The Plumbline

Purge:  To rid of whatever is impure or undesirable; to clear away; to remove as by cleansing.  If you have ever put your laundry in the washer, only to find that stain you had "thought" was pre-treated with some magic substance guaranteeing its removal is still there, just a tiny bit less noticeable than before you put it in, you probably will understand what I am about to say.  Some stains have a way of driving us all nuts!  We try all our known resources to get them out - from the pre-treats, to the scrubs, and even the industrial strength stuff.  Yet, they remain stubbornly evident!  What on earth is up with that?  If the truth be told, we don't even remember "what" caused the stain, we only see the evidence it exists!  So, how on earth do we really know what resource to use on it in the first place? When you put us through the fire to purge us from our sin, our dearest idols go up in smoke.  (Psalm 39:11 MSG) This is ...

I have had only a few relationships in life where I would hold nothing back - sharing from my heart, opening up freely, knowing those individuals would not pick me apart because of some of the things I struggle with.  It is a rare find to find one so trustworthy.  You know, I didn't start out with these kind of friends, though.  It took a long time to find these most trusted individuals!  Yet, in the places where I had no one in the "natural" sense to open up to, I always had God.  I think this is where I first learned the value of having someone I could open up to!  Trusting him first with my life's secrets and struggles was the secret to me finding those whom he placed in my path who would become some of my greatest allies, toughest "critics", and most loving companions in this journey. Open up before  God , keep nothing back;  he’ll do whatever needs to be done:   He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day  and stamp you wit...