The Chronicles of Janie

His camp is exceedingly great. (Joel 2:11) Source Consider, my soul, the mightiness of the Lord who is your glory and defense. He is a man of war; Jehovah is His name. All the forces of heaven are at His command; legions wait at His door; cherubim and seraphim, watchers and holy ones, principalities and powers are all attentive to His will. If our eyes were not blinded by the dust of sin, we should see horses of fire round about the Lord's servants. The powers of nature are all subject to the absolute control of the Creator. Stormy wind and tempest, lightning and rain, snow and hail, and the soft dews and cheering sunshine come and go at His decree. The bands of Orion He looses, and He binds the sweet influences of the Pleiades (Job 38: 21) . Earth, sea, and air and the places under the earth are the barracks for Jehovah's great armies; space is His camping ground, light is His banner, and flame is His sword. When He goes forth to war, famine ravages the land, ...

I watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitt y (the new one, with Ben Stiller) again last night. It was the third time I'd seen it, and for most movies, the third time is not the charm. In fact, it's usually the antidote to the charm. The third viewing is the one where I start to notice all the things that are wrong with a film and become progressively disenchanted. However,  The Secret Life of Walter Mitty has passed the grueling test of my scrutiny yet again, has earned approval, and has, in fact, been installed as one of my favorites. Why do I like it so much?   That's the question I was asking myself as I watched it last night. Sure, it's funny, artistic, has a good soundtrack AND it's partly about a photographer, but those elements alone aren't enough to make me want to view it again and again, even after I know what happens next and can quote most of the lines. There's something more; a deeper truth that lies just below the surface and which I ...

My image Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows.  2 Corinthians 1: 3-5 Isn't is beautiful that God not only re-purposes pain for our own, personal good, but that He also turns our darkest moments into a testament to His grace and glory? Each of us have stories of human or spiritual darkness and the overcoming power of Divine light that may be shared to give hope to others. This has happened countless times in my own life, and I have overflowed with gratitude again and again as I've seen God use my past pain to bring peace and healing to others. Honesty can be frightening and the 'spiritual forces of evil' (Ephesia...

My image We also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5: 3-5 I think that God alone could turn affliction into hope. Whether our affliction is large or small, making the initial choice to rejoice - to produce the outward manifestation of the love that has already been placed in our hearts - is hard. It runs counter to the course of our human nature. It is an act of faith that 'He who began a good work in you will perfect it' (Philippians 1: 6) , and of trust that in 'all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.'  (Romans 8: 28)  It is hope, expressed in the faith that yet more hope will follow. I pray that He will e...