Acts 19:18-20 (ESV) 
    Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.  And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.  So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

I was struck, as I read this in my quiet time today, at the amazing witness it is when believers, led by the spirit, do things that the world finds impossible to comprehend; things that no human being would naturally do. 

What is it, for instance, that leads a woman to turn from self-serving (or even god centered) pursuits to give her body and life first to a man, and then to the bearing and raising of children?   Why do women endure the discomforts of pregnancy, the sleepless nights, the long days, and the endless chores associated with raising children and keeping a house well? Why do they add to these efforts the academic training of their children?  What could cause them to undertake such a huge and heroic task? 

How can such women possibly maintain such a counter-intuitive, counter-self, counter-cultural course in life, hour after hour, day after day, and year after year?  They receive no visible rewards: they spend the best years of their lives, they remain on a single income, and the outcome of all their efforts is uncertain.  They do not hope to become rich, famous, or at ease: they hope to see their husband become all that God created him to be, and hear that their children walking in the truth.  But... but... it doesn't make any sense!

There is only one answer.  The Spirit of the Living God empowers us.  Beloved, the joy of the Lord is our strength.  We are called to this labor, and we are not alone.  He is working for our good and His glory!  And the world is watching... and wondering!

1 Thes. 5:23-24 (ESV) 
    Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.