Stewardship talk - Giving - not just about money -

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NRSV

I never understood this verse until last week when our Bishop preached at the funeral of a friend of mine.  I always thought you had to be good, perfect and somehow chosen by God for all things to work out good.  

This week Bishop Logue spoke about how God took my friend's broken marriage and turned it into good.  John was raised in another denomination.  His first marriage fell apart.  Bishop Logue said "God does not create the tragedies in our lives, but God does use what happens in our life to enter in.  God used the divorce to bring John closer."  That caught my attention.  

 All this time I have been thinking that because of all the mistakes I had made, all the pain I had caused others, all the self-destructive behavior was keeping me from God.  After the funeral, I looked around at where I am today.  I work in a church I love.  I'm married to a man I adore.  I live in a beautiful home and have food to eat.  I'm never cold or hot (unless somebody else is controlling the thermostat!)  God truly has used the "tragedies" in my life to bring me closer.  The former church I attended as a teenager told me God could no longer use me because I was divorced.  Oh how wrong they were.  God has used me in so many ways and I couldn't be more thankful for where I have ended up.  

I lead Compline on Facebook live every Wednesday evening.  This is one of my favorite prayers:

May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.    Amen

May God equip us with everything good that we may do his will. And may everything we do be according to his purpose.