And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:28-31 (KJV)

There is a sting to pain that cannot always

be painted with a positive golden brush.

For any artist knows that a true masterpiece

can only be created with the dark and light

combinations of highlights and shadows. For

this is what creates enduring and lasting beauty.

And so, this is how God paints Christ-likeness in our

lives with his divine ,Holy, sovereign, beauty creating brush.

And when the dark and shadowy hues are painted in a

Christian’s life, there comes with it the gift of the healing brush

of emunah, called faith that we can boldly and courageously choose .

For when the sting of pain is met with faith in our loving,

Triune God, we can always praise our Redeemer and Creator.

For our sovereign Savior, Lord, ultimate friend, our

all in all, always, always knows what is best for

each and every one of His redeemed and adored,

blood bought Saints. The healing balm and free gift of

Christ given faith, Emunah, gives us all a royal, Heavenly,

throne room demeanor that can turn every earthly sting

into a masterpiece of faith. Emunah! Emunah! Emunah!

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Luke 23: 39-43 (KJV)

Jesus was and is betrayed over,

and over, and over, and over,

and over, and over, and over

again. And yet His grace, mercy,

and love drenched gospel message

is so tenderly compassionate and

always ceaselessly flowing. “For God

so loved the world that he gave His

only begotton son that whosoever

believeth in Him will not perish but

have everlasting life. Because of our

Savior’s unending grace to each and

every one of us, may we, like our Savior,

live a life that is full of His tender mercy,

compassion, forgiveness, grace, and love.

For when Jesus Christ is our source, His love

in and through us is gloriously unending.

We have the gift of

all gifts, the precious,

Holy Spirit parakletos.

For he will always guide,

come along side us,

extravagantly love us,

advocate, counsel,

comfort, encourage,

transform, convict, and

empower us to follow all

our Savior’s royal, new

creature ways. And if we

truly listen to His still small

voice, we will grow more and

more like Jesus Christ, our Alpha

and Omega Savior and Lord!

is not easily provoked.

I Corinthians 13: 5b (KJV)

In an ever increasing, provokable, unstable world, may we who stand

on the impenetrable solid foundation of the rock of Jesus Christ choose

to be lovingly unprovokable because of our never changing, glorified,

irretractable position we have in Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord!

It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.

Exodus 34: 29 (KJV)

There is a golden, sunlit

redemptive hue in the

mind, heart, soul, and

face of every true believer.

When we look to humanity, we will sink.

When we Look to Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

our risen Savior and King we will

rise up over, over, and over again!

When we look to Jesus Christ, King

of Kings and Lord of Lords, we will

always rise up with our Savior’s

indomitable love, power, and ceaseless

overcoming joy. For it is His precious

Holy Spirit that will remind you over

and over again that you are beloved,

adored, never ever forgotten, a cherished

forever chosen Child, and royal joint heir

of Yeshua, King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

When the cruelty of fallen humanity

grows expedientially demonic, dark,

and dim, may we as God’s royally

redeemed remember, and rehearse

God’s mountainous. ceaseless, lavish

kindness and grace. For there is no

kinder friend then Jesus. For there is

no more tender, loyal, and compassionate

friend like Jesus. For rejoice for our precious

Savior is the only Redeemer who is wonderful,

Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,

and, Prince of Peace. The only true Savior

who has the government upon His shoulders.

Rejoice forevermore people of God, for the

our closest friend is the Savior of the world,

the King of Kings. May we think on this and fall

to our knees in humble worship and adoration.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

James 3: 5-18 (KJV)

Sitting in the midst of Christians

fellowshipping, how many have

painfully, tragically, realized, and

experienced this harsh, grim reality?

The tongue can no man tame.

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Hebrews 11:25 (KJV)

I have heard so many double-minded,

vacillating Christians say in regards

to a brother or sister in Christ’s

choices in life. “Well all that matters

is that they are happy.” No, no

and no, the fact is that obedience

to God will always bring earthly

and eternal joy. True Joy comes

from triumphal and faithful obedience

no matter what the earthly cost may be.

For the Christian, love filled obedience always

brings eternal and hope- filled joy. Because

our beauty filled source and Cross procured

royal ways is from our Trinitarian God who

gives us overflowing joy when we walk in His

most Holy, divine, love, and joy producing ways!

Forgiveness is a mighty Triune God sourced

windy, love filled, divine, redeeming, transforming

force whose Father, Son and Holy Spirit sourced love

will overthrow the roots and branches of any and all

tree like wounds.Forgiveness is a mighty Triune God

sourced windy, Triune God filled, divine, Holy, redeeming,

transforming, love, mercy, Christ-given moment by moment

splendid, majestic discipline. For the last thing our precious,

Savior said was saturated in loving forgiveness, mercy, and

grace to all. For this is what our Redeemer our all in all gloriously

and victoriously said, “Father forgive them for they know not

what they do.” May we as Christ’s royally redeemed always

gloriously, joyously, victoriously and obediently do the same.