Stink Bug
March 15
Relieved to be in bed last night, after a weekend of work which created sore muscles, I looked down and crawling across our comforter was a stink bug. Now the rumor is that if you kill these ugly creatures they give off an awful odor. Great survival tactic! We've eliminated hundred from our house, by gingerly catching them and throwing them out the door, but never killing them.
God allows us to encounter some stinky stuff in our lives. While assuring us it will not kill us, He actually polishes up our act!
1 Peter 1:6-9
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
With Holy Week approaching a friend sent me part of this devotional from the World Challenge website.
"I must no longer be afraid of a little suffering!
Christ’s resurrection was preceded by a short period of suffering. We do die!
We do suffer! There is pain and sorrow. We do not want to suffer or resist or be hurt! We want painless deliverance! We want supernatural intervention. “Do it, God,” we pray, “because I am weak and always will be. Do it all, while I go my way, waiting for a supernatural deliverance!”
But, thank God, suffering is always that short period before final victory.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered awhile, make you perfect, establish,
strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10).
Father, You know every hair on our heads and every hurt in our hearts and You genuinely care! Thank You for the molding process. Oh, the great delight, when we get it all right and You call us home! You have moved me this morning to make a list of suffers and cry out for them. I can't write fast enough. Oh the joy to know You are at work in so many of us all at once. In Jesus Name, Amen
Relieved to be in bed last night, after a weekend of work which created sore muscles, I looked down and crawling across our comforter was a stink bug. Now the rumor is that if you kill these ugly creatures they give off an awful odor. Great survival tactic! We've eliminated hundred from our house, by gingerly catching them and throwing them out the door, but never killing them.
God allows us to encounter some stinky stuff in our lives. While assuring us it will not kill us, He actually polishes up our act!
1 Peter 1:6-9
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
With Holy Week approaching a friend sent me part of this devotional from the World Challenge website.
"I must no longer be afraid of a little suffering!
Christ’s resurrection was preceded by a short period of suffering. We do die!
We do suffer! There is pain and sorrow. We do not want to suffer or resist or be hurt! We want painless deliverance! We want supernatural intervention. “Do it, God,” we pray, “because I am weak and always will be. Do it all, while I go my way, waiting for a supernatural deliverance!”
But, thank God, suffering is always that short period before final victory.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered awhile, make you perfect, establish,
strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10).
Father, You know every hair on our heads and every hurt in our hearts and You genuinely care! Thank You for the molding process. Oh, the great delight, when we get it all right and You call us home! You have moved me this morning to make a list of suffers and cry out for them. I can't write fast enough. Oh the joy to know You are at work in so many of us all at once. In Jesus Name, Amen
