Wonerful...wonerful?

(07.09.21– Living in God! – Isaiah 9:6)

What does God look like? Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Is there any wonder why the Psalmist used the word "wonderful" to describe the Christ who delivered us from certain death to eternal life?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

Wonderful is a word we don't often use much any more. When was the last time that you called someone "wonderful" or experienced an event that you termed "wonderful?" Remember Lawrence Welk and his orchestra? Every Saturday night my parents tuned him in. Lawrence liked the word "wonderful." (He always pronounced it "wonerful.") When Myron Floren played a tune on his accordion you just knew that Lawrence would walk onstage, stand in front of the CBS camera and proclaim: "Wonerful, wonerful, you did that well Myron!" Perhaps it's a word that's a bit too flowery for our taste these days. But, "wonderful" is an important characteristic of our God. It describes quite specifically what He has done for us in the person of Jesus Christ. As the Lord's Prayer states: "Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Is there any wonder why the Psalmist used the word "wonderful" to describe the Christ who delivered us from certain death to eternal life?

Perhaps we're too wrapped up in the tiny "wonders" around us that we can't see the wonderful forest for the trees. We break an arm and it heals. God is good; He is wonderful. We land a job in a bad economy. God is good; He is wonderful. We overcome an addiction in our life. Perhaps we lose a bad habit or, as many strive to do these days, lose some weight. God is good; He is wonderful. Nevertheless, although these things are good, they pale in comparison to the fact that God is gracious, forgives sins in Christ, expects nothing from us other than faith and has prepared a home for us in heaven to live eternally with Him forever sharing His wonderfulness. You and I need to see beyond these good things when we pray this prayer and break through to a higher level of worth: the worth of eternity and not just the good fortune and deliverance of our God in temporal matters. We busy ourselves with the details of believing like going to church, serving on committees, bringing our bodies into control, raising Godly children and helping others less fortunate than ourselves. But, if we do these things without an ever-watchful eye on the wonderfulness of Heaven and salvation in Jesus Christ, were just busy Christians and not Christians on an eternal journey. A.W. Tozer put it this way: "We try to promote religion, forgetting that it rests upon the character of God. If I have a low concept of God, my religion can only be a cheap, watery affair. But if my concept of God is worthy of God then it can be noble and dignified; it can be reverent, profound, beautiful." (Tozer, The Attributes of God) Someday you and I will stand in front of our Maker, the Lord God Almighty and, with Jesus at our side, we will hear these words: "Wonderful! Enter into my Kingdom and rest!" Or, perhaps it might be: "Wonerful, Wonerful, you did that well!" Maybe, if Mr. Welk has anything to say about it.

We pray. Heavenly Father, we need to see beyond the good things in this life when we pray the prayer of the Church You have given us. Help us to break through to a higher level of worth: the worth of eternity and not just the good fortune and deliverance You give us in temporal matters. We busy ourselves with the details of believing like going to church, serving on committees, bringing our bodies into control, raising Godly children and helping others less fortunate than ourselves. But, if we do these things without an ever-watchful eye on the wonderfulness of Heaven and salvation in Jesus Christ, were just busy Christians and not Christians on an eternal journey. May we never forget this truth. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Wonerful...wonerful?

(07.09.21– Living in God! – Isaiah 9:6)

What does God look like? Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Is there any wonder why the Psalmist used the word "wonderful" to describe the Christ who delivered us from certain death to eternal life?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

Wonderful is a word we don't often use much any more. When was the last time that you called someone "wonderful" or experienced an event that you termed "wonderful?" Remember Lawrence Welk and his orchestra? Every Saturday night my parents tuned him in. Lawrence liked the word "wonderful." (He always pronounced it "wonerful.") When Myron Floren played a tune on his accordion you just knew that Lawrence would walk onstage, stand in front of the CBS camera and proclaim: "Wonerful, wonerful, you did that well Myron!" Perhaps it's a word that's a bit too flowery for our taste these days. But, "wonderful" is an important characteristic of our God. It describes quite specifically what He has done for us in the person of Jesus Christ. As the Lord's Prayer states: "Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Is there any wonder why the Psalmist used the word "wonderful" to describe the Christ who delivered us from certain death to eternal life?

Perhaps we're too wrapped up in the tiny "wonders" around us that we can't see the wonderful forest for the trees. We break an arm and it heals. God is good; He is wonderful. We land a job in a bad economy. God is good; He is wonderful. We overcome an addiction in our life. Perhaps we lose a bad habit or, as many strive to do these days, lose some weight. God is good; He is wonderful. Nevertheless, although these things are good, they pale in comparison to the fact that God is gracious, forgives sins in Christ, expects nothing from us other than faith and has prepared a home for us in heaven to live eternally with Him forever sharing His wonderfulness. You and I need to see beyond these good things when we pray this prayer and break through to a higher level of worth: the worth of eternity and not just the good fortune and deliverance of our God in temporal matters. We busy ourselves with the details of believing like going to church, serving on committees, bringing our bodies into control, raising Godly children and helping others less fortunate than ourselves. But, if we do these things without an ever-watchful eye on the wonderfulness of Heaven and salvation in Jesus Christ, were just busy Christians and not Christians on an eternal journey. A.W. Tozer put it this way: "We try to promote religion, forgetting that it rests upon the character of God. If I have a low concept of God, my religion can only be a cheap, watery affair. But if my concept of God is worthy of God then it can be noble and dignified; it can be reverent, profound, beautiful." (Tozer, The Attributes of God) Someday you and I will stand in front of our Maker, the Lord God Almighty and, with Jesus at our side, we will hear these words: "Wonderful! Enter into my Kingdom and rest!" Or, perhaps it might be: "Wonerful, Wonerful, you did that well!" Maybe, if Mr. Welk has anything to say about it.

We pray. Heavenly Father, we need to see beyond the good things in this life when we pray the prayer of the Church You have given us. Help us to break through to a higher level of worth: the worth of eternity and not just the good fortune and deliverance You give us in temporal matters. We busy ourselves with the details of believing like going to church, serving on committees, bringing our bodies into control, raising Godly children and helping others less fortunate than ourselves. But, if we do these things without an ever-watchful eye on the wonderfulness of Heaven and salvation in Jesus Christ, were just busy Christians and not Christians on an eternal journey. May we never forget this truth. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.