The Plumbline

I have been in stores and observed tags which read, "As Is".  Whenever I see these, I chuckle a little under my breath because people are willing to buy things with "flaws", simply because they are a bargain.  The "deal" associated with the "As Is" condition of the object really doesn't matter too much - you can hide the small "ding", or use a "blemish stick" to cover over the scratch. When it comes to other human beings, we often see the "flaws" as too much to deal with!  The "dings" and "scratches" and the announced "As Is" condition really make it hard to accept them.  One of the most difficult things in life is to be who we really are - no pretense, no made-up fronts - just plain and simply "us".  Why?  It is probably a combination of things, but one of the most obvious is our sense of others not being willing to accept us "as we are". I'd like to challen...

Have you ever received a letter which appears to be "handwritten" on the outside of the envelope, only to find it was a clever "computer" version of address which just made it look like it was specifically for you?  They get more clever all the time in marketing their advertised specials, credit offers, etc., by using technology to make it look like they want you "personally" to be aware of their "event".  God doesn't use the "clever tactics" of marketing to get our attention - he selects individual who will speak into our lives.  Why?  He knows there is something powerful about a living, breathing testimony for us to pattern our lives after.  These guys who write using their clever technology don't really have any authority to speak into your lives, but God does.  He even creates specific encounters just for us so we will have those things spoken into our lives which we most need to hear in the moments of our lives when we are ...