Bad Things Happen On Your Way Through Life

I won't tell you about it but,  by 65 I was still on top of the mountain - literally. I could even out sing Julie Andrews standing there.  Things were nearly perfect. The perfect family, incredible husband, fairly good health, great home, great friends, happy and loved the Lord.

Who could,  or would,  ask for anything more?

But,  things happen on the way through life;  they just do.   And, I am not so sure it is not good to have them happen,  because you have to know who you really follow, who you trust,  and it better be the Lord.  Simple as that.  We can't put our trust in man or men, women or children either.  It is unfair to expect them to be trustworthy all the time,  as life is hard for them at different stages, too.  But the Lord GOD is in the CENTER of ALL the things that happen and HE is ALWAYS at work.  Sometimes you are there in the storm, and maybe you are not even the one needing the work,  or worse?   MAYBE YOU ARE THE ONE!

No matter who IS in the center of the hurricane in your life, when it comes, and it will, no matter who it is meant to be for, there is a always a lesson for everyone,  so we should declare, "I don't want to miss learning that lesson, 'cause I may be here again one day!"

But, before we go into the eye of the hurricane, grab a verse or 2 to take with you. Our friend, Henri Nouwen, did that for us today.  May I share it with you?  Romans 8:38-39.  And by the way, Henri also gave us a good message with the verse.  I learned from it today!  I received it from his staff,  but just in case I might be busy with Christmas preparation, a friend also thought to send the same message.  I knew I needed it.

So here we go . . .

Holding On to the Christ - Henri Nouwen

Life is unpredictable. We can be happy one day and sad the next, healthy one day and sick the next, rich one day and poor the next, alive one day and dead the next. So who is there to hold on to? Who is there to feel secure with? Who is there to trust at all times?

Only Jesus, the Christ. He is our Lord, our shepherd, our rock, our stronghold, our refuge, our brother, our guide, and our friend. He came from God to be with us. He died for us, he was raised from the dead to open for us the way to God, and he is seated at God's right hand to welcome us home. With Paul, we must be certain that "neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nothing already in existence and nothing still to come, nor any power, nor the heights nor the depths, nor any created thing whatever, will be able to come between us and the love of God, known to us in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

Merry Christmas!  Be Blessed to be a Blessing, 

Terry Fenwick