The Promise of Life

We find promises of life in both the Old and New Testaments. This is good news for the many of us who often feel overworked, overtired, and under-appreciated. Like dead men walking, we wonder when we will EVER feel alive!

"In the way of righteousness is life,

and in its pathway there is no death."

~ Proverbs 12:28 (NKJV)

Of course, this verse is talking about eternal life. But that eternal life begins when we decide to walk in the way of righteousness. Webster's defines righteousness as: 1) acting in a just, upright manner; doing what is right, virtuous. 

However, the Bible says that nothing we can do on our own has any eternal merit.

"All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags."

~ Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV)

So what are we to do to get in "the way of righteousness"--the kind that leads to life? God gives us the answer in John 3:16, the verse that even little children memorize and recite with gusto!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

~ John 3:16 (NKJV)

Jesus is the way of righteousness that leads to life. And Jesus later affirmed this when speaking of Himself as the good and true Shepherd:

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

~ John 10:10 (NKJV)

So let us take heart and know that those of us who have trusted in Christ as our personal Lord and Savior are on the right path, the path of righteousness that leads to life. 

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

for His name's sake."

~ Psalm 23:1-3

Happy Birthday, Mary!

Today is Mary's birthday! We've been friends since 8th grade, college roommates, and lifelong buds. Eight years ago we took the trip of a lifetime, backpacking together (just the two of us) in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Flying stand-by, we ended up in first class. Lugging our clothes on our backs, we ended up in posh hotels. (There's too much story to go into--but let me tell you, it was all good.)

God used Mary and that trip to jump-start a new chapter in my life. In my mid-fifties, I'd grown complacent and staid: what adventures could I possibly expect at my age? As it turned out, plenty! And my last eight years have been as full, or fuller, than any other period in my life!

Have you ever felt all-washed-up? Did something happen to turn your life around? Share it with the rest of us so that we can encourage one another to keep on keeping on . . . .