Journey into Forever

" As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. - Psalm 103:12 Well this week I did it.  You know the feeling.  Hated life, hated circumstances, came close to hating others.  Although I'm pretty ashamed to admit it, I was so fed up with what was going on in this life I was ready to chuck it all....move to Siberia......commit an "accidental" murder......shake my fist at God.  From relationship issues to untimely deaths to scary illnesses....at one point this last week it did not seem worth it anymore.  I was way beyond the " even now, Lord Jesus come! " phase.  I was more into the "I've had it...I'm done....what's the point?" phase.  Can anyone relate?     I have struggled my whole life with the right way to do things. I look back at some of the things that I've done and I think, "That was way beyond stupid!" I struggle with the what would Jesus do thing, when the what would Ve...

"A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother."     -Proverbs 18:24 I have children and grandchildren.   In thinking about this scripture in regard to emotional closeness between  brothers, I have to shake my head.  You know what I mean.  I have a couple of grandchildren who are probably plotting as we speak about the demise of a sibling.  And my adult children are not that close.  But when I think about the proximity of brothers, then I get it.  You know the scenario....when the kids are in a back seat traveling, we hear things like " He's touching me! He's looking at me!   Make her move!  Why do I have to have her around ALL the time!"  Remember those conversations ?  Maybe you have even heard them today.      So THAT kind of closeness is what I picture when I think of this scripture in Proverbs.  So close.....always there.... even when we want to ba...

Searching for a little peace today.....I am drawn to the end of the book "Forever...Why You Can't Live Without It" by Paul David Tripp.  I know I have quoted this book so many times, but it has really spoken to me.  Today, it did so again.  I'd like to share 3 of the six forever guarantees he presented in Chapter 13.    " 1. The future grace of eternity guarantees me present grace .             If God has promised that I will live with him forever, then implicit in that promise is the reality of all the grace I need to face what I will face in this fallen world until forever is my home.  I don't need to fear people and situations, because grace will be supplied for what I am facing when I face it.  I have always believed in the gift of God's grace, but after my eyes were opened, I had new and life-changing appreciation of the now-ism of that grace.  Today I can face life with courage, not ...

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience , not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?      - Romans 2:4 I am not, by nature, a patient person.  I guess I am better than I used to be, but that is not saying a lot.  I am like my infant granddaughter....I want what I want, when I want it.  Period.  I may act like I'm accepting my circumstances when they are less than desirable, but deep in my heart I know I cry out for what I really want. Luckily, we are the children of a God who has infinite patience.  I know that for a fact, because He has shown infinite patience with me.  He still does.  Paul David Tripp says it this way:         " Again, most of us don't like to wait, but our God, in grace, is willing to wait.  We want life to be a series of completed events; God is willing to live with incompletion until his work is...

Lots of truth here..... "I would like to think that I am one of the good guys, that I am basically righteous.  Okay, I'm not perfect.  Maybe I do need some minor tweaking, but that's all.  But the truth is, I am not okay.  I have a deep and abiding sin problem that I have no ability whatsoever to solve.  I give empirical evidence every day that this dark thing lives inside me.  Maybe I show it as a moment of irritation or selfishness.  Maybe it's revealed in unkind words or a vengeful action.  Maybe it's shown in an unwillingness to serve or a refusal to give.  Maybe it's shown in impatience with other people or anger at my circumstances.  Perhaps it's revealed in demanding to be right or in control.  Somehow every day I prove I am a person in need of help - and so do you.  God is working and will continue to work to solve our biggest problem and to meet our biggest need.  And he will be faithful to his agenda until fore...

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”           - John 8:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.               - Hebrews 4:12 You know,it never fails. Life is always changing, many times not for the better. It's tough. I know just about the time I think everything is going really well, I get slammed into a wall with something else. Or, some previous problem or event rears its ugly head once again.  Life is not stable.  It is never stable. I like to think that life will someday just be serene. Then I won't have to worry about my kids, grandkids, my mom, my husband, or how m...

                                 "I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength."                                                        -Phillippians 4:13       Well here we are.  Another year, another contemplation of what it will bring.   A day for assessing ourselves, thinking of what we need to change, hoping for the best.  New Year's resolutions are really cliché, because most of us know they will last a few days or a few weeks or even a month or two, but that's it.  We just don't seem to have the st...