The great plan of redemption was not a hasty after thought on the part of God when He saw what man had done.

...The "plan of the ages", as explained by the Apostle Paul, is that all of this is done for the glory of God.

Ephesians 1:6,7 To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;

Satan thought that Calvary was God's great defeat; but it turned out to be God's greatest victory and Satan's defeat. As Christians, our future is secure in Christ no matter what our circumstances may be. In fact, God's plans for His own are so wonderful that our minds can't begin to comprehend them. -- 1 Corinthians 2:9.

For those who love God, every day is a good day -- Romans 8:28. It may not look like a good day or feel like it, but when God is working His plan, we can be sure of the best. It's when we fail to trust Him or obey Him, when our love for Him grows cold, that life becomes dreary. If we walk in God's wisdom, we will enjoy His blessings. 

Life is like a jogsaw puzzle. It gets out of balance when pieces are missing.

...How do you stay balanced in an unbalanced world? 

Psalm 199:49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
Balance takes courage, and it comes from hope, and hope comes from faith in God's Word. Like our children, we need to memorize scripture. Bible history reveals God's care for His people. We draw assurance from that and His promises. That's balance.

Our senses have been dulled (unbalanced) to the lewdness flaunting the television screen. Christians should be shaken to the core.

A great balancer is hymns and gospel music.
There's within my heart a melody,
Jesus whispers sweet and low.
Fear not I am with thee, peace be still;
In all of life's ebb and flow.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; sweetest name I know;
Fills my every longing
Keeps me singing as I go.
The song in our heart gives balance power during hard times.

Is your life balanced in an unbalanced world? Do you personally know Jesus? Have you failed Him? He can make it right and put your life in balance. 

Shall we live again? What lays beyond the grave: Does the question trouble you?

...The answer is in the inspired Word of God.  Death is inevitable, followed by eternal consequences. 

Luke 16:19-31 tells of a rich man dying and going to hell, and a beggar dying and going to heaven. Heaven or hell are the only two options after death, and everybody has the opportunity to go to heaven. 

The tormented rich man, seeing Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom, cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. Then he wanted him to warn his five brothers that hell is real. We have memory after death.

There's a gulf between heaven and hell. Jesus' sacrificial blood is a bridge by which He can reach over and rescue you from hell before you die. Once death happens, it's too late.

Salvation is the payment into heaven. Are you going to heaven or hell? 

God can be seen through the forces of nature

. . . and by His divine Word. King David expressed how the inner man reaches out to Him. Psalm 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. The reach of faith enables us to receive Him and know Him. 

God's love for you, His holiness, His care, and His might are qualities that merit your love. How much do you love Him?

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.

You are capable of loving this way. Loving God with all your heart is affection. Loving Him with all your soul is the energies and purposes of your nature. Loving Him with all your mind is your intellect and perception.

Every worthwhile thing depends upon you loving the Lord. You should show your love by accepting all He has for you, confessing Him and serving Him in obedience  and trust. You should be willing to suffer for Him.

Today in our society some see children

. . . as a nuisance, but Jesus sees them differently. He shows us this vividly when parents bring their children to be blessed by Him. The disciples were offended that pesky kids interrupted Christ's ministry. They rebuked the parents, then Jesus rebuked them.

Mark 10:14-15 . . . Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Child-like faith is trusting like a child, and that's why accepting Christ is so simple.
Parents are responsible for children's spiritual walfare. Taking them to church and telling them about Jesus won't save them, but it will introduce them to Him. Christians share that responsibility.

In twenty years these little lives running around will be the song leader, preacher, and Sunday school teacher.

Christ took the children up in his arms, and, putting his hands upon them, He blessed them. He promised to bless your children if you bring them to Him. 

Your reasonable service to God

. . . involves three steps: Give God your body, give Him your mind, and give Him your will.
Every day is a worship experience when you body is yielded to the Lord. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

The world wants to control your mind, but God wants to transform your mind. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
God transforms our minds through meditating, memorizing, and making His Word a part of our inner person. 

We surrender our will to God through time in prayer. We must pray about everything and let God have His way.

My sister, Ruthie, and I sang the following song at church many times when we were teenagers.

If I ask for things that I should not ask for;
If I pray for things selfishly;
If I ask for myself and not for my neighbor,
Lift this veill from my eyes, let me see.

Not my will, Thine be done, prayed Jesus.
May that same prayer be mine every day.
When this robe of flesh that I wear makes me falter,
Guide my steps, hold my hand all the way.