[JustAmy]

"Does MamaBear choose the graphic to fit NicknamedBob’s poem or does NicknamedBob write the poem to fit MamaBear’s graphic?"

It has worked both ways; on today's Opening Graphic, MamaBear made the graphic first.

These older graphics are not as large and as fancy as the newer ones are, but there are times when they match the Holidays and I drag them out of mothballs.

NnB has written poems for both MamaBear and Billie Graphics. He has been busy recently and has not had much time to contribute new poems. :(

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

August 7, 2008

God’s Training School

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READ: Romans 8:12-17

[We are] heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him. —Romans 8:17

Lew Wallace’s book Ben-Hur tells the story of a Jewish aristocrat betrayed by his best friend and condemned to serve as a galley slave in the Roman navy. On a forced march to the ship, Judah Ben-Hur meets Jesus of Nazareth, whose compassion fills him with hope. Eventually, Ben-Hur saves the Roman commander during battle. In gratitude, the commander adopts Ben-Hur as his son, instantly elevating him from slave to heir.

That’s what happens to us when God adopts us into His family. But great privilege brings great responsibility. Paul said that we become “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him” (Rom. 8:17). The gospel does not say, “Come to Jesus and live happily ever after.” God’s syllabus for His children’s education includes training through hardships.

Ben-Hur’s years of enduring hardship as a Roman slave strengthened him and increased his endurance. He eventually defeated his “friend-turned-enemy” in a chariot race.

As endurance and training were key to Ben-Hur’s victory, so are they vital to victory in the Christian’s war with sin and evil. The hard times we endure are God’s way to prepare us for greater service for His glory.

So send I you to hearts made hard by hatred,
To eyes made blind because they will not see,
To spend though it be blood—to spend and spare not—
So send I you to taste of Calvary. —Clarkson

We conquer by continuing.

Bible in One Year: Job 19–21; Proverbs 14:1-11

[Billie]

Thanks, Amy, and thank you, fewz, for asking about the opening graphics/poems.