each moment of every day, forever.

Sometimes, it's hard not to be sad. The heartache that surrounds me makes me sad. Someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer, a young couple getting a divorce, friends struggling with family issues, loved ones aging, a world full of fear, & the list goes on... and on... Yet, on the flip side, there is so much to be thankful for, it's hard to stay sad. I think life is strange in that respect.

I have always believed in counting my blessings. I don't really like to use cliches, but I think this one best conveys my heart. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with the uncertainties of life, the sorrows lurking about, the fears eating at peoples' peace, the sad choices friends make, the effects of those sad choices on loved ones, broken relationships, etc.

I am in the midst of a Bible Study called The Story. It is making a tremendous impact on my life. As it says in Ecclesiastes, "There is nothing new under the sun." As humans, I think we try to invent new ideas, but really... in terms of heartache & joys, fears & prayers answered as we hoped, suffering & health, death & new life, sin & obedience, & the like... Life seems to cycle through different versions of these paradoxes. All of which happen simultaneously.

The stories of the Old Testament have come to life for me. I have been reading them, studying them, pondering them, & totally amazed by them. They bear a few common threads: God's grace, the frailty of the human heart, & enough lessons to set us straight for a lifetime. All the heartaches that surround me existed BC. However, things were different for one reason. And for another reason, things have not changed.

Back then, God very much wanted a relationship with his creation. He still does. That hasn't changed. He loved King David. In spite of David's human frailties, he was called a man after God's own heart. David committed adultery, tried to cover up his sin, had his mistress' husband (an honorable man) killed, & didn't come clean until he was confronted. David paid a price for his sins. They were publicly exposed in broad daylight. He lost a child, his daughter was raped, his son turned against him.... The punishment certainly fit the crime. Yet, he still went down in history as a man after God's own heart.

I am in awe of God's grace. In time, David forgave himself & found peace with God. David praised God all the days of his life. So how have things changed? What makes life different AD? Simply said, a Savior. No more sacrificing. God no longer dwells in a tent as he did with the Israelites. His presence was made known in a cloud of smoke by day & a ball of fire by night. Now... we all have access to Him. Because of that first Christmas, we can have an ongoing relationship with God. We just have to trust. Christ can dwell in our heart (daily, hourly, each moment of every day, forever).

Yes... we will still be overcome with fear, our troubles will eat at us from time to time.We will even be sad. People will continue to suffer & make heart wrenching decisions. Our human hearts will fail both physically & morally. But, we are forgiven if we have created a dwelling place in our hearts for our Savior. Our sins will still have consequences, but we can still find peace with God. He can even use our sin to fulfill His purpose.

Best of all, if we take time to have a relationship for Christ, to create a dwelling place in our heart for Him, we will dwell with Him throughout eternity in our Heavenly home. And there, we will find peace that will never end. Our fears will no longer exist. We won't cry tears of sadness. Evil will not exist. Suffering & anguish will be no more. That first Christmas offers us so much for just one reason, the birth of our Savior, the only one who can save us from ourselves. Please, if you haven't taken time to make your heart His dwelling place, this Christmas would be the perfect time.