Has God ever completely surprised you with how He provides? I honestly think that He has fun thinking up creative ways to give back to His children. Like, I got a rebate check in the mail this week that I completely forgot I sent for months ago. Then I get an award and bonus at work for doing an 'outstanding job' for one of our customers. I don't deserve it (I worked my tail off for a different customer, but that one wasn't as high profile) but I'll take the recognition where I can get it.
I mean, I'm trying to be a good steward with what God has given me at the moment. I am saving a lot of money. I am budgeting my resources so I can save a lot of money. Because I know that this job won't last forever. I know that I will have time ahead when I don't have a job, when I don't have an income, and I need to prepare for that time.
God will provide where He has led me. In Judges 9, there's a really cool illustration. Should a fig tree uproot itself and go to rule over the other trees? It could, but it would cease yielding fruit and would die because it was not where it was supposed to be. Why would I even consider uprooting myself from God's perfect will for my life to go and do what I want to do? Well, probably because I'm selfish and prideful and the chief of all sinners. But that's beside the point right now. God has given me a path for my life. I do not know any details. I know that right now I am working. Next year I am working. Eventually I will get married and raise a family. That's all I know. If I can allow the Holy Spirit to continue doing His perfect work in my life I will daily grow to be more and more like my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If I hinder God working in my life, and I can hinder Him, then I only hurt myself.
Random side note: I think it's interesting that I cannot help God to grow me, but I can hinder Him. He will not violate my free will. I guess the only way I help Him work in me is to keep myself from hindering Him...
All that being said, God loves to lavish His love on His children. I will never be worthy of that through my own works. Only through the blood of Christ am I counted worthy.
He will do exceeding abundantly above ALL that I ask or THINK according to His work through the Spirit in my life. Praise Him!
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a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the saints scattered abroad: grace and peace to you from God our Father and Christ Jesus
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Quotable Quotes
"Just because the customer is always right, doesn't mean he's not stupid" - Patrick Walsh, after dealing with a particularly difficult customer.
"Lord, I thank you for this time that we can gather here as women" - Dave Shirley, while praying to bless the time of women's fellowship
"When someone murders his mother, it's usually the sign of an evil personality. I mean, you don't just go around murdering your mother!" - Jeremy Kirby, speaking of Nero
"I flipping hate glitter" - Nic Lazz, enough said
"Sweet coffee for bitter people" - Christian Vatran, speaking of the difficulty of pleasing coffee drinkers
"Inga-Lill and I are going on our own outreach...to Paris..." - David Guzik, while explaining why he was not going on any of the student outreaches
"Nic, please don't brand the children" - Stephanie Amersek, a simple request
"If God doesn't destroy Amsterdam, He needs to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah" - Nick Long
"I think public speaking should be an extreme sport"- Ricky Ponce
"I know it's time to go home because I just blinked and one of my eyelids turned inside out"- Michael Rossi, 3:57 Monday afternoon
Ephesians 3:14-21 KJV
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
Amen.
Amen.