An incomprehendible distance spanned by love ...

      What is the significance of distance in our lives?  We know  and understand that two locations can separated by distance and the space between them can make connecting the locations, convenient or very inconvenient.  We know that some distances can barely be comprehended because the distance is so vast, such as with the space between the sun and the earth.  There is also distance in other places besides just physical domains. There can be distance in opinions, relationships, friendships, political realms, different countries and millions of other things. 

      At times we need the distances to be spanned, the separations to be bridged and for efforts to be made,  to maintain our relationships, heal our friendships or settle matters in the political, community and religious worlds.   Still sometimes the space is too far and the brokenness in relationship too great, that the two sides cannot be brought together and distance grows ever greater careening ever towards the impossible.  

     So what is the distance between a Holy God and someone without hope dead in their trespasses?  It is an impossible distance to measure, unfathomable to much less span. Yet this distance falls away in an instant because of the great and extravagant love of God (Ephesians 2:4).  We are not  just united with God but inconceivably made heirs of His for eternity. This all happens because of “His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).  An amazing distance is traveled and an impossible connection is made for us, as truly free gift.  Be thankful for the grace that saves you even if we cannot truly comprehend the distance spanned.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ”  

(Ephesians 2:13 NKJV).

Our Savior and our Shepherd

   In this life here upon the earth, we have a Good Shepherd.  He is one that provides so abundantly, we shall not be in want. He comforts with the calm of His protection, so we can rest in green pastures and sleep beside quiet waters. He restores us with His presence over and over again. He leads us in the true paths of real help and guidance. He stays beside us in times and valleys of deep danger and trouble. Even in those dark places, we sense His rod and His staff as solid and true to deliver us. 

       He sets out before us feast of His goodness and bestows on us favor with such excessive love that our lives overflow with the blessings of His love. Goodness and mercy cover us all the days of our lives and someday we will be with this Good Shepherd forever.  When that day comes, every tear that remains from the earthly life will be wiped away and He will lead us to fountains of life for eternity.   For this is the Lamb, that laid down His life to be our Good Shepherd and what a wonderful Shepherd He has always been and now is and will be forever, for all of us. Thank you Lord Jesus for being my Shepherd and my Savior.

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17 NIV).

He opened the gates for us.

Gates are interesting objects.  They can be ornate or simple.  They can be functional or decorative.  They can be massive or flimsy. They can be used to keep someone out or to keep someone in.  They can be beautiful as you pass through them or oppressive as they could take away your freedom.  Gates were shut securely and protected cities for centuries from their enemies. Gate could be thrown open with great celebration and pageantry for kings and queens and returning heroes and armies.

The gates that separate us as human beings in our lowly and sinful state, are thrown open with great celebration and with a complete liberating salvation. They are opened widely by the strong and mighty Messiah that saves us, that we might enter and enjoy the Kingdom as full heirs of the generous, gracious and loving King. Be thankful for those gates of righteousness, opened forever by our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Open for me the gates of the righteous;   I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.  This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation” (Psalm 118:19-21).

A day off ...

Greetings ...
I have responded in my heart to God about resting one day from writing and posting.  One day on the weekend, I will not post anything.  It may be Saturday or it may on Sunday.  Today, is the day off, this week. Steve

Psalm 131

My heart is not proud, Lord,  my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters  or things too wonderful for me.

But I have calmed and quieted myself,  I am like a weaned child with its mother;

    like a weaned child I am content.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord  both now and forevermore”  ( Psalm 131).

A prayer from Psalm 131

Oh my glorious Father in heaven …

Humble me that I might not lift up my heart too high, for you see me as I am. Help me to not look down on others for I am just as they are. Thank you for your redeeming love.

Help me not to give too much attention to things that are beyond me and do not let me consumed with intentions too time consuming that will take me away from You.

Bring me to a place of peace that is calmed and quieted by your presence as a mother holds her child.  Oh Father, take me to that soul connected place, next to you.

Oh Father, my trust is in You.  You are my hope every day and for forever.  I wait in  blessed and secure hope.  Thank you Father,  thank you.  Amen

Finding God as we wait.

     There is hardly anyone that likes to wait.  Toddlers are notorious for their inability to wait. Teenagers impetuously want things to happen instantaneously and don’t have time to wait. Adults throughout their normal days will become annoyed at lines, other people and service counters.  We all struggle with waiting, yet we all know the cliché, “good things come to those who wait.”  Still most of the time, we cannot see anything good in any waiting. We live in a culture where know one really has to wait for anything.  We like instant gratification and have become accustomed to it but that doesn’t mean that we are really blessed by it or that we learn a single thing as we grab what we want, when we want it.

     Something good does happen to those that wait.  It happens in the simplest of situations, as we learn the rewards of patience and to be become more self-controlled in our anger.  It definitely happens in the hardest situations even though we seldom note it. As we wait … we learn trust, patience develops at a deeper level and finally perseverance strengthens us as we go through things. 

     Waiting upon God, elicits trusting Him more while we securely stand in grace sufficient for all situations and time. We can count on His sustaining, shaping and masterful hand to be upon us.  Waiting upon God in faith does bring good things to all those that wait.  Look around as you wait and see what God is doing in you and for you. You might be surprised.  Srm

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning,  more than watchmen wait for the morning” (Psalm 130:5-6).