Skip to main content

ODB Message
“God’s Doing Something New”
By
Anne Cetas
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 1 Thessalonians 3:12
 “Is God doing something new in your life?” was the question the leader asked in a group I was in recently. My friend Mindy, who is dealing with some difficult situations, responded. She told of needing patience with aging parents, stamina for her husband’s health issues, and understanding of her children and grandchildren who have not yet chosen to follow Jesus. Then she made an insightful comment that runs contrary to what we might normally think: “I believe the new thing God is doing is He’s expanding my capacity and opportunities to love.”

That fits nicely with the apostle Paul’s prayer for new believers in Thessalonica: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else” (1 Thess. 3:12). He had taught them about Jesus but had to leave abruptly because of rioting (Acts 17:1–9). Now in his letter he encouraged them to continue to stand firm in their faith (1 Thess. 3:7–8). And he prayed that the Lord would increase their love for all.

During difficulties we often choose to complain and ask, Why? Or wonder, Why me? Another way to handle those times could be to ask the Lord to expand His love in our hearts and to help us take the new opportunities that come to love others.

I’ve got my own list of things I could worry about, Lord. Change my thinking. Open my eyes to love.

 Our troubles can fill our prayers with love and empathy for others.

----------------------

#January #NewBeginning #WalkWithUs

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Theme Bible Verses

Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. Proverbs 17: 9 He who forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter alienates a friend. Leviticus 19:16 You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand forth against the life of your neighbour: I am the LORD. Proverbs 26:20 For lack of wood the fire goes out; and where there is no whisperer, quarrelling ceases. 22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. Proverbs 11:13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing hidden. Psalms 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Charles For: Frien...
Post a Comment
Read more

Our TLF 2 Day Event

Our TLF 2 Day Event started on Thursday and ended yesterday Friday. We had the person of Mrs Ishioma Francis who came to share good news with the children. We had Art competition and prizes were given. We had spelling bee and gifts were given. We had skipping competition and gifts were given. We had recitation of poems originally written by the children and gifts were given. We also used the opportunity to remind everyone of our theme for August. We shared our drinks and biscuits and everyone had a nice time. The children interacted and had a nice time. It came to a happy end and everyone went back home safely. We look forward to more activities such as these. We thank God for the success and blessings. God bless all those who contributed in various ways. Remember that, the ultimate law is love. TLF
Post a Comment
Read more

Did You Know?

Creativity comes from God the Creator and He has given us pro-creative abilities in different areas to make the world a better place and provide works of charity. In TLF we are big on arts, crafts and creativity. We celebrate creativity. Many people have been able to support charitable causes from creative art exhibitions and sales. Many others have also used their creative works to raise awareness on various laudable causes for social development. Take for instance in our theme for this month, we have selected some creative art works that will help pass our message to us in an artistic way. Also in our Centre, we host children who often come just to draw and make things from recycled materials. We strongly invite you to like our facebook page - TLF Creativity. We also share and retweet such creativity on our X handle that we also invite you to like and share. Our various artworks in TLF add to the posters we paste around and the comics we also produce and share out. Join our facebook ...
Post a Comment
Read more