Doing and online bible study I don't often see things like other life group leaders do. I have attempted to see things through a certain perspective since starting this. If only one person who reads the blog is brought closer to God then that's all that matters. I always strive to make God and his word the most important part of my studies and posting. This past week I did a blog called "Let Hope Rise". The things I'm going to tell you about are all God at work I don't want credit for any of it because I don't need God's glory only He does. My job is to be available and faithful. Isaiah 55:11 says this about God's word. "So is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Anytime God's word is preached or taught God uses it to change lives. These are things that happened after I posted "Let Hope Rise". The very morning after I posted it I got an e-mail from Greg Blankenship the campus pastor at Real Life Corpus and he thanked me. About 3 days later Marion's cousin Debbi Page posted online that she was very depressed. I sent her a message and shared the blog with her. Hours later that day she posted a thank you to me and various friend who had helped her with her depression. One night later I came home from work and my friend Yvette Vasqz told me she had a predicament so again I shared the blog. Then Friday night I was on break at work and my phone showed messages on my g-mail account. The only thing that account ever gets is ads. John Hernandez had been reading that and 2 other things I posted. Only God can do this he started commenting on the blog and relaying how the things I had been posting were exactly what God had been trying to teach him and he needed to read it. A few weeks before I had done a blog on answered prayer in mine and Marion's life and spoke on Casting your cares on God because he cares for you. Well the Sunday after I posted that we went to my parents church at Lakeview Baptist Church and I was telling my parents and Marion later I felt like my dad had been preaching my own bible study right back at me.
Through all this i was reminded of one of the main principles of Experiencing God. "God is always at work around you."
I'm going to leave you with a song about God's love that has been lodged in my heart and head all week. oh and there will be a blog sent later this evening this one is just a freebie.
This is Arms Wide Open by Misty Edwards and if you've never heard the song or paid attention to the lyrics i encourage you to do so. Misty Edwards: Arms wide open (with lyrics)
Zach you are exactly right, God is at work all around us. I have taken the time each day to really try and look for the things that God is doing around me. I have also tried to slow down and listen with my heart for the work God is doing around me. I have noticed that the more I pray, read God's word, research and study God's word, I am living by God's word. I find myself asking myself, "What would Jesus do if he was in my situation". Each time I answer this question I realize that my faith is growing stronger and I am able to put my problems in God's hands. Since I have started to do this I can tell you my level of stress has gone down and my patients has gone beyond what I could have ever imagined. I know God see's what we are all going through in life. I pray each night that God will help us all come to him with our problems. Thanks for the shout out in your blog today Zach.
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