Tried With Fire

We were discussing Acts 14 in our small group last night. We see Paul and Barnabas fearlessly preaching the gospel. Their enemies are poisoning the minds of the people against them, and they remain in the face of opposition. One minute, people want to sacrifice to them as gods and the next minute, Paul is stoned and left for dead. How do we as 21st American Christians apply this? At the moment, we are not being threatened with stoning, but should that make us complacent? Right now, I am called to me a mom. Should I view that as a lesser calling since I am not on the front lines preaching the gospel? Paul held his life as cheap for the sake of the gospel. Will I be able to do likewise? Will I be able to count all things as loss? Do I see Christ as gain? These gems from the past were very timely: True Christians must make up their minds to trouble in this world. Whether we are ministers or hearers, whether we teach or are taught, it makes little difference. We must carry “a cross.” We mu...

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me! But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you--for My power is made perfect in your weakness!' " 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 Many prayers which seem to be unanswered--are really answered. The blessing comes--but in a form we do not recognize. Instead of the very thing we sought--something better is given! The burden is not lifted away--but we are sustained beneath it. We are not spared the suffering--but in the suffering we are brought nearer to God, and receive more of His grace. The sorrow is not taken away--but is changed to joy. Our ignorant prayers are taken into the hands of the great Intercessor, and are answered in ways far wiser than our thought! Instead of earthly trifles--heavenly riches! Instead of things which our poor wisdom sought--things God's infinite wisdom chose for us! Instead of pleasure for a day--gain for eternity! By J.R. Miller from gracegems .

This was the gem of the day from gracegems.org taken from The Silent Christ by J.R. Miller. This was very appropriate because I was feeling extremely stressed with responsibilities this morning. My plate has been full with the storm, homeschooling, the process of selling the house, job, school, and going to court again next week. This is a statement of fact, not a complaint. I do not want to quarrel with the place God has me now. I do not want to be ungrateful to the Lord for all that He has done on our behalf. I know I can pour out my heart to the Lord and not keep things pent up behind a stiff upper lip. I want to know Him as my very present help in time of trouble when I feel helpless and alone. I want to find my rest and security in who God is, not in what my circumstances say. "A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to Him, crying out, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession!' Jesus did not answer her...

"I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are just, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Psalm 119:75 Sometimes the ways of God do seem hard. Our fondest hopes are crushed; our fairest joys fade like summer flowers; the desires of our hearts are withheld from us. Yet, if we are God's children, we believe that a blessing is hidden in every one of these losses or denials. Right here, we get a glimpse into the mystery of many unanswered prayers. The things we seek, would not work good for us in the end--but evil. The things we plead to have removed--are essential to our highest interests. Health is supposed to be better than sickness--but there comes a time when God's kindness will be most wisely shown--by denying us health. He never takes pleasure in causing us to suffer; He is touched by our sorrows. Yet He loves us too well, to give us things that would harm us, or to spare us the trial that is needful for our spiritual good. It will be seen in the end, that m...