January 6 ~

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world ... Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me ... Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid ... Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's will ...
Jn.16:33; 14:1,27 (KJV); Matt.10:29 (RSV)

To not be troubled by these troubled times?
To have, instead, a constant peace of mind,
construing all as part of Thy design?
Society's degeneration, crimes?
Its blindness to the fact that it is blind?
Should not I, Lord, be grieved by what I find?

Of course. And yet, child, am I not at hand?
I grieve, I weep -- for Lazarus, for man.
But birth's a painful process. Understand?
This is a birthing place! Since Time began
all things have gone according to My plan.
I'm forming sons of God. This earthly span,
albeit brief and painful, for thee is
the time when God - when Love! - doth make thee His.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of child-birth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies ...
Rom.8:18-23 (NAS).

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