I am thankful tonight for the opportunity that we had this evening to again share our story of the miracles that God has done in us and through us. We were able to share with a crowd of about 150 high school students the impact of the past year and a bit on our lives, and that in spite of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual struggles that we have had/are still having, that God is always in control. We shared with them verses that were special to us, scripture that carried us through, and gave God the glory for the way He was and still is in control. Our focus was to help them see that regardless of what they go through, that God can make good come out of it if they give their lives to Him to control. Sharing this is always a good reminder for me not to fall back into complacency or to take any of the many things that I can still do for granted! And I am grateful to be reminded!
After the evening was over, several of the kids came and thanked us for sharing. Some cried, others praised God with us, and a few said that they had been in the line of cars behind us the day of the accident, and that they had prayed for us as they finally passed the scene. They were able now to put a face and a name to the prayer request, and that was also a blessing for us to again see how many God raised up to pray!
And now it is my turn to uphold a friend in prayer. Yesterday I received word through Facebook that a former work colleague of mine was diagnosed with leukemia that day. She is going down to Vancouver today and will be starting intense chemotherapy on Monday. Pam is a young, vibrant Christian mom with a loving husband and 3 young children. Please pray with me for all of them as they struggle with the mountainous task ahead. They know that God will carry them through, but the road ahead may be very rough. We want to uphold them and claim a miracle to happen in her body, and that the cancer will be defeated!! And that they will sense the mighty and powerful work of our Saviour in and through them.
It's good to focus on someone else, and not on myself. Life is too precious to waste on introspection!
I am very joyfully focusing on getting some bridesmaids dresses sewn in the next couple weeks, thanks to some very deeply appreciated help from my mom who has come to be my extra pair of hands! And I get the priviledge AGAIN of being able to go with Corinne and her mom to look at wedding dresses tomorrow!! What joys are mine! In this, it is so easy to be thankful! But then I remember Pam and so many others who are still struggling and know that my task is to now uphold and encourage them. Also, what a joy to be able to do so! I am reminded of the words Paul wrote, "that we may encourage others with the encouragement with which we were encouraged" (paraphrased). Thank you, Jesus, for the strength and opportunity to reach out to others! Open my eyes to even more opportunities to 'pay it forward'!
No comments:
Post a Comment