To learn more about Paws With A Cause and to find out how you can help, just download this simple app and watch this story come to life: Provided as a community service by this civic minded publication and the Association of Free Community Publications RECOVERING GOD’S DESIGN FOR GENDER, SEXUALITY & MAAIAGE 10:30 Sundays at 2743 82nd Pl Urbandale CreeksideDM.com BRAND NEW SWIMMING SCHOOL! • • • • • Swimming lessons Yoga Aquatic aerobics Competition swim training Aquatic physical therapy • • • • Water safety Water walking Lap swimming ASD swim lessons NataviH 20 .com (515) 300-3282 275 SW Brookside Dr, Grimes REGSTER FOR CLASSES ONLINE OR VISIT OUR FACILITY! 14 Urbandale Living magazine NOVEMBER | 2019 www.iowalivingmagazines.com FAITH By Pastor Steve Smith THANKS-living I sat in utter amazement as a friend shared that, several years ago, he had literally been buried alive while running a piece of heavy equipment. He thanks God for that tragic and traumatic life experience during which he was faced with the reality of his own frailty. He had time to consider the direction of his life and determined that, should he survive, things would be different. How would it change our Thanksgiving Day if, instead of sharing the traditional things for which we are thankful — health, a good job, etc., we said that we were grateful for a trial in our life? To thank God for the loss of a job, a brush with death or persecution for our faith may seem like irony, but it should come naturally to God’s children. One of the realities that stem from being “justified by faith” (declared to be in right standing before God by means of faith alone, in Christ alone) is to join Paul and “exult in our tribulations…” (Romans 5:3). What sounds sadistic is actually a spiritually mature perspective. God’s children are no longer subject to God’s wrath but are objects of His love — “God’s love has been poured out within our hearts” (Romans 5:5,8). Trials are not punishment, but a petri dish for growing our faith. Christians are to exult in tribulations because we know that trials produce perseverance (Romans 5:3b). Years without a World Series win produced perseverance in Chicago Cubs fans. Real Christians stay faithful during trials. Perseverance deepens character. Shin splints shot excruciating pain through our daughter’s legs with each step of her final cross country race, but she finished. Her character as a finisher was proven through the pain. Perseverance in trials isn’t the path to forgiveness in Christ, but proof of it. Proven character hopes more sincerely in God’s promises to work in and through us currently and ultimately deliver us from trouble in eternity. A young Christian told a friend, “I can’t believe that God loves me enough to use me to show others how to live faithfully with cancer.” He’s not in denial or dismissing the painful reality of his trial, but demonstrating the certainty of a relationship with God through faith in Christ. May our faith produce the fruit of Thanks-living, which is gratitude for trials and triumphs confident that our loving God uses both to deepen our faith and direct our attention to heaven. n Information provided by Pastor Steve Smith, Creekside Church, 2743 82nd Place, Urbandale, 515-279-3919.