Church on Sunday

Hebrews 10:25  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I've heard it said that if your faith will not get you to church on Sunday, it probably will not get you to Heaven someday. Sometimes I would like to add Sunday night and Wednesday to that as well, but then I remember that most churches don't have either of those services anymore. :/ You may disagree, but I think that it speaks volumes as to where the church in North America (need to clarify that lest I offend my Central and South American brethren) is today.

Hearing the Gospel

Acts 1:8  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Nonbelievers must hear the gospel an average of 7.6 times before they receive it. So if anyone walks away from you when you share the gospel with him, remember: the Word of God never returns void. Maybe the person you shared with has never heard it before. Maybe this is only the second time he has ever heard it, or maybe this is his 6.6th time. – Willaim Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Kindle Location 284-286).

Through the Fire

"When God allows his children to go through the fire, he keeps his eye on the clock and his hand on the thermostat.  If we rebel, He may reset the clock, but if we submit, He will not permit us to suffer one minute too long." - Wiersbe

Perspective

Chuck Swindoll once said that life is 99% perspective and only 1% reality. 

A little girl walked daily to and from school. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the elementary school.  As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning.

The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school, and she herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child. Following the roar of thunder, lightning, like a flaming sword, would cut through the sky.  Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school.

As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly, each with the little girl stopping, looking at the streak of light and smiling. Finally, the mother called her over to the car and asked, "What are you doing?"  The child answered, "God just keeps taking pictures of me."

Why Not?

1 Peter 4:12-14  Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  (13)  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.  (14)  If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Someone asked C.S. Lewis, "Why do the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" he replied. "They are the only ones who can take it."