Something to Ponder...

^{Psalm 23:4} Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
         I will fear no evil;
         For You are with me;
         Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
^{Matthew 5:10} God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
          for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
^{2 Corinthians 12:10} That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


The news of Usama bin Laden's death is all over every news page, facebook status, twitter update, and tumblr post. But here is the question to be asked: how will our trip be affected? 


Are the chances of persecution higher now that this has happened? I venture to say that our trip means more now because it says in the Bible that we should consider it "pure joy" when we face trials. (James 1:2-4)


Am I prepared to face trials? Persecution? Death?


Romans 8:35-39


 ³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”^[a]) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
 ³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.



This is to provoke thought, not fear. Just something to think about...