If it hadn’t been for “A” then “B” wouldn’t have happened, and neither would “C,” “D,” or “E.” Were it not for “A,” I cannot fathom how many blessings I would have missed from God if the events of that day (And what led up to it) hadn’t happened!
Do you have an “A” event that set your life on a different and unexpected course? For Adam it was eating the forbidden fruit. For Joseph it was the hatred of his brothers, being sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape, and thrown into prison . For Moses it was a burning bush. For Jonah it was a boat ride. For Saul it was on the road to Damascus. We all have one… mine is May 18, 2008.
Matthew 7:11, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
I am probably much like you in that I have prayed a generic prayer asking God to bless me. Then I went along my merry way not thinking too much about what I prayed and how God would answer it. That means I don’ t realize that as things happen in my life, God may very well be answering what I prayed without thinking it through!
Here are a few things I know: God is God, I’m not. He knows what He’s doing… I’m clueless. He is sovereign… I am powerless. God is good… I am sinful. God can be trusted, not only with eternity, but also what happens to us throughout our life! Reference Matthew 7:11 above.
Have you considered the possibility that maybe… just maybe… God has (Or is in the process of) answering that innocent, unthinking prayer for His blessing? The God who loves you perfectly will not allow ANYTHING into your life that isn’t ultimately good for you. Remember that God even uses the evil and sin of others to bless you… AND will hold them accountable. As one preacher put it, “Satan is God’s lackey in our sanctification.” I like that!
My “A” (First paragraph) took place on 5/18/2008. Had it not been for that “A,” I would have missed many blessings! In fact, if it took “A” to be blessed like I have since that day… it was worth it and I’d welcome it again.
Truth: I cannot mess up my life… and neither can anyone else… to the point of God not being able to use me for His glory. Not only that, no one can prevent God’s will and desire to bless when it is His will to bless. Not only that, God will use unwitting individuals to bless in the most unusual ways. Not only that, those things are true for every believer!
God… seriously… thank you for that day!
I know what was going on in your life around May 18, 2008 and I, too, am thankful that God has used it to bless you. May he continue to do so always and use you to bless others with your sermons.
Emphatically “amen.”
God has been so good to you in so many ways that both you and Pam have shared. I think there are many of us who have come a long way spiritually since May 18, 2008!!! God is so good!!
I’m glad that you can say that date has caused you to receive many blessings. That makes me want to work harder on trying to not get upset when I think about that date. We love you and your family. Looking forward to a great sermon Sunday. God willing.
Dearest Ron:
This is Lesia…. We are so in the same place in Spirit. I have been through “A”,”B” “C” and NOW some focus is on ME. I am in a personal moment today and even since Friday afternoon. I needed to read this reflection of yours just this moment. I am in the middle of an “A” all about grandmother moment as she begins her transition into Eternity. My “B” is still going forward as I respond here today waiting and “BEING QUIET” still before the Lord. The “C” in my life is about the Confidence I find concerning one thing; I am NOT alone and “Lo even I AM with you until the end” thought.. also, He that has begun a good work in me will also be the one to complete that good work in me.
Thanks for posting your reflections. I relate to all these. I am remaining still to know that He IS GOD. I need your prayers in agreement, our ” Three fold cord” for complete healing in my physical body and NO infections requiring surgery. I’ve had 4 staph infections in 07 which tried to take me out. ( Mersa, SEPSIS) I have taken authority over some situations around my grandmother and I have something going on in my body.. infection wise….?? in prayer and being patient. I need wisdom and complete peace with “D” and “E”.
You may Facbook message me a reply.
Thank you in advance.. Lesia Newman
Sorry to hear about your struggles. In the post the “A, B, C, D, & E” refer to events and situations we go through. Event “A” is the one that begins and leads to the others. My desire and goal in the post is to encourage people to see the first event (“A”) as a loving act from God to bless us in life. The blessings of life are NOT in relation to other events… but in knowing Him better and more fully. If all the events in my life… for the rest of my life… are deemed hard and/or difficult in worldly terms BUT draw me closer to God… then they are all worth it! In other words… if it takes dying on a cross and/or losing everything I have on earth to know Jesus more fully, then I want it. GOD is our reward. HE is our peace. HE is our comfort. HE is our rest.
Bless you!
I’m not sure about the events in your life at that time but I do know this: you & your family have blessed us tremendously since then. God used your difficulties to minister to the needs of many! Isn’t He awesome! We miss you but I thoroughly enjoy reading your reflections!!! Keep them coming!
LaDonna… the blessing was mine! As I told you all… In all my years in ministry I’ve never been more blessed, affirmed, encouraged, and loved by a congregation as I was there! You all are the “B… C… and D” I talked about in my blog post. Not only that… you and your family were a big part of those blessings!
This is the most inspiring testimony of how God works all things together for good, even though the things themselves may not be good. Look at Joseph. God worked it for good. I do not know what happened on your May 18,2008, but I know you have been such a blessing to me in your postings and I thank you for each one. I pray God will continue to use you through these postings as you have encouraged me so many times.