Yesterday we had a guest preacher because our own pastor (along with much of the church) was out of town for the annual camping retreat.

The sermon text was Ecclesiastes 3:1-15.  It was a familiar passage, almost (dare I say it?) a cliche passage. But I will say it, because afterwards everyone in the congregation was saying the same thing:

“I didn’t think I would learn anything new from such a familiar passage, but you know what? I really needed to hear that this week because…”

We had several reasons of our own, and one didn’t become apparent until later that day.

Our God is sovereign. All of creation is in the palm of His hand. Everything that happens is part of His magnificent and intricate plan. This is a great comfort in good health and illness, in times of material blessing and hardship, in life and in death. Each member of the congregation was reassured by that reminder of God’s sovereignty, and each of us was convicted to suffer gratefully as God uses us in His mighty plan.

We are clay in His hand. Who are we to complain against the Potter?

And then on the way out to our van, a sweet young lady handed us 2 chicken potpies for tonight’s dinner! I have never received a meal so early in a pregnancy! How did she know that my morning sickness would be so much worse today?

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You loved it, right? Here's more like it:

1. His hand in the hard times
2. Thoughts on Beatitudes & memorization
3. Michael Billings: a Redeemer of Time
4. Children in church, part 2
5. random rant against evolution - aimed at Christians

Filed under: Christian living