God changes plans and it’s
His will!
Today
Brandon and I had the opportunity to go and visit Pastor Ben Attos who is a
regional director for ICM and has an incredibly deep understanding of God’s
kingdom and God’s intentions as it grows on earth. He has been spending time helping others with
evangelism in his church and its community.
We arrived at the
pastor’s house with the intentions of going door to door in the community just
sharing God’s love with each whether that would be through building relationships
with people and sharing the Gospel or just encouraging another brother or
sister in Christ. When we showed up, it
was pouring and continued to off and on all afternoon, making it a hard day to
be outside.
While we were sitting there,
Brandon suggested
that each of the church and family members present share their testimonies with
us so we could hear how God has been working in their lives. Some were shy and hesitant, but Brandon reminded them
that it is a huge blessing and encouragement to us to hear about God being real
in their lives.
As most gave their
testimonies, tears began to roll down their cheeks because of hardships they
had been through, or just out of joy of what the Lord had done for them and
what He had saved them from. They shared
with such detail, openness, and honesty, which made me question how I give my
testimony and how vague I usually am because it’s too hard to be open in detail
about my past sins and hard times in my life.
After they spoke, I asked if
we could pray for them so Brandon and I prayed for a few one-on-one about
specific things such as Jenny’s husband not going to church and being faithful
while trying to raise her kids in church, and another for her whole family
miles away who gives her a hard time and doesn’t understand why she worships
that way and doesn’t come home. Brandon
and I were able to speak our testimonies at the end and give a word of
encouragement to all of them.
At the end we all gathered
and held hands as we sang:
“Give Thanks”
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for
us”
Even
though they have very little, including a leaking roof or very little ceiling
at all and broken electrical lines, they are so thankful and don’t miss how God
has blessed them. God knew we all needed encouragement from other brothers and sisters in Christ and what happened today was just as He planned!
Psalm
100
A psalm. For
giving thanks.
1 Shout
for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD
with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD
is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his [a] ;
we are his people, the sheep of his
pasture.
4 Enter his gates with
thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good
and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all
generations.
“Give thanks
to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
~Psalm 107:1
