https://odb.org/2024/10/05/god-uses-our-stories
Psalm 107:1-2 NIV
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe…
Everyone goes through life experiencing some happiness and joy, and yet also tears and heartbreaks. We know from past experience that in a split of a second, our lives may be changed. Like the time my mum passed away, more than 15 years ago, and my dad, who had been with her for more than 45 years at that time, was left to face life without her. But God was gracious. He found my step mum. They married and were together for 13 years before my dad then passed on last year just a few weeks shy of his 80th birthday. It was a story of the goodness of God as my step mum really took good care of him and made him a changed man, in terms of his appearance and also his zest for life! In his last few years with us, he had some medical issues, but I am thankful to God for preserving his life for all those years.
My dad’s story is mine as he was very much part of my life. He and my mum helped raise my children in those 7-8 years they were with us before my mum passed on, and he later married my step mum and moved out. His testimony of God’s goodness and grace is mine, too.
Like everyone else, I have had my own share of God’s goodness facing life’s challenges with my dearest wife and children. As much as we can, we guide our children to meet their aspirations in life and God’s calling for them as we ourselves live out God’s plans and purposes for our own lives. We have our own stories to tell as individuals and as a family. Even the cars that we have owned over the years have their own stories as well as the homes that we have moved on or the pets that we have had and have (Husky, Daisy and now Cotton).
The point is that we must always give thanks to God for His grace and mercy for preserving our lives thus far and bringing us to where we are today. For His goodness, blessings, and providence. None of us know how long we will live as life and death are in the hands of God. In a split second, things may change drastically. There is always a story to tell as the redeemed of the Lord of the goodness and graciousness of God. The challenges we faced, the difficult times we went through; are our life experiences that God uses to inspire and encourage others to trust Him more and to live for Him. We dread those tough times, those complex issues we had to deal with and face, yet we know that our God will somehow use them for His glory! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 