I asked what exactly he was looking for because I have a long and winded testimony from my first experience with a saving grace God to a testimony of what we've been through as a family over the years. He said he would be preaching on the verse in Thessalonians on praying without ceasing and asked if there was something I could share from there. I told him I hadn't ever been asked for a testimony so this was new for me but I'd see what I could do.
I had no idea what Joe would be preaching on other than that verse. I knew I would be talking after Joe's message and as I sat there listening to him preach that night, I felt like I understood why he asked me to share.
I had spent the day fasting and in prayer over what exactly I should share. I wasn't sure. I knew there were things I wanted to say but felt God leading me away from those things and focusing more on a bit of our journey over the last 7 years.
When I was listening to Joe preach, I was in awe over the direction his topic went and how my heart had been prepped by God to share exactly what I shared. I was thankful that God showed up and spoke for me, I know he was at work that night and prepared everything exactly as He wanted it. He told His story.
Joe spoke on continual gratefulness and how everything works for good for those who are called according to God's purpose. He talked about how God intentionally takes us through unpleasant circumstances and takes us through pain and difficulties. And yet, those things can work out for out good. I can so relate.
I prayed that sharing my testimony would bless just one person, that God would speak through me and that He would be seen in the bigger picture of my life. I pray that if you haven't heard me speak yet, that you'll listen and hear God's story woven through mine and you will see God's unending mercies in my life.
If you'd like to hear me speak, you can click on this link. It is the March 5th message titled Praying Without Ceasing.
You can also hear the message and my testimony from our Temple website.
You have to listen to the entire message. It's so good. Especially when you realize that Joe and I did not synchronize our messages. That's the kind of God we serve, who speaks through a mom like me and allows me to share the glorious things He's done.
The whole sermon is only 37 minutes, I'm a bit long winded, at 12 minutes at the end. So if you'd like to just listen to me it's the last 15 minutes of the sermon.
Whew! God is powerful stuff!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pray-without-ceasing-audio/id325048943?i=273850713&mt=2