I’ve found myself somewhat unraveled recently in light of world events. At the risk of jumping on the bandwagon and sounding like a fear monger, things are crazy and I thought I was ready for the crazy. I thought my patriotism had finally bowed to my Christianity, that my worldly leanings had bowed to the eternal perspective God desires. I’m not the same as I was two years ago or a year ago, but I have a long way to go. So this week I’ve found myself fixating on the character of God and praising Him for who He is. Praise God for:

1). His sovereignty. Without it we might as well lie down and die.

2). The following from John Piper: “Perseverance of the saints is the almighty work of God not to let us fall into the final bondage of inferior pleasures, but to keep us, through all affliction and suffering, for an inheritance of fullness of joy in his presence and pleasures at his right hand forevermore.” I needed that today.

3). “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:7, NLT). God is the master planner, and we are part of the plan. Perhaps a better way of looking at things is to ask God to show us what we can do to help Him accomplish His plans and purposes.

4). He is our joy. No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, we can choose joy.

5). He is the ultimate peace. I do have to chuckle at times when I hear people talk about peace, how we all just need to get along. Without God it’s all just words.

6). His omnipotence. ISIS is no match for the Creator of the universe.

7). He gives us each other. “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (I Peter 4:7, 8 NIV). Whether it’s today or one hundred years from now, it is coming, and the best thing the Body of Christ can do to witness to those around us is to put aside our petty differences and unite in the purpose of taking others to eternity with us.

I’ve found myself somewhat unraveled recently in light of world events. At the risk of jumping on the bandwagon and sounding like a fear monger, things are crazy and I thought I was ready for the crazy. I thought my patriotism had finally bowed to my Christianity, that my worldly leanings had bowed to the eternal perspective God desires. I’m not the same as I was two years ago or a year ago, but I have a long way to go. So this week I’ve found myself fixating on the character of God and praising Him for who He is. Praise God for:

1). His sovereignty. Without it we might as well lie down and die.

2). The following from John Piper: “Perseverance of the saints is the almighty work of God not to let us fall into the final bondage of inferior pleasures, but to keep us, through all affliction and suffering, for an inheritance of fullness of joy in his presence and pleasures at his right hand forevermore.”  I needed that today.

3). “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” (Isaiah 55:7, NLT). God is the master planner, and we are part of the plan. Perhaps a better way of looking at things is to ask God to show us what we can do to help Him accomplish His plans and purposes.

4). He is our joy. No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, we can choose joy.

5). He is the ultimate peace. I do have to chuckle at times when I hear people talk about peace, how we all just need to get along. Without God it’s all just words.

6). His omnipotence. ISIS is no match for the Creator of the universe.

7). He gives us each other.  “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (I Peter 4:7, 8 NIV). Whether it’s today or one hundred years from now, it is coming, and the best thing the Body of Christ can do to witness to those around us is to put aside our petty differences and unite in the purpose of taking others to eternity with us.