There is an end to evil. Though it seems to rise triumphant, it will not prevail, nor those who revel in it.
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Month: July 2017
The Bigger Picture
“Life will always seem unfair when we measure it by earthly standards of health, wealth and power. But when we encounter God in a personal, intimate way…we can gain a heavenly perspective. We’ll begin to see the other part of the picture—that the rewards of this life are temporary and, as a matter of fact, can even hinder us from discovering what is truly important.” (Philip Yancey & Tim Stafford)
Photo Credit: Free photo: Clearwater Villa Ocean View – Free Image on Pixabay …
Chasing After The Wind
The things of the earth are fading, failing—a mere chasing after the wind. But it is NEVER in vain to pursue the things of heaven while here on earth.
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13 Reasons to Live: It’s Not in Vain
I love a man named Asaph. Yes, he lived about 3,000 years ago and no, I’ve never met him. He’s one of the lesser-known writers of the psalms. Lesser, I say, because we all know about King David and tend to mistakenly attribute all the psalms to him. But Asaph had a lot to say, and that’s what I love about him. And when it comes to those gut-wrenchingly honest psalms, Asaph’s are just about as raw as they get.
Psalm 73 is one of my favorites. Here, Asaph divulges his struggles, zeroing in on a time when his “foot almost slipped.” He’d fallen into the common trap of envy, though in this case he envied the wicked—not because they were wicked, but because they seemed to prosper in all they did.
Why were those whose hearts were bent on evil so graced with problem-free lives? They did whatever they wanted, hurting whoever they wanted along the way, and yet they lived on, “free from common human burdens.”
Oh, how I relate to Asaph. Sometimes, I echo his lament, “Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.”
I echo this, but I know in my heart that Asaph moved beyond that lament as must I. His thinking was mired in despair until he “entered the sanctuary of God.” It was there, he understood.
There is an end to evil. Though it seems to rise triumphant, it will not prevail, nor those who revel in it.
An eternal perspective transforms our narrow, earth-bound perspective. It elevates our thinking, to remember, “my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
The things of the earth are fading, failing—a mere chasing after the wind. But it is NEVER in vain to pursue the things of heaven while here on earth. Because there will come a day when we will finally see eternity. And it’s gonna be worth it.
“Life will always seem unfair when we measure it by earthly standards of health, wealth and power. But when we encounter God in a personal, intimate way…we can gain a heavenly perspective. We’ll begin to see the other part of the picture—that the rewards of this life are temporary and, as a matter of fact, can even hinder us from discovering what is truly important.” (Philip Yancey & Tim Stafford)
Photo Credit: Free stock photo of sea, beach, footprint www.pexels.com
There Will Come A Time
there will come a time
when the storm will pass
the clouds will break
and the sun will shine
but for a moment
sorrows last
soon you’ll embrace
the joy you find
there will come a time
when the fire dies
the smoke will clear
you’ll breathe once more
and from the ashes
you will rise
each loss to forge
an open door
there will come a time
when the mountain’s scaled
the conquered valley
now in view
and though you’ve stumbled
fallen, failed
your strength
will finally be renewed
there will come a time
when wars will cease
the endless, raging battle
won
a healing song
will be released
and through it
you’ll have overcome
there will come a time
when fear is gone
tears, sorrow, pain
will be no more
from burdened lives
we will move on
through heaven’s waiting
open door
Photo Credit: Full double rainbow.jpg – Wikimedia Commons
A Crown
Nothing is Wasted
Nothing is useless, and nothing is wasted. In the hands of a master craftsman, even what most would view as junk can be turned into a priceless treasure.
Photo Credit: buried treasure | Sterling Ely | Flickr
This Life & Beyond 
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