One step at a time

  Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines  were  there; and  there were  upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport. 28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. 29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. Judges 16:27-29 "... made sport ..."  We can only imagine what cruel, vicious and grossly disrespectful things they said about this man of God, albeit (in this instance) fallen by his own desires.  Surely, though, he was anointed, he was appointed, he was called, he was destined and he was given for God's unique and holy purposes. When we mock a man or woman of God, especially in the fun...

  “... People with any discernment often can see the issues and problems in a person without seeing the Treasures that may be be buried in them …" I wish I could remember where I read that.  It stopped me in my tracks. I resemble that remark, far more than I would like to admit.      “The Count of Monte Cristo” with Jim Caveizel is one of my top ten favorite movies of all time.  Yes, it is that good!  I have seen numerous parallels to the Word of God and the struggle to live a Christian life in this movie. In one pivotal scene he is hunting hidden treasure.  It has laid untouched and dormant for decades.  With a map from the original Treasure Hunter he was able to find it, relatively easy.  There were no indications, on the surface, of the vast wealth hidden underneath.  He had to “deep dive” to find it.  He had to follow the map to the letter.  He had to be persistent and dilligent .  He had to actually...