The Confessing Lunatic

Everyday I am reminded of God's peace but none more so as this weekend. Sunday after we came home from church, we found our older dog, Copper, on his back in the backyard, obviously in distress. He was caught in our electric fence and for the several hours we were away, he was unable to get to shade or water. As Jim went outside, he looked at me and said, "I think this is it." Immediately all our children began to cry. We've known for a while that Copper was not well and probably would not be with us for long. We've tried to prepare the children but nothing, other than prayer, really can prepare them for the loss of a friend. Jim picked up Copper and brought him inside. As the kids stood around us crying, I watched as Jim tried to get Copper some water. Jim and I looked at each other knowing the answer to the question, "What should we do?" but we wanted the kids to come to the same conclusion. I'm not sure what was harder in this situation -- watchin...

But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and...

"I want the presence of God Himself, or I don't want anything at all to do with religion...I want all that God has or I don't want any." AW Tozer, The Counselor, 40.