Time and Tides

We all dream our dreams; we are given to making plans. Some of them come true with an ease that delights us, and yet some become increasingly impossible. The truth in Proverbs 13:12 is likely to be proven to us more than once throughout our lives:

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

We are given no promise that we will ever know the reason why some dreams which seem so important, or even God-given, are eventually torn away or taken just beyond our reach. At times the waters of life are friend; at others, foe. We are incapable of controlling final outcomes; we are incapable of controlling the tide.

But just keep living and waiting, dreamer.

The dreams God wills to come true in your life will effortlessly eclipse those that didn’t.

And then there’s the fact that, sometimes, dreams take time. Often allowed to see shadows and tiny glimpses of what’s to come, we grow zealous and impatient–but if all is not crystal clear yet, it may be because your dream will mature with you.

In time to come, perhaps even when the best years of your life seem over with, and you expect it the least: God may suddenly give His assent, and that old dream you had nearly forgotten about will be realized.

Your stage of life is irrelevant: dreams have a timing of their own. Just know that if you have committed your way to God; and if your heart is still beating, He is working on your behalf. Find contentment, and keep expectancy close:

one day, the unpredictable tide of life may sweep in and wash out, leaving treasures in it’s wake. 

Blood and Water

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16

Forgotten So Soon

Today is the 15th anniversary of the devastation that occurred on September 11, 2001. I have seen a lot of “we will never forget” photos and many tributes today, and rightfully so, for it is something we should never forget. Upon some reflection though, I wrote my own take on 9/11 and just how much it seems that America is affected by it, fifteen years later.

In some ways, we are still very affected by it. It ushered us into a new era of fears, uncertainties and security precautions that had not been previously considered. But sadly, most of our general behavior has reverted back: and we now live in much the same manner as we did before that act of terrorism.

I would never intentionally downplay the grief of those who lost loved ones on 9/11, nor the heroic actions of many men and women. My only point is that, though most Americans remember where they were when the attack took place, the particulars of the historic tragedy, and even the gripping panic and sorrow they felt at that specific time–their current behavior says that it did not affect them deeply enough to cause a willingness to permanently change their hearts.

I do love my country. I love it enough to speak the truth: America needs to repent. What happened?

Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Ecclesiastes 8:11

It is a typical human propensity, to only plead for mercy as the hammer falls. We weep; we seek out help. We begin to make changes and acknowledge conviction, until we feel the dreadful moment has passed, and then we are our former selves once more. The feelings of guilt and alarm now eased, we take advantage of our newly found security.

Our nation continues to do it to God.

Do we continue do it to God personally?

“We will never forget” should be our own motto. Never forgetting the mercy we did not deserve once; never misusing God’s lovingkindness at present.

May God help us all to have a spirit of genuine repentance and integrity,

and may He also have great mercy on a sinful, pleasure-obsessed nation.

Afterglow

Written in early 2015: reflections on the beautiful presence of God; particularly focused on the lingering stillness or “afterglow” after a response to the preached Word. 

Equal Exposure

Treasure Chests

And you, reader,

you are a “treasure chest”, as well,

full of childhood years and wishes,

past joys and triumphs, defeats and sorrows,

places you’ve been that I have never seen before,

and all of the innumerable experiences that make you unique.

–

I wish I could hear about them;

and listen to how you met your spouse,

or named your daughter after your grandmother.

And then I could add to my own store of memories,

an enlightening encounter: a lovely pearl.

Worthwhile Efforts

Often, my reality does not mesh with my ideals.

Does this mean I should never entertain aspirations?

—

Frequently, I myself fail to live up to the standards I put down with pen on paper, proving to my pride that I am less than faultless.

Should I crumple up the papers, throw the pen away, and never write again, because of the voices that sometimes scream “hypocrite!”?

Or should I remain silent, because my opinion is just one in a thousand, and it is doubtful that my words will influence a few, much less many?

This is the vicious cycle of the mind, speaking doubt; saying to never strive, but to hide away quietly–because I am less than perfect or meaningful.

But you see, each human is flawed somehow, and if all caved to such thoughts borne of anxiety, there would not have been a individual willing to speak or write the things that have changed and encouraged me. 

Who would have dared to press towards betterment, inspiring me as I observed their perseverance; giving me hope that perhaps imperfection wasn’t detrimental, but it was the act of constantly attempting to improve that counted; that negated the painful word “hypocrite”?

If my role models had despaired due to the possibility that they might never touch thousands, and halted their seemingly insignificant efforts, who would have touched one: me? 

I will continue in all endeavors, because the goal is not to be important or renowned, or to display astonishing power and virtue, but to develop my meager gifts like a good steward–and to humbly progress daily, as an earnest Christian should. And eventually, to hear: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things…”

—

And to know that perhaps I did not always succeed,

but I always sincerely tried.