It is Good News

The Very Good News!

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I,
but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh
I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave Himself for me. GALATIANS 2:20

It is because I believe this verse that I, imperfect as I am, can declare that I am not condemned.[1] Christ won the victory in my behalf,[2] which not only gave Him the right to forgive me my sins which I humbly confess,[3] but gives me the right to claim power to conquer[4] so that I can go forward with hope. Basically, I live for tomorrow. I forget the past and press on and up,[5] trusting Him to bring me into perfection.[6] As long as I keep my eyes on Him,[7] the light that leads me[8] shines more and more until that perfect day[9] of His glorious appearing![10] I can hardly wait for that day!

Basically: I accept the salvation that Jesus Christ freely offers[11] and choose to surrender my will to Him. He accepts responsibility to prepare me (as long I will allow) to live an eternity with Him.[12] © July 2013

[1] Romans 8:1-2
[2] Romans 8:3-4
[3] 1 John 1:9.
[4] Romans 8:37
[5] Philippians 3:13. 14   .
[6] Philippians 3:15
[7] Hebrews 12:1
[8] Psalm 43:3   .
[9] Proverbs 4:18
[10] Titus 2:13
[11] Romans 5:18
[12] From my understanding of Romans, especially chapters 7 and 8

Thoughts on Psalm 139

How marvelously am I created! How wonderfully am I cared for! The God of eternity, who planned and executed everything from the minuscule water molecule to the galaxies in space, who set in place laws that dictate the interplay of all things, was present from the minute I was conceived. He recorded my very essence in His book. There is nowhere I can go, nothing I can do or even think that He does not know. He understands my weaknesses and is eager to push me to my fullest potential. He will, when I ask, search out wickedness in me and cleanse me of it. He will lead me in the way everlasting. © August 2013

Psalm 139
(CEV)
You have looked deep into my heart, Lord,
    and you know all about me.
2 You know when I am resting or when I am working,
    and from heaven you discover my thoughts.

3 You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.
4 Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say,
5 and with your powerful arm you protect me
    from every side.
6 I can’t understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.

7 Where could I go to escape from your Spirit
    or from your sight?
8 If I were to climb up the highest heavens,
    you would be there.
If I were to dig down to the world of the dead
    you would also be there.

9 Suppose I had wings like the dawning day
    and flew across the ocean.
10 Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.
11 Or suppose I said, “I’ll hide in the dark
    until night comes to cover me over.”
12 But you see in the dark because daylight and dark
    are all the same to you.

13 You are the one who put me together
    inside my mother’s body,
14 and I praise you because of the wonderful way
    you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous!
    Of this I have no doubt.

15 Nothing about me is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below,
16 but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed.
Even before I was born, you had written in your book
    everything I would do.

17 Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding,
    much more than I could ever imagine.
18 I try to count your thoughts,
    but they outnumber the grains
    of sand on the beach. And when I awake,
    I will find you nearby.

19 How I wish that you would kill all cruel and heartless people
    and protect me from them!
20 They are always rebelling and speaking evil of you.[a]
21 You know I hate anyone who hates you, Lord,
    and refuses to obey.
22 They are my enemies too, and I truly hate them.

23 Look deep into my heart,
God, and find out everything I am thinking.
24 Don’t let me follow evil ways,
but lead me in the way that time has proven true.

Knowing my loving Creator as revealed in Psalm 139
gives me a foundation from which I cam face the challenges of daily life with joy and the certainty of death unafraid.

Let Me Live

I love life; everyone that knows me knows that I love life. I look forward to every day with a sort of excitement to face the challenge. I wake with an eagerness to get into all the things I am doing. All this is framed in with a certain peace (Philippians 4:7) that comes with knowing that the life I live is ordered by my loving Heavenly Father. (Psalm 37:23; Jeremiah 29:11)

Life is not boringly filled with chores and coping. I find chores fun and creatively look for ways to cope. I love serving my family, my home, my friends, and others. I am constantly aware of my Father’s presence and loving care. I pray that He will order my choices and priorities in a way that will fit me to live an eternity with Him! (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10) There are things to worry about, needs, circumstances that limit, environment that is unhealthy, future that is uncertain, loved ones’ health, choices, and circumstances. But those are things I can’t deal with, (Matthew 6:34) so, except for doing what I can wisely do today, (Ecclesiastes 9:10) I give them to my Father and don’t let them burden me. (1 Peter 5:7)

And so, free as a bird, (Isaiah 40:31) I face another day, eager to see what it holds. (Psalm 118:24) © August 2013

Let Me Die

Why would I want to live when I can die and be with the Lord? If our all-knowing God is willing to let me die, who am I to wish for life in this painful world? (Philippians 1:21-24)

In death I will be victorious, for Christ will have won in my behalf! (1 Corinthians 15:55) I am now free from the life-restricting fear of death (Hebrews 2:15; Psalm 23:4) and in my death will be free of the painful reality of this mortal existence.(Revelation 21:4)

While I am here in this ever-more-wicked world, my one consuming desire is to bring a ray of hope and joy to those around me, to point my children and others to an even deeper trust in our all-loving, ever-willing-to-lead God.( Matthew 5:14) I am but a tool in the Lord’s hands, and when my usefulness is over and I am allowed to rest, my labor will not have been in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:57-58) © August 2013

July 2014, !: I just reread this page. I am still of the same opinion only more so! But I really fell grandly! I actually tripped myself up on a path of my creative solutions. As my Lord helped me up, He looked me in the eyes and asked, "Now, are you willing to let Me lead? I know a better path!" How wonderful forgiveness is! Now, I'm free to follow! and again in March of 2022, oh, How Good God is, and how merciful! If I would ever learn not to run ahead! I just get myself down these humbling roads and He keeps loving me!