God Is Preparing You Today For Something Greater Tomorrow!
August 25th, 2010 Posted in encouragement, Pastor's corner, sermonsFor we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (Ephesians 2:10 AMPLIFIED)
A traveler was visiting a logging area in the Pacific Northwest and was interested in seeing how the logs that would be used for furniture were chosen. As the logs came down the stream, the logger would suddenly reach out and hook one, pull it up, and then set it down. He would sometimes wait for a few minutes before grabbing another. There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to his choices.
After a while, the visitor said to him, “I don’t understand what you’re doing.”
“These logs may all look alike to you,” the logger said, “But I can recognize that a few of them are quite different. The ones that I let pass came from trees that grew in a valley. They were always protected from the storms. The grain is rather coarse.
“The logs that I pulled aside are from high up on the mountain, where they were beaten by strong winds from the time they were quite small. That toughens the trees and gives them a fine grain. We save these logs for choice work. They’re too good to be used for ordinary lumber.”
Ask Peter or Joseph
It was through the trying and testing that the logs were prepared for choice work.
The same could be said of us as Christians. If you were to ask Moses how he became who he was, he would remind you of his trials with Pharaoh and his times of testing in the wilderness. If you were to ask Joseph, he would most likely refer back to his years as a slave, his imprisonment on a false accusation, and his imprisonment in Pharaoh’s dungeon. Talk to Peter, and he would probably point back to his denial and how he learned many difficult yet important lessons.
Maybe you find yourself facing something similar in your life today. Maybe God is preparing you for a choice work.
Thank you so much Greg. I really believe God has used you to comfort me, truly. In the past 10 years or so a lot of things have been going on in my life. I moved to Richmond Va when i was 17 for my senior year. before school starts my dad wrecks in a bicycle accident and dies two weeks later. Then my step mother basically goes crazy and abandones me to support and defend myself all before my senior year begins. she comes back two months before i graduate and attempts to kick me out because i’ve not had time to clean my room. then after i grad i move in with a friend and try getting into college but just cant be accepted. adventually i run out of money and am forced to move back to WV with my mom and step dad where i still am at 100,000 in debt. i visit my cousin in NC and have a seizure and find out i had a tumor the size of a lemon. benine. i recover over a few months and now i cant afford to get insurance for my car and my job is cutting my hours severely. also just a few mins ago my grandmother who has been giving my step dad a place to stay b/c his job that only pays 8 an hr, calls and says dad is really sick and doesnt know who he is where he is or what is going on. so i know im being strengthened and prepped for something, i just wish i could understand what and why.
Needed this, because I was searching today for something, my husb had to work today and a few sundays now. I want to bring him what i have learned /will learn at church. Its too easy to not go.Now that I have this in my mind, I can show him what he has missed, it will help us grow in together in the Lord. We are older, long time Christians(51/52 yrs old). It still gets hard every so often to fight the urge to just not go to church. thank you Greg
Indeed Pastor Greg: I just started reading your blog and I find it so refreshing and very insightful. May God continue to Bless you to share His Word with all of us.
Thank you, Pastor Greg. During these difficult times in my life, I sometimes feel discouraged and depressed, but your message today has reminded me that God has a plan for all of us. He has a perfect way of molding us and has perfect timing. All we have to do is obey His word, be patient, and joyous in our circumstances. Thanks Pastor, for relaying such an awesome message from our Father.
This is so true Greg. I am always looking for words of wisdom day in and day out and these couldn’t have come at a better time! It amazes me how things happen in my life and seeing these words at just this time is what I needed right now. I didn’t get paid for two deals and it really got me down but I know that God is a good God and that He will give me 7x what was owed me … and that has already started to happen over the last two days. The windows of heaven have opened up and the blessings have been pouring down on me. I can’t wait to see what will happen to me today and your words on your blog here just encouraged me all the more.
Thank you Greg. Thank you so much for having the right words for me at this time in my life.
May God bless you richly and always.
Karen
thank you for wonderful post god bless you
Bless you my brother. I Googled your name this morning, looking for a word of encouragement. I needed to hear this message.
Grace and Peace,
Phil
Greg
I see God is preparing for some Greater and He will show me in His own time.
Jason
I love this post Pastor Greg. Thanks for reminding. God bless always.
Thank you for helping to spread Gods word and the good news of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
God bless you
Thanks Greg for this wonderful post! It has encourage me greatly. God Bless You!