One more difficult day is coming to an end. You used to have dreams for a better life, but having dreams seems just a dream itself. You take one step forward to seeing dreams accomplished but life throws you back two steps. Something or someone interferes with your progress until hope itself is just a dream. Some still say there is a Loving God, but where is He in your misery or misfortune. If He truly exists, why is He allowing this or not helping? Any prayers seem to go unanswered, and the flicker of hope diminishes.
Why would a Loving God step in with people who live their selfish, evil lives as they want, not as this Loving God says is the best way to live? We want rewards for the good things we do and accomplish but not the harsh consequences of the accidental or intended bad things we do to others or even ourselves. Let us have the good consequences but not the bad ones. We think we know what's best for us -- what we want to happen and how it should happen. A "Loving" God would give us or let us have what we want but otherwise not tell us how we should live. And He would do it how we think He should: We know what's best for us ... until we don't and everything falls apart. Then we want or expect a truly "loving' God to step in and make everything right ... so we can go back to doing things our way.
A Loving God does see and care about what's happening and does make preparations to help us, but He also sees and understands our hearts and inner intentions. He does not split the skies and send an angelic warrior to destroy our enemies or wave a magic wand to take away our painful situation and give us what we want. He does it in ways that can truly rectify the situation and our lives.
A Loving God sends someone who can understand what our lives are like by living life himself. He sends a child to live and mature among us. He protects that child from those who would destroy him, those powers-that-be who would have their control and will continue, however it affects you. That maturing child, who would save us, is fully committed to the mission this Loving God sends him to accomplish, a mission that would turn our hearts -- our desires, dreams, and intentions -- back to Him, understanding that He, not We, knows what's best for us ultimately because He knows us better than we know ourselves and knows the consequences that follow our actions, whether good or bad, and desires what is best for us, not just what is good.
But do We want what (He knows) is best for us, or are We so committed only to what We want that We don't see Him working among us to bring us this best?
We still celebrate our Loving God saving His chosen people thousands of years ago from oppression and servitude, only for those people to complain and reject His best way to freedom in Him. But their descendants grew to follow His way and entered their Promised Land of desires fulfilled ... until further descendants rejected His way to follow their own way, their selfish desires, because they thought they knew what was best for them . . . and ultimately lost their Promised Land.
Again, our Loving God sees and understands our self-centered frame of mind and heart and intentions. Again, two thousand years ago, He sent a baby born and nurtured according to His ways and intentions, saving Him from the destruction intended by the powers-that-be at that time, nurtured to bring, not just our actions, but our hearts and intentions to His best way of life. He came, lived among us, showed us His Way, and died so that our hearts and desires could change to match those of our Loving God and so that We can live the best life He intends for us . . .
. . . if we so truly desire and choose it.
"Promise and Hope: Good News of God's Anointed One" (2024)
A wonderful and one of the best blessings in life is family. Very gracious of you to share. A great rendition of one of my favorite songs. Merry Christmas!
Enjoyed Mariah's rendition of the wonderful Holy Night. Thank you. Wishing you all a joyous Christmas having placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, Savior and King.
Very good rendition.
Why We celebrate:
One more difficult day is coming to an end. You used to have dreams for a better life, but having dreams seems just a dream itself. You take one step forward to seeing dreams accomplished but life throws you back two steps. Something or someone interferes with your progress until hope itself is just a dream. Some still say there is a Loving God, but where is He in your misery or misfortune. If He truly exists, why is He allowing this or not helping? Any prayers seem to go unanswered, and the flicker of hope diminishes.
Why would a Loving God step in with people who live their selfish, evil lives as they want, not as this Loving God says is the best way to live? We want rewards for the good things we do and accomplish but not the harsh consequences of the accidental or intended bad things we do to others or even ourselves. Let us have the good consequences but not the bad ones. We think we know what's best for us -- what we want to happen and how it should happen. A "Loving" God would give us or let us have what we want but otherwise not tell us how we should live. And He would do it how we think He should: We know what's best for us ... until we don't and everything falls apart. Then we want or expect a truly "loving' God to step in and make everything right ... so we can go back to doing things our way.
A Loving God does see and care about what's happening and does make preparations to help us, but He also sees and understands our hearts and inner intentions. He does not split the skies and send an angelic warrior to destroy our enemies or wave a magic wand to take away our painful situation and give us what we want. He does it in ways that can truly rectify the situation and our lives.
A Loving God sends someone who can understand what our lives are like by living life himself. He sends a child to live and mature among us. He protects that child from those who would destroy him, those powers-that-be who would have their control and will continue, however it affects you. That maturing child, who would save us, is fully committed to the mission this Loving God sends him to accomplish, a mission that would turn our hearts -- our desires, dreams, and intentions -- back to Him, understanding that He, not We, knows what's best for us ultimately because He knows us better than we know ourselves and knows the consequences that follow our actions, whether good or bad, and desires what is best for us, not just what is good.
But do We want what (He knows) is best for us, or are We so committed only to what We want that We don't see Him working among us to bring us this best?
We still celebrate our Loving God saving His chosen people thousands of years ago from oppression and servitude, only for those people to complain and reject His best way to freedom in Him. But their descendants grew to follow His way and entered their Promised Land of desires fulfilled ... until further descendants rejected His way to follow their own way, their selfish desires, because they thought they knew what was best for them . . . and ultimately lost their Promised Land.
Again, our Loving God sees and understands our self-centered frame of mind and heart and intentions. Again, two thousand years ago, He sent a baby born and nurtured according to His ways and intentions, saving Him from the destruction intended by the powers-that-be at that time, nurtured to bring, not just our actions, but our hearts and intentions to His best way of life. He came, lived among us, showed us His Way, and died so that our hearts and desires could change to match those of our Loving God and so that We can live the best life He intends for us . . .
. . . if we so truly desire and choose it.
"Promise and Hope: Good News of God's Anointed One" (2024)
Amazing voice and a very talented pianist--HA ! What would one expect from you Billy?
Merry Christmas!
Mariah's performance is magnificent! What an unexpected delight.
Your best post by far, Mr. Bill.
Thank you.
Beautiful rendition of a beautiful song about a Holy night made Holy by a truly Holy Lord Jesus our Savior.Merry Christmas and Peace to all!
A wonderful and one of the best blessings in life is family. Very gracious of you to share. A great rendition of one of my favorite songs. Merry Christmas!
Enjoyed Mariah's rendition of the wonderful Holy Night. Thank you. Wishing you all a joyous Christmas having placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, Savior and King.
Thank you Bill. I greatly appreciate your wit. But I appreciate this more.
Wayne