Everything!

Everything! 
  Sometimes, in our desires, we want it all.  What we don't often realize is, as children of God, we already have it all.  God bestows blessing upon His children daily. 
    Romans 11:36 (KJV) "For of Him, and though Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen"  The Message version puts it like this, "Everything comes from Him; Everything happens through Him; Everything ends up in Him.  Always glory! Always praise."

     When I think of "Everything" here are some things that came to mind:
E ternal life
V ictory over sin
E xtravagant generosity of God
R emoval of sin from my very soul
Y oked together in Christ
T reated with love, tried, tested, temptered
H ealed, with the Holy Spirit living within
I nner cleansing
N ever alone
G race and gifts abundant

Glory, Glory to God Almighty! I praise you, here, in my humble home.

The God Before Us

 The God Before Us
    Have you ever been driving along and suddenly hear a caboom?  You look back and there was a small board in the road or a piece of a tire.  What!  Where did that come from?  You didn't see it.   Or maybe you were walking through the house and stepped on an abandoned toy?  You hadn't looked down and had missed the object that was right in your path.   You obviously was distracted.
     Could it be, that we are also missing some God-given opportunities?  We are so busy and distracted we are missing our God, who is right in front of us?  We are missing the pebble or boulder of opportunity because we are too absorbed in ourselves and what we are doing?
   
Romans 9:32b   "For they stumbled at that stumblingstone."



   

A Sinking Ship

 A Sinking Ship
     Ever feel like you're in a sinking ship with no way out or in quicksand with no means of escape?  I believe it has been like that in some ways ever since the Garden of Eden was closed to mankind.  I am sure the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for forty years must have felt at a loss.  I am sure when Jonah was in the belly of whale he wondered, "What have I done and how can I escape?  How can I make it right?"
     Often, all we can see is the problem dominating the landscape.  Our focus is only on the problem instead of the solution.  How can we right a sinking ship?  Help is needed, and that help comes from God.  In difficult times as well as good ones, we need to embrace God.  He will not shortchange those who love Him.  His timing is not our timing, but His timing is the right time.  During our times of trouble, God is often just preparing us for future blessings.  What we have to do is keep the faith and sail with the waves.

Romans 5: 3-5 "...We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy ghost which is given unto us."
   

Once Unthinkable Now Applauded

     All fleshly humans struggle with sin.  The law of man helps, in part, to tell us right from wrong.  Although different from God's law, which actually reveals both good from evil and right from wrong.  Another very big difference in God's law is that it is "Never Changing."  There is no room for tolerable, acceptance, or legalization of what is not written in scripture.  Whereas, man's law changes with the culture, with the whim of the people, and with governing leaders.
     With the advent of what current politicians want to change and make legal and supported by some citizens and non-citizens, I am reminded of a quote by Joni Eareckson Tada, "And gradually, though no one remembers exactly how it happened, the unthinkable becomes tolerable. And the acceptable.  And the legal. And the applaudable." 
     How sad for this country when man's laws go against God's laws, for that is when we turn our face away from God and His almighty will for this great nation and His created ones.