Ethan Calvert is a young teen at our church.
He has been working on an Eagle Scout project for over a year. He is now on his way to Mexico. He has had to change his project several times because of circumstances beyond his control. He could have been easily discouraged. All the fund raising, planning and work could have overwhelmed him. But it didn't. His final project is to install kitchen cabinets in the home of missionaries in Mexico. The cabinets were shipped earlier this month. Ethan's home free, right? NO! The cabinets were damaged in shipping and replacement cabinets had to be ordered. Looks like Ethan is going to have a battle right up to the end. Pray for this young man as he is learning first hand an important lesson. Serving the Lord is not always easy and problem free. I have discovered the same thing, when I set out to serve the Lord, there will usually be obstacles and frustrations. But Ethan and I are in good company, all servants of God encountered stress and problems at some time. James even is so bold as to tell us to rejoice at times like this because we will be better people because of it. 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, sends words of love to the twelve tribes of the Jews living in all parts of the earth. 1:2 Let it be all joy to you, my brothers, when you undergo tests of every sort; 1:3 Because you have the knowledge that the testing of your faith gives you the power of going on in hope; 1:4 But let this power have its full effect, so that you may be made complete, needing nothing. 1:5 But if any man among you is without wisdom, let him make his request to God, who gives freely to all without an unkind word, and it will be given to him. As many times as I have been through problems and trials in serving the Lord you would think I would have this principle under my belt, but I don't. I am still learning the lesson of broken cabinets. God is still in control even when everything is out of control. Hang in there Ethan, it will be worth it. You will be a better person when this is all said and done.
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