Sunday Ponderings ~ Come

We are all needy, so do come.

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
With compassion, love and power.

 
Come, ye thirsty to the fountain,
Come, and find His goodness here;
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings You near.

Come, ye weary heavy-laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you wait until you're better,
You will never come at all.

I will rise and go to Jesus;
He will embrace me as His own.
In the arms of my dear Savior,
There is life forevermore.

~ Joseph Hart 1759

Painting ~ A Private View, William Powell Frith 1882

wikipedia public domain

Sunday Ponderings

 Congregation leaving the Reformed Church in Nuenen

Vincent Van Gogh 1884

  

Thinking about the speaker today at our church service and the pressures and hardships they face as believers and followers of Christ in the Pacific Rim in which they minister to the various people groups there. It is such a simple thing for us here in America to attend any church service we choose, yet we so often are slothful toward our corporate worship. I do hope you were able and chose to get up and go today, dear one.

But as for me, by Thine abundant lovingkindness I will enter Thy house, 

At Thy holy temple I will bow in reverence of Thee.

Psalm 5:7

Sunday Ponderings ~ One Anothering

It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with other Christians. 

~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

This is the third Sunday that we weren't able to attend worship service with our church family, and we surely are feeling the void. While we can certainly worship God here at home away from our church-family and listen to the pastor's message online, I was reminded of reasons why we normally do gather together each week.

Besides the blessing of corporate worship, there's also the aspect of one-anothering that being together provides. When I received an email this afternoon from a church-family friend, my mind went to some of the one-anotherings that she was blessing us with. There are others that came to mind as well. I'm so thankful for a church family that "one-anothers."

We couldn't be a part of this aspect of our faith-life if we didn't go to the gatherings and participate. I do hope you have a church family that you meet with each week and are part of these one-anotherings. I know that there are groups of Christians around the world whose meeting together is a dangerous undertaking. They truly understand the need, perhaps more so than those of us who have the freedom each week to openly go and linger as we like.

Love one another

Pray for one another 

Encourage one another

Bear one another's burdens

Speaking to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs

Build one another up

Confess your trespasses to one another

Be kindly affectioned one toward another

Serve one another 

Bearing with one another, forgiving one another

Let us consider one another, in order to stir up love and good work

Be hospitable to one another

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, 
but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10:25 

Sunday Ponderings ~ Faithful Is He

A blessed time of fellowship and corporate worship today with fellow believers in Christ. I hope you were able to worship with your own church family today. I do hope that you have a church family. And most of all, I hope you are a believer and a follower. After the Doxology, we parted ways with the benedicton from 1 Thessalonians.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. Amen (5:23).

Image ~ Family Going to Church, Andy Otto CC BY-NC 4.0

Sunday Ponderings ~ Who Did It?

Pondering some thoughts this evening from the book of Nehemiah. If you're familiar with the Scriptures, you'll recall that the wall had been destroyed around Jerusalem, and God used Nehemiah to rebuild it against great obstacles. Pastor had encouraged us to read through Nehemiah during the week to get the big picture of what had happened.

As I read, and as pastor pointed out today, the book of Nehemiah is really about what God did, not about what Nehemiah did. He was simply an instrument in the hands of our redeeming God. I was glad to be reminded of that.

As I've pondered more about it, it struck me that Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the king, not a master builder. God used him outside of his "professional field." It is God who overcomes the obstacles and accomplishes the impossible, not ourselves.

Nehemiah had a heart for the work, but where did that compassion originate? From God the Father. Too often there's much made of "heroes of the Bible," people that God used mightily to accomplish His plans. But not all were eager for the work. Moses, Gideon, Jonah, are a few who come readily to mind. And the Apostle Paul had to be blinded before he saw the light. But for whatever reason, God chose to use them. He also chooses to use those who are willing for the work, like Nehemiah. I'd rather be a willing one, but I know that oftentimes I'm not. God goes on with His plans, nevertheless.

Far better to point ourselves and our children to the God of the "heroes" rather than to the heroes themselves. Our strength and success is from God.

"O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.” (Nehemiah 1:11)

Nehemiah's success was not "his ability to motivate others; his resilience to opposition; his practical, balanced grip on reality," as someone described him (not my pastor). It was not his ability, his resilience, his grip on reality, but rather God who gave success to His intended purpose.

