Star-fish

     I get a little pamphlet written by Mart De Haan with my monthly Our Daily Bread .  In this one he highlights why it can be hard to share our faith. He brings up some things I've never thought about before noting that, "Peter's own writings seem to call for a witness that leads by example rather than by fearless confrontations. He urged followers of Christ to endure tough circumstances with attitudes that would give others reason to begin asking questions (I Peter 3:15).      De Haan continues, "(I Peter 1:1), Peter taught the principle of using what we have been given for the sake of others. He wrote, 'God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another [so that God's generosity can flow through you]. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies...

     My Sunday night women's Bible study by Angela Thomas called Brave-Honest Questions Women Ask is ending next Sunday night. I have been blessed by the heart of this author. She really "got" me, I have many of the same concerns and fears she has regarding my past and it's effects on my future.      This week Angela reminded her readers on page 139: "Through Jesus, we are God's sealed with the Holy Spirit as a promise of redemption. We face heartache on earth, but brokenness does not win...we must not stay in our bitterness. We have a Redeemer. Our future is guaranteed because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The broken on this earth have the hope of glory...We are held, seen, and loved by Almighty God."      She goes on to say on page 143: "Paid in full. All of our debt was completely paid at the cross. All our shame removed. The gift of life eternal was bought back for us by our nearest kinsman-redeemer, Jesus." Her referen...