Saturday, March 23, 2013

Life is...





 
Life is big.
At times it can feel like you are standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon with the expectation that you are intended to reach the opposite end in a single jump.
 
Life is scary.
There are days when the idea of leaving through the front door and stepping into the unknown can cause a puddle of fear to pool in your stomach.
 
Life is hard.
Each day a new choice, a new decision, a new avenue, a new hardship and a new responsibilty must be acquired.
 
Life is big and it is scary and it is hard - but - life is also wonderful, beautiful and an adventure.
 
Life is both the bad and the good.
Life is a series of expecations - exceeded and missed.
Life is a true gift from God - one that we are not always so thankful to receive.
 
The prophet Jeremiah was called the Weeping Prophet because most of the news he shared with Israel was depressing. But even in the midst of the bad news of war, destruction, death, hatred and abuse, Jeremiah was able to share the hope God had for His people.
 
The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.
Jeremiah 33:14
 
Woven throughout the 33rd chapter of Jeremiah, the Lord shares with Israel the desolation and destruction they will endure at the hand of their enemies, but He also tells His beloved people that He will restore their home, health and happiness.
 
Yes, Israel had to endure severe hardships, but He promises them a restoration of their relationship with God and His blessing on their nation.
 
Through His message to the Israelites, the Lord makes each of us the same promise.
He tells how some days our lives will stink.
We will face hardships.
We will lose battles.
We will become ill.
We will suffer extinction of wealth.
We will be miserable.
but
We have hope.
We can be restored to His good favor.
We can know that His love endures.
Wcan be assured that our sufferings will pass.
We can know that He will never forsake us.
 
Life is both good and bad experiences.
But regardless of whether we are up or down we are promised that He is always with us.
And we are promised that His love will endure forever.

That is a promise in life that makes the bad days turn into good ones.

Scripture
Jeremiah 33

Quote

 "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." ~Erma Bombeck