Carnival of Souls

My Progress Update

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

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“Faith is the assurance of things you have hoped for, the absolute conviction that there are realities you’ve never seen” (Hebrews 11:1)

For those who are new to this blog or who haven’t been keeping up, I’ve been reading through the Bible in The Voice translation this year. I really like it so far, especially the way it translates Christ as “the Anointed One.” I also like the modern yet faithful wording.

I’ve made it all the way to 2 Peter, which means I don’t have far to go. Just 6 more books. I suppose I’m a bit ahead of schedule. I figure I’ll be done before July 1, the midway point of the year.

I’ll give you a taste of what I’ve been reading lately:

“Blessed is God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Because He has raised Jesus the Anointed from death, through His great mercy we have been reborn into a living hope— reborn for an eternal inheritance, held in reserve in heaven, that will never fade or fail. Through faith, God’s power is standing watch, protecting you for a salvation that you will see completely at the end of things. You should greatly rejoice in what is waiting for you, even if now for a little while you have to suffer various trials. Suffering tests your faith which is more valuable than gold (remember that gold, although it is perishable, is tested by fire) so that if it is found genuine, you can receive praise, honor, and glory when Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, is revealed at last.

Although you haven’t seen Jesus, you still love Him. Although you don’t yet see Him, you do believe in Him and celebrate with a joy that is glorious and beyond words. You are receiving the salvation of your souls as the result of your faith” (1 Peter 1: 3-9).

I think that says it all.

I

Not Forgotten

/ Ragamuffingospelfan / Leave a comment

There’s an old horror movie that I really like called Carnival of Souls. It’s about a young woman involved in a car accident who somehow survives and goes across country to play organ for a church congregation.

The one part that gets to me is that part where she’s in a department store looking for a new dress. Suddenly, it’s as if she doesn’t exist anymore. No one can see or hear her. Her world goes silent.

Have you ever felt like that? Like you had been forgotten in the mad rush of daily living? Like no one knew you were there anymore and no one could hear or see you?

Take heart. God knows who you are. God knows where you are. God sees and hears your cries in the middle of the night. He has collected your tears in a bottle.

You are not forgotten. You are not alone.