Today's Word
Growing Up part two
"God has stood by me, just as he promised, and I'm standing here saying what I've been saying to anyone, whether king or child, who will listen. And everything I'm saying is completely in line with what the prophets and Moses said would happen: One, the Messiah must die; two, raised from the dead, he would be the first rays of God's daylight shining on people far and near, people both godless and God-fearing." Acts 26:22-23 (MSG)

                                                                                 Today's Reflection

“God stood by me” writes the apostle Paul after two years of unjust imprisonment with only the promise of more incarceration to come.

When things go awry in your life, do you find yourself saying, “God stood by me” or do you find yourself complaining, blaming others or blaming God?

Kathy and I watched a movie a few months ago called “Everything’s Fine”. In it Robert DeNiro (spoiler alert) played the single father of four adult children who were telling their dad how successful they were. The movie follows the dad as he visits each child and discovers that everything is far from fine in their lives and it’s crushing to him. However, at the end he is able to proclaim, after coming to grips with the truth, “everything’s fine”.

In these last several years of my life, I have come to be able to say, “everything’s fine in God’s good world”. “God has stood by me and been faithful” Life has gotten harder and better at the same time. Every time I face a difficulty which seems insurmountable, I see along with it redemption and restoration just around the corner or at least around the next corner after that or the next one. It’s coming. Why is everything fine, when brokenness, pain and troubles abound? Because the worst thing is never the last thing.  Jesus Christ is raised from the dead.

Today's Prayer

“Father, I choose to give no heed to any spirit of complaint, blame or negativity that exists in me. Yet, in my own power I cannot succeed in this. Lord Jesus at the very moment I need you to control my worst thoughts and corresponding words, please intervene and cause your spirit to prevail. In Jesus' Name. Amen."