Something that was.....
....on my mind last night.
4/30/07
As I was paying my property tax today I notice so many people complaining about so many unimportant things. I know most of you have heard the many complaints about living in the city of Detroit and how high our taxes are. The city is barely doing this or doing that was all I was hearing. Well tonight while I was reviewing my last week bible study notes I came to realize how blessed we really are. Can you imagine living in the bible days and dealing with true hardship. My bible study pastor went around the room and asked for examples of hardships that may turn us away from going to church in turn turning us away from God. This is just a couple of things the group came up with:
Mind Bitterness Offensive Fear Disappointment Guilt
Ashamed Self Condemnation Peer Pressure Persecution Selfishness Word so strong it convict
So Pastor Anderson stated now lets see what hardship Paul went through. So I want you all to turn to Acts 16:12-26 (Bible.com allows you read the bible on-line). Now like some of you I have read this passage before but when Pastor Anderson broke the truth down it made me look at it totally different. Now the first key thing is in verses 22-24. Now can you imaging being stripped of your clothes and then beaten in front of a crowd. Now Romans beatings were a little different. They didn't just beat you with a whip but with sticks with rocks and broken glass on the end of it. So every hit literally tore away at your flesh. Then after that Paul and Silas were thrown in jail for loving God. Do you really love God? They wasn't just sent to any jail (nothing like the jails we have now) but the inner cell which is a dungeon. Now you know the enemy didn't stop there he put there feet in stocks. Now the Romans stock had prisoners set up with chains around there necks that connected to the clamps on there feet. Very uncomfortable position for men who just got through getting severely beaten. But verses 25-26 is the true glory. Through there hardship Paul and Silas prayed and sang to God and they did it loudly. They gave praise through there circumstances. How many of us is loving, giving and praising with are all no matter what? Paul and Silas didn't have a pity party. They didn't complain or say why me. They didn't even pray to be released. These men kept there site on the Father at all times. And God freed them from there hardship. So next time you feel like complaining or think you are going through something think about Paul and Silas and start praising God because you really aren't going through anything,
Love You ALL
Have a Blessed Day
P.S. I know I have to put myself in check what about you?
4/30/07
As I was paying my property tax today I notice so many people complaining about so many unimportant things. I know most of you have heard the many complaints about living in the city of Detroit and how high our taxes are. The city is barely doing this or doing that was all I was hearing. Well tonight while I was reviewing my last week bible study notes I came to realize how blessed we really are. Can you imagine living in the bible days and dealing with true hardship. My bible study pastor went around the room and asked for examples of hardships that may turn us away from going to church in turn turning us away from God. This is just a couple of things the group came up with:
Mind Bitterness Offensive Fear Disappointment Guilt
Ashamed Self Condemnation Peer Pressure Persecution Selfishness Word so strong it convict
So Pastor Anderson stated now lets see what hardship Paul went through. So I want you all to turn to Acts 16:12-26 (Bible.com allows you read the bible on-line). Now like some of you I have read this passage before but when Pastor Anderson broke the truth down it made me look at it totally different. Now the first key thing is in verses 22-24. Now can you imaging being stripped of your clothes and then beaten in front of a crowd. Now Romans beatings were a little different. They didn't just beat you with a whip but with sticks with rocks and broken glass on the end of it. So every hit literally tore away at your flesh. Then after that Paul and Silas were thrown in jail for loving God. Do you really love God? They wasn't just sent to any jail (nothing like the jails we have now) but the inner cell which is a dungeon. Now you know the enemy didn't stop there he put there feet in stocks. Now the Romans stock had prisoners set up with chains around there necks that connected to the clamps on there feet. Very uncomfortable position for men who just got through getting severely beaten. But verses 25-26 is the true glory. Through there hardship Paul and Silas prayed and sang to God and they did it loudly. They gave praise through there circumstances. How many of us is loving, giving and praising with are all no matter what? Paul and Silas didn't have a pity party. They didn't complain or say why me. They didn't even pray to be released. These men kept there site on the Father at all times. And God freed them from there hardship. So next time you feel like complaining or think you are going through something think about Paul and Silas and start praising God because you really aren't going through anything,
Love You ALL
Have a Blessed Day
P.S. I know I have to put myself in check what about you?