"If God’s primary purpose was to deliver to you a comfortable life, He’s a massive failure. No, He’s committed to giving you something vastly better and eternally more significant.

While we constantly revert back to wanting a life that’s a little easier and more comfortable, the attention of our Lord is never distracted or diverted, He stays on task, working to finish what He’s begun; our complete redemption.

God left us in this broken and uncomfortable world, not because He is a poor planner, but because He knew the hardships here would be the workroom where He rescues us from us and transforms us into His likeness.” —Paul David Tripp

I am so thankful that He stays on task, working to finish what He’s begun in me! I'm glad it's not dependent on me to earn my redemption. I would certainly fail, miserably. I find myself looking for an easy and comfortable road of life. He leads me through the workroom of transformation. And when I exit the workroom, although it was a difficult journey, I see His hand. I feel His presence. I experience His love. I know that a transformed life will never be found on the easy and comfortable road.

For additional reading on the hardships of life, check out Roses Are Red, and They Have Thorns.  Matheson's quote here is great! But being grateful for thorns, it's not an easy task. "My God, I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensated for my cross, but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory. Teach me the value of my thorn." -G. Matheson

“It’s grace that called you, grace that keeps you, grace that will finally deliver you. It’s all grace, all the time, all the way.

It’s not your performance, it’s not your theological prowess, it’s not your biblical literacy, it’s not your ministry commitment, it’s grace and grace alone that is your hope right now and for all the “right nows” to come.

If it’s all by grace, then we should be eternally grateful, our boasting silenced, our praise ignited and we should look for ways to introduce others to the Giver of this grace.” —Paul David Tripp

For more on gratitude check out our Thanksgiving Day 2018 post Sacrifices of Thanksgiving from Psalms 107.  "And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of His deeds in songs of joy!" Psalm 107:33 This passage ​speaks of how His pursuing, redeeming, rescuing love towards the unworthy soul prevails! "...His steadfast love endures forever!

"To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion-to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations." Isaiah 61:2-4

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