Stand Back and Watch God Work!

This weekends message wasn't particularly evangelistic. Greg talked about prayer. I love messages like this because I know that when people accept Christ, it is truly His doing and not an emotional response to the message.

This weekend was no exception. One person who came to Christ I am particularly excited about. She came to the Fresh Start Class last weekend and stayed after to ask a question about God that she was struggling with. Her view of God at that point prevented her from giving her life to Christ. We talked through some things and then prayed together. When I saw that she had accepted Christ, I was/am so excited! This is someone who I believe will be used mightily by God.

It seems that those who struggle the most before giving up and letting God have their lives are often so wholly committed that they can't help but to allow God to do great things in their lives. I can't wait to see what He does with this person!

Suffering - 1 Peter

I love how James begins his letter with the issue of suffering through trials. It is my favorite book. Peter writes about suffering too. In chapter two he writes that our suffering is part of what God has called us to (2:21).

He says that the way we handle suffering is a testimony to our level of faith in Jesus Christ. I had never thought about it like that. That's why we study Scripture over and over, because God teaches us things new every time we study it.

Each of us are called to suffer in different ways. Some suffer physically (I'm in that boat), while others suffer because of persecution (I'm glad that I'm not in that boat, but pray for those who are!). Either way, the pain involved is real and the way we live with it is a measure of our faith.

I pray that I measure up! It certainly isn't always easy, but I really try to live through the pain in the joy of God who I know loves me. Sometimes I get depressed and frustrated because of the limitations mostly. It also wears me down. I take naps nearly every day because my body simply shuts down. Pain is fatiguing! As james says, I need to count it as joy that I am asked to endure these trials because in them my faith is stretched.

Never once have I questioned God in this, but I do constantly ask Him to take it away. He hasn't as of yet. I also pray that my faith will continue to grow in this and that my times of depression and frustration become less and less and shorter and shorter. I don't know what your suffering is, but I pray that your faith grows through it!