Dearest Wendy, you have described your journey so well!
Our church group is in the midst of a study of Revelation, a book that I have mostly avoided in my studies of the Bible.
There is no doubt that the future for the believer is glorious. We may not understand the journey, but the final destination is wonderful beyond imagination.
We have hope that the world cannot comprehend.
Not to say that God can indeed surprise us with wonderful gifts of His love as we live our lives in this present world.
Long ago, I saw a comic strip of someone with clinical depression sitting in church and hearing, "God is in control of everything. He did this to you. He wants you to feel this way." A lot of people would rather they never existed at all, would rather nothing existed, compared to what their lives are. But what you mentioned about the Trinity going through everything with you reminded me that God did not coldly weigh the pro's and con's when He created the universe. He chose to enter into our suffering alongside us as the incarnate Christ. Whatever happens to us happens to Him, too -- and nobody has suffered as much as Jesus, because ALL of His suffering was completely undeserved. Even then He thought it was better to love us than to never create us at all!
Hannah, EXACTLY! What Christ went through as “the word became flesh and dwelt among us”, sets Him apart from all others, in that He chose to come down into this awful mess humans have created and suffer along with us and in so doing, break the barrier between us humans and our Creator God. I am continually in gratitude for what He did for me, even if I still struggle to let all His love in. Step by step, I am. Blessings to you for seeing that God and His Son did NOT put evil or sorrow onto us, They provided a way out!
Wendy, I was very touched at your story, and particularly blessed as you described sitting with you Bible and a notebook each evening. You said you’re an Oregon girl originally. What part? I think of some words I love: I have loved you with an everlasting love. // I have called you by name and you are Mine.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord!
Susane , thank you! I was born and raised in Klamath Falls, in the south and center of Oregon, about 20 miles north of the California border, high plains, 4100 feet, very cold in winter and a ranching and farming area, pure rowdy and salt of the earth people. I have lived in Northern California, for many years, both in big cities (San Francisco and SF Bay area) and rural areas.
When God tells us He loves us with an everlasting love, that is a HUGE deal! I love the scene in what I think is the very first episode of season one of The Chosen, where Christ finds a distraught and bedeviled Mary Magdalene, calls her "Mary" and says " you are mine" and casts the demons out of her. What a sentence, spoken to someone so traumatized and mistreated! That is how God and His Son treat us all, especially those of us who have had great trauma in our lives. I am blessed by God's mercy myself, as He indeed did not give up on calling this Prodigal back and He is relentless in a good way! Thank you so much for reading my writings! God bless you as well! Wendy
Wendy, My husband grew up in Altamont (near K-Falls), so I understand! I agree. God's everlasting love is a tremendous gift to us. I also loved that scene in The Chosen. The love in Christ's face as He spoke to Mary ministered deeply to my heart as well. So thankful to hear your testimony. God is such a Redeemer. In His joy, Sue
Susan, wow, Altamont! I remember the name, cannot recall exactly where it is but do recall the name. K Falls was about 17,000 population when I was growing up back in the 1950s and 1960s. I looked on a real estate site for where Altamont was, could not quite figure it out, though. I see the prices for very ordinary homes...$300,000 and up. Gosh, when I was a kid, an ordinary two bedroom one bath with yard and garage...about $14,000. Stunning stuff. I went to Mills Elementary school on East Main Street, 2nd through 7th Grade. I left in about 1972, one year after high school. God is indeed such a Redeemer and we need Him all day, every day. Blessed to know you via Substack, Susan! I will check out your site! Blessings to you, keep on! Wendy
My husband has many good memories of growing up there, too. I would like him to take me to visit Klamath Falls sometime. I went there to attend a wedding soon after college but otherwise haven’t visited since. I appreciate your perspective on housing prices. Those were such different times. I often miss the days when we could work hard, save up, and buy a home. I feel bad the younger generation has such high prices on every front. I grew up on a farm near Silverton, Oregon and loved those experiences.
God "saved the best for last..." Interesting! Years ago, I told my wife (and still do) that "our best days are ahead of us". Then, when Trump ran for president, he said "...the best is yet to come...", and now, your report. What an encouragement! Thanks!
