In HIS Strength

Judges 12-15 They said to him, "We've come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines." Samson said, "Swear to me that you won't kill me yourselves."
"Agreed," they answered. "We will only tie you up and hand you over to them. We will not kill you." So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock. As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men.

Samson had previously experienced the power of the Spirit of the Lord…and he placed his faith in that power once again as he allowed himself to be taken from the cave and bound with new ropes. I want to live in that power. Knowing that I have that power in my back pocket.

Samson had great strength, but in order for God to glorify himself, Samson had to be bridled. When we operate in our strengths, its easy for us to take glory for the victories. But a constant theme in the Bible is, that in our weakness, He is made strong.

I love what has been going on in the life of ANC. God is using Hurricane IKE to galvanize two communities. The families we hosted from Houston were amazed at the level of love, encouragement and support they received from us. God, laid it on our hearts to host, help and give generously.

Our church community is also rising to the challenge. Allowing complete strangers full access to their homes and lives is a stretching time for a lot of people, myself included. But the folk’s we are hosting feel as if they are “living like kings”…in the words of one of them. Another one told me, “in our wildest dreams, we don’t dream of living in a home like yours”…..

What a great picture of heaven. When we get there…I am sure….our finite thoughts of ‘streets of gold’ wont hold a candle to the actual beauty and splendor of the home God has waiting for us.