The Plumbline

Ever feel like you have a "personal enemy" just lurking at your back?  You know, that eerie feeling that you just cannot escape some sense of doom and gloom that hangs heavy over your head?  Yep, we all go through that on occasion - no matter how "spiritual" we are!  Guess what - we DO have a personal enemy - he is called Satan.  His mission in life is to make our life miserable as much as possible - especially if we have committed to living by the principles laid out in scripture and entered into the grace God extends through the life of Christ.  He makes it his point to muster his forces to attempt to dissuade us from that pursuit.  Here's the good news - you'd not be the object of his attacks if you weren't living the way Jesus wants you to! Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same wit...

Lonesome:  Depressed or sad because of a lack of companionship; separate, apart, isolated from others.  There are varying degrees of loneliness - even though people are surrounded by other people, it is quite possibly one of the most "alone" times of their lives.  The presence of people never guarantees the lifting of the spirit, but the presence of God in your life does! And how blessed all those in whom you live,   whose lives become roads you travel; t hey wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,   discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!   God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and   at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!  (Psalm 84:5-7 MSG) The ideas laid out in our passage today are multi-faceted, but there are a few I'd like to explore this morning: - If God lives IN a man, there is a sense of blessing, of happiness and awareness of the deep fortune one has in being inhabited by the Lord of the Universe....

I like salty treats - even to the point of craving them sometimes.  Whenever I consume them though, I usually end up drinking a lot of water - because they make me thirsty.  In the end, they leave me thirsty for a long time, not just while I am taking them in.  My body simply cannot process all the sodium in the salty treats without a whole lot of water.  In fact, whenever we find ourselves in the midst of the "excesses" of life, we often crave what we most need to help us deal with the excess. God—you're my God! I can't get enough of you!  I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God,  traveling across dry and weary deserts. (Psalm 63:1 The Message) So, we crave what we most need to deal with what we find ourselves enduring!  Sometimes we are "enduring" stuff by our own doing - like when I eat a huge bowl of Cheezits or eat a whole candy bar.  The sodium from one and the sugar from the other just cause me to "crave" the very thing which...

I call out at the top of my lungs,  " God ! Answer! I'll do whatever you say."     I called to you, "Save me  so I can carry out all your instructions."     I was up before sunrise,  crying for help, hoping for a word from you.     I stayed awake all night,  prayerfully pondering your promise.     In your love, listen to me;  in your justice,  God , keep me alive.  (Psalm 119:145-149 The Message) Desperation is condition in which hope has faded - - there is a sense of hopelessness, a sense of just wanting to give up.  These are the times when we are often heard just crying out to God, "Hey, are you listening here???"  It is our "God! Answer!"  There are times I think God has allowed me to get to the place of "God! Answer! I am pretty desperate here!"  Yep, you read that right - - he allowed it!  He put me in a place where I came sma...

I'm homesick—longing for your salvation;  I'm waiting for your word of hope.   My eyes grow heavy watching for some sign of your promise;  how long must I wait for your comfort?  There's smoke in my eyes—they burn and water,  but I keep a steady gaze on the instructions you post.   How long do I have to put up with all this?  How long till you haul my tormentors into court?   The arrogant godless try to throw me off track,  ignorant as they are of God and his ways.  Everything you command is a sure thing,  but they harass me with lies. Help!   They've pushed and pushed—they never let up— but I haven't relaxed my grip on your counsel.   In your great love revive me  so I can alertly obey your every word. (Psalm 119:81-88 The Message) I don't think I have ever experienced homesickness like I did that first week of Basic Training when I went into the US Army.  Those first seven d...

12  By yourself you're unprotected.    With a friend you can face the worst.    Can you round up a third?    A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped. (Ecclesiastes 4:12) The Book of Ecclesiastes is not usually the first book I turn to when trying to find uplifting, encouraging words to fill my thoughts.  As a matter of fact, Solomon spent a great deal of time "bemoaning" the fate or futility of whatever he considered.  He has a lot of "negative" things to say about life - and he pours out his heart in the many verses contained within the book.  Interwoven every so often is a nougat of truth that will pop out like the one above - illuminating a truth that speaks volumes. By yourself you're unprotected!  We are not meant to stand alone - though we may try, we will fail.  There is a principle taught from the very beginning of time that we need each other.  From the creation story forward, man was not me...