Monthly Archives: September 2011

“Ah Hah! A Battle!”

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Florida Water Moccasin Agkistrodon piscivorus ...

Image via Wikipedia

“Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” 

There is something wonderous I have seen within those who carry the testimony of Jesus.  I saw it, myself, in a quarry in Arkansas years ago.  I can tell you I didn’t understand the significance of it then.  But I surely do now!

We went there to go swimming.  The water below was clear and clean.  And the cliffs around were steep and high.  A Marine who went with us decided to jump in.  Leave valor to the Marines! 

As he entered the water the splash captured the attention of one who was not with us.  And as he swam to the other side we watched with fear as a water moccasin followed his wake.  I threw a stone to frighten the snake away from the Marine.  But instead of being startled and moving away from the attack, the snake sped up toward where the stone had splashed in.  There was no fear in that snake.  His response was immediate and forceful.  When threatened, as I perceived the rock would convey, the snake laughed in his mind and thought: “Ah hah!  A battle!”

We who contain the testimony of Jesus will certainly feel the same way.  Who will threaten and with what?  He is our Lord.  In His hand is life!  Who shall we fear?

By His Grace.

Proof.

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c. 1632

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What shall be said?  The proof of the Lord is within me.  And there are thousands who demand that I provide this proof for them to examine.  I will say this:

I have not received the raising of the dead from the Lord.  I have not touched a man and made his injury healed.  I have not raised an iron axe head from the bottom of a river.  I have not built an altar and watched the fire of God consume the offering and the water.  I have not walked on water.  I have not walked through the sea on dry land.  My clothes have not been turned whiter than any laundry can cause them to be.  I have not been in prison for the name of the Lord.  And what I have not done is far greater a list than what I have accomplished in His name.

Does that mean I do not have His blessing?  Look at the words of this blog and make up your own mind.  I am not a smart man.   But my God is all wisdom.  He has done all the things I have not, in the way of righteousness.  And He is quite able to do far more than I can ever think to ask of Him. 

One thing I have done that gives me pause to gasp.  I have believed on the One and Only Son of God, Jesus!  And this is all I need.  Let them ask for proof from me.  I will render the answer by saying that the Lord is Good, His promises are true, there is no shadow of turning in Him, and that He has prepared the Way for anyone who will risk all to follow Him.  There is your proof.  Give all you have to Jesus, venture to believe with all you are.  Submit to the Lord of Life, and remain under His Lordship.  Then, after 30 years, come back and tell me I have no proof at all.  And if you do not do this, then you have no right to challenge my proof.  The evidence is time, humility, and service to the Lord God.  If you want it, there it is.  Prove me wrong!  The burden of proof rests on the head of the accuser.

By His Grace.

My God! And My Lord!

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hands

Image by tamaki via Flickr

My King cannot be deterred; the end remains before His face. 

I will stand with the strength of my God. 

And I will stand as 10,000 men! 

He is God. 

And by His Grace, I am His. 

 The strength of His Holy hand is not pushed back by the will of man. 

He is. 

He will forever be. 

And all that is His will last forever. 

This is God. 

And, through His promise, I am His. 

Thus I will praise Him forever.

NOW!!!!!!!!!!

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Infant enjoy

There is a great gladness among those who have been blessed to know the Lord.  This gladness does not come from ourselves.  And it can not diminished by anyone who rails against the faith.  This same gladness has allowed many men to face horrible conditions and survive with praise and joy on their lips.  Though the world may take the life from our bodies, they cannot touch this joy!   They were torn apart by lions, but gave praise to God.  They were sawn in two, yet praised He who Lives Forever!  Prison could not stifle their lips!  Death has no hold on those who are His!  Sickness and trouble are not tools of sorrow for those who believe Him.  Poverty and lowly position are not to become your master.  You are a child of the King of Life!  Stand with strength and muster your heart to believe!  You Are His!

