What If?
I am juggling the reading of several books these days.  Well, nothing new in that.  Today I found myself thinking about Romans 8 and how that has been working out in my life. 
Back in June,1971, shortly after I graduated from college, I was hit by a city bus in Minneapolis.  I was not in a car or any other mode of transportation--no mode other than my own two feet.  I have no recollection of the actual event.  As far as I knew, one second I was waiting on the curb for the light to change and the next I was flat on my back in a hospital ward and a nurse was asking me if I knew who the people with her were.  Well, yes, of course--they were my parents and sister.  I wondered why she didn't know.  And I went back to sleep.
While I was home, recovering, several people pointed out Romans 8:28 to me.  The verse didn't make as much sense to me then as it does now.  Not that I am again flat on my back after being hit by a bus.
I could go into certain "what ifs" in my life prior to and subsequent to that event, but the scarier what ifs have to do with God's character.
I am so thankful that He is the same as when He created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them; that He is the same as when He called Abraham; as when He sent His Son incarnate to die sinless, bearing my sins, the consequences of my sins; as when He rose from the grave triumphant.
I am thankful that every word written in the Bible is still profitable for teaching, for doctrine, for reproof, for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  I am thankful that Romans 8:28 is still true because He is.  So we can say what Paul said:  "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Process
I have to admit that process is easier to describe than to participate in.  I face that daunting fact every time I teach writing.  The largest process we as believers participate in is that life-long undertaking (requiring death) known as sanctification.  Comforts?  Psalm 138:8 and Philippians 1:6.
Life, it seems to me
Life, it seems to me,
To be a work in progress,
The progress of finding out
What today will contain,
The process of preparing for
What comes tomorrow,
The coming to grips with
The totally unexpected,
The finding of comfort in
The Unchanging One.
Life, it seems to me, is
One gift of breath,
One gift of hope,
One gift: of the Cross.
And that and there is
Life.

Words
Our Bible study on Friday nights is going through the book of James.  Recently we went through these verses in James 1:  But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.  Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
Three years ago I wrote the following, which I found in my archives:
The power of words
Particular words have particular power,
Some to cheer and some strike fear,
Some to freeze and some to flower.
Particular words have particular strengths,
To shorten or to go more lengths
Than one thought one really could;
Some words free and some make wooden.
Some words bring some pictures to the mind
Which are ugly while others are kind
And some--
Make mum.

Security
When I turned on my e-mail and opened a letter, I was given that message no one likes to see.  It indicated my security might not be at maximum and I should download updates from another site to make sure all would be well.  Knowing both software sites, I felt secure in doing this. 
It hit me.  How often do I overlook messages that I am not keeping my spiritual security at maximum by overlooking what I need to stay strong?
Recently I gave some younger friends an assignment:  discern what they struggle with on an on-going basis and then search the scriptures for passages which deal with this.  I told them that I would be doing the same, and I have.  Wow.  The more I search, the more I am searched.  I would commend to anyone who reads this blog/post the following from Psalm 19:
Who can discern his errors?  Declare me innocent from hidden faults.  Keep back your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!  Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Selected Scriptures
Philippians 2:1-4
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
1 John 3:1-3
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God, and so we are.  The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.  And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.