So I ask myself...

Is it about me, or is it about God?
Do I shrink from a task because I don't feel qualified?
Do I try to muster up success-producing personal characteristics?
Do I look to my own qualifying characteristics, or do I look to God to strengthen me for the task He assigns to me?
Do I encourage myself and others in trust and obedience to the God of the Bible?

Painting ~ A Young Lady Reading in an Interior, George Goodwin Kilburne 1839-1924

Sunday Ponderings ~ Rest

Because God made us for Himself, our hearts are restless until we rest in Him.

~ St.Augustine

Painting ~ Portrait of a Girl in Red, Pierre Auguste Renoir 1841-1919
Wiki Gallery public domain

Sunday Ponderings ~ One Foundation

The Church's One Foundation

The Church’s one foundation

Is Jesus Christ her Lord,

She is His new creation

By water and the Word.

From heaven He came and sought her

To be His holy bride;

With His own blood He bought her

And for her life He died.

She is from every nation,

Yet one o’er all the earth;

Her charter of salvation,

One Lord, one faith, one birth;

One holy Name she blesses,

Partakes one Holy Food,

And to one Hope she presses,

With every grace endued.

’Mid toil and tribulation,

And tumult of her war,

She waits the consummation

Of peace forevermore;

Till, with the vision glorious,

Her longing eyes are blest,

And the great Church victorious

Shall be the Church at rest.

~Samuel John Stone, 1866
 

Painting ~ Church at Olde Lyme 1905, Childe Hassam 1839-1935

Sunday Ponderings ~ He Included Me!

Pondering 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 this afternoon and being reassured that God didn't call me to Himself because of anything that I have to offer.

It’s okay that I’m not among the wise, the mighty, the noble. God hasn’t chosen very many of them because they tend to boast in themselves. But He does choose some.

It’s okay that the world may think I’m foolish and weak. God typically chooses from this group because we tend to have little to boast about in ourselves.

He chooses few from the elite and many from the common.

 Bottom line: God doesn't want the issue confused. He wants everyone to know that

ALL wisdom

ALL righteousness

ALL sanctification

 ALL redemption

is in Christ Jesus and is God's doing.

“Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
~1 Corinthians 1:31

I'm so glad that He called to me! Has He called to you? Call back to Him!

For whoever will call upon the Lord will be saved.

~ Romans 10:13 

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷ but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no man may boast before God. ³⁰ But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, ³¹ so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  

~1 Corinthians 1:26-31

 Painting ~ A Pensive Moment, Daniel Ridgeway Knight 1839-1924
Wiki Commons public domain

Sunday Ponderings ~ What Manner of Love!

This morning was frigid and frosty, one of those mornings to just snuggle in and stay warm and toasty. Glad we didn't because we would have missed a blessed time of worship with our fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Pastor reminded us of God's great love for us, the creator of the universe, who loves us beyond measure.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons of God.
~ 1 John 3:1

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
 ~ Romans 5:8

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
~ John 4:16

I hope to meet you over there, if not while here. He loves you, too, you know.

Painting ~ American Homestead Winters, 1868, Currier & Ive
Wiki Commons public domain

Sunday Ponderings ~ The Path of Life

You will make known to me the path of life; 

In Your presence is fullness of joy; 

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalm 16:11

Image ~ Butchart garden victoria canada - panoramio, 
bynyalcin [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Sunday Ponderings ~ Grace Alone

And he has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

 

 Grace Alone 
Scott Wesley Brown & Jeff Nelson
 
Every promise we can make,
Every prayer and step of faith,
Every difference we can make
Is only by His grace.

Every mountain we will climb,
Every ray of hope we shine,
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us, our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone.

Every soul we long to reach,
Every heart we hope to teach,
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace.

Every loving word we say,
Every tear we wipe away,
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace.

Grace alone which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us, our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone.

Sunday Ponderings ~ On Being Fruitful

We were reminded today that fruitfulness is a work of God, not our own work. Jesus Christ said that He is the vine, God is the vinedresser, and if we are Jesus’ disciples, we are the branches. The branches bear the fruit because of life in the vine through the care of the vinedresser. We cannot bear fruit without Christ’s life flowing through us. And we cannot bear fruit of our own making.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

It’s all of God. Our part is abiding in Him. It brings glory to Him because it's really not of our own doing.

