"Through Many Tribulations" 8-20-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the firm foundation of my life and my faith this day. ... "After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, 'We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God' " (Acts 14:21-22, NKJV). Each day has enough trouble of its own. Each season has enough tribulation of its own. So all by Your grace, I will not get stuck in the regrets or offences of the past or be paralyzed by the worry or fear of the challenges of the future. "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today" (Matthew 6:34). So I will embrace Your encouragement and correction, Your strength and wisdom, as I press on and press in, proclaiming the good news of Your kingdom and the steadfast love of my King. "But I, through the abundance of Your steadfast love, will enter Your house, I will bow down toward Your holy temple in awe of You" (Psalm 5:7). When Paul and Barnabus returned to Iconium and Antioch, they were returning to places and people who had rejected them and their message of the gospel of the kingdom of God. They had stoned Paul and left him for dead (Acts 14:19). Yet in the grace that only You can give, they went on strengthening souls and sharing the faith, knowing we will encounter and we must endure many tribulations as we enter the kingdom of God. It was in the midst of such great resistance and rejection of Your message and Your messengers that You confirmed their words of Your grace, "granting signs and wonders to be done through them" (Acts 14:3). So we need You to be King in the days of trouble and King in the seasons of tribulation. But certain of Your love and trusting in Your grace, we will enter in. And in the irony of the principles of Your kingdom, it's so often in those hard places and painful encounters that we see the glory of Your manifest presence and the power of Your unfailing love. With the courage and faith You give us for each day, we can seek Your face and bow at Your feet, standing firm in Your strength in awe of You. When we do, we can't help but make disciples for You through the witness of our lives entrusted to You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Phil Jackson will be leading in worship and Laura Beach will be leading in prayer. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Subscribe by email to me at Messiah Ministries --MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Daily Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org