During the time ‘pre-Easter,’ we focused our hearts and minds on that upcoming ‘celebration’ of Christ’s resurrection, which was God’s approval of His work and being the sacrifice, the ‘Lamb of God’ at Calvary——and that He is Risen! Which is the very tenant and power of our faith in Him, and what our entire eternal life is predicated upon, Christ’s resurrection overcoming the power of death and sin—-and all Satan’s attempts to prevent His resurrection——So now, lets consider: The comforting message of the Resurrection—-and ‘what it is about the Resurrection that comforts us.’

These thoughts were stimulated, and have been taken from a broadcast by Charles Stanley, whom I consider a ‘Scriptural teacher’ more than a ‘preacher.’ To me, he stays true and close to Scripture, and ‘teaches us’ from and through them, instead of like some, who as ‘they drift’ from Scriptural focus and truth ‘to their own preaching and rhetoric’ which when compared to God’s exact Word, it seems that they can even ‘bloviate’ more of their own thoughts and concepts wrapped up in a ‘religious’ cloak which promotes ‘their own agenda’—–even though sometimes a well-meaning one.

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This can be a huge ‘problematic’ area that ‘we as goal-oriented humans’ struggle with – and have since the ‘fall of mankind’ in the Garden when sin entered the world – and that our salvation in Christ is by grace through faith – and not works – yet many passages of Scripture seem to integrate works so closely that it would seem to even say ‘faith in Christ plus works.’

Our God is not a God of confusion – and by this statement, I am not saying I understand all of what He has revealed, nor am I in anyway ‘elevating myself’ nor ‘lowering Him’ as God – but as we gain ‘illumination’ on His revelation of Himself, generally speaking, it ‘makes sense’ and is ‘orderly’ – and in complete harmony. Man, in His pride often misinterprets, or makes it difficult, or ‘adds to or takes away’ in order to have it support ‘our agenda’ – and thus introduces contradiction.

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I am experiencing something that is ‘impacting me’ in such a wonderful way…..an empowering way, a way of tremendous ‘hope’…..that I just have to share it with each of you. (And, maybe you don’t need this…..I hope you don’t…..but if statistics are any measure, then we all can benefit.)

My wife Suzanne, who I dearly love and respect…..and because she loves God, I feel is the only reason she could possibly love me…..and is the reason we are still married…..because we have had some tremendous ‘disagreements’……’arguments’…..’differences of opinion’…..and more, I feel, we have not learned to ‘resolve’ issues in a manner that promotes peaceful, loving understanding. Too often we have gone to what I term as ‘a volcano eruption’ in this ‘process.’ Our ‘conflict resolution’ has not really worked, we just seem to try to ‘cover over our hurt or disappointment’ — to try to ignore it, until it surfaces again — and we have another ‘volcano’ or ‘near volcano.’ (I feel surely it ‘must be me’ that I am just a ‘relationship failure’ — and I’m sure most of our friends would also accept that I am a difficult person as far as relationships.) But in our marriage this is a circle that has become too much a part of our life — the person who wrote the book I am going to recommend calls it the “Crazy Cycle.”

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As I contemplate (my) life – reflecting upon my walk, communion, fellowship, and relationship with the Lord – the deep introspection of ‘this journey’ of life – of the ‘process of God in shaping us to become more like the image of His Son’:

Rom 8:29 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;

1 Cor 15:49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Lately, I have been drawn more and more to ‘what am I reflecting from within?’ Am I reflecting the love of Christ – the ‘image of Christ within me’ – or am I still reflecting the ‘old me’ – the ‘natural me’ – the ‘inner me that wars with the Spirit of God’ as revealed by Paul:

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