Acts 1:4 Wait for the promise from Me. Stay in Jerusalem. When God speaks, these confused, scared, grieving disciples listen. When I am in the midst of suffering, what do I do? These disciples continued in prayer. It's not something "to do" but it flows out of their detached hearts. They reveal fresh hope in confusion and dependent faith through prayer. Yes, they stayed in Jerusalem and the Holy Spirit of God rushed in.
"You are not alive in this world in order to experience Me or to enjoy the blessings of a comfortable life. If that were My purpose, I'd have brought you into My Presence in heaven the moment you were forgiven and adopted into My family. Your purpose til you die is to reveal a new attitude toward suffering and a new agenda in prayer that flows out of your new purpose in life that makes sense only if you claim your new hope of resurrection." Trusting Truth, Not Experiences or Blessings. 66LL
These distraught disciples are finding fresh Hope. Do I see fresh Hope on my Horizon?"Trusting Truth
Not Experiences or Blessings...
I had a feeling that this would not post at midnight last night and, sure enough, it didn't. I guess I will have to stop using the automatic publish. Sorry this wasn't up. Probably had to do with being in Lampasas' Pizza Hut plugged into the ceiling.
ReplyDeleteThis is from Michele,
ReplyDeleteShe posted yesterday and I so wanted you all to see it.
We have missed you Michele!!!
As I have been reading along, I have stopped and thought, I have read this many times before, but all the little details are jumping off the page. I am excited for the fresh perspective.
I am thankful for Jesus' example as He dealt with the disciples during their time of grief and bewilderment. He cooked them breakfast and met a physical need. When I got so sick earlier this year, my church family brought us meals. It was a HUGE thing for me to be able rest and get well. I could hardly function at the time.
That part in 66LL that you quoted, is marked and I have written in the margins of my book. As I read it again last week when I was having a pity party, I once again was convicted that all I do needs to be done in love(I Cor 16:14)no matter the response I get in return.
Thank you Bev, for your faithfulness! Please don't fall off the table!
Love you,
--michele
June 14, 2011 8:31 AM
P.S. Michele, the Waitress is on the table. Actually, I did climb up to take it down. Ha!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great question....When I am in the midst of suffering what do I do? Do I continue in prayer or am I so focused on my suffering that I see nothing but the suffering? When I suffered with some really awful headaches ten years ago...I don't know that I prayed without ceasing. Took from January till May for them to stop and for the doctors to finally decide they didn't really know what caused them, except that my blood pressure had gone really high. I did pray and others prayed,the headaches were not every day...yet when I think of ones like my sweet Sally where the pain does not go away, how can she pray when she is in such deep agony. Perhaps the body of Christ praying for her and her family are claiming the hope for them. She now faces the possibility that the cancer is in the fluid around her brain, she has a tap scheduled for Friday morning at ten. May the body of Christ not give up hope in praying for her, but lift her up when she can't lift herself.
ReplyDeleteI loved the quote from 66 LL....that if it were His purpose for us to be alive on this earth to experience Him or to enjoy the blessings of a comfortable life, that He would have taken us to heaven the moment we were forgiven and adopted into His family. but that our purpose till we die is to reveal a new attitude toward suffering and a new agenda in prayer that flows out of our new purpose...to claim our new hope of resurrection. That truly puts things into perspective for me, to be in dependent faith through prayer as I walk through each day.
I desire to keep my eyes on Him and to be dependent on Him in prayer, so that I may finish well and that my life may point others to Him when I am no longer here. For it truly is not that I started well, but that I finished well, I want to fight the good fight. So many are walking in darkness, may our lights shine forth to show them the way. Sorry to be so long winded today, heavy heart....
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ReplyDeleteWow! I'm not even into my first cup of coffee and I already feel filled and armored for the day's tests. Like the little prayer goes, "now let me get out of bed ..."
ReplyDeleteYesterday, when I read these Scriptures, I was looking for wisdom in dealing with a physical problem and not being able to see the doctor before we go out of town. (Just so none of you worry, it was about some persistent heel pain-no big deal.And I was able to squeeze in an appointment this morning.) I really didn't find my answer to be comfortable--the message was "You'll be sent a Helper. Wait on Him." Not, "I'll take away your pain. But I will be there through it." I can't imagine Sally's constant pain, and I'm sure I wouldn't be found "praying without ceasing," especially with head pain where you struggle to put two thoughts together. And so we pray for one another. We stand in the gap. We call on the True Helper to see each other through.
Love all your hearts! So glad to see Michele's beautiful words, too. Thanks for taking the time to share your story of hope and help!
If I'm MIA for a few days, it will be because of signal problems on a little farm in the woods in Oklahoma. I will be reading along and share as I can. Love y'all!