The Plumbline

The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of one's self to others. (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin) Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who lie to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don't get tired of doing what is good. don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters. (Galatians 6:8-10) How satisfied are you with life right now? If you can answer that one with a 'pretty doggone satisfied', then you are likely liking life right now. If the answer is 'not so well', you are probably in the process of trying to make some changes to your life. Since we all go through seasons of making change in our life, it is likely we have hit this wall on occasion. We get t...

How many times do we venture into things without thinking? If you are anything like me, you have probably undertaken a few things you'd look back on now and admit freely you had no business getting involved in that task or doing whatever it was that got you into the muddle it did. If you were to ask me to describe a characteristic about God which most could understand, I'd have to say my first inclination would be to describe him as a God of "second chances". He has many attributes, but the one which speaks to me the most is his grace. Grace is undeserved favor - it is God giving us a second chance (and often a third, fourth, fifth, ad infinitum ). Do you know what 'ad infinitum' means? Again and again, in the same way, forever! Whether it is one of us that finds ourselves 'in a bad way', or another God brings across our paths, the answer is always the same - we need his grace! Next, God spoke to Jonah a second time : "Up on your feet and on ...