March
2 0 2 5 / PA R T N E R L E T T E R
Let's begin with James 1:1-4 in the
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition:
1 JAMES, A SERVANT OF GOD AND OF
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, TO THE
TWELVE TRIBES SCATTERED ABROAD
[AMONG THE GENTILES IN THE
DISPERSION]: GREETINGS (REJOICE)!
2 CONSIDER IT WHOLLY JOYFUL, MY
BRETHREN, WHENEVER YOU ARE
ENVELOPED IN OR ENCOUNTER TRIALS
OF ANY SORT OR FALL INTO VARIOUS
TEMPTATIONS.
3 BE ASSURED AND UNDERSTAND THAT
THE TRIAL AND PROVING OF YOUR
FAITH BRING OUT ENDURANCE AND
STEADFASTNESS AND PATIENCE.
4 BUT LET ENDURANCE AND
STEADFASTNESS AND PATIENCE HAVE
FULL PLAY AND DO A THOROUGH
WORK, SO THAT YOU MAY BE [PEOPLE]
PERFECTLY AND FULLY DEVELOPED
[WITH NO DEFECTS], LACKING IN
NOTHING.
As most of you know, 2024 was a tough
year for me! Gloria and I have both lived
our lives in divine health! However, in
May, my appendix ruptured, and I spent
ten days in the hospital! But the joy of
The LORD was right there. I had another
surgery before that one and was three
days in the hospital.
So what does Nehemiah 8:10 say? Let's
look at the AMPC:
10 THEN [EZRA] TOLD THEM, GO YOUR
WAY, EAT THE FAT, DRINK THE SWEET
DRINK, AND SEND PORTIONS TO HIM
FOR WHOM NOTHING IS PREPARED;
FOR THIS DAY IS HOLY TO OUR LORD.
AND BE NOT GRIEVED AND
DEPRESSED, FOR THE JOY OF THE LORD
IS YOUR STRENGTH AND STRONGHOLD.
"BE NOT GRIEVED." The joy of The LORD is
our strength and stronghold!
Just to clear things up a bit, let's look
now at 2 Corinthians 10:4:
4 (FOR THE WEAPONS OF OUR
WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL, BUT
MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE
PULLING DOWN OF STRONG HOLDS;)
Praise God! There are strongholds that
are THE BLESSING of our God! And then
there are strongholds that are mighty,
