"Taken Aback"

"I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old." (Psalms 77:11) If you don't quite understand where you're at, don't panic; just remember where God is, because He is right there in front of you, always! Spot on, that's my reaction to yesterday's Conference, because it was just what I needed to hear. Sometimes we spend so much time working to get things right, we left off knowing where right comes from, because it's not in this filthy vessel. If there was one golden nugget that I needed to take away from that experience, it's the fact that God, and only God is holy; we are just undeserving children that get to experience a Holy God that loves us, cares for us, and will never let us go! Don't you ever forget that! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; so if you're feeling a little distant or disoriented and don't known which way is up, it's not because God has moved or relocated, it's all you. Oh, and just in case you might be feeling a little rejected, it's only because you have rejected Him! You have rejected His grace upon your life, He has not withheld anything, you just have not taken it up; you have not taken Him at His word. That's all there is to it, because He has laid everything out there and done everything He could possibly do to allow you to make all the right choices. So guess what? Choose wisely, young warrior, choose wisely! Every minute of every day is all about choices. We have always before us a choice, to do this, or to do that; and guess what the amazing part is, even though having to make so many choices is so complicated and overwhelming? He has given us a Helper to make those choices for us! Do you know why there are people who actually like to be incarcerated? It's because they don't need to make any choices of their own, they just need to do what their told to do and mind their own business. I find that rather interesting, because we do not live in a vacuum; even in this new life in Christ, we go from serving sin, to serving God; but the thing we fail to realize mostly, is that serving God is not an option, it's meant to replace serving sin. Idleness is the devil's playground...
"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again -rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me -everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:4-9) NLT