Meeting family I didn’t know I had
April 17, 2011 by John Knight
I spent a few days in Chicago this week for The Gospel Coalition 2011 Conference. All of the plenary sessions are available online for free – including in French, Simplified Chinese and Spanish!
But I think the highlight personally was meeting two men ‘by accident’ at different times on Wednesday. Peter lost a baby daughter. Paul is the father of 10, four with disabilities.
There is something about deep suffering that blows away socially-sanctioned pretense or the desire for small-talk. I’m not sure exactly how God does it, but spending even the little time I did with each man was encouraging to my soul in ways that are hard to describe. And the time in prayer with and for them was very sweet.
I’m grateful God does things like that for me (and hopefully for them as well!). It was good to meet these brothers I didn’t know I had.
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
May God be pleased to add to your family of faith this Holy Week!
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The Works of God 
Meeting family I didn’t know I had
April 17, 2011 by John Knight
I spent a few days in Chicago this week for The Gospel Coalition 2011 Conference. All of the plenary sessions are available online for free – including in French, Simplified Chinese and Spanish!
But I think the highlight personally was meeting two men ‘by accident’ at different times on Wednesday. Peter lost a baby daughter. Paul is the father of 10, four with disabilities.
There is something about deep suffering that blows away socially-sanctioned pretense or the desire for small-talk. I’m not sure exactly how God does it, but spending even the little time I did with each man was encouraging to my soul in ways that are hard to describe. And the time in prayer with and for them was very sweet.
I’m grateful God does things like that for me (and hopefully for them as well!). It was good to meet these brothers I didn’t know I had.
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
May God be pleased to add to your family of faith this Holy Week!
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