What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. Ecclesiastes 1:9-10.

May the LORD show you His favor and give you His peace. Numbers 6:26.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 50: His Kingdom is everlasting. 2 Samuel 7:13: He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. And, 2 Peter 1:11: For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

I loved this from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers: “What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6). “I will never leave you” – not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again. “I will never…forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it…do I hear God’s assurance even in these…If we have God’s assurance behind us; the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.”

As I sat praying this morning, I watched the light touch gently different parts of the room as the sun made its steady climb. A simple pleasure to see that light. It reminded me of the simple pleasure and joy I found as a child in nature. I sometimes sat very still watching butterflies or white clouds or even under the sheltering branches of a massive fir tree looking outward. God was with me. Our walk together now is slower and deeper. I couldn’t help but ponder our world today so different from when I was a child. And I realized we have been living in a slow simmering pot like the proverbial frog who doesn’t realize the water temperature will kill him. The terrorism, hate, and violence has been simmering, displacing the life we used to know. We have become so used to it that we can’t see any other way. I thought about our son, always right there in my thoughts, who didn’t share the innocence I knew as a child because of the church we used to attend and the protections I failed to provide; I thought of our daughter undergoing pain from deep wounding; and our grandkids caught up in a digital world overtaking time needed with God in His creation for simple childhood wonder. I thought about the people today living in war-torn ravaged cities – how do they work and provide for their families? None of these things are “new under the sun” of life experiences but they are new to us who live through them. And I thought about God’s promises and what Peter continued to say in his second letter: For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased” – and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:16-19. His presence is that lamp shining in dark places that brings healing so personal and needed. And the beautiful words ring true…until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. Every one of us has experiences of this life that are unique even as they are shared in humanity; and the amazing thing is that God knows and He is ready to come into our hearts and minds and dwell with us as we turn to Him for help and understanding. God is with us in that simmering pot and we are loved!