…using your life.
Yesterday, I had to miss church.
Since my illness I’ve missed more than I’ve been able to attend.
At first, I was a little down cast.
I love going to church.
Fellowship with other believers.
Worshipping my Lord and Savior through beautiful music.
Being fed from the Word of God.
I took my sad, before the Lord.
Even in this, I have a purpose.
-sigh-
Quiet, with closed eyes, listening…
… letting go.
“Lord, I trust You. What would You have me do this morning?”
And it was a lovely morning.
Time in prayer and writing led to time listening to one of my favorite preachers.
One of the moments which really helped me occurred right after I surrendered my day to Jesus.
A family member, who knew I’d been struggling, had texted asking how I was doing.
I had to be honest and say I was getting weary of feeling poorly, but that I knew God was working.
The response melted my heart.
“It’s ok to be weary. When we are weak His strength shines through. I’m looking forward to hearing how the Lord uses your family to minister to others because of all this.”
Most days, I don’t think, “Wow God, how are You going to use all this to bless others?!”
But that text reminded me that God’s ways are far beyond anything I can see.
I simply couldn’t express how their text had blessed me.
As I listened to a wonderful teaching, God used a friend to bless my heart.
One of the thoughts the enemy tries to discourage me with is: “How are you serving God when you can’t leave the house?”
I know it’s from the enemy and I reject it.
Over and over.
Which means, that somewhere inside my heart, I’m still working on releasing my ideals of serving God.
So, the Lord showed me a new way to look at things.
My friend texted and asked for prayer.
She was going to be doing some ministry. Normally, she is a part of a team, but something happened to leave her on her own.
“Would I pray while she ministered?”
“Absolutely!”
Before the ministry time came, she texted me that another lady had cancelled her engagement so she wouldn’t be alone.
I was thrilled.
And I joined their team in prayer.
Much later she reported how God had touched women and what a blessing it had been.
I was certain my reply couldn’t bring my friend the full understanding of how encouraged I was to be able to join them in ministry.
My heart was so full!
But God wasn’t finished.
When my son brought in the mail today, he handed me an envelope.
“Mom, you got a letter!”
I was surprised to see it wasn’t from any of my normal letter writing friends.
It was a beautiful card, which alone brightened my day.
(The picture is of this card.)
What was written inside did far more.
It spoke of God’s amazing ways.
How He has used circumstances to bless, encourage, and deepen the walk of my friend who had sent me the card.
Her words were filled with beauty and touched me in such an unexpected way.
She had sent to let me know how my blogs have given her blessing.
I didn’t even know she was a regular reader.
It came as a complete surprise to read what God is doing in her life.
And I wondered.
“How do I tell these three people how You have used them to touch me, Lord?”
Why not write a blog.
Smiling, eyes closed.
“Perfect.”
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your incredible ways. Thank You for showing me, again, just how wonderful and faithful You truly are. Thank You for reminding me that I can’t truly see how You are working, I just need to rest in Your love and joyfully do the task at hand. Thank You for these three people and so many more. Thank You for my wonderful husband and children, and family who support and love me so much. Thank You for friends who feel like family, who pray and support all of us. Lord, I humbly ask that You use all of this for Your glory. That more may find peace through You, Jesus.
patientlyhopeful 