Flames rose high all around the cross
but the cross, rising higher still,
burned with a pure light of its own
and kept on rising until
the flames barely touched
the foot of the beam;
then transformation came.
On the cross was now our risen Lord
and clothed in white garments unstained
he moved through the fire,
his form all aglow; rising still higher above
he cried “This war is won!”
Conflagration below overcome
in His power and love.

Truthfully,

Jesus had to die on Calvary.

No other way

would get God’s point across.

His personal touch

was to give His only Son.

How else could we find

Jesus here today

across all of time?

Heaven’s loss was our gain.

God loves each of us that much.

Honestly!

*from Faith Lifts: When Life Lets You Down

A

tree

laden

with gifts

and promises.

Evergreen sprinkled

with lights and ornaments.

A star

glitters at the top

symbolic of another gift

and a promised Light

                                              born on that first Christmas night.

G. Ottemiller

Murphy’s law lives! If anything can go wrong, it will. So what is a Christian to do? Give thanks to the Lord in all things.

That’s what Thanksgiving is about, before commercialism, materialism, consumerism, and focus on Black Friday were introduced. Now Thanksgiving seems to be a dash between Halloween and Christmas shopping.

A recent visit with Murphy’s law brought me back to the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

It’s a short drive to church and that evening I was anticipating a new class and good fellowship. Turning into the church driveway I swerved to avoid another car…except there is no roadway where I turned. Only a deep, wide ditch.

My car briefly took flight then descended straight down. It was a hard landing; very hard. The seat belt worked well and locked quickly. Unfortunately my body was still moving. Knocked the breath out of me. This is not good when youre just recovering from bronchitis, have had heart surgery and have nine metal stents propping arteries open. Tests in the ER showed no broken bones but bruised chest muscles really hurt; bent eyeglasses don’t clarify anything and are hard on the head.

My car needs major adjustments but I really need an attitude adjustment.

Now let’s see. Noah built an ark as floods covered the land and he came out on the other side singing “Somewhere, Over the Rainbow”; Job lost everything and still declared “I know God can do all things, no plan of His can be thwarted.” Daniel walked through fire with the Lord beside him. David commanded his soul to bless the Lord as he ran from King Saul who was out to kill him. Paul sang praise in prison.

Jesus refrained from complaining and blaming as he was unjustly accused, he did not wallow in self-pity as he pruposely walked to Calvary and hung on the cross; yet people today still ignore, ridicule, and crucify him over again in spite of what he did for them.

I thank my God for testimonies in the midst of trials , for praise in spite of painful, perplexing circumstances. Thank you Lord, that the battle belongs to you but the victory is ours. Thank you that you turn what Satan means for evil into our good.