Today's Message

"An Expected End - Part I"

 

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"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord , thoughts of peace,
and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
Jeremiah 29:11

I once read a story about a husband and wife that were devout Christians. They served faithfully and joyfully as Youth Counselors in their local church. They loved and cared for the children and taught them the way of the Lord but had no children of their own. They prayed that God would bless them with their own child and, like Hannah 1 Samuel 1:11; they promised that they would dedicate the child back to Him. One year later their daughter was born and, as promised, they dedicated their child back to God. As she grew she served faithfully along side of her parents in the ministry. Everyone loved and adored her. The day of the Annual Youth Group Retreat arrived. It was her 12th birthday. There was a caravan of several vans. After a rest stop the daughter asked her parents if she could ride in the van that was in front of them, for which they both agreed she could.

Then the UNEXPECTED happened. Suddenly a car appeared out of nowhere and attempted to pass the caravan. The car loss control and somehow hit the van which carried their daughter. As they watched helplessly the van flipped several times and crashed. The parents jumped out of their van, cars stopped along the highway, people from everywhere rushed to the van. Everyone in the van survived accept their daughter, Christy. She died instantly. The parents, the church, the community were devastated. How could God let such a godly and gifted child die? How could he take their only child? Her parents loved Him and served Him faithfully. How could He bless them then take their blessing away?

With so many UNEXPECTED deaths happening daily we find ourselves sometimes questioning the death of good people Isaiah 57:1. Why did God take the good child? Why would he take such light out of this dark and cruel world?

The Pastor, the church, and the community grieved the death of Christy. But the ones, who they thought would and should be totally devastated, were back in church on the very next day after Saturday's funeral. The Pastor was shocked to see them so soon. Although he trusted in God and was a Pastor, in his heart he too questioned God's plan.

He spoke to them after church. He asked, “How are you standing this strong after losing so great a gift? They looked at each other and the mother spoke. She said as she was praying and crying out to the Lord one morning in the very midst of her deep sorrow, the Lord said to her, “If, when I gave you Christy, and told you she only had 12 years on earth to fulfill her purpose and I needed a godly family to take care of her while she was here, would you have done it?” Before she could answer God said. “Christy was sent here for 12 years and I chose you as my faithful stewards to care for her and her purpose has been fulfilled.” James 1:17

Their lives was purposed to be living sacrifices unto God Romans 12:1-2. Not to fulfill their purpose and plans but to fulfill God's. Romans 8:28

What was UNEXPECTED to them was EXPECTED by God. What interfered with their great life was part of God's plan and purpose for their life. So, what was your unexpected? Put it here _____________________, you may need a few pages but God says in a few words put it before Him today. Your UNEXPECTED may be part of God's purpose for your life. And what seemed to be the end is only the beginning of the next level of His purpose. Jeremiah 29:11

(If you have an UNEXPECTED testimony, please share it, not only on my Facebook, Email, or Instagram but with someone who needs to hear especially someone who has faced an UNEXPECTED death. You just might save someone's life today.) Revelation 12:11

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