Between Heaven and Earth

One friend bringing new life into the world while another friend fights for her life. Such a tenuous balance. There is joy and agony, laughter and tears, struggle and victory. The one thread that weaves through both situations is hope. We have a blessed hope, my sisters in Christ and I. We place our hope in God's sovereignty, His plan, and His timing. Trusting that nothing is wasted in God's economy, that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. So we celebrate and grieve with peace in our hearts. We continue living on earth but heading for heaven. So we live, between heaven and earth, knowing we are firmly in His grip.

Regrets

The two sides of regret - the doing and the not doing.

1)Not doing: that sickening feeling that a person feels when they realize that they missed an opportunity to do something and didn't take it

2)Doing: that sickening feeling a person feels when they realize they said or did something they shouldn't have said or done.

No matter which side of regret I fall on, that feeling can be like a wave crashing over me. Can you relate? Unfortunately I have felt both sides and with the same results... miserable feelings of regret. It is so easy to get stuck in that place, living in the past and reliving our sense of failure (whether perceived or real). May I encourage you today to look at these experiences through the lens of scripture?

Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." But praise be to God that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9

One of the redeeming qualities of life is that we don't have to live in the past, we can make amends and move forward to make different, better decisions. God knows our frame, that we are weak and sinful yet He has provided a way for us to be reconciled to Himself: through Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.

So next time you begin to get swallowed up by feelings of regret, remember that God has already made a way for you to be restored and get on the right path again.

Life is a Highway

Life is an adventure: sometimes wild, sometimes mellow, sometimes scary but always an adventure. Every day brings a new experience. Days roll in, roll by, roll away depending on how we choose to live. Have you ever stopped to think about your adventure? Have you been rolling along on the highway, going in a relatively straight line? Or have you been 4-wheeling it for years bumping and banging along with mud splattering all over the place? Maybe you've been cruising on the main road with occasional side trips along less travelled roads.

Most likely you have been on different roads at different times in your life. Whether you find yourself in an off road experience or cruising with the windows down, you can choose to be grateful for the adventure right where you are.

I don't know about you, I want my adventure to be purposeful whether it's bumpy or smooth. Because I've found the road won't always be smooth and straight; likewise, the road will not always be bumpy and full of curves. That, my friend, is the adventure of it all.

Ultimately, we are headed for an eternal destination, this adventure is just temporary so sit back, trust our sovereign God and enjoy the ride.

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'"
Jeremiah 29:11