Beverly Varnado's Blog, page 9
February 13, 2024
Walking, love, and sacrifice
From a recent Bible lesson, this verse fromEphesians keeps coming back to me: “ . . . walk in the way of love, just asChrist loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrificeto God” (Ephesians 5:2).
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, a day setaside to celebrate love, but it is also Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent—aseason for contemplating the price Jesus paid on our behalf, the cost heexpended out of His great love for us.
Love and sacrifice are often two sides ofthe same coin—most parents know this truth. But there is no greater example thanthat of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Because of what He did, the apostlePaul instructed the people of Ephesus, to “walk in the way of love” just asJesus did.
The amplified version reads, “. . . walkcontinually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy andcompassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others] . . .” These are high aimsand certainly will involve sacrifice.
When we value another, we spend our timeand thought to see them as God sees them and bring encouragement to their lives.When we express empathy or compassion, we risk feeling pain ourselves. When weseek the best for others, we often relinquish part of ourselves to see that goalaccomplished.
When Jerry and I take our daily walks with the big brown Aussiedor Lucy, sometimes we don't look forward to the long trek, but we take it one step at a time. It's down a hill, around the corner, up a hill--not a level course. It's that way with walking in love--it will be up and down sometimes, but eventually we make it home.
Ephesians 5:2 comes under asection in my Bible titled, “Instructions for Christian Living.” Really, allthe instructions are summed in these few words, “ . . . walk in the way of love. . .” Living this way is costly, but always the best way.
Aiming to walk with you, friends.
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
February 6, 2024
Not a Tourist
On a chilly January day, I visited DriftwoodBeach on Jekyll Island, one of the Golden Isles off the coast of Georgia. I’dbeen there years before, but I decided to make another visit. I parked my caralong the road and read license plates of vehicles mostly from points north,likely snowbirds looking to get out of the frozen tundra. A beaten sandy path emergedonto the shore where giant trees and roots had turned to driftwood—stark andsomewhat eerie wood pieces made this way by the wearing of countless tides.Even on a grey day, a steady stream of visitors came and went.
The flow of sightseers resonated with meand connected with a point I sensed the Lord had been bringing to mind. Atourist by definition is one who tours for pleasure— they only stay for a momentor a season as it suits them. You won’t see a moving van at the Eiffel Tower orMount Rushmore or the Statue of Liberty.
In the spiritual sense, true followers ofJesus don’t buy a ticket, take a lookaround, and then leave when their feet start hurting.
One of my all time favorite verses is Matthew6:33, here in the Amplified, “But first and most importantly seek (aim at,strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and beingright—the attitude and character of God} and all these things will be given toyou also.” Our seeking His kingdom is at first a onetime surrender of all weare and then a daily surrender. We strive for it above everything else in ourlives and leave the rest to Him.
The antonym of tourist is inhabitant—weinhabit the kingdom of God and God inhabits us—an exchange of our life for His.We don’t change our itinerary because a storm is rolling in. We take upresidence in Him who is our “refuge and strength.”
We’re not looking to only get a passportstamp that reads “Saved” but we’re looking to live out the daily walk withJesus.
In the spiritual sense, let’s aim to notbe tourists.
However, I will admit being a tourist at Driftwood Beach is nice,especially in January.
As Valentines Day approaches, an author colleague is hosting fourteen other authors (including me) in a giveaway. My day is tomorrow, February 7 and I'll be giving away a signed copy of A Plan for Everything and a Valentines Day mug. The details are on her site. Click on the image below to www.SuzieWaltner.com. I hope you win!!
Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
January 30, 2024
What you can hear in the fog
I awokein the night to intermittent horn blasts while staying on the coast for a shortwriting retreat. What were they? My mind rifled through possibilities. Wereships making the sounds or were the British invading again as they did back in1815 ? Early in the morning I went to check it out by car and as soon as I crossed thecauseway to the beach, I realized the issue. I found myself in dense fog which must have set those horns blaring.
