Hannah outlined her talk with some commonly heard sayings, such as:
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
Marriages are made in heaven.
It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all.
The darkest hour is just before dawn.
We hear these phrases often and while some aspects may be true, we often come to learn that life is much more complicated than these sayings are able to illustrate. Through struggles with infertility, miscarriages, the premature birth of her son Jude and the loss of his precious life, and the patient endurance in the adoption process of their son, Gabriel, Hannah has not only come to know the Lord more intimately, but has been able to walk along side others to comfort them in their time of hardships and pain.
Here are a few encouraging verses Hannah shared with us this morning:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:8-11
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13
Beautiful verses to focus our hearts on in the midst of chaos and confusion!
Thank you, Lord, for yet another wonderful MOPS meeting! We'll see everyone again in April!
