Sorry the posts have been irregular over the last couple of weeks, as I have been unwell....

1 Thes. 2:13-16 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. [14] For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, [15] who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men [16] in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

I am thankful for the words of v13....

Often I have to stand before groups of people and share the Gospel message. Now I preach nearly every week. I get excited about sharing the Gospel with people - when people get saved there is always a sense of electricity that makes me tingle. But preaching the Gospel is one of the most nerve wracking things I do - it's like playing an away match at football, everything just seems harder. So when the Bible tells me that these are God's words and they carry his power it lessens the burden I feel. I'll still try to do my best - but it is God at work and not me. And he is sovereign.