The Plumbline

God remembered us when we were down. His love never quits. Rescued us from the trampling boot. His love never quits. Takes care of everyone in time of need. His love never quits. Thank God, who did it all. His love never quits. (Psalm 136:23-26) We are reminded over and over again that God's love never quits - not less than twenty-six times in as many verses within this psalm. His - there is no other basis for our trust, nor our focus - it is him and him alone. Love - evident in nothing more revealing than his grace. NEVER - not just when the urge strikes him, but each and every time we need to see, feel, or experience it in some manner. Quits - as impossible as it is for God to lie, it is equally impossible for him to withhold his love from us. It is good to be reminded of things we have a tendency to forget, isn't it? Our mind wanders and finds distraction in the most unlikely places, all the while setting us up to forget who it is we have placed our trust in and to begin to

Circumstantial evidence - have you ever heard that term used? It means there is some form of evidence, but does it really prove whatever is being proven? Circumstantial evidence allows for more than one possibility to be presented - relying heavily upon 'inference' rather than a direct connection. My fingerprint on your phone doesn't mean I own it - it means I likely held it for a moment at some time. My DNA found in the genetic mapping of one of my children gives clear evidence that we are entirely related. One is circumstantial - inferring a connection; the other is direct evidence - confirming the connection without any doubt. God gives us direct evidence of his love for us in his Son - yet I wonder how many times we look at the 'circumstantial evidence' trying to convince us that God feels we still don't 'measure up'? We can give a whole lot of credence to 'circumstances' and forget there is one who has already made a direct connection that

Okay, it is no secret - I like watching those shows that feature detectives solving some murder case, or finding robbers gone wild. I like to put together the pieces as they unfold on the screen, following along with the plot, and trying to think one step ahead past the commercial to 'solve' the next clue in the case. No matter what show I watch, the basis of the conviction of the criminal is all based on the evidence gathered. If it is flimsy at best, the conviction will not stand. It needs to be 'rock solid' if it is to stand up under the scrutiny of a judge's review. I wonder what evidence Christ has verified in each of our lives - is it really apparent, so all can see? Will it stand up under scrutiny? Will we be able to reveal a life-change has occurred? If not, perhaps we might want to consider how evidence is actually revealed and what purpose evidence fulfills! Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open