My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples (v. 8). –Jesus

So I ask myself— Am I truly a disciple of Jesus, the Christ? Does my fruit give evidence of life in Him? Or am I trying to bear fruit through sheer determination and my own self effort?

Image ~ Grapes, cloudlynx via pixabay

CC0 Creative Commons

Sunday Ponderings ~ Dimmer Still

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

Photo ~ Sunlight in the Forest

Created by Danmir12 - Freepik.com

Sunday Ponderings ~ Anger, My Way

My ponderings today come from Ephesians 4, thoughts spawned from our pastor's sermon. Here the Apostle Paul is instructing believers to change their ways and live differently than they did as unbelievers. One aspect of change is that of anger: 

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil (v. 26-27).

Through the Apostle Paul, God is telling us not to sin in our anger. There is a positive form of anger that sets itself against wrong--anger at the taking of a life (whether born or yet-to-be-born), anger at injustice, anger at evil. There's much to be angry about in our broken-down, sinful world. Jesus was angry about some things, too. In being angry about what we should be angry about, however, we are not to let sin take us over. That nullifies the positive aspects of our anger.

How can we know if our anger is the good kind or the bad kind? As Pastor pointed out, it depends on who the focus is. Is it an unselfish anger based on love for God and those we love? Or is it selfish anger based on love for ourselves and how something goes against our own desires?

As Pastor was talking about how people can explode with anger and how harmful and sinful that is, my thoughts also went to those who implode with anger. That's more my style. Still harmful and sinful. Still giving opportunity to the devil.

Imploding anger is more the kind that we take to bed with us when the sun goes down. We lie there and think about it; we grow bitter and resentful and defensive; we make our case and how we'll deal with this the next opportunity we get. It smolders and takes its toll. And we've given opportunity to the devil to drain our soul. Not only this, but it grieves God who redeemed us.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (v.30)

What's the remedy for the bad kind of anger? It's replacing the bad thoughts with the good thoughts.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.(v. 31-32)

Our feelings always flow from our thoughts, and actions follow feelings. So we change how we think, which will change how we feel, which will change how we act or react.

I have a painted board sitting in our family room that says,

Be Kinder Than Necessary

It's hard to be kind when I don't feel like being kindly toward someone. It's hard to feel kindly when I'm thinking wrong thoughts toward them.

I think you get the idea.

I have Philippians 4:8 framed above my kitchen cabinets. One phrase per frame that reminds me how I should think. I constantly need reminded.

Whatever is true 

Whatever is honorable 

Whatever is right 

Whatever is pure 

Whatever is lovely 

Whatever is of good report

If there is any excellence and

If anything worthy of praise

Think on these things!

[emphasis mine!]

So I ask myself, "What are my thoughts about this?" What's my focus? God's ways? My ways? What am I thinking on?

Painting ~ Lady Reading by a Window, Thomas Benjamin Kennington 1856-1916
Wikimedia Commons public domain

Sunday Ponderings ~ A Thorn Among the Roses

I’ve been a follower of Jesus Christ for many, many years, and God continues to transform me through His Word. Over and again there’s that aha! moment, and I wonder why I didn’t see it like that before. I may be a slow learner, but I’m also thankful that God doesn’t show me everything about myself at once. I would be overwhelmed and probably want to give up. God doesn’t want that. He wants me to have hope that I can and will change into the likeness of His Son, eventually.

 

Why is it that I can’t shake off a certain nagging reminder of a particular weakness? I think it’s gone, then there it is again—like a tiny thorn in the flesh that’s not always visible, that’s not always ‘feelable’, but touched in just a certain way, I’m reminded that it’s still there. Very much there, and very, very bothersome.

II Corinthians 12:7-10—So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 

A thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan. Satan—he wanted Paul discouraged, and he wants me discouraged and reminded of my particular weakness. My flesh—my own inclinations and desires. A thorn—generally found in that which has benefit or beauty. I think of thorns among the roses. God has blessed me with a grandiflora of roses along life's way, but by human nature there are also thorns that keep reminding me to be careful among the blessings and benefits of life. 

