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TITLE: Three Lessons
By Trish Thompson
08/29/04

All my life, I have loved to learn. I was the one who enjoyed school, who looked forward to September, who read the textbooks before classes started, in a word, a geek! Student was my name, and learning was my game! This attitude served me well through high school and college, and even into raising three sons, but then my whole world changed.

My marriage collapsed, I was out on my own, alternately scared to death and angry over this sudden shift. I floundered for months, and then I met Someone who would change my world again, tearing it down and then building it anew; His name is Jesus, and I was shocked to learn that even though I had been part of a ‘religion’ all my life, I had never met Him! It was an exciting time, suddenly I was a student again, with a whole new world of things to learn; back in my element, or so I thought.

He ushered me into a new kind of classroom, to teach me new lessons, but only if I chose to learn. He gently set a choice before me; in my new life with Him there was no room for smoking. Would I be willing to let it go?

Impossible! My mind cried! I’ve smoked for too long!
I can’t do it, I’m scared, I’ll fail if I try!

But, are you willing, He said, will you give it to Me? I
didn’t say it would be you that would do it, I will do
it for you.

So, afraid, and with just the tiniest bit of faith, I did. That was June 22, 2000, and I have not smoked since. Forty-five years I’d smoked, the last ten at two packs a day, and then gone, just like that! I had learned my first lesson for life: Nothing Is Impossible With God!

He was not done, another choice lay ahead. In my new life with Him I was to give Him His due. Would I be willing to tithe?

Impossible! My mind cried, my budget can’t stand it! I
barely get by on my pay as it is! I’m scared, I won’t make
it if I try!

But, are you willing, He said, will you give it to Me?
Remember your first lesson, will you do this for Me?

So, still scared, but with more faith, I did. And even though my budget still said I wasn’t making it; the outgo was more than the income, but somehow the bills were always paid, and several times money literally showed up in the mail, just in time. And I learned the second lesson for life: You Can’t Out Give God!

There was one more, the toughest of all! He said, if I asked, would you
give me all? Would you be willing to stay single, find joy in that for Me? To give
up the dream of another love, one you long for; would you give it up for Me?

Impossible! My heart cried! You can’t mean for me to be alone!
To not be able to share this new faith with someone I could love,
I can’t bear the thought, it is just too much!

But, are you willing, He said, will you give up this for Me?
Remember your two lessons, will you do this for Me?

Oh, how I struggled, and prayed, and struggled again. For a year I resisted, just not ready to trust! But, slowly my faith grew, His words stayed in my heart, and at last, I agreed; if that is what You want, Lord, I will do it for You.

And as soon as I did, made this most difficult choice, He turned and He said, this was the third lesson, you’ve truly learned for life, and now I will give you the desire of your heart! He sent into my life the most wonderful man; one I know He picked just for me. He gave me joy unending, in my God, my Lucian, and me! This third lesson I learned was the best one of all: He Is the God of Second Chances, the author of love and of life!

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