I wrote a micro poem for my other blog, trying to capture the feeling of these precarious moments.
I kept thinking, “Surely we’ve survived something like this before.”
A scroll through my backyard photos gave me the answer.
It is his first snow.
“Daddy, the ground is all gone!”
“Son, it will come back.”
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Ecclesiastes 1:9; 3:11
“Comfort my people,” says our God. “Comfort Them!” Isaiah 40:1 (GNT)
I used to haul hay, in my rural community, as a teenager. It was hard, hot work loading bale after heavy bale onto a truck and then stacking it in an equally stifling barn.
On such days it was always a relief to see my boss’s aunt coming in a pickup truck about lunch time. She’d pull up alongside, roll down her window and say the most comforting words an exhausted 17 year old ever heard: “Come on up to the house.”
Back at the house, there was always a hearty meal waiting, followed by a much needed siesta during the heat of the day.
I suppose it’s incomplete, but this is my little idea of what going to heaven is like. Someday, Jesus will call out to me, “Come on up to the house.” A never ending time of fellowship and rest will then begin.
A few of my favorite scriptures about eternity:
“So when the corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written. “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54 (KJV)
“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man shall give to you, for on Him the Father, even God, has set his seal.” John 6:27 (NASB)
“But whoever drinks the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring which will provide him with life-giving water and give him eternal life.” John 4:14 (GNT)
Maybe this is a bit of an off-point post for Christmas Eve, but only through the Christ Child is “coming on up to the house” even possible!
It was actually a post this morning by CG Thelen of, The 140 Character Christian that literally drove me to the keyboard to share these thoughts.
Thank you, CG! I am grateful to God for other Christian bloggers who open the floodgates of God’s inspiration.
As Charles Dicken’s character Tiny Tim said, “God Bless us, every one.”
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Mother Teresa
The blogger, poojaG, has a weekly feature on, lifesfinewhine, called Six Word Story. Awhile back, her weekly entry read: “It just keeps on getting crazier.”
PoojaG didn’t speculate about the cause of the craziness, but my mind immediately went to the social upheaval caused by COVID-19 and inflamed racial tensions stoked by police brutality against minorities. Later, the divisive presidential election here in the U. S. rounded out the ultimate cray cray trifecta.
However, despite the chaos caused by current events, I submit to you that craziness is NOT the default setting of God’s creation.
As we know from the account in Genesis, the heavens and the earth were once formless and empty and darkness was over the surface of the deep (Genesis 1:3). That sounds chaotic. However, you know the story, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. “God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.”
At God’s command, chaos turned to calm.
Submission #2: God is the supreme ruler over ALL of time–including ours (Isaiah 46:10b,11b).
Yes, in spite of recent developments, the God of the universe remains on the throne. And that means the cure for crazy is still calm (peace). And the best place to find God’s peace is still with the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
As the time of His death neared, Jesus knew the events of His betrayal and execution would plunge his disciples into grief and despair, but He also knew their grief would turn to joy after His resurrection (John 16:16-33). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit would come–as promised, after His departure–to guide His followers into all truth. (John 14:16; 25-26)
That same Spirit of God’s truth is still at work today—bringing peace in our time.
I have told you these things, so that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 (NIV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27 (NIV)
For a story about how to be a peacemaker in difficult times, please read peace by piece.
