And whether they realized it at the time or not, God had a purpose for their predicament. Non-believers were paying close attention to them!

I remember when I faced injustices at my job. I was so frustrated, but I just trust God, and He showed me how to be a better teacher.

I wasn't suffering terribly but during my time at my prior office but on the days when I felt so out sorts, I tried very hard to sing praises at my desk and my coworkers talked about the humming from my desk often. I have one special girl I have and had been praying for, Megan. Her mom died when Megan was 13. She is now 24. She told me she didn't believe in God. Her maternal grandfather was a preacher. Life was difficult for her after her dad remarried and she suffered at the hands of a proverbial wicked stepmom. It isn't the way they all are but hers was mean to her. She wrote this to me six months after working with her. She and I stay in touch now that I am gone from that office. She calls me her Richmond Mom. I wear that title proudly.I am sharing it because it speaks of a non-believer paying attention in her own words.

Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 3:01 PM
To: Juanita Hamlin
Subject:

You have changed a lot about me.  I see the lord work thru you in many ways.  I asked him to make the water go down in my yard and that I would leave it in his hands.  I just called robbie and he said that he doesn’t see anything.  It was about 10-12 feet into our yard and probably about 4 feet deep in the middle.

You are opening my eyes…..  Thank you!

Wonderful post Mike, it really makes you think.  I hope you and your family are well. God bless.

Great blog Mike...as usual.  :-)

For me, the wonderful thing learned from this account is the fact that it was God who lead them to Ephesus in the first place.  Also notice that there is absolutely no self doubt, or any hint that they questioned whether they had "missed God: because the circumstances got negative" thing going on.  I also remember that [in Greek] Paul always referred to himself a "the prisoner of the Lord" when in jail.  For those who know that they belong to God in Christ, there are no secondary causes.  No one is seen to have authority over such a person except God alone.

What is truly impressive about Paul and Silas is not Paul and Silas, but what God did through Paul and Silas, and therefore what He can also do with the rest of us.  If we are supposed to be impressed with Paul and Silas then they have something to boast about!  If we are supposed to be impressed with what God can do through clay pots then we have some One to boast in, and also a strong hope that HE can achieve the same results if "we" have to go through similar circumstances!

Many focus on what the "Devil" is doing, but these men looked right through whatever the Devil may have been doing and worshipped and praised the One who had considered them worthy to suffer for his Son's sake.  The account is a living demonstration of how Paul walked out "power being made perfect in weakness."  Many seem to make the mistake of being impressed with Paul, as if he did what he did in the flesh, and in his own strength; when all the time he told us things like "I speak of nothing except what Christ has accomplished through me" and "when God was pleased to reveal his Son in me."  Somehow, we like to reduce the Christian life to what we can do so that we don't have to have a real and living relationship with God in the real Spirit of God.  Everything is reduced to a doctrine, precept, or algorithm that's used to try and produce what only the Spirit can.

Genuine faith looks at the circumstance and says "I don't know how but You are going to make this work for good and for your glory Father!"  The new age type of faith is really a focus on our selves to produce something [e.g. faith] so that we can be in control of circumstances, other people, and ourselves.

Genuine worship was demonstrated in this circumstance by the fact that they had no "Why is this happening?" types of reasoning going on.  They were completely bowing before the goodness of God in their mind, will, and emotions and that fact gave rise to the prayers and hymns they offered and sang.

If we reflect on our own experience we'll see that no one who is praying prayers like "Why is this happening to me God?" or "God please do something!  The Devil has thrown me in prison!" ever ends up joyfully singing hymns to God.

Blessings!
Craig

Deb, when it's hard to praise may be when the praises are most meaningful. We are called to offer a "sacrifice of praise" (Heb 13:15) in those times. God bless you sister, we miss your daily fellowship.

Craig, the thing I most admire about Paul is the extent to which he yielded himself to Christ. The man was a talented yielder!

Todd....wow, do we realize, when we accept Christ, that we may be called to suffer for him? Also, I wonder sometimes if it seems like our degree of suffering increases proportionally with our level of maturity (ability to persevere)? The world would say this is unfair! Strong Christians deserve a good life! But God says, the stronger you are, the more in tune you are w/me and the less the suffering really hurts. Hmmm, just wondering...

Joey, it must be for God, otherwise I will falter.

Rebel, no one comments on FB, do they?? lol .. Lady, I'm prayin' you'll be singing for years to come.

Wow GrammyB, that is a powerful word of testimony. I guess your hope was showing through, even though you weren't aware of it at the time!

Thanks Panda, you're often there w/a word of encouragement....thanks so much!

Rebekah... I appreciate you =)

Thx Kathy...we tend to remind ea other of things when we walk together!

MarJay, God appreciates your faithfulness/steadfastness, and so do we!

Della, so glad to hear from ya...God is true and faithful! Sometimes we just lose sight in this decaying world!

Thanks so much Marilyn :) Truth is, we've been better. But in reality, when you're counted among God's children and you're in God's hands, there is no better place to be.

Amen Liz....it's all about how we live! (Actually, it's all about how he lives in us....and can others see that?)

Oh Sherlock....you lovely little creature!!!!

Blind Bat...aka Megan...thanks a lot sister!

Destiny, how awesome that God showed you. AND that you discovered purpose in difficult circumstances!

Amen Mary....especially the bad. That's when ppl are paying the closest attention to us!!!

Thx Penny (Joyful Servant)!

Especially from someone that you have taken on as a subject of prayer, as I had with Megan. Rebel had been praying longer for her friend, so she understands.

By the way, The love that you bestow on your daughter is so beautiful to behold. My dad is still like that with all his daughters. I can tell you that we all had such beautiful love from him and it is a gift. My pastor has a daughter, maybe 13 years old and he said they sometimes ride in the car and he holds her hand. She is precious too. 

Praise GOD.  His timing is perfect.  Just what I needed to hear :)

Shirley, I appreciate hearing that!  Ditto Bren!!  I appreciate your determination, Sarah (racunpoodle). I too hope no one throws stones at you!

Cathy (Forgiven), yes it is sinking in, slowly!

Thanks Mickey! I'm so glad you told me that!

Marcella, I've heard you sing, beautiful voice you have there!

Sheree, your encouragements are life-giving. :)

Donna, what an incredible example you are. I hope many are paying attention to you!

Gordon (apureheart), your way w/words is a real help...thank you.

Joey, I appreciate those prayers more than you can know - thanks.

Maybe Paul and Silas sang Psalms 42 & 43, which repeat this refrain three times:

Psalms 42:5, 11; 43:5 (NIV)

"when we bear our suffering like Jesus did and don't wallow in self-pity, which is the natural thing for us to do."

Amen Ase! Wallowing, feeling sorry for ourselves, is indeed the natural thing to do. But Jesus showed us the better way, to take our focus off ourselves and put it on someone else. I'm particularly struck by the fact that even as he hung on the cross, in agony and humiliation, rather than focus on his own pain, he had a deep sense of joy in the accomplishment of the Father's will and the redemption of those the Father loves. Good stuff, thanks for your comment!

Terry, you are so kind and encouraging......if God spoke to you through something I wrote, it blesses me beyond words to know this! MUCH LOVE to you, neighbor! (Yes, you will still be our neighbor even if you move to Pikesville! Call us if you need anything!)