In this passage, we see God at work in two very different ways. Paul andhis companions find a place of prayer in Philippi and speak to the wom-en gathered there about the gospel. - P160
God opens the heart of one of them,
Lydia, to respond in faith. Lydia‘s heart is so touched by the gospel thatshe insists on taking the missionaries into her home. - P160
God sometimesworks in quiet, unassuming ways to further His gospel. But there arealso times when He works in ways that visibly disrupt the status quo,
as when Paul casts out the demon that oppressed the female slave.
- P160
Sometimes doing God‘s work will require us to work behind the scenes.
- P160
Other times it will require us to disrupt oppressive circumstances thatsociety has accepted as normal. - P160
As we keep in step with the Spirit andstay attentive to His lead, He will guide us in the way thatwe should go. - P160
Dear Jesus, when You open our hearts, it makes us desire to do the things thatare in Your heart. - P161
Continue to draw our family closer to You so that we may wantand do what is pleasing in Your sight. In Your name, amen. - P161
Australia is a unique nation with a multicultural population-around 30 percent of its resi-dents were born overseas. - P160
Indigenous Australians lived in the country for tens of thousandsof years before British settlers arrived in 1788. Australia became a nation in 1901 when sixBritish colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia. - P160
Most Australians considerthemselves Christian, but only 10 percent regularly attend church. Due to the rise in secular-ism, negative attitudes toward the church are also growing. - P160
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