12-4-07

WOW! My small group just finished a study in the Book of Acts tonight. What really impressed me was a statement that T, one of our group members, made concerning the Apostle Paul's example. The final chapter discusses Paul's adventures in Rome, having just arrived after being ship wrecked. It was especially noteworthy that Paul had direct contact with God Himself as Paul had the privilege of having an angel speaking directly to him. How cool is that! But the point T made that really caught my attention came from Acts 28:5-6. It does not seem odd that Paul would be bitten by a snake and not have any ill effects. What is of particular noteworthiness is that, for Paul, this was common place and that we too should have the same relationship with the Lord he experience by having "no ill effects" from what ever "snakes" we encounter. We all have bad things happen to us, but what do we do during those occasions? Do we get upset when those bad things happen, or do we, like Paul, just "shake them off" and move on with our lives with full confidence that God is in control. What a challenge for me to consider and lesson to learn. Dear Father, please help me to develop such an intimate relationship with you that when the "snakes" of life take hold of me, I can shake them off and continue to serve You in full confidence that You are in control of every aspect of my life, even when things may appear to be spiraling out of control."