The next word in the book that my daughter in law, Kim Horton Hicks gave me is………
Afflictions
And don't we all have those? As I was laying in bed last night sleepless, God gave me the message to say about this. He showed me in one of those dreams we all have, where it's some where between sleep and wake. It was all about a mountain climber. You know you've heard the song,'' Lord You gave me a mountain this time''. But climbing the mountain is the easy part. I was given this message. When I was fully awake I understood what the Lord was speaking about. You see climbing the mountain you can examine all the foot holds and know where you can place your hands and feet for the best stability. When you get to the top of the mountain then there's no way off but climbing down, that is unless you have a helicopter awaiting, or parasail. Any experienced mountain climber will tell you that it's far more dangerous descending. As you're climbing down the mountain you can see your handholds, but you cannot see the places for your footholds. Far more climbers have died in their decendsions. And if you really think about something else, at the bottom of the mountain is the valley. It's the valley when we're at our lowest point. As the Bible says" as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil".
Climbing a mountain there's always the hope of better things ahead. And when we get on top of the mountain, we have reached their goal. But each time we reach our goal, there's always another mountain, another decendsion , another valley. They're just the ups and downs of life.
Our afflictions start when we're standing high on the mountain. And sometimes those climbs down or grievous. Sometimes, we lose things that can never be replaced. Sometimes it's co-climbers that have slipped, and has fallen into the valley of death. Sometimes we ourselves slip and are wounded. Sometimes we just get exhausted, and don't think we can make it anymore.
And once we reached the valley of the shadow of death, we know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is walking beside us. Because it's only a shadow! And as long as we realize that fact, then we know that shadows cannot hurt us. It's a trial, to strengthen us yes, because each time we go through trials of afflictions we are stronger. God never gives us more than we can take, nor takes more than we can give! Most afflictions are temporary, but there are some that are not. These afflictions that are not temporary, God has given us all the tools that we need to live with these afflictions.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for GOOD to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Just remember this, throughout each and every one of the afflictions that we go through in life there is a beginning and there is an end. And the important thing to remember is what we let these afflictions make us into. We are either weakened and let these afflictions destroy our faith, or we get stronger and build our faith. My prayer is that as I go through my affliction I get stronger and stronger as I stomp on old satan's head. For it's through Jesus Christ who give me the strength to put on the whole armor of God.
Your comments are always welcomed

until next time, Willard and I both wish you health and happiness, God bless and God save.