Emphasis Preaching Journal

Linda and Peter have moved ten times in 36 years of marriage. The reason they moved was job related. Moving to a new city and a new home can be stressful but Linda claims that she does not dislike upheaval. “With the exception of one of our moves, my restlessness fed on the chance for new opportunities.” So Peter and Linda forged ahead, made new friends from different parts of the country and became active with a community of believers. With all of their moves they discovered that God had not deserted them. With each new move they grew and were challenged in their faith. They found themselves in ministries that they never dreamed of being involved in. They visit people in the hospital and pray with them. “Never in a million years,” Linda says, “did I think I would ever visit people in the hospital.” The apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians reminds them of being servants. “As servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities....” As Paul and countless other believers have discovered it is not always easy living out our faith, there are times of discouragement, and setbacks, but through it all God remains present with us. Our lives are changed by such encounters of grace.