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Heart to Heart

    by Pat Chwialkowski

Are You Passing The Test?
Date Posted: August 18, 2010

Our move is officially over. We are now living up at Round Lake Michigan which is about one hour north of Sylvania Ohio where we presided for over 19 years. How did we end up north when we desired to go south? Simple. God said “no” for right now.

Our cottage, or as we refer to it now, our “lake home” was purchased by us in 1983 right after we came into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Even though we were not looking for a cottage at the time, an opportunity arose that we could not refuse; never thinking that one day it would be home to us. However, one year after my husband’s unemployment God allowed us to sell our “big” house, and downsize into our “little” house. Even though this little house is considered a tear down to most, the backyard is something else! Not very many people get to wake up to the beauty of a lake right in their own backyard.

We have been asked if we are disappointed that our plans to move south have been thwarted. Our answer: Yes and No. Yes, because it is our desire to live close to our only daughter. No, because God knows better than we do.

When the doors for future employment for Kirk were all slammed shut, we knew that the path that was before us was nothing that we had expected or even prepared for. However, here we sit at our little lake home, and we are at perfect peace.

How does that happen? The Apostle Paul after he was stoned, shipwrecked, and jailed said that whether in plenty or in need, he had learned to be content. (Philippians 4:12) Yes, he had learned this attitude of the heart. In other words, he had to go through some training to get to this place, and he had passed the test.

Are you passing the test these days? Can you say whether I have a job or not have a job, I’m okay? Can you be at peace even though today’s economical forecast is still bleak? If so, you too have learned the secret of contentment. However, if you find yourself losing sleep these days because of the uncertainty that lies ahead, you may have to go back to school. This school is often referred to as The School of Hard Knocks. However, at this school only one textbook is required. That book is the Bible. Open it up today and see what it says. And don’t be afraid to open it during any of the tests that you will be given. For at this school open book tests are mandatory!

Here’s to some great scores!

Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith.
Don’t drift along taking everything for granted.
Give yourselves regular check-ups.
You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that
Jesus Christ is in you.
Test it out.
If you fail the test, do something about it.
I hope the test won’t show that you have failed.
2 Corinthians 13:5,6

The Message Bible

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Biography Information:

Founder and Director of Key Ministries located in Lexington South Carolina.  You can reach us at keyministries@yahoo.com.  .

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