A Few Thoughts on God from Romans 8:28-30

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."  Romans 8:28-30

• God is sovereign, He runs the universe, and what He is able to do is mind-boggling...
• God is stunningly amazing, bigger than I can even remotely attempt to comprehend, because He is working for the good of His elect, all at the same time, not wasting anything that happens to accomplish this good...
• God is purposeful and it revolves around His Son; God holds His Son in the highest esteem...
• God was before the beginning and has planned the end from the beginning in the lives of His elect and sees it already as accomplished...
• God transforms lives, for the glory of His Son...

Conclusion - Wow...

!

Three Reasons Today Has Been a Good Day...

• The Lord's mercies were new this morning...
• He took the chaos and hurt His children created and turned it into their good...
• We are one day closer to His return...

And tomorrow will be a good day too, for the very same reasons, and a whole lot more...

Woke up Tuesday morning thinking how this shouts volumes as to who God is, and His character...as He is in His character, we are correspondingly blessed.  We cannot fully grasp the greatness of our God.  I think this means we cannot accurately fathom how blessed we are, but we can respond with praises and with a life lived in humble submission, diligent service, and joyful obedience to Him.

Daniel Turns Two...

It's hard to believe it's been two years since Daniel began being a sweet blessing in our lives...

He turned two, today!

Enjoy the whole album by clicking here.

What I've Been up to Lately...

No, the rapture hasn't happened...I've just been in Michigan and I've been playing with my grandsons!

I had the privilege of meeting the famous Danish while in Michigan...  Dane, you are just as kind and friendly as I imagined you would be, and just as tall, too!  I love your heart for children...

I spent two Bible studies and an afternoon with my sweet friend Beth...

...Mia and Sophie, Beth's fun girls...

I ate too many of the best chocolate chip cookies in the world...(I now know the secret to the recipe, and the dough, the dough is to die for...I've requested it for part of my meal at the marriage feast in heaven...)

I enjoyed a gorgeous Michigan sunset...

...definitely one of the highlights of the trip was meeting and holding Kristen's grandbabies!

...believe me, they are identical!
(Ashley is on the left and Norah is on the right...)

...this is my favorite image from the whole trip...magazine cover worthy, don't you think?!

Your babies are precious, dear friend.  They are going to grow up with the blessing of a family that loves and cherishes them as beautiful gifts from the Lord.  I pray with you, that they will never know a life without Him.  Thanks for a great, great week!

I said I've been playing with my grandsons, too.  On Tuesday, we took them up to Mt. Rainier, and stopped at a park on the way...  Daniel wasn't too sure about the first time down the slide...

 But he was fine the second, and third, and fourth time...

There was a bear sighting at Mt. Rainier, but it was quite friendly...

...and there is still 15 feet of snow in the parking lot at Paradise!

I think this little bear's bottom was a bit cold...

So now you're caught up, on what I've been up too, lately!

Why I Believe the Rapture Won't Happen Today

There's a pretty simple reason why I believe the rapture will not happen today.  It's because both Jesus and Paul said we would see something occur first.  Jesus pointed to the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place, spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Dan. 9:27) - we will see that, before He comes and gathers the elect.  (Matthew 24:15-31 - What Jesus told His disciples, He was telling us, as well - Mt. 28:19,20.)  And Paul said the man of lawlessness would be revealed, taking his seat in the temple, exalting himself as God, before Jesus comes and we are gathered to Him.  (2 Th. 2:1-4)  No man knows the day or the hour, just as Jesus said, (Mt. 24:36) but we also know that day or hour falls after a very important event - and we are also told that following the abomination of desolation the worst persecution ever against God's chosen will break out.  But thankfully Jesus' return cuts this persecution off before all of God's chosen are killed - Mt. 24:22.

If you are wondering why I understand the elect in this passage to include the church, it is because Jesus is giving instruction to the founders of the church.  In Mt. 23, He had just told His beloved Jerusalem that her house was being left desolate.  Israel will see the Messiah again, but only after they have repented and say, "BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!"  When Jesus moves into Mt. 24, He is now focused on instruction to His soon to be formed church.  Also, in Mt. 24, Jesus is answering the disciple's question about the end of the age.  Jesus told us He will be with us, all of His followers, until the end of the age - Mt. 28:19,20.  His clear instruction in Mt. 24 is that the end of the age occurs when the great tribulation is cut short.

Beloved, be prepared to be the laughing stock of the world, and to be mocked at, when we speak of the Lord's return, and He is returning in judgment.  Paul addresses that in the first chapter of 2 Th.  He tells us that at the return of Christ, Jesus will repay with affliction, those who are being afflicted.  Paul is speaking of the elect who are undergoing the great tribulation prior the Lord's coming.  Jesus is coming with His angels in flaming fire, to deal out retribution to those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus - 2 Th. 1:6-10.  The mocking and scoffing will just get worse as we get nearer to the return of Christ.  Peter tells us that would happen.  (2 Peter 3:3,4)

We are seeing the wars and rumors of wars, aren't we?  And the earthquakes, and those who claim to be Christ.  Let's keep our eyes on Jerusalem.  We have the signs.  Watch for the signs, then look for His return.

And by the way, just so you know, I stand with Israel...

Charlie

How can I not be in love?!

Maximum Happiness Doesn't Just Happen

How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart  - Psalm 119:2. 


Here's a truth about happiness.  Maximum happiness doesn't just happen.  Real joy doesn't just fall in our laps.  Maximum happiness occurs when we are living in God's revelation and walking in His ways.  Maximum happiness occurs when we are searching out the Lord with all-out effort and complete commitment. Notice the action and effort words that are in bold.  Then notice the result word in blue.  

I enjoyed these thoughts of Spurgeon on this verse:

"The further a soul advances in grace the more spiritual and divine are its longings: an outward walk does not content the gracious soul; it reaches out in due time after God Himself, and when it in a measure finds Him, still yearns for more of Him, and seeks Him still."

We will not advance in grace without being in His Word.  We seek the Lord by being in His Word.  As we grow in our knowledge of Him, the longings for Him gain in intensity as well as our desire to please Him.  Our obedience of faith, our observing God's testimonies and seeking Him with 100% commitment exalts Him and brings Him joy and He has designed us in such a way that it is also when we experience happiness and joy in fullest measure.