“I put it in a safe place.”
How many of you have done this? Put an important item in a ‘safe place’, and then moved on with the hurly-burly of life, and…were unable to locate the item when needed, bewildered?
I’ve learned to relax for several days, letting the notion of the misplaced float in the periphery of my brain and voila! The cupboards of memory open and the item is found. When we last moved, in 1986, I found my scarves after 6 months…
Among the few items I retrieved from my parents’ earthly goods were the large print ‘Good News for Modern Man’ Bibles that each had given their mother, my grandmother, some Mother’s Day.
Each grandmother had bookmarked Romans 8, a chapter that helps us understand the doctrine of eternal security. Many theologians, including my pastor, claim Romans 8 to be their favorite chapter of the Bible. When I shared my Bible place marker, by coincidence during a pastoral study of the ‘Magna Charta’ of the Bible, he exclaimed, “It’s a message from her, beyond the grave!”
My grandmother Moeller, my angel in life as well as death, wanted me to know that Salvation is the safe place. Even when some people condemn me, God and His Son do not.
There are many wonderful truths in Romans 8. The beginning and ending of the chapter help me to understand the context and content. Paul starts by saying there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. This shows God’s mercy—His gift that we don’t deserve. It ends with the fact that we cannot be separated from His love.
My grandmother reaffirmed the God’s truth. I believe and be live it.
I was just thinking this morning about Romans 8:28.
Romans 8:38 (I think) – the passage where Paul tells us all the things that can’t separate us from God’s love – literally brought me from the brink of despair.
I love Romans 8, too. 🙂
Thanks for affirming our great vibe again, Jessica – comes from Him, eh!
Romans 8, the touchstone of what this faith we hold so dearly, is all about. Love it! Jim
You were/are a great Biblical scholar and teacher, Pastor Jim Hale. Miss you
Just shared this with Rod and we both enjoyed your Safe Place thoughts and can totally relate to putting things in a “safe place” and then not being able to find them!!! He said to tell you he doesn’t remember what he said that inspired you . . . said it must be due to his advancing age . . . and he thanks you for your sweet birthday wishes!!! This entire page is so clever . .. and creative . . . love it!
Caroline and Rod, thanks for the read and the compliments; please remember to return to the blog to read more insights, rants, and sayings…
Oh PJ I so enjoy your writings. I really liked this one particularly. I recieved my aunt’s Bible after she passed years ago. I’ve never opened it. I hold it and feel so overwhelmed just knowing she used to read it daily. I still cry when I see her handwriting on cards or scratch paper I find. I really miss her. Maybe soon I’ll be able to open it and read the notes she left. I’m off to read Romans 8 now 🙂
Sweet Jennifer: I, too, delayed opening my Grandmother’s Bible for years. She died in 1983. I feel blessed to have opened it in God’s good time, when Pastor Jim could discern the relevance of those paper scrap place markers.
Here’s some comic relief to mediate our grief: A little girl opened up the family Bible and found a leaf dried and pressed among the pages. She ran to her mommy and said, “Look, I found Adam’s underwear!”