But what was the source of the sounds? I’ve since read in the localpaper they originated from a couple of dredges working in the shipping channel.The article cited rule thirty-five of the International Navigation rules whichI investigated. To paraphrase it says vessels standing still in the water whenin limited visibility are required by law to sound blasts at not more than two-minuteintervals.
Later, I hopped on my bike and headed toward the beach. Folks sittingin beach chairs could see each other but not the water and my visibility wasjust enough to stop my bike if something were in front of me.
The fog was with us off and on for days and so were the horns trying tohelp those huge cargo ships coming through the channel avoid collisions. As Istood at the pier one morning, I couldn’t see it, but engines churned as a giant vessel made its way throughthe channel, courtesy of the horns and navigation technologies.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “We don’t yet see thingsclearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist” (I Corinthians 13:12The Message).
We’ve all experienced times in life when we can’t see our hands infront of us and have no idea what could happen next. For us, it feels like acollision could be imminent. But God is present in the fog of circumstance and faithfulto be with us to guide us, sounding the warning like the fog horns, helping usknow in limited visibility how to avoid a crash.
And sometimes, with everything else cloaked in mist and distractions minimized, that is when we can hear most clearly the voice of the Lord.
In a recent sermon, my pastor husband pointed out that in ourdifficulties, God has set limits just as he did with Job when he allowed theenemy to test him. The foggy time will not last forever, so let’s continue totrust and listen to the Lord.
Prayers for you, friends, who may find yourself in the fog. God isclose.
As Valentines Day approaches, an author colleague is hosting fourteen other authors (including me) in a giveaway. The details are on her site and will go live on February 1. On that date, click on the image below to www.SuzieWaltner.com. I hope you win!!
January 23, 2024
Broad strokes
Asan artist, I struggle to capture a subject with broad strokes. Representationalart at least in the range of my ability requires smaller brushes to capturedetail. There are exceptions to this—works of art that lean more toward the contemporary or more abstractpieces can be executed with larger brushes. Granted, experts in their craft cando anything. I have a way to go to reach that level. My point in all this isthat broad strokes, at least for me, often miss the details. And details can makeall the difference.
Andyet, in our culture, we are leaning more into the use of painting others inwide swaths. We place folks in a broad category whether it be political, faith, or something else and assignthem characteristics that we have already predetermined go with a person inthat category. When we do that, we’ve stopped listening, because listening isthe only way we find out the details. We’ve thrown away our small brushes.
It hurts my heart when I see or hear this done. Recently, I heardsomeone use a broad-brush stroke referring to others with a differing view asGod-less. I had a friend who fit the category referred to, and knew they werenot God-less, in fact they were God-full. Someone who has a differing view maybe wrong (or not) in their thinking, but it doesn’t mean they are apart fromGod. I may have seen things differently than the person referenced but theirhearts were after God.
Rather than jettisoning others because of wide categories and broadstrokes, let’s look and listen for the details that may bring us together. Youmay be saying, well, if they think “x, y, or z” then I don’t want to hearanything else they have to say. Really? We have to ask ourselves what would theBiblical response be? If we truly see these folks apart from God, then we havean even greater burden to build a bridge. Paul said, “I have become all thingsto all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (I Corinthians9:22).
I understand this is not easy. It’s less trouble to just lump folks intocategories and try to get away from them because we don’t want to hear differingviews.
But please, let’s get rid of those big brushes. Let’s take out thesmaller ones that can capture the fine points that may change everything. I’mhere painting alongside you, friend!
Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
January 16, 2024
High Places and the words that made such a difference
I amworking on a couple of writing projects. Every time I start a big project, I go through theangst of wondering if I can do it. Staring at a blank page can be intimidating,especially when you know you have at least two hundred and fifty more of them in frontof you. But I keep hearing words I received years ago--words I believe came from the Lord. I originally wrote this piece as a segment in a travel memoir called "Dream Summer," which you can search for on my blog. I’m dropping inas our family navigates Yellowstone. This is an excerpt from a piece called “HighPlaces.”
