God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong, He used the foolish things to shame the wise

........"God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things- and the things that are not- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him..." (1 Corinthians 1: 27-29)

These verses are a real comfort to me as I often feel so very weak....It is also so refreshing and such a solace to be reminded of God's incredible goodness; His matchless grace; His awesome majesty; might and power. How wonderful it is, to know and to trust in such a God; and to be known by Him.

Last Sunday, we had our very first sharing and prayer session for Jubilate at Ed's place. It was edifying to hear what made each one of us thump with excitment about church/church life.

CS read from the passage of Luke 13:18 "Then Jesus asked, what is the kingdom of God like? What shall I comepare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches."

The kingdom of God grows from inconspicuous beginnings. A mustard seed is probably the smallest seed visible to the eye, however this tiny seed could yield a tree up to 8 to 10 feet. Its tremendous growth in one season from the smallest of the seeds to a shrub, the size of a small tree illustrates the growth of God's kingdom from insignificant beginnings...into a spiritual realm that will be universally acknowleged when Jesus comes again.

This parable contains the promise that God's work will come to a glorious fulfillment, no matter how small its beginnings seem to be. Just like a mustard seed grows to tree-like proportions. Likewise, even though we are small in number; we will not be discouraged or be afraid; for our God is with us. Though we are like a mustard seed; we pray that God will grow us into a large healthy shrub for His glory and praise!!!

God can use weak vessels like us to shame the strong...for He is with us and His grace is sufficient for us....for His power is made perfect in weakness..."Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insutls, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor 12:9-10)