Halfway Through The Wood

Isn't it an interesting adventure being a Christian?  I mean, if we can accept that God is GOOD and hand our burdens over to HIM, then it is just thrilling to see what HE will do with them.  This was one of those weeks where we got to see HIM at work in some interesting ways...answering some prayers that have spanned YEARS.  For one, we recently got a card from a woman we have not heard from in about 15 years.  She moved away from a previous church we had gone to and she was not doing well at the time.  I had tried to reach out to her after she moved, but she really did not want to remain in touch at that point in time.  So, fifteen years later, she wrote back and apologized for her actions.  That is a GOD thing.  Then, a previous neighbor called Brad at the church and wanted to talk with him.  Through a conversation with her, Brad was able to share the gospel with her and ask her if she was ready to accept Christ.....she did.....that is a GOD thing!  Then, tonight, Brad took the youth on a bike ride from Spring Arbor to Concord for ice cream and back again.  He ran into an older gentleman (not on his bike, silly....at the ice cream place) that he thought looked familiar.  After he realized the friend/family connections....they had a pretty emotional conversation about Brad's uncle that passed away about 47 years ago and Brad was able to tell him about the Parma Church and invited him to visit once we open in September since he is from the area.  I think that was a GOD thing!

God answers prayers and he is still working to heal hearts, but these things sometimes take more time than we anticipate. Fifteen years, three years, or forty-seven years....we should never give up because...

GOD IS GOOD

We are only halfway through and we are walking in the woods....of course it is difficult for us to see the GOOD sometimes.  Ultimately, everything that crosses our path has to be approved by GOD first.  I know that is hard to accept sometimes when we have to face those really devastating things....and we are very tempted to form the word WHY with our lips.  BUT, isn't GOD GOOD?  If HE allows it into our lives....whatever it is....HE is not only able, HE WILL cause it to amount to something GOOD.