Last night I sat at a dinner table with a new friend. As we learned to know each other, she talked about first coming to this area as a young woman and being in awe of the beauty of our hills and valleys. When she married and became a resident of our county, as she raised her family she tried to instill in them an appreciation of the gift of living here.
Those of us who have lived here all of our lives sometimes forget we have such a gift. Every now and then as I drive 39, I wonder how many thousands of times I’ve driven that same stretch—could it even be tens of thousands? And so often, I do take it all for granted and don’t even see the beauty God created for us here as I race through busy days and occupy my mind with the challenges of the week.
Are we prone to do the same with the amazing, freeing truth that Paul wrote about in Colossians? He wrote, “But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it” (Colossians 1:23).
What truth? Go back two verses: You were once God’s enemies (strong language!), but he has “reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ… and brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”
His enemies. A bad spot to be in. But because Christ went to the cross, we now live in God’s own presence and He has wiped out the record against us.
I am reminded this morning of what a wonderful gift it is to live here in God’s presence, with no blame brought against me. I don’t want to take this for granted. If you belong to Christ, stop for a moment and drink in the beauty of this place where you now live.
This is the Good News that Paul said was changing lives all over the world (Colossians 1:6, 23).
Stand firm in this. Don’t forget or take it for granted. It changes our lives!
Living with great expectation ... 
Another good one! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you for those thoughts! I do want to live this life with a thankful heart giving Him the honor and glory of which He is worthy!
Me, too! I can’t imagine life without Him…
GOOD READ!
I loved this!!!!
Wonderful words and truth to begin the day Elaine. I’m returning after a writing “fall” (I guess I fell prey to what your shared this morning, stand firm in His Truth) but was wondering if you perhaps have returned after a period off a while back? I think I remember you originally being on WP. If not, hello and thank you for sharing your heart and thoughts with us🤗💞
Hi, Denise! It’s been good to see your posts again in the last few days, too. Guess we both have to pick up where we left off, right?
I’m still here, but took time off from WP to put together four books on hope. They are an expansion of the devotionals I posted here a number of years ago.
The first three are out, the last one will be released sometime after the first of the year. I’m still planning on getting back to a regular schedule on WP.
(Lovely new photo of you, by the way!)
Wow! You were busy! Good for you! Please post the titles, I would like to put one on my Christmas list🎀💕 Thank you on the photo, my husband captured it💕😊
“Getting Through Today” was out first — because that is what so many people are most concerned with–Just how do I get through today? What hope is there?
“Beyond the Past” is for those who are so chained by the past that they are being robbed of today and cannot even think there’s hope for tomorrow. It’s all about the old being gone, the new is here!
“Facing the Future” is the one– ummm — still in the future. 🙂 It’s coming in a few months.
Then I had to add one more, the key to everything: “Can God Be Trusted?” Can we trust Him to keep His promises and do what He said He’d do?
They are wonderful titles🤗👏 I will be sure to check on Amazon for my Christmas list 🎄🎀💕