There is ALWAYS a Reason...

After some news that was received today regarding some members of our family, the following scripture is what has been running through my mind.

*Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power, and everything is for his glory.
Romans 11:36

*The Lord has made everything for his own purposes.
Proverbs 16:4

Sometimes there really is not a good explanation for why something happens, other than it is all part of God’s plan. It can be very frustrating when something happens in life that causes lots of joy, and then in an instant, that joy disappears, and all that is left is sadness and anger. All the advice that I can give, is that everything happens for a reason. That reason may not be visible at that very moment in time, but there is ALWAYS a reason. God loves each and every one of us, and would never give us something we cannot handle. The trials and tribulations that we are put through can sometimes seem impossible to complete and unnecessary, but if we put all of our trust in Him, He will help us through them. My heart breaks with the news that we received today, but I understand that it is God’s will, and we have to accept that. It may take time, but we will get through it all, especially with God by our sides.

A while ago, my sister Lisa gave me a little book written by Max Lucado and it is one of my favorite books. I just wanted to share it with all of you.

God Thinks You’re Wonderful!
God is fond of you…
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
If He had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
He sends you flowers every spring, and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He’ll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chooses your heart.
Face it friend, He’s crazy about you.
By the way, it may be difficult for you to believe that God knows your name…
but He does.
Written on His hand.
Spoken by His mouth.
Whispered by His lips.
Your name.
Our hearts are not large enough to contain the blessings that God wants to give us.
So try this.
The next time a sunrise steals your breath…
or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless…
remain that way.
Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, “Do you like it? I did it just for you.”
If we give gifts to show our love, how much more would He?
He could have left the world flat and gray…
but He didn’t
He splashed orange in the sunrise…
and cast the sky in blue.
And if you love to see geese as they gather, chances are you’ll see that too.
Did He have to make the squirrel’s tail fluffy?
Was He obliged to make the birds sing?
And the funny way that chickens scurry…
or the majesty of the thunder when it rings?
Why give a flower fragrance?
Why give food its taste?
Could it be He loves to see that look upon your face?
So promise me you’ll never forget…
that you aren’t an accident or an incident…
you are a gift to the world, a divine work of art, signed by God.
You were knit together.
You weren’t mass-produced.
You aren’t an assembly-line product.
You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on this earth…
by the Master Crafts-man.
He thinks you are the best thing to come down the pike in quite a while.
Turn to the sidelines; that’s God cheering your run.
Look past the finish line; that’s God applauding your steps.
God is for you.
Had He a calendar, your birthday would be circled.
If He drove a car, your name would be on his bumper.
If there’s a tree in heave, He’s carved your name in the bark.
Maybe you don’t want to trouble God with your hurts.
But… “He cares about you” (1Peter 5:7)
He is waiting for you, to embrace you whether you succeed or fail.
Your heavenly Father is very fond of you and only wants to share his love with you.
Untethered by time, God sees us all.
Vagabonds and ragamuffins all, he saw us before we were born.
And he loves what he sees.
Flooded by emotion, overcome by pride, the Starmaker turns to us, one by one, and says,
“You are my child. I Love you dearly. I’m aware that someday you’ll turn from me and walk away. But I want you to know, I’ve already provided a way back.”
You captured the heart of God.
He cannot bear to live without you.
God’s dream is to make you right with him.
And the path to the cross tells us exactly how far God will go to call us back.
“Can anything make me stop loving you?” God asks.
“You wonder how long my love will last?
Watch me speak your language, sleep on your earth, and feel your hurts.
Find your answer on a splintered cross, on a craggy hill.
That’s how much I love you.”
God does more than forgive our mistakes; he removes them!
We simply have to take them to him.
You can talk to God because he listens.
Let a tear appear on your cheek, and he is there to wipe it.
He has sent his angels to care for you, his Holy Spirit to dwell in you…
his church to encourage you, and his word to guide you.
As much as you want to see him, he wants to see you more.
If you want to touch God’s heart, use the name he loves to hear.
Call Him “Father.”
He thinks you’re wonderful!

We love you Sarah & Eric!