Tensions

bullet holes and churches ~ rich and poor ~ broken cars and beat up roads ~ youth and labor ~ relief and enablement ~ hot (Africa) and cold (Mercy Ship's air conditioning) ~ gentle waves and powerful tides ~ short term service and long term commitment ~ hard work and laziness ~ passion and apathy ~ surface thoughts and deep desires ~ my way of serving and His way of providing ~ solitude and fellowship ~ mercy and integrity ~ generousity and empowering ~ fear and courage ~ shouting and singing ~ anxious thoughts and prayers that avail ~ tear-streaked cheeks and wide white smiles ~ human effort and Almighty power ~

In my opinion, whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us. The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own. The world of creation cannot as yet see reality, not because it chooses to be blind, but because in God's purpose it has been so limited--yet it has been given hope. And the hope is that in the end the whole of created life will be rescued from the tyrrany of change and decay and have its share in that magnificent liberty which can only belong to the children of God!

It is plain to anyone with eyes to see that at t he present time all created life groans in a sort of universal travail. And it is plain, too, that we who have a foretaste of the Spirit are in a state of painful tension, while we wait for that redemption of our bodies which will mean that at last we have realized our full sonship in him.

Romans 8:18-23