Teacups and Toasters

Lately, I’ve found myself accumulating bitty headaches and major heartaches. Both of which, can easily leave anyone feeling jaded. I’m sharing this minute personal information because there is a great need for restoration in the soul when this happens. If we don’t take time to be restored, we’ll become noticeably shabby.

In a little over a week, after being closed for most of the year, Space Mountain at Disney World will be officially open again. It has gone through a lengthy refurbishment that was long overdue. It’s been given new sequences, paint, in queue games to play, new cars, and a new, yet duplicate track.  It’s been brought to the 21st century, so to speak. From what I’ve heard through chatter on twitter and the blog realm, the soft openings have not been disappointing to the few  able to experience them. It’s the classic ride everyone loved – all shined up. And there are a lot of people that cannot wait to experience the roller-coasters restoration.

We as individuals, may not have a mass amount of people lining up at our doorstep to witness our restoration when it comes, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Actually, I think any persons restoration is far more significant than that of an old roller coaster (no matter how fun they say it is).

So, how do we go about restoring ourselves? Well, I like to sit down with a cup of coffee and a pumpkin muffin, which does leave my tummy feeling a bit warm and happy. Still, my soul can only be restored through God’s word. In one of the most quoted Psalms (Psalm 23) it says, “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His namesake.”  He, Christ, alone can restore our souls. All the headaches and heartaches will only sit at bay, waiting to return, if we do not seek full restoration through the risen Savior.  Grant it, you will still have troubles, perhaps even many more, once you accept Christ into your life, but you’ll be on that path for His namesake, and one day there will be rest, AND even better… your soul will feel restored. There may not be fireworks, or a glowing aura of light in the moment you find Him, but your soul will know it has been restored. The heaviness of headaches and heartaches will be lifted. He carried the weight of the cross, so that you don’t have to.

Restore and rest.

Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.
So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
James 3:4-5

Here’s another response to a prompt given to me by my beloved. The prompt was ‘Predestination.’ Heavy subject indeed.

Man has long pondered the question of destiny. Are we indeed traveling through a story that has already been lain out for us, in which we have no power to change the ending? Perhaps we create our steps, action by action and word by word. I cannot fully answer the question of destiny and predetermination because I do not know what the span of the universe is like. I merely know a glimpse of what its Creator is like and will base my answer on such.

God is the author of all creation. He was before all things and holds all things together. See the first letter to the Corinthians for more on that. Jesus Christ, Himself, is the Word. The Word, which is mentioned in the very first chapter of the book of John, who brought all things into being and apart from Him, nothing has come into being. We were all placed here on Earth by God’s design and intent. The Creator, God, is merciful, loving, and passionate. He is good. He creates good things. However, we cannot deny the existence of evil. Evil is the force opposing the characteristics of God. I believe evil exists because freewill exists. Freewill means that we are free to make choices. God created Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden and gave them freewill. He told them not to eat of the tree and yet because of freewill, they did. Eve had the choice of listening to God, or to a serpent. She chose wrongly, still she chose and listened to the serpent. Was it predetermined that Eve would choose wrongly? That all her descendents would be in a sinful state and need a Redeemer? I only know for certain that, He is before all things and through Him all things hold together.

Given that we have freewill and we can make choices does not mean that God does not know what choice we will make. God knows all things. However, just because He knows all things, does not mean that He forces them on us. Otherwise, what would be the point of having Christ die and rise again, so that we might believe in Him and spend eternity as His brothers and sisters? A gift is not a gift if it is forced upon you. Often the verses Romans 8:29 and Ephesians 1:5 are debated as scriptural evidence of predestination because they contain the word, “predestination.” Romans 8:29 states, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.” Ephesians 1:5 states, “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” If you look at both of these in context, perhaps you will agree, that what I believe they are saying is that God has predetermined that those who choose to believe in Jesus, as the only Son of God, who died and rose again, will be with Him in a glorified state in eternity.

Concluding, I would say that predestination exists in the sense that we are all born with our final destination leading us to deaths door. Along the way we can choose to overcome death through Christ and live eternally with Him, or we can choose to try and control things ourselves. No matter how much we think we are in control, we can only choose between two final outcomes. Our Creator has lovingly made us and knows our true natures. Though He knows what we will choose, He does not force us to choose it. Freely, His love is ours and free are we to accept it.

About a week ago I was the lucky winner of a Red Letter Words Art Giveaway hosted by Sarah Mae of Like A Warm Cup of Coffee. I won a 12X12 gallery wrap canvas.

I love receiving fun things in the mail, esp. fun things that I can use for decorating. Thank you Sarah Mae and thank you Dee! I have the lovely piece of work hanging up in our office.