Good morning everyone,

Acts 14:19-23– But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Maybe there has a been a time in your life that you faced something so difficult that you wanted to die, not because you hate your life, but because of what you had to endure physically, mentally, or emotionally. Yet have you asked the question to God "what purpose do you have for me from this?" It’s crucial to get a conclusion from God in anything painful in your life, because it is the purpose of God that gets you through it!

This is what the apostle Paul faced. Being thought dead from persecution, imagine from verse 20 what the walk home with Barnabas that night was like? Do you have someone who trust the wisdom of God to talk to you about the purpose of what you’re going through. I can imagine Paul and Barnabas encouraged each other to continue on with God’s purpose, and face their pain and fears for the sake of Christ Kingdom and the people who needed to hear the gospel.

Have you recognized the purpose of trials, because trials are promised all throughout the bible. By trial in this context I mean things that people suppose you should be "dead" from like Paul. That "thing" or "things" you have faced are really for others, who desperately need to see the overcoming power of God’s mercy and grace in your life to give them hope. Find purpose in your pain, and allow God to make it a place of rejoicing because you are blessing now because of it!

In His Love, Ld

On Tue, Oct 9, 2012 at 10:03 AM, eldoret gentry <eldorets> wrote:

Good morning everyone,

Luke 7:31-35-"To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, "’We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children."

Jesus had been dealing with these religious Pharisees who wanted Him to conform to their way of thinking and living. Obviously blind that He is The Standard of all wisdom.

Yet Jesus’ response is amazing, and lets us know why we at times allow ourselves to be so persuaded and reverent to the ideas, opinions, and judgements of others. Jesus knew He was the definition of what was right and true no matter how much anyone came against Him. But how does this relate to us?

When we live and love like the only real opinion ultimately belongs to Jesus, other opinions that persuade us to conform for acceptance won’t matter. We are then free to base the depths of our relationships with others according to God’s wisdom, and not lose ourselves according to someone’s lack of godly wisdom or manipulative motives.

In His Love, Ld

On Oct 4, 2012 9:15 AM, "eldoret gentry" <eldorets> wrote: