SOMETHING DON’D ON ME…
Romans 5:3,4: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”
When you are setting out on a trip, you can’t plan for EVERY setback…but you probably try to head off all the problems you can! If you are driving, you probably check the oil & make sure the tires are aired up properly. If you are flying, you probably make sure you have the chargers you need, and then dig thru your bag to make sure you don’t have an extra set of nail clippers or a pocket knife that would get you kicked out of line for a “Special” interview! And no one WANTS a trip to go bad! But sometimes…well, things just don’t work out like you planned!
The Apostle Paul in the last few chapters of Acts is having some of “those” kinds of setbacks. He’s been wrongly imprisoned for 2 years. The leadership passes him back and forth for months-they can’t find anything WRONG, but don’t have the guts to release him. So, he pulls out his Roman Citizen UNO-Reverse card and appeals to Caesar…and off they go to Rome. While they are at sea, they start having a LOT of trouble-first headwinds, then hurricane force winds, then shipwrecked on Malta! As if that wasn’t enough, they are trying to dry out by a fire, Paul goes to gather wood & a snake bites him! And the Hits just KEEP ON COMING!!
Would it be easy for Paul to say something like, “Seriously, God?? I’m standing up for you and THIS is how I’m treated??” I think a lot of us might fall into that category, eh?? We see all the problems & the extra stress, and we wonder why is it that OUR “trip” seems to always have the struggles!
Paul didn’t see it that way! At each shipwreck or problem or snake bite or shuffle between Festus and Felix, Paul was looking for chances to tell people about JESUS! When they were at sea, and not eating or seeing the sun for days, Paul told the people on board, “Take Courage! God in His Goodness has granted safety for everyone sailing with us!” And 276 people were saved! When Paul was recovering from the snake bite, he met Publius, an Official from the Island of Malta. Paul went to his home and healed the Dad of Publius by praying over him and laying hands on him. Because of this, many people who were sick came to see Paul…and he told every one of them about Jesus! His problems and struggles did not pull Paul from the work…they WERE the work Paul was called to do!
You may be traveling down a long and lonely road right now. It may feel like no one understands what you feel, and you might have wondered if God has forgotten you. I can assure you that God has NOT abandoned you, nor has He overlooked your situation! He IS at work in many ways that you cannot see! Let HIS PEACE be on you and your household as you “travel down life’s roads this week!”
And when the “detours” knock you off your planned path, keep your eyes open for how you can ENCOURAGE someone even while your trip isn’t going as you hoped!
Shalom Alachiem-Peace Be Upon Your Home!
DON
Christmas Boxes Packed UP!
Our AMP youth group knocked it out of the park packing 74 Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. Thank you to EVERYONE who helped fill the boxes, donated items, and contributed to the shipping costs!
Jennifer will be taking the packed shoeboxes to the drop off location next week. If you took a box to fill with your family, please return it to the church by November 12th. |
