Happiness comes in the Hunger (for God/Righteousness/being in right standing or relationship with Him and others).
Category: Tradeoffs
The Old is Gone, THE New Has Come: No More PAST, Present & Future Living…
We were made for divine Double-vision, not triple-vision, to learn from and perhaps even admire, the past, albeit at a safe distance…but NOT to live in it, to our own stagnation and demise. So we desperately need elevated Duplicity of Vision, first for our Truer, Homebound Tomorrows, then for our Urgent, Needful Todays, to be embraced by God’s Double, above-time Vision that can empower higher-living perspectives and foster HIS freedom and joy-strength in the Here and Now. In short, ‘Today AND Tomorrow Double-Vision’ but not, ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Triple-Vision’ (and I should know, as I live with physical double-vision)! “…old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,” II Corinthians 5:17 and “…do not dwell on the past,” Isaiah 43:18 and “…this ONE thing I do…” Philippians 3:13. Rhema.
When GOD Weeps
“When the city came into view, He wept over it. ‘If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead, your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome (but instead refused) God’s personal visit’ (Me).” Jesus, weeping over Jerusalem (and us), Luke 19:41-44, MSG Bible. (Words in parenthesis and italics added by me, dkb.)
Priceless, Efficacious Tears.
“In one of the six ‘Golden Psalms’ (michtam, in Hebrew), David describes how God values tears:
Psalm 56:8-‘You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?’ God is an avid collector of tears. Tears are the silent, eloquent testimonies to God’s nearness: “He remains close to those who are brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
Did you know what’s physiologically in our tears? A tear is comprised of more than ‘just’ water and includes proteins, enzymes, lipids, metabolites, electrolytes, and even our DNA! If our eyes get irritated, tears are more aqueous (comprised of water). If we are under high stress, our tears are filled with stress-related hormones.
But the chemistry of tears pales in comparison to their (spiritual) value (to God…and us): “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable (hope and) love.” Unknown.
Contrition. Unspeakable love. Not ordinary, everyday words…nor occurrences, sadly, though tears might be.
Is that why God has a supreme interest in…and pays undying attention to…our tears? He is love personified and, therefore, “near to the brokenhearted.” The Psalmist said that ‘God collects tears, even stores them in his bottles.’ ” The Book on Prayer, pg. 248, by Psr. Ken Gurley (italics and words in parentheses, etc., added by me, dkb).
Fast…or Feast?
“Like all the Spiritual Disciplines, fasting hoists the sails of the soul in hopes of experiencing the gracious wind of God’s Spirit. But fasting also adds a unique dimension to your spiritual life and helps you grow in Christlikeness in ways that are unavailable through any other means. If this were not so, there would have been no need for Jesus to model and teach fasting.” Donald S. Whitney, in his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, pg. 171. See Isaiah 58 for Inspiration re. ‘Acceptable’ Fasting…and note that Fasting is Truly Feasting When You’re Focused on Jesus and His Call.
One TRUE Love
Sin is…pursuing our own pleasure and/or path to false comforts we keep trying to believe will satisfy or even save us, then learning, once again, that we’ve been in denial AND duped (by the devil and his partner-in-crime, our own fallen, proud, short-cut, easy-way-out, lazy natures). So let it be High Time now for us to finally come Home to the Only True Comforter, Jesus…
Ultimate Justice
“(God’s) Love is more just than justice.” Henry Ward Beecher (as found in Stormie Omartian’s devotional, That’s What Love is For, pg. 52.
What REALLY Matters?
When you die, you’ll have to let go of everything without any choice so why not exercise your power-to-choose and minimize now, getting blessed with the joy of giving…and also being less encumbered with temporal things that truly do not satisfy? In this ‘Joy-of-generosity’ sowing, you shall indeed reap way Beyond your deepest desires and most extravagant imagination. Ephesians 3:16-20.
MORE THAN a Substitute
“Jesus didn’t just die for me, He died as me! What’s more, He was buried and rose again as me; that is, in my place, knowing that I was unable to do so, much less efficaciously. This…and nothing but this.” Pastor/Coach/Entrepreneur/Author of Wealth with God curriculum, Jim Baker.
Diverse…or insane?
‘Diversity’ at the price of true liberty and unity is insanity.
Ponderings of a Sojourner 