Sand or Gasoline?

If someone lights a match and places it on a pile of sand the match burns out. If someone took the same match and places it on a pool of gasoline it blazes up. In the same way a minor incident that takes place in our lives can end harmlessly or produce a conflagration. What do I mean? If we have years or decades of hurts, resentments, misunderstandings, abuse, painful memories that are festering, unforgiven,unhealed then a little thing can make them explode. If we have received the love and healing of God, have forgiven those who have hurt us, then that same cross word or minor irritant passes by. May we have sand instead of gasoline.

I thank God that He can work with human folly and turn it into something valuable because oftentimes that's all, as too often in me, that He has to work with.

A profound thought from a wonderful brother named Jonathon. "Salvation is free; relationship (with God) we have to work on." "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Towards the end of his life, as Paul languished in prison, he wrote, "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Philippians 3:8a ESV)

Greatly blessed to receive a visit from Matt, Mary & family this last week. They did some recording for their early childhood reading project and ministered to me and the saints. "For I (we) have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother (and sister), because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you." (Philemon 1:7 ESV)