Thankful Thursday

This is a little story of God's providence.

There once was a woman who had the bottom drop out of her life. She was a believer but un-churched with absolutely no idea where to turn in this crisis. She had a friend, an older Christian woman, who told her, "You need to read some Charles Spurgeon."  She had no idea who this Spurgeon guy was other than recalling a college friend describe him  as "great", "awesome", and "cool".  So, she googled "Spurgeon" and the first search result was this place, The Spurgeon Archive.

She poked around the site and found a sermon on the passage she was currently reading. She had never seen anything like this before. After several years of very limited fellowship and no teaching whatsoever, this sermon was food to a spiritually starving soul. One sermon led to another and then another until she collected a thick binder's worth of them. She turned on  the computer every day for a Daily Dose of Spurgeon, often reading with tears because it was a balm to her lacerated heart.

One day, she read this sermon.  Initially it was difficult to understand and accept, but in the end, she embraced the truth of God's sovereignty in the midst of the worst trial she could imagine. The Holy Spirit used the preaching of the Word from years past to change her mind and her heart, and she was never the same since.

You've probably figured it out. That woman is me.

I was reminiscing over this bit of history in the light of Phil Johnson's blogging retirement. This is one Ebenezer I don't want to forget because it displays God's incredible kindness, wisdom, and power in weaving these seemingly random strands together.

So this Thursday, I'm thankful for:

~The Sovereignty of God over everything, absolutely everything.

~ The advice of my friend who is the polar opposite of a Calvinist, which shows  God's excellent sense of humor. My guess is she didn't think her recommendation of Charles Spurgeon would ultimately lead me to the doctrines of grace.

~ The Prince of Preachers who still speaks from the grave.

~ The Spurgeon Archive and Phil Johnson's ministry to the body of Christ. By making these sermons and other resource so readily available, only God knows how many people have been helped through this site.

~ God's providence. We have a tiny glimpse of it now and we're already amazed. I think we'll be on our faces in worship when it is all unfolded in heaven.