Good Reminders
When I was younger I never did enjoy going to church and that could be due to the dynamic of the church that I grew up; it was to harsh and cold. But now being older and everyday trying to grow closer and closer to my Savior, I enjoy going to church. I don't mind driving the 45 minutes to Harrisonburg each Sunday to listen to gifted pastors teach you more and more about Christ. Today I was reminded of how faithful God is to His People.
Pastor Joe spoke about how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and how Lazarus' sisters Mary and Martha did not understand why he died in the first place. The significance? Mary and Martha questioned the Lord's sovereignty and basically felt that God had abandoned them. OH, but what they didn't know was what was God's plan for Lazarus' death! God's plan was to show Mary and Martha that He has the power from His Father to raise dead people and make them alive again! In Mary and Martha's sorrow, God was planning something spectacular! How many times do we feel this way? In the midst of our despair the Devil tries to blind our eyes to not see that God is in control of everything in our lives and there IS a purpose to everything. We see the tunnel, yet we don't see the light at the end of the tunnel; we see the storm, but we don't see the sun after the storm; we see the pain, but not the joy that comes after pain. Life gravitates towards the negative and we tend to see the negative and not the positive. It's a lesson that every day I'm trying to learn to remember each day! When things are dark in our world our immediate reaction is fear and questioning. I know this; I've been through this from the struggles with my health to the time I had issues and problems with my previous job. It wasn't until I realized I have to turn my whole trust in God to fully accept God's plan for my life. I'm reminded, as Joe reminded me, "Behind a frowning providence, God hides a smiling face"---(song below) In the midst of our trials, God is planning something great for us! Hallelujah!
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
William Cowper
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
---what is God teaching you?
Pastor Joe spoke about how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and how Lazarus' sisters Mary and Martha did not understand why he died in the first place. The significance? Mary and Martha questioned the Lord's sovereignty and basically felt that God had abandoned them. OH, but what they didn't know was what was God's plan for Lazarus' death! God's plan was to show Mary and Martha that He has the power from His Father to raise dead people and make them alive again! In Mary and Martha's sorrow, God was planning something spectacular! How many times do we feel this way? In the midst of our despair the Devil tries to blind our eyes to not see that God is in control of everything in our lives and there IS a purpose to everything. We see the tunnel, yet we don't see the light at the end of the tunnel; we see the storm, but we don't see the sun after the storm; we see the pain, but not the joy that comes after pain. Life gravitates towards the negative and we tend to see the negative and not the positive. It's a lesson that every day I'm trying to learn to remember each day! When things are dark in our world our immediate reaction is fear and questioning. I know this; I've been through this from the struggles with my health to the time I had issues and problems with my previous job. It wasn't until I realized I have to turn my whole trust in God to fully accept God's plan for my life. I'm reminded, as Joe reminded me, "Behind a frowning providence, God hides a smiling face"---(song below) In the midst of our trials, God is planning something great for us! Hallelujah!
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
William Cowper
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
---what is God teaching you?
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