All Things Work Together For The Good Of...

Once again, what is it we trust God for? I don't mean why, I mean for what. We trust that all things will be worked out for our good but is that our own specific particular good or for the good of the human race as a whole, or believers as a whole? Because it seems a bit presumptuous and extreme to assume it means my good. It could be but what if what's good for me is bad for someone else? Or will it never turn out that way in the long run? And do we assume that staying alive is best? Are there no believers who have starved to death or frozen to death because they have nowhere to live even while they trusted God for things to work out for their good? Yeshua himself trusted YHWH for his good, it certainly wasn't his good in THIS life - betrayed, abandoned, ridiculed, tortured and murdered. The Father's approbation was his reward, I wonder if he 'looks down' at us and thinks, "Yes, they're worth what I went through for them."

If things fall to pieces and are really bad, is it because we're not seeking the kingdom of God first? Or are we simply meant to learn a lesson, see something, change something? All of them can be true but I don't know how to tell the difference; if I'm wrong about what's going on, my energies are aimed in the wrong direction. I have the book Secret of The Vine, I think that deals with this question, I need to read it again.

Now I Get It

Maybe it's not that we should be seeing people as our Maker
intended us to be
but how He intends us to be.

Unexpectedly Ended Up At Church Today

This morning I was looking for a nearby church to go to, the one I tried a couple of times is too far. I found one listed in the phone book that was close but it didn't have any starting times. Knowing this would be like all the other times that I just didn't bother, I drove to the corner store but instead of going in, I decided to go to the bookstore, dangerous idea, no need and no right to spend money but I could browse and enjoy myself for a while. Half an hour to sit in the parking lot until they opened so I decided to look up that church I had found listed. I arrived at the exact right time to attend! BUT I was wearing corduroys and a sweatshirt; I hadn't planned on actually making it to church. Then I saw a family going in, the kids were wearing jeans. Then the dad - jeans. Then the mom, jeans. Then another family, jeans and/or other casual clothes. So I went in and I'm glad I did.
It's very small, 30 people? 50? 60? I don't estimate very well so I don't know but it's definitely small. It's okay though because the spirit of the Holy One was there. These people weren't there for entertainment and they weren't there to show themselves as "good church people" either. (Not that people care about the latter anymore that I know of.) It was the perfect place to be this morning; if I hadn't left the coffee pot on and almost empty when I made "a quick drive down to the corner" and then been gone for over two hours, I would have stayed and talked to people afterward! Yah willing, there's always next time.

Dean Koontz and Spiritual Quests

Every time I read a Dean Koontz novel, I'm surprised at how much I enjoy it. I've never been one for horror, I don't read that type of book or ever watch movies like that. But his books always include so much spiritual searching, contemplation, and at times insight that I can't help but be fascinated.
Many deal with the depravity and insanity of human behavior, every book involves a wonderful and gentle man, the epitome of kindness, and a woman who is noble and full of love. They are coupled as so in love that neither can imagine breaking the bond because who breaks their own life and the perfection of unity in their wedded love? They always step up in self-sacrifice to deal with whatever horror (and this man can come up with truly horrible horrors) threatens.
I just finished one that was truly awful called Hideaway, it explores the nature of evil in humans and its source - no 'answers' really but his characters don't have the whole answer any more than we do now. Koontz as an author seems to think about this a lot, wondering why, WHY would anyone be like that?
The other one I just read is The Taking, an apocalyptic story that was really very good. Totally wonderful. Freaky, creepy, spiritual, triumph of God over all. I think what I like about him is that he's a man who obviously spends much time contemplating the spiritual aspect of life.