Boldness

Yesterday I was given the chance to preach the word of God at my home church. I along with my friend Dave and our youth pastor Paul spoke on having a New Years Revolution. I spoke on family and having good connections with them and what that takes. I mostly spoke on my experience with my family and the lack of connection i have with my dad due to divorce. I spoke with passion in my heart because this has effected me greatly. With God's help I was able to relay the fact that we as families can only have good relationships when we have a good relationship with God first. I believe that God used me greatly last night. After the speaking was over the senior pastor, Pastor Jeff went up onto the stage and started to say that God was stirring in his heart. I felt a tug in my heart when he said those words. He then proceeded to call me up next to him. He then began to speak words of encouragement into my life. I started to ball like a baby simply. He then sad that he was proud of me. And for me to hear that after the week I had just had was unbearable for me and I started to cry even more. That was one of the first times I had ever heard that from a male figure in my life. I couldn't take it any more and turned and gave him a huge hug.
So I say all that to say this. We are all put through things in life: trials, and everything else that causes pain for one simple reason. That is so we can bear witness to God's Glory, his Righteousness, and Amazing Grace. I was able to boast last night in how good God has been through all that I have been through in my short life. So when you go through pain or struggle just remember Suffering produces perseverance, Perseverance produces character, and Character produces hope.

And with hope all things are possible.