At thelower falls of the Yellowstone, it seemed we perched on a few rocks thrown togetheralong the canyon walls. I peered over a ledge and gasped. It had to be a dropof at least 50,000 feet.
But Iforgot my fear as I gazed at the thundering falls-- awesome, powerful, andastoundingly beautiful. An incredible work of God—a high place, indeed.
“Mommy,you’re hurting my hand,” our youngest daughter said. I loosened my grip a bit togive her relief but continued to hold it. My seven-year-old had proven herselfuntrustworthy by jumping off the walkway at Mammoth Hot springs to inspect alittle hole in the ground. Thankfully, her landing spot was solid earth and notmolten lava.
On ourexodus toward the North Gate of Yellowstone, meadows and wildlife surroundedus, and then we went through a pass in the mountains gliding on to nothing. Ididn’t know we’d been in a hanging valley and the road at this point wassupported at times not by good solid earth, but suspended over the canyon by Idon’t know what. When the road did lie on terra firma, the wheels of ourconverted van barely made traction along the top of the sheer cliffs. I’d lookout the window at the drop and feel my stomach leave me.
We were ridingthrough the air on four wheels—anotherhigh place.
But ashigh places go, nothing could prepare us for the spiritual heights to which Godwould take us as we headed to a family camp high in the Montana mountains.
It washere, near the timberline, that God confirmed in my heart the long-held dreamof writing a book.
“Beverly,”I heard the worship leader say one evening as I was leaving a meeting. Heapproached me, “I sense God saying that you’re afraid to go after what God istelling you.”
He wasright about that.
He went on,“I believe he’s saying, ‘Do it afraid.’ And that he will confirm whatever thisis to you.’
I’d justmet this man days before and wondered if he was indeed hearing from the Lord.
But, thatnight in a dream, I saw a book, and the title was, “Ask and it shall be givenyou.”
“Do itafraid,” I’ve repeated often through the years as I’ve come up against the oldenemy of self-doubt.
Just likePeter wanted to put up shelters on the mount of transfiguration, I wanted tostay on this mountain. But, if we want to get to beauty, we must face our fear.So, when we left the camp on Friday, we were making a descent in more than oneway. Oswald Chambers says,
“We haveall had times on the mount when we have seen things from God’s standpoint andhave wanted to stay there; but God will never allow us to stay there. The testof our spiritual life is the power to descend; if we have power to rise only,something is wrong. It is a great thing to be on the mount with God, but a manonly gets there in order that afterwards he may get down among thedevil-possessed and lift them up. We are not built for the mountains and thedawns and aesthetic affinities; those are for moments of inspiration. That isall. We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that iswhere we must prove our mettle”(My Utmost for His Highest).
In theweeks after our return home that summer of 2001, it felt like a valley. Thesituation with my mother who had been in rehab, spiraled downward as she receiveda terminal diagnosis days after our return and died six weeks later. We began ayearlong fight against cancer for a dear friend, faced a difficult ministrysituation, and of course suffered 911.
Iremembered in my pain, and sadness, and grief that God had called my name oneWednesday night on a Montana mountain. I remembered that I’d seen the rarebeauty of the wild earth God created. I remembered and prayed that I’d be ableto give away the hope God had planted in my heart in the high places and that Iwould be able to “Do it afraid.”
As a 2024addendum, I later used the theme “Do it afraid” in my book Home to Currahee.When I see the wall in my office with my book covers now numbering seven, I oftenremember those words I received on a Montana mountain. If I’d let my self-doubtwhich had been so huge continue to hold me, those covers would not be on thewall. Those books would never have been written. The people God hopefullytouched through those books would not have received words of encouragement theyneeded. If there is a situation in your life from which you draw back becauseit seems so daunting, press ahead. God will help you to “Do it afraid.” All theglory goes to Him!
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7).
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023January 9, 2024
Looking for new life
While reading I came again tothat question in chapter 37 of Ezekiel when he is led to a valley full of drybones and the Lord asks, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
As Ezekiel surveyed the boneyardhe seemed to respond with as much faith as he could muster, “Sovereign Lord,you alone know.”
