Employing Your Experiences

Pastor Dennis stated early on in the message-"Don't waste your experiences!" This sentence points to the fact that we have choice in the matter.

Romans 8:28--And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Pastor Dennis pointed out that this verse does not promise us a happy ending or a fun life...But because we KNOW that God is GOOD and that He is in the redeeming business and He designed us and He has a purpose in mind for our life and knows how best for us to accomplish that purpose...we can CHOOSE whose perspective we want to concentrate on. God's perspective is that ALL things work for our good or we can choose just our perspective--'it hurt', 'it's not fair, 'God should have done something', 'I'm going to treat them the way they treated me', 'I'm not going to risk putting myself out for that person'....you get the idea. God's perspective doesn't deny the hurt, or justify the wrong or minimize the bad. He just knows how to make it all into chocolate chip cookies!

Perspective...to see the whole picture like God does, makes me think of Him looking from a high place and makes me think of the verses -- Ephesians 1:19-23-

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

See--Choosing God's perspective is choosing His mighty power...that works all things for good!

What a blessing to hear from the Gardner Family and how their family has lived Romans 8:28. And a blessing to celebrate with them!