Alleluia. Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Soon the Easter season will be behind us, and I just wanted to get one move Easter acclamation in before it ended. In my last two Bell Tower articles I shared some of the challenges that have come our way recently. First was my own discovery of personal health issues that brought about positive life changes for both me and Janet. Last month I wrote about the many maintenance and repair problems in and around the physical plant at All Saints' and asked for your prayers that God give us guidance on how to proceed. In the end how we respond to the challenges of life makes all the difference in the world on the outcome of our trials.

When the Vestry went on retreat in April our Bible study centered on the first chapter of James. James wrote. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." What a bold and powerful statement this is. Human nature's natural response to trial is to fret, complain, blame, be angry, or have any number of actions or emotions. James tells up to consider them pure joy. How can he be so joyful? James knew that he, along with all Christians, are always firmly held in the hand of Jesus no matter what the circumstances. The promises of God arc eternal and true and no matter what comes our way God will never allow his faithful children to fall. Instead God uses the struggles of life to help us have a mature and complete faith.

Such was the confidence of St. Paul when he wrote "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) We mortals cannot see into the future and often we don't perceive how God can fix the predicaments we tend to get ourselves into. The truth is when we remain firmly fixed on the Lord in prayer all will turn out for the good. Again Paul reminds us, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. " (Colossians 3:1) When trials come there is even more reason to keep our eyes on Jesus.

Something that has helped me count trials as pure joy is to say the following prayer upon awaking each morning. "Lord Jesus, I know that you are with me and will walk, along side me today. Whatever happens, good or bad, may I submit to your will and may my actions honor you and show forth your glory. For I am confident that you know what is best and that everything will turn out right. AMEN."