to remind us that the power does not lie in the person that prays but rather the God who answers the prayer in accordance to his will.

Humility teaches us to relate to one another. When you go through a waiting period and God teaches you humbleness, he also opens your eyes to your brother or sister (in christ) who is hurting or in the same place that you are. Before your waiting period you may have been unable to reach them emotionally, but now you can relate to them and once you can relate to them you are also able to minister to them. There is a distinct possibility that God gave you a waiting period so that you could minister to others who are in desperate need.

Let us remember to humble ourselves, for it is in humbling that God remembers to lift us up.

3. Thankfulness

The third lesson is thankfulness. This is perhaps the hardest of the three. When you go through a waiting period you experience a wide range of emotions. From anger, bitterness, disappointment to distrust and depression. It becomes very hard to feel thankful for the situation we are in. I know that I had much difficulty with this one. I was angry and disappointed. I felt that I was entitled to a better situation or a better hand then the one I was dealt, and it became very hard for me to feel thankful. I was quick to forget that even the small blessings I had were by the grace of God. We have to be like Job and remember that the same God who gives is the same God who takes away. Be thankful no matter the situation or circumstance. God will always turn things around at the right time.

I am not sure how many people reading this are going through/have gone through a waiting period. But I urge you not to close yourself off from God in anger and disappointment. Don't pull away from him, instead draw near and open your heart to what he is trying to teach you and be attentive and learn. If you harden your heart you may have to repeat this cycle of waiting until you do learn. Don't worry, Humble yourself, trust God and be thankful. It will work out better then you can expect.



UPDATE: So I have not been very faithful to my 4 am wake up and pray sessions. I need to put more effort. Otherwise figure out a different method. =) Hope everyone is doing well.


HAPPY THINKING.

The Problem Solver

I love to problem-solve. If there was a job titled “problem-solver” I would definitely turn in a resume and give the company a good run for its money. I may not necessarily be the best at one thing, but I am able to put together the resources that I have to solve a particular problem. I am by some genetic factor beyond my control, inclined to come up with ideas or mechanisms to figure out, or solve, or come to a compromise. (okay, okay you get the point- now you are wondering why I am on this problem-solver rant)

Over the past few days/week, I have come across a school related problem, I have done my best and now I have left the rest up to God. I have prayed and prayed and prayed, to the point where I feel tired of praying. I feel like God has promised me that he will pull me through and make a way, I am actually most certain of this. The thing is, in order to make this situation better there are a myriad of ways to resolve the issue.

I have found myself telling God which way I think would be best…my conversation with him would go something like this “Hey God, how about …plan A…it has least amount of setbacks and most benefit…so overall the best benefit to risk ratio (in pharmacist terms). Plan A does not happen. Obvious disappointment ensues.

A day or so of mourning occurs and being the ever optimist that I am, I have developed plan B. “Dear God, guess what, alright so plan A didn’t work, well I have another idea about this new and improved plan B…maybe a few more setbacks then plan A, but hey maybe its part of my “learning process”…what do you say? Lets back plan B?”  Of course plan B does not pan out and I am left shattered, disappointed, stressed, and hopeless.

Until I start getting to thinking and I come up with Plan C.....except this time, as I start getting hope, plan C is bound to fail. Yet another obstacle has come in my way making the situation even more difficult to resolve. So now I am not sure what to do, and I am trying to force myself to somehow make plan C work. And somewhere deep down I am thinking “Umm hello God, I gave you options A, B, and C, now really when are you going to help?”

I can’t help but think of Abraham walking Isaac up the mountain ready to sacrifice him, I am sure that up until that knife was in his hand he might have been thinking “now would be an excellent time to rescue me.” Except the thing is the rescue did come, but only when God wanted it, just at his perfect time. You see in life, if God wants something done, he doesn’t need my help in figuring out  the best way to solve it. God doesn’t need my ideas or plans or projected problems solving presented in neat folders titled prayer. God knows what is best and he will make it happen in the right time.

Ps the post was meant for the beginning of December, I started writing it around December 13. A lot has happened since and I will be informing you via the blog. Until then…

Happy Thinking

Regina

"Its the process not the product"

In my one and almost half years of pharmacy school I have come across the phrase "its the process not the product" on several different occasions. In pharmacy school, this is a lie, the product gets graded, and can be counted against you, even though the bigger picture is the process.

That being said, I agree with the above said statement or title of this blog entry. In the real world I think the bigger picture of life and our growth as christians is based on the process and not necessarily the product. There are alot of times in life where one can be left wondering "WHY??...why did I have to go through that? I didn't even get what I wanted after all that work". The answer? most likely because in the process of going through 'that' you went through a meta-morphasis of learning, you grew, you were able to comprehend something when you were unable to before. Sometimes we are unable to learn or we are blinded by the object that the process is lost, and we are once again put in the cycle so that we may open our eyes and see what is right in front of us (not the product).

I had a friend of mine, who chased after a girl for 14 years of his life. He claimed to be in love with her and felt that she was what he was meant for. I think a lot of the time he focused on the product (the girl), and not the process (his praying, changing, becoming humble...etc). He became angry when the girl did not reciprocate the feelings. Many times in his life I saw him put through the same cycle, the same process and he was still chasing the product.

As a christian, I will be the first to note that I have failed several exams administered by God. I have been asked to be patient but become belligerent in my wait, I have been asked to be humble but have allowed my hubris to shine through with bright colors, I have been told to forgive, but still hold anger and resentment somewhere where no one else can see them. I have gone through situations that produced some very ugly products, ones that I would most likely want to throw in the garbage or sell off in a rummage sale. But as I look back I am able to look at the situation and go through the process. I see situations that are similar that I had to repeat because I was too focused on the product and not the lesson.

In several passages of the Bible that Paul writes, he is thankful for the "grace" of being able to go through trials. At first I thought Paul was just trying to be piously over righteous. I didn't understand the concept of being grateful for trials. As I grow as a christian, over the past few years, I begin to see that trials bring forth growth. Growth that cannot be achieved through mere day to day living. I now believe he is thanking God, for the grace to grow.

It amazes me that life is just a process its not the product, that all comes in the end. You, dear reader, are growing, you are not always going to get it right on the first try, in fact you are going to go through many failures before you reach success, just make sure you learn in the process and not rely on the damaged product as your inheritance.

Thanks
Regina