Saturday 18 April, 2020

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. 21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish. 25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

I can easily succumb to a bad mood when woken early in the morning by one of my children, the garbage truck or my neighbour mowing his grass.

I am not traditionally an early riser and staying in bed seems like a far better option to me most of the time. But when I do rise and shine, have coffee, open the window blinds and see the light from behind the darkness, my mood generally lifts. I forget what was behind in the night/early morning and focus on the day ahead.

At times my mood can shift and sway with the rhythms of my day, and sometimes things that are unsettling me come to me to bother me. Seasons of my life can easily sway my mood. Seasons of my life have seemingly been impossible, impractical, expensive, tiring and unobtainable. Sometimes I want God to change my situation easily forgetting that God is trying to use my situation to change me. Does that ever happen to you? God using tough situations and turning them into attributes that strengthen you?

As the chapter 12 of Acts began Herod was on a rampage. He had arrested many Christians, imprisoned Peter and executed James. As the Chapter ends, Peter is free again, Herod is dead and the gospel is spreading.  Despite all of what is happening “the word of God continued to spread and flourish”.

Holy Spirit…I love the use of “But the….” In the bible. It reminds me that despite everything difficult, the word of the Lord stands forever and nothing can separate me from His love. I pray that we can all remember that through tough times we can be steadfast and call on the Almighty Father for help and perspective. Amen

Written by Susannah Ware