Meditate on God's Unfailing Love

The following verse stuck out to me this morning in light of Monday's discussion at Fellowship Time:

Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. - Psalm 48:9

As we approach God in our quiet times and prayer, we are encouraged to be continually meditating on his unfailing love. We can have great confidence that the love God has for us displayed in 1 John 4:9-10 will never fail!

Nothing can separate us from the love of God

This morning I was meditating on Romans 8:38-39 where Paul states confidently that he is convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. As I read the passage I imagine Paul standing on a soap box stating passionately his conviction to all who hear. He states:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39

Paul lists a lot of things, and then throws in the catch-all "nor anything else in all creation", none of which can separate us from the love of God.

Are we convinced of this?

A Terrible Metaphor for a Terrible Place

Via XKCD, the following image may be used here in a manner contrary to the author's primary intent, albeit within fair use:

So the #1 thing I get from this image is that in Hell, there is no grace (unable to be perfect, and no unmerited favor to get us there), and since it is impossible to receive grace, it is impossible to fulfill our primary function while in Hell (filling lines = relationship with God). Boo, Hell. Yay, Jesus!

Will You Dance with Me?

Will you dance with me? I've been watching for a while, and I've seen a lot of fancy footwork, but you stand out as the best dancer. Are in you in charge here? You help so many of the other dancers, I was wondering. See that couple over there? They're one of the best pairs out here and I see them working with you all the time. They've been teaching me to dance, but I'm clumsy and awkward and haven't learned very well. Some day I would like to dance as beautifully as they do.

Mary, over there, tells me I need to find a good partner, or lots of partners, and says I'll learn something new from each one. But though she looks so pretty out there, she doesn't really have the steps down or move with much elegance. All the people you've worked with are so different; there's such a grace and joy in their movements that everyone else is just trying to imitate. The others learned the steps just by watching and I tried that but I keep stepping on toes and losing the beat. The steps look easy but there is so much to think about and there must be things that I don't see. I'm awful to dance with, I know. You've seen my disastrous attempts, no doubt. I like to lead, and be in charge. It's hard for me to let somebody else tell me where to go and what to do. But I'm sure if anybody could teach me to be a good follower, it's you. You seem to be able to teach anybody anything. You could even teach me to be more sensitive and flexible; to relax and take cues instead of holding every muscle tensely and going my own way.

I wish those two by the window had let you help them. I saw you offer. They look like they're fighting, they put so much force into the dance. They are going to hurt each other. I've danced like that before and it only leaves you sore.

Sorry about my running commentary on the dancers. It's easy to see what other people are doing wrong and hard to see my own faults. It seems like a huge request, but I know I'll never be as good a dancer as I'd like without help, and you seem to be the only one who could teach stubborn, obstinate me. I don't normally ask other people to dance, but I'll gladly make an exception for you, if it doesn't seem too forward. Will You dance with me?