God’s Panorama

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38‭-‬39 ESV

I love the vast panorama from the mountain ridges as we travel from North Carolina into Virginia. It gives us a revelation of astonishing beauty both where we’ve been and also where we are going. Then in it is gone and we simply move in between the folds of the hills.

In life all of us sometimes feel lost or trapped in the demands the stress and painful situations around us. They block our view until God brings us up high along the eternal ridge-line of His love. There with the apostle Paul we get a glimpse of that amazing love of Jesus Christ that refreshes our faith. There we gain the perspective from the overlook and are readied by faith to finish the journey.

This is a Test

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4

A faith test is one of those tests I really want to pass but don’t so much like to prepare for. I far prefer floating quietly on my back in the pool on sunny days; to long sleepless nights when recovering from surgery. But on those painful nights when I am crying out to God  and  desperately need His help I find a faith that sees  in darkness the joy of restoration and trust. I hate those storms while they are rocking my boat but I love the assurance I have found. Jesus is my anchor and He will keep me safe to me to the end!

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