“Yes, and I will rejoice…” Phil1.18 ESV
Which of us is not able to look back and recall past blessings? Isn’t it true that God has blessed us time and time again? Isn’t it also true that even now, this very moment we are surrounded by present favor? Even if we are this day, facing some trial, we are still encircled by expressions of His love, mercy and grace. We rejoice in God’s favor and not only give thanks for past and present blessings, we may be confidence that we will rejoice in our tomorrows for blessings that are sure to come. Because of Jesus, our best days are before us. There is no need to fear the future when we are in the company of Christ today. He has brought us to the present; He will see us to our future. We have rejoiced. We do, even now, rejoice! Yes, and we will rejoice. 10/1/2008 ts
Life in every breath. Every breath of Christ!
http://gracemodeste.blogspot.com/
Just me trying to be honest with God.
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Anonymous
“Yes, and I will rejoice…” Phil1.18 ESV
Which of us is not able to look back and recall past blessings? Isn’t it true that God has blessed us time and time again? Isn’t it also true that even now, this very moment we are surrounded by present favor? Even if we are this day, facing some trial, we are still encircled by expressions of His love, mercy and grace. We rejoice in God’s favor and not only give thanks for past and present blessings, we may be confidence that we will rejoice in our tomorrows for blessings that are sure to come. Because of Jesus, our best days are before us. There is no need to fear the future when we are in the company of Christ today. He has brought us to the present; He will see us to our future. We have rejoiced. We do, even now, rejoice! Yes, and we will rejoice. 10/1/2008 ts
Life in every breath. Every breath of Christ!
http://gracemodeste.blogspot.com/
Which of us is not able to look back and recall past blessings? Isn’t it true that God has blessed us time and time again? Isn’t it also true that even now, this very moment we are surrounded by present favor? Even if we are this day, facing some trial, we are still encircled by expressions of His love, mercy and grace. We rejoice in God’s favor and not only give thanks for past and present blessings, we may be confidence that we will rejoice in our tomorrows for blessings that are sure to come. Because of Jesus, our best days are before us. There is no need to fear the future when we are in the company of Christ today. He has brought us to the present; He will see us to our future. We have rejoiced. We do, even now, rejoice! Yes, and we will rejoice. 10/1/2008 ts
Life in every breath. Every breath of Christ!
http://gracemodeste.blogspot.com/
“There is no way to peace, peace is the way.” A. J. Muste
“They shall eat, but not be satisfied…” Hosea 1.10 ESV
The other day I told Brenda that I was hungering for some time in the woods. Walking through a forest, works the same enchantment in my soul as reading and reflecting on the Scriptures. God reveals Himself in them and I am moved to childlike wonder and worship--but not always. I have known hurried seasons in my life when I thought that if I could only sit by forest stream then peace would return to my heart. But I learned sometime ago that peaceful places do not always quiet the heart, just as the Scriptures do not always comfort it. There is no peace in us, nor can there be, when we are holding on to selfish notions. Anytime we refuse fellowship with God, we are out of sync with all His other graces. Food does not satisfy; sleep gives no rest, and peaceful places do not calm the soul. To seek peace without God is to seek breath without air. Every good and beautiful thing was created to lead us to Him and if they cannot because we refuse Him they can lead us nowhere. Anytime we center ourselves around ourselves we only travel in circles. 9/30/2008 ts
The other day I told Brenda that I was hungering for some time in the woods. Walking through a forest, works the same enchantment in my soul as reading and reflecting on the Scriptures. God reveals Himself in them and I am moved to childlike wonder and worship--but not always. I have known hurried seasons in my life when I thought that if I could only sit by forest stream then peace would return to my heart. But I learned sometime ago that peaceful places do not always quiet the heart, just as the Scriptures do not always comfort it. There is no peace in us, nor can there be, when we are holding on to selfish notions. Anytime we refuse fellowship with God, we are out of sync with all His other graces. Food does not satisfy; sleep gives no rest, and peaceful places do not calm the soul. To seek peace without God is to seek breath without air. Every good and beautiful thing was created to lead us to Him and if they cannot because we refuse Him they can lead us nowhere. Anytime we center ourselves around ourselves we only travel in circles. 9/30/2008 ts
“There is no way to peace, peace is the way.” A. J. Muste
“They shall eat, but not be satisfied…” Hosea 1.10 ESV
The other day I told Brenda that I was hungering for some time in the woods. Walking through a forest, works the same enchantment in my soul as reading and reflecting on the Scriptures. God reveals Himself in them and I am moved to childlike wonder and worship--but not always. I have known hurried seasons in my life when I thought that if I could only sit by forest stream then peace would return to my heart. But I learned sometime ago that peaceful places do not always quiet the heart, just as the Scriptures do not always comfort it. There is no peace in us, nor can there be, when we are holding on to selfish notions. Anytime we refuse fellowship with God, we are out of sync with all His other graces. Food does not satisfy; sleep gives no rest, and peaceful places do not calm the soul. To seek peace without God is to seek breath without air. Every good and beautiful thing was created to lead us to Him and if they cannot because we refuse Him they can lead us nowhere. Anytime we center ourselves around ourselves we only travel in circles. 9/30/2008 ts
The other day I told Brenda that I was hungering for some time in the woods. Walking through a forest, works the same enchantment in my soul as reading and reflecting on the Scriptures. God reveals Himself in them and I am moved to childlike wonder and worship--but not always. I have known hurried seasons in my life when I thought that if I could only sit by forest stream then peace would return to my heart. But I learned sometime ago that peaceful places do not always quiet the heart, just as the Scriptures do not always comfort it. There is no peace in us, nor can there be, when we are holding on to selfish notions. Anytime we refuse fellowship with God, we are out of sync with all His other graces. Food does not satisfy; sleep gives no rest, and peaceful places do not calm the soul. To seek peace without God is to seek breath without air. Every good and beautiful thing was created to lead us to Him and if they cannot because we refuse Him they can lead us nowhere. Anytime we center ourselves around ourselves we only travel in circles. 9/30/2008 ts
“Hell is a place, a time, a consciousness, in which there is no love.” Richard Bach
“In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matt13.50 ESV
I have been in such a place, this place of torment, even if it was only in the mental anguish of sin’s selfishness. And although I will not mention my own specifics, many will attest that they too have been there. I have even returned there in my memories. Every time I do, I always grit my teeth and push away such hellish recollections. I can only thank God that it is for me now only a memory, and not a place a permanent abode. I shutter to think that anyone would live forever in such a dark place. It was a gift from God that He let me taste the upper reaches of a self-inflicted hell just as it is precious to me that I have tasted the lower reaches of heaven. That people are capable of such joy and such horror says much about the nature of heaven and hell. I never want to return to the hell of my personal torments and remembering them I surely want nothing to do with the eternal place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus how precious are your graces.
I have been in such a place, this place of torment, even if it was only in the mental anguish of sin’s selfishness. And although I will not mention my own specifics, many will attest that they too have been there. I have even returned there in my memories. Every time I do, I always grit my teeth and push away such hellish recollections. I can only thank God that it is for me now only a memory, and not a place a permanent abode. I shutter to think that anyone would live forever in such a dark place. It was a gift from God that He let me taste the upper reaches of a self-inflicted hell just as it is precious to me that I have tasted the lower reaches of heaven. That people are capable of such joy and such horror says much about the nature of heaven and hell. I never want to return to the hell of my personal torments and remembering them I surely want nothing to do with the eternal place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus how precious are your graces.
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