To some it is given to live as they wish.
They eat what they will and then clean the dish.
To others life holds a bit more restraint.
They eat what they can and with no complaint.
A few are held back and forced to receive.
Their plate filled with hope that they might believe.

The peace of God does not look like the peace men speak of.  God’s peace cannot be seen.  There is no handshake or smile to see.  No joyous voice the ear can receive.  We walk by faith.  And this is God’s design.  When God says “Peace to you.”, the world looks on the receiver with envy and hatred.  The kingdom of heaven is within and the signs of it are obscure from the world.  There is no written treaty that a man might hang up on the wall. 

The world will send gifts to those it desires peace from.  And such gifts are easy to behold.  But the gift of God is eternal life, and a calmness of heart.  God gives power to overcome both sin and temptation.  He leads those to whom He extends peace through the raging battle of this world.  The battle of the Lord in this world cannot be heard or seen.  There is no bloodshed, screams of wounds, loud explosions, or the clash of steel.  For the battle is not fought with flesh. 

Peace, yes.  But death remains ahead.  Death of the flesh and not death of the spirit.  There is a river to cross for every man.  That river holds no mercy and does not cry at our passing.  Peace from God, in this world, is a promise of eternal life after we have crossed.  In the mean time there is a war to be fought.  Turn from ungodly behavior and seek His glory.  We are but servants pulled up by the hair that we might serve Him.  God remains supreme! 

There was a saying in Rome.  The men of the arena would stand before the throne and say:  “We who are about to die salute you!”.  In the arena of this world the Christian says: “We who are about to live salute you!”.

By His Grace.

Sleep, in such a demanding world, is a precious experience.  When the world around us demands so very much escape through sleep can be so very sweet.  When a man is tired and worn out from all his toil and trouble, there is a place where even the promise of millions of dollars wouldn’t deter sleep.  Sleep will come upon us regardless how we strive to stay awake.  I know.  I’ve found myself waking up while driving once. 

But there is a place more sweet and necessary than sleep.  To touch the Lord before the day begins is more powerful than anything else we can do with our bodies.  Even our creator, Jesus, turned to prayer before all else.  We read: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”    If even Jesus got away from the world to find the power to continue, how much more should we?  He was perfect and no sin was found in Him.  We are liars and fools.  How much more should we seek God before the day begins? 

By His Grace

It is written that Jesus was set apart to suffer, die, and be received in Glory from the foundation of the world.  Many wonder what the meaning of life is.  God shows us in this “setting apart”.  Life in creation was purposed to test the hearts of the created.  Jesus performed His life on earth with perfection.  He now and forever retains the sit of Glory with God the Father.  He has promised that those who over come will be received by the Father. 

What was my birth?  It was the entrance into the same testing Jesus endured on our behalf.  It is not possible for any man to equal the testing of Jesus.  Nor can we hope to perform as He did.  It’s not expected from the Father that we will.  There is One.  That One is  Jesus!  But it puts us in mind that we are expected to over come sin and doubt.  From the view-point of God, life is a glorious opportunity to prove ourselves.  Accept the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins you commit and pursue God’s will for you.  Join the Lord Jesus in His worship of the Father and His ways.  God finds joy in the testing.  Seek His understanding in this matter and STAND.

There is a village in a clearing surrounded by deep woods.  The people of the village live in security and go about peacefully and joyfully behind a high wall.  All day long they speak of good things to come and enjoy the fruit of their labors.  One day a simple man was walking the cat walk at the top of the wall.  A glint of light from the forest caught his eye and he stopped to focus.  He saw it again and knew in a heart beat that what he saw was the glint of sunlight off the tip of a spear.  As he watched he also saw the brilliant light of the sun shine briefly off a sword.  As he watched he also began to listen.  Putting his hand to his ears he could hear the whispers of men.  Though he couldn’t make out what they were saying, he understood the tone of their conversation.  War.  They were patiently waiting for an opportunity to attack his peaceful town.

He rushed down the steps and went to talk with one of the elders.  Reluctantly the elder followed him up the stairs to the place where he had seen and heard the trouble that was brewing.  After some time and effort the elder also heard the voices.  He looked sternly at the man and told him to tell no one.   He explained that he would confer with the other elders to see what best to do.  The man trusted the elder and remained at the wall. 

After a time, the elder returned with 5 others and instructed them on what the situation was.  With great effort, the other elders too heard the voices and some saw the metal glinting in the sun.  They huddled together with whispers and kept the man at distance.  At length, the elders turned on the wall and looked out over the citizens.  They took note of the peace and joy of their people and decided not to say anything about their new found knowledge. Then the first elder turned to the man and told him to go home and not to spread this information to anyone.

The man looked at the elder with astonishment.  But his gaze was returned by a skowl.  Obediently he turned and went to his house.  Days passed and the man became consumed by the danger he had seen.  He tossed the issue of the elders over and over.  On the 4th day he decided he could hold in his concern no longer.  He went out from his house and told the first person he saw about what had happened.  But he found no interest.  The person told him that the elders had warned everyone about the man.  The elders had been telling everyone to pay no attention to the man, for he had crossed over from sanity. 

Great sadness over took the man for a time.  Then the day came when the enemy began to appear in the clearing.  As the people realized what was happening panic ensued.  They bolted the gate and locked away their valuables.  But as they were preparing to defend their place, a portion of the wall was broken down and the enemy rushed in.  All the people were killed.  From fighting men to servants.  From mothers to babies.  The goods they had locked away were found.  The scrolls of their history were burned.  The town was utterly destroyed.  And but for this story, no one would even think of them.

Such is the state of today’s affairs.  There are some warning of impending doom.  But they are not heard.  We have a nation being led by lies and deception.  But we go about our affairs as though there’s nothing to fear.  We accept as “politically correct” the embrace of sin.  Homosexuals rule law.  Liars judge.  Divorce is just a breaking of a legal contract.  Babies are murdered in their mothers bodies.  The call to party is louder than ever.  Riches and gain are the moral desire.  Advertisment is the bible of the masses.  Church is a building.  Holiness is rarely considered as manditory.  Jesus loves everybody they say.  There is a popular notion that a loving God would not send people to hell.  Prayer is something we do when we’re in trouble.  Violence consumes our streets.  Horror is the joy of the cinema.  And we say and do nothing. 

Those who warn of the judgment of God are considered insane.  We live in a place where it is more important to “shut up” than to cry out.  We’re suppose to accept the ungodly as our leaders.  We allow the enemy of our nation to build monuments to their cause.  Our elected leader and his group who lead use lies and strip us of our freedom while they urge us to trust them. 

The judgment of God on America is sure and true.  We wanted our way and pushed His way to the back room.  The created is now telling the Creator that we don’t need Him or want to listen.  God once said that because we don’t listen to Him, He will not listen to us.  When you cry out to God is it that you might know His will?  Are you willing to lay down your life for Him?  You decide.  What I have written convicts me of my sins too.  But should a man remain silent because he too is guilty?  Will the vengeance of God be stemmed by a nation of complacency?  We all stand before Him on our own.  Do not think you can call yourself a friend of God and remain at peace with the world.  Turn to righteousness, holiness, and humble yourself before the Lord of Spirits.  He is calling and warning.  It is almost to late to respond.

By His Grace.

There are many events in life that we could consider competition based.  From sports to relationships, work to kickin the ants out of our house.  And, to be truthful, none of these competitions will lead to utter death.  There might be tears when we lose.  But we get over these things in time.  There is a competition, however, that we will not get over if we lose.  Accept Jesus and His Lordship of your life now.  You can’t afford to lose this one!