Why? For one reason, as Paul said, it's to keep us from becoming conceited. Being a doer kind of person, I can very easily forget that the reason for the roses is God’s doing and not my own. Not only is it often difficult (most often difficult) for me to handle adversities or offenses, it’s also difficult for me to handle blessings (the roses) because I tend to use them for beautifying my own vista. More specifically, the thought I’ve been mulling over is that God wants to keep me from crediting myself with the presence of the blessing.

God wants me to show and give all glory to Him, not to myself. I hope (and where would we be without hope? That's what Satan wants to discourage.) that the next time that prickly thorn reminds me of my weakness that I’ll be content in knowing that God is wanting to keep me from being conceited—so that I can show His strength and His glory through my weakness; none of me. He wants me to be merely an instrument in His hands.

II Corinthians 12:7-10—So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Painting ~ Watering the Garden 1912, Daniel Ridgway Knight 1839-1924

Wikimedia Commons public domain

Sunday Ponderings ~ Submitting to Authority

Pondering today on Romans 13:1-7, where our pastor spoke from this morning. The passage tells us to be in subjection to the governing authorities, which are established by God. Opposing them is opposing God.

"Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves" (v. 1-2).

This is especially challenging when I disagree with the governing authorities. It's even more difficult when I don't like those in authority over me. But agreeing and liking aren't qualifiers in the command.

God intends for authority to be "a minister of God to you for good" (v. 4), and it would be more palatable if I knew that those in authority were interested in my good, but history attests to the fact that many in authority have been brutal to those under them. God deals with them justly, which we've seen in recent instances. He holds all of us accountable for our part in what He ordains.

Not only is authority to be a minister of good, but it is to punish wrongdoing--to be "an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil" (v.4). I've often heard it said that government can't/shouldn't legislate morality, but biblically that's not so. Here we see that government is to legislate against immorality, and what is that except providing for a moral climate?

Do I always submit to every directive of authority? Not when I'm directed to go against scripture. I'm to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29). And this is where my faith is tried in the furnace.

So as I ponder I ask myself, Do I willingly submit to those in authority over me, even if I don't like them or don't agree with them? Or do I do my own thing, or blatantly rebel? Or fuss and fume? Do I draw the line on submitting when it comes to going against biblical truth and commands? Or do I go along with politically correct behavior? Am I willing to be tried in the furnace by obeying God rather than man? Do I desire for dross to be released?

Painting ~ A Young Girl Reading (1890), Charlotte Weeks

Sunday Ponderings ~ Passive or Passionate?

Pondering this evening on the church at Laodicea, the church of apathetic, passive people in Revelation 3.  

'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot ; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.'

 

Our pastor spoke about this church today, how it was neither hot nor cold. He explained that the Laodiceans understood this metaphor because the city drew hot water from the hot springs in nearby Hierapolis and cold water from nearby Colossae. After traveling the distance and then sitting awhile, both became lukewarm and not useful for their intended purposes. Hot water is therapeutic and cold water refreshes, but lukewarm water does neither. The church at Laodicea was lukewarm, neither restorative nor refreshing.

God didn't have anything good to say about this church. In fact, He said they made Him sick because they thought they had need of nothing. Their own pride blinded them to their true need of Jesus Christ Himself.

'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.'

They didn't know their need, but God did. He told them to come to Him.

'I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.'

 Our need is always answered in Him. 

'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.'

But what we notice as well is that God turns the spotlight on the individual members of the church. He says,  

'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.'

The local church is made up of individual people who must open their own heart's door to communion with the Savior. This is the remedy He gives for spiritual apathy.

And so I ask myself, am I one of the apathetic ones in our church? Do I think I have no needs? (Oh, I know that I do!!)  Do I desire His reproof and discipline that I would be drawn back to Him? Am I quick, even zealous, to repent of my sins, to be restored back to His fellowship? Do I abide in communion with Him? Are my thoughts filled with Him throughout the day? Do my deeds prove me passive or passionate for God and His Kingdom ways?

Do I make God sick,.... or do I make Him sing?

