13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Sometimes, the Lord allows joyful things to happen in our lives, and at other times, troubling and difficult things happen.
It’s easy to think nothing of enjoying the good things that happen. We may even forget to thank Him for them because it just seems so natural that they should happen.
But when the hard times come, it’s easy to fall into the trap of asking “Why?” “Why would you let something like this happen, Lord?” “What possible plan could You have to allow this in my life?” I know this for a fact, because it’s been the continual struggle of my heart for the past 6 weeks when I learned that the man that I had planned to marry was dead.
I won’t begin to describe the pain and grief that I have been living with since that time, and that I expect I’ll carry with me for a long time to come.
But even from that place, there’s one thing I know, when it seems I know nothing else anymore. God is at work…
[Share about Larry, Linda and Len. Decide how much to share, based on the time I have. Cover:
– Being open to God’s leading
– Valuing relationships over to-do lists
– Having the courage to share a message from the Lord.]
There’s a song called “Offering” by Paul Baloche that contains these lyrics:
I bring an offering of worship to my king.
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing.
Jesus may you receive the honor that you’re due.
O Lord, I bring an offering to you.
God doesn’t seek just our first fruits as offerings. He wants us to give of our time and talents as well. But even more than that, He wants us to share our stories. He wants us to tell the world about the work that He has done in our lives so that people will believe in Him and praise Him.
Remember: All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore, as we write and share the stories that God has placed on our hearts, I believed; therefore I have spoken.
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