Dearest Wendy, you have described your journey so well!
Our church group is in the midst of a study of Revelation, a book that I have mostly avoided in my studies of the Bible.
There is no doubt that the future for the believer is glorious. We may not understand the journey, but the final destination is wonderful beyond imagination.
We have hope that the world cannot comprehend.
Not to say that God can indeed surprise us with wonderful gifts of His love as we live our lives in this present world.
Lovingly, your cousin
Long ago, I saw a comic strip of someone with clinical depression sitting in church and hearing, "God is in control of everything. He did this to you. He wants you to feel this way." A lot of people would rather they never existed at all, would rather nothing existed, compared to what their lives are. But what you mentioned about the Trinity going through everything with you reminded me that God did not coldly weigh the pro's and con's when He created the universe. He chose to enter into our suffering alongside us as the incarnate Christ. Whatever happens to us happens to Him, too -- and nobody has suffered as much as Jesus, because ALL of His suffering was completely undeserved. Even then He thought it was better to love us than to never create us at all!
Hannah, EXACTLY! What Christ went through as “the word became flesh and dwelt among us”, sets Him apart from all others, in that He chose to come down into this awful mess humans have created and suffer along with us and in so doing, break the barrier between us humans and our Creator God. I am continually in gratitude for what He did for me, even if I still struggle to let all His love in. Step by step, I am. Blessings to you for seeing that God and His Son did NOT put evil or sorrow onto us, They provided a way out!
Wendy, I was very touched at your story, and particularly blessed as you described sitting with you Bible and a notebook each evening. You said you’re an Oregon girl originally. What part? I think of some words I love: I have loved you with an everlasting love. // I have called you by name and you are Mine.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord!
Blessings, Sue
Susane , thank you! I was born and raised in Klamath Falls, in the south and center of Oregon, about 20 miles north of the California border, high plains, 4100 feet, very cold in winter and a ranching and farming area, pure rowdy and salt of the earth people. I have lived in Northern California, for many years, both in big cities (San Francisco and SF Bay area) and rural areas.
When God tells us He loves us with an everlasting love, that is a HUGE deal! I love the scene in what I think is the very first episode of season one of The Chosen, where Christ finds a distraught and bedeviled Mary Magdalene, calls her "Mary" and says " you are mine" and casts the demons out of her. What a sentence, spoken to someone so traumatized and mistreated! That is how God and His Son treat us all, especially those of us who have had great trauma in our lives. I am blessed by God's mercy myself, as He indeed did not give up on calling this Prodigal back and He is relentless in a good way! Thank you so much for reading my writings! God bless you as well! Wendy
Wendy, My husband grew up in Altamont (near K-Falls), so I understand! I agree. God's everlasting love is a tremendous gift to us. I also loved that scene in The Chosen. The love in Christ's face as He spoke to Mary ministered deeply to my heart as well. So thankful to hear your testimony. God is such a Redeemer. In His joy, Sue
Susan, wow, Altamont! I remember the name, cannot recall exactly where it is but do recall the name. K Falls was about 17,000 population when I was growing up back in the 1950s and 1960s. I looked on a real estate site for where Altamont was, could not quite figure it out, though. I see the prices for very ordinary homes...$300,000 and up. Gosh, when I was a kid, an ordinary two bedroom one bath with yard and garage...about $14,000. Stunning stuff. I went to Mills Elementary school on East Main Street, 2nd through 7th Grade. I left in about 1972, one year after high school. God is indeed such a Redeemer and we need Him all day, every day. Blessed to know you via Substack, Susan! I will check out your site! Blessings to you, keep on! Wendy
My husband has many good memories of growing up there, too. I would like him to take me to visit Klamath Falls sometime. I went there to attend a wedding soon after college but otherwise haven’t visited since. I appreciate your perspective on housing prices. Those were such different times. I often miss the days when we could work hard, save up, and buy a home. I feel bad the younger generation has such high prices on every front. I grew up on a farm near Silverton, Oregon and loved those experiences.
God "saved the best for last..." Interesting! Years ago, I told my wife (and still do) that "our best days are ahead of us". Then, when Trump ran for president, he said "...the best is yet to come...", and now, your report. What an encouragement! Thanks!