"In Him all things are held together" (Colossians 1:17).

God is so big...so whole and complete! I cannot grasp a fraction of the whole of who He is and of all that is in Him. He is the beginning and the end. I don't know about you, but I need the beginning and the end divided down into days...one day at a time, from start to end.

And in Him "all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or

 authorities; all things were created and exist through Him and in Him and for Him...in Him alll things are held together" (Col. 1:16-17). I really need this divided down...one thing at a time!

This thing, this day, held together in Him.

Also in Him is Wisdom for all things and eternity. Wisdom...for everthing, everyday? Yes, I need this divided down into something I can begin to figure! Wisdom can seem so intangible...but it's not. Christ is the Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). Christ for all days; Christ for all things. And, what about this...wisdom is God-given skill for "every area and relation" (Prov. 2:9). Skill! God-given skill! Christ-skill for every area, all days, every relation, all things...held together in Him.

Here is both assurance and comfort when there is an area too overwhelming to know what to do about it. A relationship that seems to be falling apart. Something being pulled apart. A day unravelling. There's always something, someone, somewhere, isn't there? But for all this, there is the wholeness of our very big God and His given skill.

In Him all things are held together!

Written by: Carolyn Roehrig

Wisdom is calling out!

Wisdom is calling out!  What is she saying? "If you will turn (repent), ...I will pour out my Spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you" (Prov. 1:23). What has wisdom been saying to me lately?

"Turn (repent) from your cares and cast them on Him who cares for you. Cast them and remember them no more, just as He who cares for you cast away all your sins and remembers them no more. Cast th

em away, but don't leave the vacancy empty. When you cast a care away, fill the space it once occupied with thanksgiving in all things; with Philippians 4:4-8 thinking...that is, with rejoicing in the Lord always, with gentleness, with prayer for everything and anxiety for nothing, with all the good 'whatevers'. Fill the space with these things and God will take it from there. He will fill it until it overflows into your heart and mind and beyond all understanding...with His peace."

I will practice daily this turning, this repentance and casting of cares, this emptying and filling and being filled.
Oh, make it so, Lord!

written by: Carolyn Roehrig

A Word To My Reader...

What has wisdom been saying to you lately? She has already said "Turn and repent." From what? Whether it is the same thing she has been saying to me, or something else, peace is promised. It's the last word..."But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil" (Prov. 1:33).

Like · 

"Hannah, why do you weep?...Am I not better to you than ten sons?" (I Samuel 1:8).

Who among us has never wept in our longing? I was doing just that the other day. I was calling out to the Lord while driving somewhere...I don't even remember where...when God answered me with this-"Carolyn, why do you weep? Am I not better to you than...?" It took my breath away. "Yes, Lord!" I wanted to say, "Yes,

 of course You are!" But, in honesty before Him, I had to just take a moment to think about what He was really saying. He was saying, in part, what Hannah's husband must have meant when he asked her, "Am I not better to you than ten sons?" In other words, "Hannah, I am here. I am your husband. You have me. Enjoy me with a measure greater than the measure of your longings."

Isn't this what our Bridegroom is saying? "My dear bride (put your name here), Am I not more to you than ...(fill in the blank)? Enjoy Me."

This is what I heard Him saying to me. And I had to reply, "How?" It was a heart-breaking reply, as His beloved, and after everything He had just said.

"How? How do I enjoy You? I know how to seek You. I know how to cry out to You, to praise You, to stay with You, to endure what things You have asked me to endure and to suffer these for Your name's sake. I have even learned within the limitation of these things to say, 'Though You slay me, yet will I wait for You and trust in You.' But how do I enjoy You?"

The answer I got was a quiet assurance that because He spoke His desire to me, He would fulfill it in me. "How?" My favorite question came out a whisper of amazement and hope. I don't know how, but I do know that somehow this morning I woke with a sense of freedom from my ten-sons longing.

"My beloved Bridegroom, You are better to me than ten sons. Make it so!"

written by: Carolyn Roehrig

Sometimes we just need...

Sometimes we just need to be reminded..."And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Ro. 8:28).

"All things" means, of course, ALL things. Including all sin of every kind and category...those done against us, those we choose to commit, those of habit....But here's the thing-they work together for good to those who

 love God. How? How else except that God is the One working them. And those who love God grow to love Him more than all things...as they endure all things, one or two things at a time, (He knows our limits), and as He works all things. He works all things together for good to those who love Him; and He works in those who love Him to love Him more than anything, even more than how much they hate sin.

God can work all things because He is bigger than all things. I am not bigger than most things, and I am certainly not bigger than sin. But in Him I am strengthened with all might, for all patience and long-suffering with joy as He works all things the way He promises me. Outside of that, sin will work to the end of my destruction; but God works even sin to the end of His purpose. How great is that? God works all things together for good to you and me who love Him, and for you and me who love Him there is no thing outside of Him because He is our All in All and Everything! Rest in that today.

written by: Carolyn Roehrig