The Plumbline

Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself. (Walter Anderson) We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! (Romans 5:3-5) What comes our way in life is a combination of what is sought, provided, and allowed. We seek things such as a good car, bargains at the grocery store, or the most cost-effective way to get that vacation we desire. Other things are p...

Open my eyes so that I can see all the wonderful things in your teachings. (Psalm 119:18) Most of the time, the main thing we need in life is to see things just a bit clearer. We have a general idea of what may be happening, or where we may be headed, but we seldom see the bigger picture of all that will be involved as we get from here to there. We need eyes opened, hearts prepared, minds cleared of certain expectations, and a willingness to move forward. There is no greater thing we can seek than to ask God to do just that in our lives! The teachings of today may not amount to 'the whole deal', but they will add to the ones from yesterday, preparing us for the ones tomorrow will bring, but we need to be patient as God unfolds them to us. When things unfold just a little bit here and there for us, we can get a little impatient waiting for the final reveal, can't we? What happens when we set out on a journey? We have a destination in mind, don't we? We 'sort of'...

Is:  To exist or live; to occupy a place or position; to continue or remain as before.  A small word, but it tells us much, doesn't it?  One that "is" really is one who exists and lives - occupying a placement or position unlike any other.  The most amazing part of the definition of "is" can be found in the last part - the concept of continuing or remaining as before - unchanged by what has come or what lies ahead.  This is the definition of the character of God - unchanged by what has been - what is today - or what will come in the future.  Solomon spends a great deal of time outlining all the accomplishments of a man on a quest - getting more of everything, living without restraint, not held back by anything.  He even tells us of his tremendous struggle with "accumulating" all (wisdom, houses, wives, lands, personal property - you name it).  It comes at a price - after all is said and done, time spent and body worn, nothing really all that satis...

Most would think of a "circumstance" as something which modifies or influences what will happen - what the outcome will be.  When we have the right one in charge of the "circumstances", there is no "modifier" beyond our ability to deal! Lord , change our circumstances for the better,  like dry streams in the desert waste!   Let those who plant with tears   reap the harvest with joyful shouts. Let those who go out,   crying and carrying their seed,   come home with joyful shouts,   carrying bales of grain!   (Psalm 126:4-6 CEB) Do you know what a drought is?  It the simplest sense, it is a period of "dryness".  Most "dry spells" are not a matter of our doing.  They are "circumstances" beyond our control.  In the times of "dryness" there is much at work attempting to modify our responses - perhaps even shaping our outcome, as a result.  In the time of dryness we have a couple of options: 1) Scheme our way through...