The Tragedies of Life

I usually say this world is terribly fallen because it is, but in reality just saying "this world is fallen" already means it is terribly fallen!

We can grow up and live in relative "harmony" but soon enough the real fallenness of this world will break into our "harmony". This, of course, is to be expected in a sinful world.

This scenario describes me just a bit.  I lived and enjoyed life, blessed by the LORD, knowing the world around me was fallen, including me, but I was saved by His marvelous grace. 

Eventually, my world was turned upside down when true evil enveloped my world, broke our lives and our hearts to this day. There is no way to "fix it" as we can't.

People I have known, even to this morning, marvel at how I "have survived" and have continued to live and live joyously, triumphantly for the LORD. These dear people in some way think that we have miraculously done this feat.

The reality is that we have not accomplished this at all except to have fallen at our Almighty's feet from the beginning to now. All of our strength is His. Every day is new as we live in the moment. Certainly, every day our agonies are with us, but also His gracious balm as He carries us.

My strength is all His as He graciously lavishes His love on me and lifts my head. The Christians I share my testimony with understand either to some degree or they understand completely depending on their own lives living with agonies.  

How can a person explain an act of God?  I only know I live it.

Yes, some days, some moments I am overcome in grief. I can not go on, I won't go on, but then I do go on, as He lifts my head above the storm that rages around me. Once again I completely marvel at how He has raised me up one more time.

I understand pain and agony to whatever degree. Pain and sorrows hurt and hurt so deeply. Trusting in the LORD God Almighty to save you from your sins and carry you through this terribly fallen world is each of our choice. 

For me, I can only say, Glory to His Name! 
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The Riches of Glory: Christ in you!

Colossians 1
"We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth; just as you learned it from Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf, and he also informed us of your love in the Spirit.

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me."

Colossians 2

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