or, A Story of a Website Fenced by God’s Love
Thank you to my friend Jean Vedenoff
Begging and Praying
The last day of August, the final day at our Sanctuary dawned beautiful Colorado blue … again. I didn’t want to leave and was ready to return home all at the same time.
My adrenaline was surging. Echoes of Grace was celebrating its sixth birthday by moving to a new home, its very own website. September 1, less than 24 hours away, all my friends would be invited in.
I’d been begging praying, asking God to bring many to the new home of Echoes of Grace and to minister deeply to those who stopped by. Lord, I’ve done what I can do advertising Echoes on FB this week. And I’m feeling a bit emotional today. Thank you for the reminder of Psalm 138:8 that in Your Love You will fulfill your purpose for me and for Echoes. I lean into that today! Father, please bring my desires in line with Yours. Amen (my journal 8/31/16)
I sent weekly reminders to all Echoes of Grace followers on its original site the entire month of August. I created a daily countdown to the new Echoes the last week of August. I shared the good news in other social media places.
God did something very special that day too. A guest post I submitted to the PCA website, enCourage was also going live that day. I spread the news.
Jean Vedenoff
Bribing
Those FB reminders included bait. Stop by and sign up for the Echoes of Grace community (subscribe) and I’ll send you a note when a new post is live AND a very special gift at the end of the year. (This is still true.)
I did what I knew to do to spread my good news.
Thank you to my cousin Tracey Fraser
Believing
Early the next morning the rooster crowed (I wasn’t sleeping anyway). I rolled over to grab my phone and check FB. WOW, the first two entries – my brand spanking new website and next the announcement from the PCA site that my words were live. My breath caught.
My believing encouraged by truths from Song of Solomon 7:10 and Romans 8:31 waivered a bit. So quickly I sent a reminder email with both links. You know, just to make sure I’d done all I could do.
The text arrived a few hours later, Sue, do you know you put an incorrect link to the PCA website? NO, I’m sure she’s wrong! I checked; she was right. OUCH!
The air wooshed out of my proverbial balloon.
And at the same time, God’s love enveloped me.
“The LORD will work out his plans for my life – for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.” Psalm 138:8, NLT
I heard His whisper. He heard my prayers. God was at work fulfilling His plans for me wrapped in His faithful love. Echoes of Grace is God’s responsibility. My adrenaline returned to normal. It was good.
David makes two bold statements in the first sentence, God works out his plans for us and they are wrapped in his love. And then adds the last sentence, for you made me. Don’t abandon me reminded me of the father’s cry in Mark 9, I believe, help my unbelief.
” … that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special … Something happened in you … Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word … you’re the message!” I Thessalonians 5, chapter 1, The Message
How have you experienced God’s love in the midst of disappointments? What scriptures speak to your heart?
If this post has encouraged you, please share it with your friends. They just might thank you.