The Plumbline

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT) God's peace is no further away than our prayers. When we share our heart with Jesus, acknowledging our failures and opening up to him about more than our 'wants', we will find his peace entering into our troubled spirits afresh each time we spend this time with him. His peace isn't something we 'earn' by reciting various prayers - it is something we experience because we have opened up in honesty to him. We surely will never understand how God can take the most frustrating of circumstances with their jumble of emotions and give us a settle peace deep within. It isn't that we figured out the solution. It isn't that the situation changes. It is that we are changed o...

Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever. (Psalm 15 NLT) Blameless lives - can any of us actually say we have or are living blameless lives? I dare not imagine what would be the outcome of your inspection of my life! I have lived far short of blameless! The only thing that makes it possible for me to approach a holy God is the holiness of Jesus. The only thing that makes it possible for you to approach a holy God is the holiness of Jesus and his grace applied...