THE STORY OF OUR LIVES - Part 1 of 3

Some chapters in our lives are marvelous mountaintops filled with joy. Recently I officiated at the wedding of a wonderful young couple. Seeing their happiness, listening to the bride’s father toast his daughter and brand-new-son-in-law, and watching the kids dance together was a moment of joy. Kids going off to college, babies being born, big promotions coming our way, these are joy-filled chapters of our lives. You may be in the midst of one of these chapters right now. You never want this chapter to end.

But any great story includes its share of conflict, challenges, struggles, and pain. Yours will include these as well, not because God brings pain into your life, but simply because pain is a part of every life.

Right now you might be walking through one of the difficult chapters in your life. Perhaps you must persevere through the death of someone you love or find hope when you have been out of work… Maybe your marriage has just ended, or you are facing a frightening illness. You don’t know what the next chapter will hold, but you trust that there will be a next chapter.

The biblical story reminds us that the difficult chapters are never the final chapters of our story. 

-- Adam Hamilton in “Why? - Making Sense of God’s Will”

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THE FABRIC OF LIFE

Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”  (Revelation 22:13 NIV)

History is like a giant piece of fabric with very intricate and complex patterns. During the limited span of our lifetimes we see only a tiny fraction of the pattern. Furthermore, as has been observed by others, we see the pattern from the underside. The underside of a weaving usually makes no sense. Even the upper side makes little sense if we view just a tiny piece. Only God sees the upper side, and only He sees the entire fabric with its complete pattern. Therefore, we must trust Him to work out all the details of history to His glory, knowing that His glory and our good are bound together. 

--  Jerry Bridges in “Trusting God”

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THE FABRICATION OF YOUR LIFE

“I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently will find Me.”  (Proverbs 3:18 NKJV)

An ancient proverb says, “Weave in faith and God will find the thread.”

When we look at the tapestry of our lives from this side of eternity, it often appears to be nothing more than unconnected, colorful threads. Yet from God’s side, you are weaving a portrait of your life. Place your life in God’s hands, and the Master Weaver will disentangle all those loose strands and make sense of your dropped stitches. Today, ask Him to take over the fabrication of your life.

-- from “God’s Little Book of Proverbs: Timeless Wisdom for Daily Living”

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