Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
There are times in my life when I think that I am walking by faith and not by sight, but am I really? Am I trusting in the Creator of all things for all the needs in my life?
I am trying to put into words all the things that are overflowing from my heart this morning, so hopefully, it won't sound like rambling and make sense.
We often pray and ask God to do something in our lives or in the lives of a loved one, but when the answer arrives, we act shocked, question whether it was of God or it goes unnoticed by us.
I knew last week that Brandon was coming home and going to church with us this past Sunday...so, I began praying that God would cultivate the soil of his heart to receive God's Word during the illustrated sermon. I knew that if it were up to Brandon, he wouldn't have gone in the first place but he did it for us and he knew that if he were here...he didn't have a choice. He has only been in church 2 times since he moved away from home nearly 5 years ago.
Pastor's illustrated sermon was awesome, as usual, but after hearing the message...I was afraid of what Brandon thought.
I told pastor later that I was afraid that Brandon would think that we set him up by knowing what the sermon was about. We didn't! There was the doubt that was creeping in to my mind.
We don't have to actually speak our doubts to someone else for God to know that we are doubting what happened. Roger and I talked about it briefly and dropped it.
However, the doubt and fear was present in my mind. Did Brandon get anything out of the sermon? He never mentioned one thing about the service to me at all. Did he get upset, feel offended or angry because he thought we "set him up"? If he did, he never mentioned it.
All I could do was pray that the seeds were planted and God had a purpose in him being in that service rather than on Easter Sunday. We wanted him to be here so bad for Easter because (1) you know there is always a salvation message and (2) all the other children, son-in-law and grandson were with us in church. We also were celebrating Roger and Brandon's birthdays, which were actually on Monday.
By yesterday morning, I had already forgotten about the service, message and Brandon's reaction. I had really been thinking about my sweet friend, Dorinda...so I sent her a text message. She replied right back and said that she was getting her phone out to text me and to call her when I had a moment.
I called her right then to see what was up. She told me that she needed to share something with me about Sunday. I hadn't told anyone that Brandon was coming to church because he could have easily changed his mind and not gone.
**Sometimes, God has to give us confirmation on what He is doing because we are in doubt**
She told me that Saturday night, she was so tired and had already gone to bed...when the Lord got her back up out of the bed to look up more scriptures. She was obedient and He led her to the scriptures He wanted her to use on Sunday morning. What she was going to say was not in the script.
When she spoke the words the Lord had given her, she looked up and saw what appeared to be Brandon with us on the 4th row. It was dark in the sanctuary, so she wasn't sure. She said that she felt nauseated and doubtful but proceeded on in obedience.
Immediately after the sermon, she began to pray...praying that she didn't miss God and go the wrong direction. It wasn't until she read my blogs from the weekend yesterday morning that she got the confirmation that she needed that she heard correctly from God and I got the confirmation that I needed that Brandon was in the right place at the right time.
How amazing is that! God loves my son enough that He got an exhausted pastor's wife, with the leading role in the illustrated sermon, out of bed to change part of the message. Even though, Brandon never mentioned it...the Word of God went forth, the seed was planted and I will continue to pray that it grows in his heart.
Isaiah 55:11
So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty--handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them. (Message)
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. (Amplified)
I am guilty of walking by sight, feelings, emotions, finances and material things instead of by faith.
I am so thankful today that God knows my every thought, doubt, concern, desires of my heart and He sorts through all of them, weeds out the negative stuff and gives me what is best for me.
Have a wonderfully blessed day!
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