But God

I love to sum up my personal testimony in two words- But God.

Six letters that cover the entire scope of my life.

These powerful words are my two favorite words in the entire bible.

I have written about them for many years on this blog and have shared them during
speaking engagements over the years, as well as a way to encourage others through whatever circumstance or situation they may be walking through in life.

Last week I shared through a few forms of social media, about the tiny print shop I just opened recently.  I am hoping to add a new print and post to the shop each week. I have a heart that does not despise the start of small beginnings and am thankful to "just begin."

Thank you to each one of you for your love, support and encouragement. It has meant so much to me!

I pray that this post encourages you today.

Here are three of my favorite "but God" scriptures.

"You intended to harm me, BUT GOD intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  ~ Genesis 50:20 NKJV

"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. BUT GOD was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and made him governor over Egypt and all his house." ~ Acts 7:9-10 NKJV

"BUT GOD, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." ~ Ephesians 2:4-10 NKJV

Maybe you can relate to these words today.

There are so many circumstances and situations in our life that should not have worked out in our favor.

Or could have ended up so much worse.

Or very easily could have taken our life down a different path.

BUT GOD intervened.

BUT GOD who is rich in mercy.

BUT GOD who loved us- even though we were dead in trespasses.

BUT GOD made us alive together with Christ.

BUT GOD delivered us out of all of our troubles.

BUT GOD gave us favor and wisdom in the midst of our troubles.

BUT GOD intended it for good.

BUT GOD showed us the exceeding riches of His grace.

BUT GOD was with us.

If we sat down and wrote out a timeline for our life- we would have more BUT GOD moments
than anything else on that timeline.

More than any hardships.

More than any trials.

More than any suffering.

More than any unfair acts.

More than any heartache.

I thought it was over for me.

But God.

I thought I wasn't meant to be here.

But God.

I thought I was a mistake.

But God.

I thought I would take my own life at the age of 15 years old.

But God.

I thought I would never experience real joy.

But God.

I thought I wasn't loved.

But God.

I thought God didn't love me.

But God.

I thought I wasn't worthy.

But God.

I thought I was nothing.

But God.

I thought it was over for me.

But God.

I thought I would never overcome my circumstances.

But God.

I thought I would never make it as a single mom.

But God.

I thought everyone else was right.

But God.

I thought no one would ever want to marry me. Marry us.

But God.

I thought I would never be loved unconditionally.

But God.

I thought I would never overcome the years of suffering and hardship.

But God.

I thought I would always live in a trailer.

But God.

I thought I would always have a life of poverty and lack.

But God.

I thought I would never be able to look in the mirror and see beauty of any kind.

But God.

I thought I would always measure my worth based on others opinion of me.

But God.

I thought I had to be good enough for God to love me.

But God.

I thought I had to earn God's grace.

But God.

I thought I would never understand, learn, love or teach God's word.

But God.

I thought it would always be the way its always been.

But God.

I thought there was absolutely no way God would give me a second chance at Motherhood.

But God.

I thought I would never recover from three miscarriages.

But God.

I thought there was no way that God would trust me with a big family.

But God.

I thought God's grace was for everyone else but me.

But God.

I thought God's love was just for all of the "good girls."

But God.

I thought God's goodness and grace and mercy and favor were only for the church ladies.

But God.

I thought God's love was conditional.

But God.

I thought I was too far gone, too broken, too damaged for God's grace.

But God.

I thought it was over for me.

But God.

I thought what the enemy meant for harm would never be used for my good and His glory.

But God.

I thought that God would never use me.

But God.

I thought God would never speak to me.

But God.

I thought that teaching His word was only for those who had degrees, titles and initials after their name.

But God.

I thought that I would never be able to use my creativity for the kingdom.

But God.

I thought that it would work out for everyone else but me.

But God.

I thought that God had forgotten about me.

But God.

I pray that this post speaks to you in the innermost part of your being and breathes life into your heart today. I pray that the truth in these words and scriptures would act as a healing balm to your soul in some small way today.

You are so loved precious friend....

To purchase this new print you can click here:

www.pearls-and-grace-shop.myshopify.com

"You intended to harm me, BUT GOD intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  ~ Genesis 50:20 NKJV

"And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. BUT GOD was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and made him governor over Egypt and all his house." ~ Acts 7:9-10 NKJV

"BUT GOD, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." ~ Ephesians 2:4-10 NKJV