Wondrous Lessons...

Written by Miss Rachel


Wow, I can hardly believe another year is soon to come to an end! :O It's gone by seemingly much too quickly. ;) There really were so many things the Lord has taught me over this year, and He really has greatly changed my heart and life since the beginning of this year. :) Each day is a new adventure and each day I learn so many things that it's difficult to pin point "when" I learned something or what that one thing might be.

This year has been one of the hardest and one of the best years I've ever had. :) I know that doesn't sound right, but through every single trial our family has undergone in this one year, He has been so faithful and so providing, loving, comforting, and much, much more. :) He truly as become my dearest friend this year. :D

The one thing I can remember is one I think may be one of the most important to learn in this world. That one thing is that everything...us, creation, the birth/death/resurrection of His Son...all of it, is for His glory! :D That was such an amazing concept I learned. Of course I knew something about it before, but not to it's fullest detail, not to the point that a car accident in front of our house ruining our only means of transportation could be for His glory. :) Not that a consistent job loss and financial struggles could be for His glory. Not to the point that the deaths of people I know and friends hurting both physically and spiritually could be for His glory. Not that a health problem for me could be for His glory. You see what I mean? ;)

In each circumstance in life, whether good or bad, we have the opportunity to *use it for God's glory*. "If we win we praise Him, and if we lose we praise Him" (Facing the Giants movie). Who knows what or how God will use something in your life...whether as a means of witnessing, of encouragement, or to remind others about God's faithfulness and goodness! :D


So I'd just like to encourage you all today to keep an eye out...be ready to praise the Lord in both the good times and the bad so that we can share God's love with others. So we can lift a brother or sister up in their faith, etc. :) Trust Him to bring about a good outcome in bad circumstances and that He knows what He is doing. :)

For more on this topic, there is a short post by Charles Spurgeon here. (God's timing is amazing...just found this the day I was writing this post!). :)

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." ~ Jeremiah 29:11

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

"For we are *his workmanship*, *created in Christ Jesus* unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." ~ Ephesians 2:10

"*Give thanks* unto the LORD, *call* upon his name, *make known* his deeds among the people. *Sing* unto him, *sing* psalms unto him, *talk* ye of all his wondrous works. *Glory* ye in his holy name: let the heart of them *rejoice* that seek the LORD. *Seek* the LORD and his strength, *seek* his face continually" ~ 1 Chronicles 16:8-11 (read 16:8-36...a wonderful encouragement!)

"I will bless the LORD at *all times*: his praise shall *continually* be in my mouth." ~ Psalm 34:1

"You awake us to delight in you presence; for you made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." ~ The Confessions: by Augustine

Solo Deo Gloria ~ To God Alone be Glory!
~Rachel~