Wednesday, May 10, 2017

DON'T FORGET YOUR "NOT ONLY THIS" BACKPACK AS YOU HEAD OUT

Life is a swirl sometimes.  While we aren't alive without it (life), some seldom feel alive with it.  The latter is a most serious tragedy.  I watch too many walking, talking, breathing in and out, people who do many things...many things...except really live.

There seems to be one reason for such a deadening factor.  There seems to be a denial, a refusal, to walk the slopes of struggling terrain.  Smooth roads?  Fresh-air walks?  Ah, count us all in.  But...but that is hardly life for there are no exceptions when it comes to facing a multiplicity of factors we frankly do not like.

Do not forgot to take your "not only this" backpack as you head out the door.  You.  Will.  Need.  It.

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.  And NOT ONLY THIS, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us....Romans 5:1-5

Yes, indeed, because of the Holy Spirit and Him only, we are quite able to persevere with intentional (even expectational) hope.  Our perplexities are resolved before they begin because the Holy Spirit is going to make a Yes out of Yes-moments and even a Yes out of No-moments.  Friend, you don't buy this element at a store.  Rather, you receive Him at baptism.  Free Him up to do His work...within...you.

Obstacles and opposition are strewn along the way...our way.  Sometimes these waters rage above flood level with intent to cause us to sink.  Yet, we will not drown.  No, rather via the Holy Spirit, we will learn to actually walk atop such intimidation and threat.  Before faith, we are sunk.  With faith, to the contrary, we arise because we have within our grasp our "not only this" Holy Spirit which....changes everything!

Rough day?  Sometimes.  Want to live in anxious frustration?  Sterile disappointment?   Not necessary.  Faith, my friend, is not a religious step-child which begs for occasional attention as we go about doing our doing.  No, it turns out that faith is the lead horse as it determines whether we think God can make something from nothing and whether He really could possibly give life to the dead...Roman 4:17.

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