i hope you had a chance to read the story about this chaise lounge and my sweet friend sharon. we decided that it might give out too much information that really wasn't my story to tell and so i have removed it because the last thing i would want is for this fabulous story to end up telling things that aren't my story to tell. so if you want to hear the whole story, you can ask me. or sharon. and we will tell you how GREAT God is and how He is always doing a thousand things... even from a photo of a chaise lounge....
(the rest of this story has been removed. but i left the poem and Scripture verses in. because they are really really good ones to read...)
God Moves in Mysterious Ways by William Cowper (1731–1800)
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is his own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
(my addition. apologies to willy cowper)
He takes my simple photo shot in jest,
and uses it to spur;
an answer to a prayer is blessed,
as is this story when it is heard.
ephesians 2:7-10 (the message)
Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all His idea, and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join Him in the work he does, the good work He has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.