Delivered into rivers of joy

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The last week has held a number of tragedies that have dominated the headlines maybe more so than normal…or perhaps I’ve just been paying more attention to what is going on in the world. The high profile attack in Paris, the bombing in Yemen, the slaughter continuing throughout several nations in Africa, a parent that murdered their child throwing them off a bridge, and closer to home an accident that claimed a friend’s four year old nephew.

<sigh>

I’m tired…tired of the evil. Tired of the loss. Just tired of these valleys of sorrow.

I can intellectualize that nothing is truly new (Ecc 1:9)…we live in a fallen world and especially in the case of the murders the common denominator is the same illness that has plagued the world from the very beginning (Rom 5:12-21)– the human heart. I have tried several times to put myself in the shoes of those left here to deal with the absence of their spouse, their sibling, their child and depending on the circumstances it is just about unbearable.

The circumstances make the difference. For those lost without a personal relationship with CHRIST I sink into an abyss of sadness…for the families left here in the same condition (without CHRIST) I desperately wish for them to meet GOD here – not there (2Pet 3:9). “There” is too late, so says scripture (Heb 9:27). Here, right now the GOD of the universe desires for every single one of His creation to know Him, understand how great His perfect love is for every one of us (John 3:16). To do this though all of us must recognize the sin in our life (Rom 3:23), repent (Acts 3:19), and trust in what GOD has done for all of us through CHRIST (Eph 2:8), Him alone, Him crucified.

A valley by definition has to have a start and stop and for that I am very thankful – I do know that GOD will rescue any person that cries out to Him seeking forgiveness. He will lead them to everlasting rivers of joy. In the midst of the valley beloved remember that GOD has calmed greater seas, He has bore our (my) cross…His mercies endure forever.

Hallelujah!

GBU – Romans 5:8

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