Life's Best...

I'm back... finally.

Here's the thought for today:

"Life's best things--simplicity, honesty, truthfulness, purity, integrity--cannot be bought or sold. They are as free to the ignorant as to the educated, to the humble laborer as to the honored statesman. For everyone God has provided pleasure that may be enjoyed by rich and poor alike--the pleasure found in cultivating pureness of thought and unselfishness of action, the pleasure that comes from speaking sympathizing words and doing kindly deeds. From those who perform such service the light of Christ shines to brighten lives darkened by many shadows..."*

Good thing, eh?
I'm smiling...


*{MH 198.2 - Emphasis added}

There are Promises, and then there are Promises...

...All of them are infallible, but some are so pronounced they don't even need to be articulated.

They're absolute. They're there whether or not He keeps saying it. Like love, and grace, and mercy...

For God to keep "promising" to love is a bit like a biological father promising to keep being a biological father. It's not going to change, say it or not.

It's Who God is.

Ok, So... where's our part?

The appropriation of "promises absolute" depends not on the validity of the promise itself, but our appreciation for it.
Don't appreciate it, (or don't appreciate it enough) and for you, it's almost like it's not there... Even if it is absolute.
Love and grace and the Spirit... They all work that way.

They've always been there...
Oh Jesus, open our eyes...

"No Rest for the..."

"Soldiers engaged in battle have to meet difficulties and hardships. Coarse food is given them, and that often in limited quantities. They have long marches, day by day, over rough roads and under burning suns, camping out at night, sleeping on the bare ground, with only the canopy of heaven for a covering, exposed to drenching rains and chilling frosts, hungry, faint, exhausted, now standing as a target for the foe, now in deadly encounter. Thus they learn what hardship means. Those who enlist in Christ's army are also expected to do difficult work, and to bear painful trials patiently for Christ's sake....After gaining one advantage, you must do battle again."

Did someone say that victory was a walk in the park? I hope not...

If it were, everybody would get it without effort, and it would cease to be of value.

It is the fight that substantiates freedom... 

"...But those who suffer with Him shall also reign with Him...Through divine strength you will prove more than a match for your enemies."

Signs of the Times, Sept. 7, 1891.

Something Impossible...

Home again, after two weeks away... 

I’ve decided something-- Well, I knew it before, but I’m sure now. 

There’s nothing worth more than ministry. Service is absolutely priceless...

If you haven’t tried it lately, you cannot know...

There’s something unutterably thrilling about doing your earnest part to prepare, then losing all your work at the last minute, and finding yourself on your knees saying: “Ok, what did You want me to say...”

-Something incredibly fulfilling (the ultimate “filling you full” experience) about trembling on your knees 5 seconds before taking the pulpit, then standing up to perfect confidence... 

-Something life changing about watching lives change before your very eyes...

-Something mind boggling about preaching for an hour, then having no idea what you said... (No credit to you!)

-Something priceless about standing in front of scores of young people for whom you have been given a great love, and watching the tears flow while you sing (and try to check your own)... 

There’s something eternal, something unequivocally impossible- the work of transcendent grace and unbounded love- about being used as a mouthpiece for Heaven itself-- for God Himself... 

Especially when you remember that you are really proud, and selfish, and mean, and arrogant, sluggish, short-sighted, poor, miserable, blind, and naked, at your best...

......................................................................................................................................

Now, does ministry always look like that?

No, but even if it did only once every two lifetimes, the lifetime spent without would be more than worth it....

And even if it never did, there’s something magnificent about giving and never getting anything in return...

The books will be balanced in Heaven.  

Never Question Love... He knows what He's doing.

I learned something this morning... 

A simple truth - and one it would do us well to remember.

Never has a bitter cup been put to our lips, before Christ our Savior has taken to His own, and drunk the greater half...

Never tell me He doesn't understand. 

And never question Love... He knows what He's doing.

A Year Full of Promise...

I learned something this morning...

Gold is most dazzling in its liquid form...

Wood is most colorful when it’s about to turn to ashes...

And the face of Jesus was “never more beautiful” than when stained with blood, and showing the marks of pain and exhaustion. (Desire of Ages - “In Pilate’s Judgement Hall”)

There’s something there for me. And something tells me I’m going to find it this year... 

Especially if I intend to reveal through my life the beauty of the King in more dazzling color than ever. 

That is my prayer. That is my intention. Oh, give me Jesus...

And oh, if you are a child of the Highest, and if you have read this post, pray for me. 

My Prayer -- A Sample

My Prayer is well on it's way... Here's one sample. 

Owing to the fact that no one song provides a comprehensive statement of character as far as the whole project is concerned, the choice was not so easy... 

...In the end, all I can tell you is that this song will be on the disc, along with a bunch of others that don't sound anything like it...

Family Photo... September, 2008

Here's in case anybody has forgotten what we look like...

J&M Wedding Preview

Walking with Him...

stEveryone has at least some experience with change... Some people fly at it just for fun, while some keep a tenacious grip on the "known" as long as they can...

Either way, as long as they are walking with Him, a son or daughter of God can trust, because He is worthy...

And with little regard to how dark or narrow the road is in the moment, they can walk straight and tall... right on into victory.

Because "like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path, God's purposes know no haste and no delay..." and I might add, no defeat...