What lasts?

I love life.

I was fortunate enough to enjoy the Christian Youth Theater production of "Scrooge" Last night. Two cousins of mine were cast members and one was on the crew. It was a musical rendition of Charles Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol. It was so much fun, I left smiling.

One very impactful  part, to me, was the end, when Scrooge repents and becomes jovial and full of life. He breaks into song (I know, its a little strange for A Christmas Carol, but it was a musical, so I accepted it). The song was entitled, "I Like Life"

I then realized that I don't remind myself of this phrase as often as I used to. In my innermost being, though, I truly do like life. A whole stinking lot.

I was raised in a very safe home with very stable, consistent people. Love was all over. Fear was small and easily remedied. Tragedy was merely heard of, never close or graphic.

Sure there was hardship, but I knew I was blessed. 

Even in just the past few years I had a fairly consistent resolve to wake up and, "enjoy today". To see every day as a gift. To find hope in the tediousness of life. 

I just didn't understand why anyone would sing the blues, to be honest.

I would hear of people making accusations that I was being fake, and putting on a mask.

I was not. I love being joyful all the time. I don't know why. 

God is so good. His love is so good.

Life is so precious and beautiful. People matter so much. We have so much to be thankful for.

but

In recent months, thinks have not been so happy. I have seen death and confusion break so many hearts. I have seen pure chaos and demonic deception soil beauty and cause all that is known to seemingly crumble. Things have gone totally against the way I thought they should have. I have been angry. I have had days where I felt very much alone, even in a crowd. I have seen that life can just suck sometimes. Everything is not ok a lot of the time for a lot of people.

But back in May, before any of this madness began, the Lord led me (unbeknownst to me, in preparation for the coming days) to a video on YouTube.

Check it out.

What stuck out to me in this video is the response we are called to have in the midst tragedy. That verse that Piper quotes has stuck in my heart and mind. Even though my flesh, and my heart, and my family, and my friends, and my hopes and dreams, and myself may (and probably will) fail, God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.
to say that this is a powerful truth would be an understatement. 

I value the things I can see so much! I treat things that are about to burn, like they are all i need. 

This is so unwise!

Wisdom is to see that these things have instant appeal. That instant appeal may even mean it lasts for sixty years, but in light of eternity it means nothing!

my dad recently pointed out that everything we can see with our fallen eyes is dying.
This idea may seem depressing, but we must realize that it is actually a reason to hope! In all the death, the believer in Jesus Christ has something to cling to that will never fail, nor will it leave us.
This truth makes those first words of Romans 8 all the more beautiful.
"There is therefore no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death, in Christ Jesus..."
So, what do you treasure? Everything will burn...save the Lord Jesus.
Let us cling to Him, for He is our only hope, and in Him is complete satisfaction. In Him is life and there is no life apart from Him, only lies.
I see this truth, but as I said in my previous post, doing it is another thing.
sorry this is a somewhat scatterbrained entry. I am still learning the blogging ways.

ugh. I sure do have a long way to go though, good thing love is patient...

-DL