"Thanksgrieving" part 2...

"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21b NKJV Here it is another Thanksgiving & CHRISTmas will be here soon. I'd like to say things are better this year than last, but it doesn't appear that way at all. Honestly, year 2 of widowhood has been harder than year 1--yet through it all, GOD has been good. My mind drifts back to seasons past when all seemed right with the world--at least from my limited perspective anyway. We take much for granted in this life. I assumed that Dee & I would have many happy years together. I never imagined that her life, and along with it the life we shared together, would end so soon. But, it did... Grief & sorrow are naturally part of our earthly life. As long as we live, we are subject to the ups & downs of life itself. Solomon spoke of such things in Ecclestiastes when he wrote, "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace." (Ecclestiastes 3:1-8 NKJV) So, while I suspect it'll be some time (& maybe never) before I'm ready to dance--at least maybe I'm at the point I am ready to begin the healng process. GOD has begun to open doors of opportunity for me & finally, I feel I'm at a place where my experience & training may be put to Kingdom use. It is a good feeling to think all I have endured in life can help others in some way, or at least give me the insight I need to offer wise counsel on life issues. I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. I think maybe it's time to work towards moving forward and working on living, laughing & healing. I'd appreciate your prayers for my journey. Blessings! Tony

Evolution does exist!

"in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:52-53 NKJV Yes, you read that title correctly--I said evolution does exist. Granted it doesn't exist in the form Darwin theorized & taught, but it does exist still the same. Think about this--Abram became Abraham and Jacob became Israel. These men were changed (a form of evolving) from who they originally were to who GOD intended them to become. In the same way, a lost person becomes saved. A change takes place in his or her life that changes that individual's very existence. The old is gone and a new man (or woman) takes their place. That person's character changes, their goals and aspirations in life change, their very way of living changes. That's evolution... It's true that some changes are immediate and some take time to incorporate themselves into our lives once we become Christ-followers. Certain old habits may take their leave of us right away while others will take time to train our flesh to do without. I've heard of people who were miraculously delivered from drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pornography, profanity, etc., at the time of their conversion. But, I've also encountered those who had to work at breaking those old worldly & sinful habits. That's evolution too... Also, as we grow and mature in our life & faith--we change as well. Life events take place with marriages, births, deaths, etc., that cause changes in our physical & emotional lives. Likewise, we become more trained in the things of the Spirit as well the longer we live as Christians and seek GOD's will & direction in our earthly lives. That's evolution as well... Then, there is the final change when we shed this earthly body and trade it for the heavenly body promised to the Saints of GOD when our earthly life is over. We cross over to new dimension where pain & sorrow no longer exist and all is glorious & joyful for eternity. There is no need for any further evolvement--we have arrived in GOD's Kingdom forever to reign with Him. That is the greatest & final evolution... Question is...are we doing our part to complete the evolution process? Are we following the commandments of GOD? Are we spending time with Him daily in prayer & Bible reading? Do we seek to grow His Kingdom by adding to its numbers in bringing others to a saving knowledge of Jesus? What about it? Are you evolving? Blessings! Tony