Sunday Blessings - Blows and Wounds

A  couple  very  close  to  me  are  facing a  lot  of  trouble  at  work - blows , wounds  and  cuts at  the  hands  of  their  managers, who  despise  them  for  their  Christian faith. The  atheist  managers  candidly  say all their  friends  are in  hell.

My  beloved people  are enduring under  very  frustrating  and  humiliating   circumstances. But  they   are  trusting  God  in  the  midst  of  gloomy times. Many  of  us  when  we   pass  through  muddy  waters  start blaming  God   for our  situation and  some  become  bitter and  distant. We  start questioning  God  for  His dealings  with us.

The lesson  I  have learnt  is  that  God uses  trials  to  mature  and  purify us  and teach  us  wisdom  and  patience.

Here is  a  short  devotion  from  Joni  Eareckson Tada for  our  encouragement.

Blessed Blows

Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.

--Proverbs 20:30

The first time I read this verse, I cringed. It brought up contorted images of the
Spanish Inquisition and the Salem witch trials - or at best, stern, tight-lipped
schoolmarms walking the classroom aisles with a rod in hand. Proverbs may be a
book filled with wisdom and godly instruction, but this verse seemed better suited
for the 16th century.

But my heart has warmed to Proverbs 20:30. That's because I'm writing this vignette
from my bed where I have been spending long days dealing with severe back pain.
The encroachment of my disability has humbled me of late: my pride has taken a severe
beating as I've missed deadlines; I feel humiliated doing "business" from my bed;
and I've had to bite my tongue from grumbling. God is forcing me to learn the deeper
meaning of Psalm 119:67, 71, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey
your word...It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees."

God may land a knock-out blow to your puffed-up pride. He may wound your heart through
a deep disappointment. He will go to great lengths to beat hateful habits out of
your character and purge selfishness from your soul. Your ego may feel trampled.
But that's not bad. I, for one, know I will come out the other end all the richer
and happier for the wounding. It's what Proverbs 20:30 is all about.
* * * * * * *
Your God is not a stern, tight-lipped celestial ogre. He's not on a witch hunt.
He is the kind Father who has compassion on his children (Psalm 103:13). He's also
the wise and wonderful God described in Hebrews 12:10 who "...disciplines us for
our good, that we may share in his holiness." Join me today in saying "Though he
slay me, yet will I hope in him..." (Job 13:15).

Lord God, remind me when I feel beaten

At  the  end  let  me  share  photos  of  sweets  we   enjoyed  with  Ashish  and Megan. The  ones  in   the center  are  like  sugar  birdies.

Have  a  sweet  weekend