The Lord told him to prophesylife over the bones. He did and sure enough, the breath of God entered them. I’ve written a note in my Bible that theaverage adult has 206 bones and scripture says when the bones stood on theirfeet, they appeared a vast army. Can you imagine the sound of those peoplerising?
This story is a reminder that no personis beyond redemption—that the breath of God can bring newlife to any one if they would give themselves to Him.
When hopehas dwindled, time has passed, and it feels as if nothing will ever change,this story gives us renewed hope that it is never too late as Ezekiel notes forGod to open the graves.
Months ago,the cat we call Mama Kitty grew extremely sick. She was jaundiced, and hadstopped eating, which was complicated by other chronic issues including beingallergic to many kinds of food. In the scheme of world events, she was just oneformerly feral cat, but she had always been special to me because she showed upat our door at a challenging time in our family’s life. On a Monday in October,the vet gave her a couple of days. She was as good as dead, but I couldn’t giveher up yet. I brought her home and continued to do everything I could, but itseemed there wasn’t anything that would move the needle. I awoke crying everymorning that week wondering if that would be the day I’d have to make thedreaded decision to let her go. In the meantime, she laid in my lap while I wasworking at the computer and any time I was sitting down. I prayed and prayed.
We didn’tknow if she was even drinking water at that point. Because Jerry’s back hadbeen acting up in a serious way, I covertly dug a grave for the cat. Jerrywould have intervened if he’d seen it. It was hard and I cried the whole time,but I did it.
On thethird day I sat down with my dinner, a piece of salmon. She stood and sniffed—thefirst time she’d shown interest in food in days. I gave her a bit and she ateit. We knew salmon didn’t have all the nutrients she needed but it was betterthan nothing, so we continued giving it to her finally finding a different kindof limited ingredient food that includedsalmon and addressed her allergies. That was over three months ago. Thejaundice disappeared from her skin after about a month, and I caught herplaying with a toy a couple of weeks ago. No, she’s not one hundred percent,but we’ve had months with her that we wouldn’t have otherwise had. I have noexplanation for it except God did what only he could do.
That graveI dug is still out there, the overturned earth mound beside it. I think I’llfill it in and plant spring flowers. But meanwhile, when I see it, the messageis nothing is impossible with God, and I’m encouraged about situations forwhich I’ve long prayed. Because God can and He does bring the dead back tolife.
Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
January 3, 2024
Taking New Ground
Ata critical juncture early in my life, when I was trying to make sense of ajumbled situation, a wise Godly man said, “Sometimes you just have to take newground.”
Oneof our biggest challenges can arise in the tension between perseverance andtaking new ground. We don’t want to give up if God is calling us to persevere,but we also don’t want to hang back in fear if God is calling us to moveforward to a new place. It takes hearing from God and watching for Him toconfirm it. But for me, taking new ground came in a literal and spiritualsense. For me, it had involved a geographical move, but it also involved a movein perspective—allowing God tochange the way I thought. And that didn’t happen in one swoop. No one waved awand and made it happen.
It was as if my brain had to be reprogrammed and that came from daily focusingon God’s word and allowing him to change me from the inside out.
But that was only one time when I had to take new ground. Often and especiallyat the beginning of every year, I still need to ask God, “Where do I need topersevere, and where do I need to take new ground?” This continues to be one ofthe most difficult challenges I face. I like my ruts, my comfort, and myroutine. But God is all about pushing us out of those zones into areas that wecan only face with Him.
In an extreme example of taking new ground, I recently read this in a Springsin the Valley devotion, “After a long trying march over perilousAntarctic mountains and glaciers, a South Pole explorer said to his leader, 'I hada curious feeling on the march that there was another Person with us!'”
If we have given our lives to Jesus, we can be sure that there will beanother Person with us on any trek. This recalls the words God spoke to Joshuabefore he faced taking his own new ground in the promised land, “Be strong andcourageous. Do not be afraid do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God willbe with you wherever you go” (Joshua (1:9). Just as God was with Joshua, Hewill be with us. We will never be alone.
