The Plumbline

Respect the Lord and be humble. Then you will have wealth, honor, and true life. (Proverbs 22:4) If you have wondered what it takes to live a "blessed life", then you have to look no further than the examples we find in scripture. Yes, there is a whole lot of tragedy and suffering recorded in those pages, but all are written so we can live a blessed life. We are to learn much from our suffering - to be made stronger and grow in our relationship with Jesus and others. A blessed life is one in which the Lord receives the right placement and the right honor. When we are humble enough to acknowledge we have need of the Savior's oversight and work in our lives, we begin the journey toward true blessing. As long as we hold onto the reins of our lives, we won't realize the blessing of being in his protective care. It is much more work to hold on than it is to let go. As "hard" as we may think it is to "let go" of those reins, it is much, much harder...

Get out of my life, evildoers,  so I can keep my God's commands.   Take my side as you promised; I'll live then for sure.   Don't disappoint all my grand hopes.   Stick with me and I'll be all right;  I'll give total allegiance to your definitions of life.    Expose all who drift away from your sayings;  their casual idolatry is lethal.   You reject earth's wicked as so much rubbish;  therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say.   I shiver in awe before you;  your decisions leave me speechless with reverence. (Psalm 119:115-120 The Message) Do you remember "taking sides" in some game you played as kids?  You'd all stand on the sideline, two people would pair off as the "captains" of the teams, and then one-by-one each person on the sideline would be "picked" to be on one of those teams.  I remember being disappointed at times because I may not have been the best at some particu...