God's grace is no more evident than when He leads His people to say, "Thank you, Lord, for what You have taught me about Yourself through the story You wrote in a sister or brother's life."
To see even a little of how God gets the glory gives the circumstances of our lives meaning. To be sure we only see through a mirror darkly but some day... face to face.
Just last week I learned that the Christian school I taught at for 17 years will be recognizing Larry and I for what God accomplished through His work in us to affect the students we were privileged to work with.
Through the years since we have often received notes and calls from students telling us how God had used our story to teach them God's truth about living life here. We are so grateful that God has been pleased to let us see a little of how He is growing His children to trust Him more.
Years ago one of my students claimed these verses as his life verses, verses that really put in perspective what God does with the circumstances of our lives to bless others.
On the surface it would have seemed that he was on top of the world, very intelligent, top notch athlete, good looking, and a huge amount of drive to be the best he could be. Little did we know what God's plan was for him...an early death as a Navy jet fighter pilot during a test flight over the Mediterranian Sea leaving behind his young wife of only one year. Thousands mourned his death.
These verses have come to mean much to me through the years knowing that our story is really His story
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| Not my picture or flower but one I would love to have. |
2 Corinthians 4:13-18
"Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence."For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to mroeand more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
I've been thinking a lot about Kara's question yesterday dealing with what a 17-year-old needs to hear to go into adulthood knowing they are loved and knowing what they need to know. After thinking a lot and going over these verses, I would have for me I probably wouldn't have understood it then but maybe I would have remembered it when I needed it.
"There is a heaven and it is eternal. Life is short and it will not last. Keep your eyes on Jesus and His abundant and unfailing love for you [better than anyone's love here] and the rest will fall into place."
"Thank you, Lord, for teaching me that through your steadfast love and faithfulness as you showered your grace upon this undeserving sinner who has been wondrously made righteous by your grace and love."
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