Many of you read Oswald Chambers, so you may remember a quote from theend of December, which always rings in my mind this time of year. I leave youwith it, “Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ. Leavethe irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Futurewith Him.”
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
December 27, 2023
The best gift of all
At2:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve morning, the steroid shot I’d had the day before fora respiratory issue fully kicked in and had me wide awake. Running through mymind was a verse from Isaiah 53:5, “But he was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him,and by his wounds we are healed."
Thosewords about healing resonated with me in my current state and yet, this verse seemedmore suited to meditate on at Easter rather than Christmas. I sensed God had something more to show me. Just to see if another writer might have connected this verse to Christmas, I put Isaiah53:5 and Christmas together into a search engine. Mostly what came up was whatI expected—commentary writtenon the verse itself.
But lower down in the list of options was a link to a post written by ChristineDrews entitled, “When your Worst Day Becomes the Best Gift Ever.” I’ve not readanything by this writer before, and she had no idea that a post she wrote sevenyears ago would be meaningful to a woman in the middle of the night onChristmas Eve.
In this piece she shares about a day in the life of her family that atfirst seemed a big disappointment, but in the end was a huge blessing. She usesthat illustration to point out that the day described in Isaiah 53:5 was Jesus’worst day and yet it has become our greatest gift.
It is the gift that weighs more, lasts longer, and has the biggest bow—hetook our sins on himself and bore our punishment so that by believing in Him wecould have life eternal. And once I read her piece, I couldn’t believe I hadn’tseen the strong connection and why God might have brought it to mind.
That tiny baby came destined to deliver the gift on his worst day thatchanged the world.
So, enjoy those gifts you’ve received, but let’s remember none of themcompare to what Jesus has done for us.
And at 2:30 in the morning or any other time, that’s something worthmeditating on.
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023December 20, 2023
Merry Christmas!!
Adear pastor friend used to recite words from Chesterton's "House of Christmas" this time of year. Inhis last years, we received a Christmas card where he had painstakingly writtenthem for us in his distinctive but by that time shaky hand. What a treasure his card is!!
Ishared Chesterton's words this year on our Christmas card along with a painting I did this year of a snowy scene from a few years (White Christmas, anyone?). If I could, I would have writtenthem in hand to each of you to let you know how much it means to me to have youspend a bit of your time here reading my ramblings.
Merryyour Christmas be especially blessed and may the year ahead hold unexpectedblessings!
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given . . . " (Isaiah 9:6).
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var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
December 12, 2023
So Worth It
It’s the rehearsal before dress rehearsal for the ChristmasConcert, and the concert master stands to tune the symphony. She nods to theoboist who plays that long A—woodwinds, brass,and strings follow.
For me, it’s then, even before the conductor lifts his baton,that all those long October and November Sunday afternoon practices are worthit. Just to get to that point where we leave the chorus sectional rehearsalsbehind and join the symphony makes me glad I made the time to show up whenthere were so many other things pulling at me.
Perseverance can be challenging when the objective seemsdistant, but oh, how glad we are when we finally arrive at our goal.
In a much greater way, it’s important to remember theinstruction Paul wrote to the Hebrews, “. . . let us throw off everything thathinders, and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,fixing our eyes on Jesus . . . “ And also Paul’s words to the Corinthians, “’Whatno eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—" (1Corinthians 2:9-10).
When we arrive at our final destination,it’s going to be worth it. No matter what’s happening right now, thosesufferings are “not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall berevealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
A song we sometimes sing at our churchincludes this chorus, “When we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing thatwill be. When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.”
Arriving in heaven will be an occasion wehave spent a lifetime preparing for, and when that heavenly symphony begins toplay there will be some raucous carrying on—at least on my part.
Hope to see you there!!
var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24260977-1']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })();Beverly Varnado's most recent book is In Search of the Painted Bunting, a middle grade historical from Elk Lake Publishing, #1 in new releases in its category. She is also the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.comTo sign up for her newsletter, go to http://eepurl.com/dHNdsX Beverly Varnado copyright 2023
