I want to write this post in memory of my cousin Dennis Hanson, who passed away this week. Dennis was a very positive person, who was an encouragement to everyone around him. Whenever you talked to him, he made you feel like you were very special. He was always interested in what was going on in your life. We will miss him a lot in our family, but we realize that he is with the Lord Jesus now, and there is no better place to be. Our prayers go out to his wife Jean, and their family.
In thinking of Dennis, I think of this Scripture from
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." It is never easy to give thanks for the trials that come in our lives. We have more of a tendency to ask the question: "Why God is this happening to me?" Our Heavenly Father allows trials to come in our lives to serve various purposes. One of those purposes is for our development of patience. As James says,
"Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1:3) We are to rejoice that we have a God who is with us in our trials. We are to keep in constant communication with Him, for encouragement, and give thanks in everything, because God is working something in our lives, that will be to our benefit, and those around us. Thank you Dennis for showing us, that this is the way we are to be! GP Photo of Wildcat Mountain State Park in Ontario, Wisconsin.