The Lord has sworn an oath by Himself, and we know the Lord cannot lie.  He alone will redeem His bride.  And everyone of us, who are called by His name, will receive the joy that is His.  This receiving is not waiting for us when we arrive in heaven.  It is present NOW, if you will but receive it.  This joy is the power to overcome every possible trouble we encounter.  And fear is not from God!  Fear is the expectation of punishment.  And those who believe by the power of Christ are not taught to fear.  Timidness is not from God!  Strength and joy are the gifts He gives.  He calls us to stand like men and women who believe.  And what He demands He also gives the strength to accomplish.   God does not lie!  What He says is true.  And it will be accomplished!

Strengthen yourself.  Believe Him!  Lift up your head and receive His presence.  Why would you grovel like a worm when you know He has promised so very much more?  Bow to your knees, yes.  But do so with a glad heart, willing to listen and believe.  It is not His desire that His people be cast down.  This is to show doubt.  Do not doubt the Lord God Almighty!  He did not send His Son so that we could question His intent.  Believe and be saved!  And as you believe allow the Lord to be true within you. 

SHOUT WITH GREAT GLADNESS AND VIGOR!  YOU BELONG TO THE GOD OF LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By His Grace.

How Can I Come to Know the God You Serve?

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c. 1632

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You are the one who asked, “How can I come to know the God you serve?”  I understand your earnest question and I will provide you an answer.  I don’t know who you are.  I don’t know where you have been or what you have endured, good or bad.  But I tell you a truth, none of those things matter.  Though they make you who you are today, I know that He is able to make you into who you are not today.  Yet, isn’t this why you asked?

The Lord has remained hidden from man because it is His desire that all who seek Him should approach their search through faith.  We are expected to believe God.  And doubt, though part of our long lists of sins, will never be a welcome visitor in His presence.  Read the Bible.  Pray for the wisdom to understand.  Believe what you read.  And respond with actions you know are necessary. 

This is your answer.  Did you expect more?  Are you looking for something you can do to gain what you do not have?  You will find nothing in you that’s acceptable to the Lord of Hosts.  This ownership belongs to Jesus alone.   And if the Lord, Himself, were to ask you to do something at the top of your ability you would strive to do it.  Why then, shouldn’t you be willing to simply believe Him?  This all He asks, for He will never allow any man to claim that God owes Him anything.  God alone will receive praise forever.  And man will be the one to give that praise. 

You do not answer to me.  I am no one to answer to.  You will answer to Him alone.  And what you do with this answer is between you and the Lord.  He is enough to secure your eternity.   He is willing to walk with you right where you are now.  The question is not, “Is God willing to love me?”  The question is, are you willing to believe what He has already promised.   And if you can’t believe, at least tell Him about it.  Begin somewhere.  Or you go nowhere.

By His Grace.

The Dream Which did not Come.

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Dawn

Image by Daveybot via Flickr

I wake to nothing. 

 And how glad I am to receive. 

A quandary had blocked my way and to His face I knelt.

O Lord of Life I struggle with a knowledge.

And need to know if it has come from You.

“Take care to weigh the words you think you hear.”

You spoke a while ago.

And now I laid a fleece in grass and wait to see its state.

I said that if this word be Yours that You would grant me dreams.

And not the dreams of countless thought which linger full of doubt.

The dream I sought was like those which pestered me for years.

I sought the dream from You which would mark my soul.

And I knew that You were able to provide.

I woke today and searched my mind.

Had such a dream been given?

But all I found were vague mists of thought.

Nothing remained to define.

These are not the things of my God.

And this is not what I asked to appear.

I received nothing!

And isn’t this the very answer I did not expect.

I give you Glory and Thanks for You alone are worthy!

Praise belongs to the Lord my God.

And I will render it forever!

Remember now and seal it up.

This did not come from God.

There are only two places it could have come from, aren’t there?

And neither is eternal.

Consider with great sobriety what you did not receive.

Remember, Remember, Remember!

I write this post to place a rock,

Along the path of life.

I will not stumble on this again.

For it does not come from God!

By His Grace.