Sufferings

Hi all,

Acts 20:24But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish the course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of grace of God.

 

Paul minimizes his own life, his perspective is less of himself, much more of God. His eyes were on Jesus, not on himself, his sufferings or his life. I want to spent much less time on my own little life. My perspective needs to be more on Jesus and less on me. Maximize Christ in our sufferings, minimize ourselves. His life has been prompted by the Spirit guiding him where to go. A life of trust (as seen the the previous verse when he knows he is headed to Jerusalem and will go where he is lead). Oh Lord, may you prompt us as to where you want us to go. We still don’t know where to go or where He will lead us. But lead us He will, I need to remain confident of this. He also received his ministry as I have received my ministry from the Lord Jesus…he to testify to the Gentiles, me to testify to my family.

 

In this past week I have tried to openly share with some people what has been happening in our lives and the conversations have been abruptly cut off (through no fault of either party) and I was left feeling like I had an open wound. Does that make sense? So all I did was say what was going on (sufferings) and I wasn’t able to conclude either conversation as to what the Lord was doing IN our lives. (Maximize Christ, not us.)

 

To lose the importance of me…lastly, I need to keep on with school here, I want to share the Psalm from yesterday in a different translation than I normally use. It has been a huge blessing to me and may it be so for you.

 1-2 Long enough, God— you’ve ignored me long enough.
   I’ve looked at the back of your head
      long enough. Long enough
   I’ve carried this ton of trouble,
      lived with a stomach full of pain.
   Long enough my arrogant enemies
      have looked down their noses at me.

 3-4 Take a good look at me, God, my God;
      I want to look life in the eye,
   So no enemy can get the best of me
      or laugh when I fall on my face.

 5-6 I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms—
      I’m celebrating your rescue.
   I’m singing at the top of my lungs,
      I’m so full of answered prayers.

God’s richest blessing to you and yours,

Cara