Thanks to God by His revealing words written through our dearly departed brother Ray I have learned:
1. How easy it is that I can ( or rather WILL) leave my first love.
2. How I can do NOTHING apart from Him in Christ Jesus.
3. How, despite my desires for a number of comforting things & scenarios, I can bring NONE of it to pass if it is NOT in His will for my life.
4. How He is in complete Control of EVERYTHING and NOTHING catches Him off guard.
5. How He WILL have ALL to be saved and come into knowledge of the truth.
6. How I can be thankful for the fact that I can post these thoughts on this forum, and have others come away inspired by them.
7. How I should thank Him for having me EXACTLY where He wants me, so that I will learn, time and again, that my dependence is SQUARELY upon Him.
8. How to see EGO as more than a word, but an acronym which stands for Everybody's Got One.
9. How He DOESN'T need my help when I cast my prayer requests at His feet. He does ALL things after the counsel of HIS OWN WILL IN HIS APPOINTED TIME. He will bring it to pass His way (which isn't always what I would prefer).
10. How we should not be so harsh to judge those who are blind, nor poke fun at their blindness. For once we were there, and not able to see until God open our eyes to His wonderful and transforming truths.
11. How we MUST go through much tribulation in this life. If we're to be one of His we are chastised by Him, through such things. Our trials are for OUR benefit, not God's.
12. How, elaborating on point 6, He gave me these thoughts that translate into hope for those who will read them.
Since Brother Ray's writings have pointed out how 12 symbolizes completeness, I pray that the examples of the BT articles and those who post on this forum will have more of His grace to endure this day. For we live, work, study, and serve under His watchful eye and His grace open our eyes more today.
May God be with us
Ches