Until Now the Lord has Helped Us

I walk past the TV. The kids are watching a movie. The story is at a point where almost all are in despair because of the profoundly dark circumstances. As I walk past, one character says to the other, (the other being the rightful king who is walking in the world as rejected, but is leading a faithful few in their mission), "You have led us through this far, it was wrong of me to lose hope, forgive me".

Well, that caught me unprepared. I wasn't expecting to hear such a valid quote line from walking past while a movie was playing. I have to remind myself daily: Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. Since He doesn't change, He's not going to stop either. Almost daily, something dark and unconquerable presents itself. It's certainly wrong of me to lose hope. It's a sin.

Enclosing God

"You can't put God in a box."

I've heard that ever since going to a Christian college in the early 80's. Yet, we do that quite often. How often do we think, or hear someone say, "God can't use that, it's the wrong kind of _____ or it's associated with ______, so it won't further His glory or His Gospel."

But - He does. You find out later that someone came to the Lord for salvation because of it. Yes, it's ugly, weak even to us and certainly worse than "filthy rags" to Him; but He makes all things new. He gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Some of us, (maybe it's a "guy" thing), love to repair and restore things. It's tremendously satisfying. Just think what a master repairman and restorer God is, when you see what He has to work with. This is one of those mind-boggling things that we will better understand when we are re-made like Christ.