[Discoveries] 12-22-08 Childbirth -- Luke 2:3

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*For those struggling financially ...*/
/*Doubt seldom rushes in all at once. Rather it erodes our confidence 
little by little. The voices that say, "You'll never get out of this. 
God has forgotten you. God no longer answers your prayers ..." -- these 
voices gather strength over time. You may have been out of work for 
months. You may be suffering your twentieth business failure. But God 
has not put you on the shelf. Every time you fall, you learn something 
and you get stronger. You are a member of God's army, spiritually 
speaking. Don't be surprised if things get tough. Twice in my life, I've 
worked for an entire year without making any money. I've had more 
business failures than even I can keep track of. I've probably made more 
mistakes than any two other people. But I'm not going to quit. And 
neither should you. The only thing hardship can do is make us stronger. 
So rejoice! We're all getting closer to the breakthrough we've been 
praying for.*/

/*And everyone went to his own town to register. -- Luke 2:3*/

Not long after I got married, I was initiated into the world of 
childbirth stories. You women have probably heard them all your lives, 
but this was a new thing for me, as a man. One of our friends described 
the whole ordeal -- getting packed, timing the contractions, driving to 
the hospital, trying to remember how to breathe. The contractions got 
worse, it was the middle of the night, and she was tired. Finally, she 
said to her husband, "I don't want to do this any more. Let's go home."

In Luke chapter 2, the people of God are sent scurrying around to get 
counted and taxed. Yet another unwelcome Roman intrusion into their 
lives. Like our friend, they probably just wanted to go home. But they 
couldn't. Whether they realized it or not, the whole nation was in 
labor, about to give birth to their Messiah.

It seems to me that labor has begun once again. God is getting us ready 
for something new.

Be encouraged!
Dwight

What happens when you partner with Dwight Clough Ministries? Victims of 
violent crimes and survivors of abuse are finding peace, wholeness, the 
power to forgive and the strength to set boundaries. Those ensnared by 
addictions are finding freedom. Marriages are being restored. Families 
are strengthened. Christian brothers and sisters in restricted lands who 
face persecution are finding strength and encouragement. Young believers 
are learning how to walk with the Lord, and people are coming into the 
faith for the first time. None of this happens as a result of one 
person's efforts, but rather this is God's work as He blesses the 
sacrifice of many people including yourself. We partner with you, with 
other ministries, and, most significantly, with the Lord. That's how the 
supernatural happens.
Discoveries Devotional -- Inspiration in Your Inbox is provided daily by
Dwight Clough Ministries, Inc.
1223 West Main Street #228
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 USA
Dwight Clough Ministries is supported by your donations.
Visit _www.DwightClough.com_ <http://www.dwightclough.com/A-support.php> 
for more information.

You may freely post, reprint or redistribute this devotional provided a 
reference or link back to _DwightClough.com_ 
<http://www.dwightclough.com> is included.

Change your subscription: 
_http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/discoveries_

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/discoveries/attachments/20081201/e48773ef/attachment.htm>