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save , he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." ~ Zephaniah 3:17

Painting ~ Woman Reading, Henri Matisse, 1894

Sunday Ponderings ~ Ever Interceding

This week my thoughts and meditations are on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God's Son and the Savior of all who believe in Him for salvation, redeeming us back to the Living God. 

Today is referred to as Palm Sunday, a remembrance of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The same crowd that welcomed Him would be those that cry for His crucifixion in just one week's span. He knew that, yet He rode silently on. Just as silently as He would carry His cross to Golgotha's hill. 

Silence until...."Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." It's significant to note that while He was on the cross, He continued to pray for those who crucified Him, those who had deep, spiritual, eternal needs. It was such communion with the Father that had made lasting impression on His disciples earlier as they had been in fellowship with Him. Remember that they had asked Him, "Lord, teach us to pray."

Christ is ever interceding for those who know not what they do. That's most of us. Eternally grateful for His intercession on our behalf. 

Suspended on the cross! On His pale brow

Hang the cold drops of death; through every limb

The piercing torture rages; every nerve,

Stretched with excess of pain, trembles convulsed.

Now look beneath and view the senseless crowd;

How they deride His sufferings, how they shake

Their heads contemptuous, while the bitter taunt,

More bitter than the gall they gave, insults

The agony of Him on whom they gaze.

But hark! He speaks, and the still hovering breath

Wafts His last breath to all approving heaven:

"Forgive them, for they know not what they do!"

~ C.P Layard

Sunday Ponderings ~ On Worship

My ponderings today are on Romans 12:1-2.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

All too often we hear worship in terms of music--praise and worship music. But that's not what God calls worship. Given to us through the Apostle Paul, God says that worship is presenting ourselves holy and acceptable to God. Worship is to be all that we do, all that we are. 

How do we worship God? We worship God by 

(1) not being conformed to the values and thoughts and purposes of the world around us, but rather,

(2) by being transformed by the renewal of our mind to discern the values and thoughts and purposes of God's will.

The word 'acceptable' is repeated in verses 1 and 2. That's worth noting. When we think of what we offer God as worship, do we consider whether or not it's worthy of His acceptance? Or is it that we just feel good about what we've done and say we've done it for God? He says that to be acceptable, our worship is to be holy and good and perfect, coming from a renewed mind that is able to discern what the will of God is. 

  

Transformation is key. The mind is where transformation takes place. God's Word is where we learn to discern what is good and acceptable and perfect--what the will of God is. God's will is that I glorify Him (1 Peter 4:11). His will is that I love Him with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength, and all my mind (Luke 10:27).

So I ask myself--Do I glorify God or myself? Is what I offer to God holy? Does it reflect His character or the world's?  Do I offer my everyday living to Him--those things that my body does and thinks and values and purposes? Do I love Him with all my heart, soul, strength, and mind?

Is it about God....or is it about me?

Sunday Ponderings ~ Cling to the Good

My ponderings today come from a phrase in Romans 12:9, where our pastor spoke in church this morning.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

I've been thinking this afternoon about clinging to what is good. Pastor explained that the Greek word for cling means to permanently glue together.

And so I've been thinking that if I cling to what is good, if I am permanently bonded to what is good, by default I will abhor evil. Good and evil cannot coexist. They cannot bond. The more my mind is filled with good, evil will find no grip. Light and darkness cannot coexist. One dispels the other. God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).  

The problem arises as to where I allow my thoughts to go. As a believer, God's desire is that I be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). I should be continually changing more and more into His image. Less thoughts on the darkness of evil, and more thoughts on the goodness of light.

The Enemy of all things good would have us confused as to what is good and what is evil. He would even have us enjoying evil. Many people, even followers of Christ, find enjoyment watching evil played out before them on television or in movies. We cannot say that we abhor the evil that we enjoy watching.

And so, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I turn to His Word to learn what He says about these opposing forces. And in doing so, I separate myself from that which is evil and bond myself to that which is good.  

The underlying reason?  Let love be without hypocrisy. Let love be genuine.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength (Mark 12:30).

Clinging to that which is good, with all my heart.
Clinging to that which is good, with all my soul.
Clinging to that which is good, with all my mind.
Clinging to that which is good, with all my strength.

Permanently bonded.
And thankful for His mercy and grace.

Painting: Young Woman Reading ~ Mary Cassatt, 1876

.....