Monthly Archives: January 2012

A Dream

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English: At work in the metal shop making engi...

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I had a dream that the Lord Jesus came to a place on earth in my time.  He came to a place where men worked with metal.  Other than that, I don’t remember a whole lot about the dream.  But I am struck by something important.

The Lord was very intent on doing whatever He came here to do.  He didn’t come to sign autographs on pictures or baubles and trinkets.  He didn’t come to be lauded as the Lord of Life.  He came to accomplish something the Father had sent Him to do.  He had little to say to anyone.

I am struck (once again) by the single-mindedness of the Lord Jesus.  He lives forever to do the will of the Father in heaven.  We are told that He is not a respecter of men.  Which means that the Lord Jesus will never consider the will of anyone as more important than the will of the Father.  It is to our advantage to remember that with a great clarity.  It is not we who manipulate the Lord.  It is our duty to obey in all things.  We are the ones created.

I believe it will be the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit that will amaze us on the day we see Him face to face.  The Lord is Holy.  That is to say, He is set apart for the purposes eternal.  Though He works with us in our daily lives, He is completely focused on what is perfect and will last forever.

For now we see people dividing the Scriptures as they please.  They pray and speak as if they have some special in-road to the Lord Most High.  In a sense, the Lord laughs at those who make such claims.  For the desires of God are not like the desires of man.

By His Grace.

A Time of Clarity

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This picture shows an instance of the Sun’s “lifetime”.  That flare will soon be swallowed back into its place of origin.  Yet, the picture is proof of a moment extraordinary.  It is the same with man.  There are moments of clarity and beauty rarely matched in his lifetime.

How beautiful is the Lord Jesus.  For He gives portions to men.  “Portions of what”, you may ask.  Jesus gives portions of heavenly understanding to men.  Who has seen the Lord?  Who has entered the throne of the Glorious Father of Light?  And who of those have returned to speak of that encounter?  In the lives of men, the Lord quickens the heart and mind to understand His ways.  And I know that there was a place where He did that for me.

I give the Lord Jesus Glory for His gentle kindness, to allow me to see for a time.   I was shown understandings of the nature of man and God the Father.  It was the Lord who bathed me in mercy that I might perceive things of salvation.  Thank you Lord for that moment in my life.  May Your Holy Will be done forever.  And may Your people praise you with exceeding great joy!

Amen.

The Hope of Rahab

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Rahab and the Emissaries of Joshua

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As we live our lives under the rule of Jesus, we are brought from understanding to understanding.  We are always growing in our knowledge of the Love of God.  And everyone of us who are learning to love Him have a testimony to share.  For this reason I drop this tidbit of words for the sake of His Glory:

We hear of how we should strive with all our might to obey all His perfect commands.  And it is impossible to remove any of them from before us.  There is, however, the element of humanity and sin within us.  Though He sets us free from the necessity to obey the sinful nature, we all find ourselves engulfed in evil foolishness from time to time.  This is something the world can’t understand.  They will say, “How can the people of God act so lawless from time to time, yet speak of a life free from ungodly actions?”  This is something rather odd, I readily admit.  But I submit the following for consideration:

Rahab, the harlot, was promised salvation because of one action.  She gave save harbor and escape to the men of Israel when they came to spy on the land they were about to conquer.  The Lord said that she would not be forgotten for this action.  It was in the identification with His people that she warranted being counted among them.  Though most of us won’t risk our lives in defending the Gospel, it is important that we recognize that the Lord is just and will not forget our sacrifices, words, actions, and intentions regarding His Holy people.

I encourage you who strive against great odds.  Many of the Lord’s people come from horrible backgrounds.  And shedding some of those styles of living is extremely hard to do.  Many will never completely rid themselves of these hedious problems before they are in His presence.  But we should strive, above all else, to remember that the Lord is Love, compassion, forgiving, wise, and Holy.  It is the Lord who will be glorified on the day of His appearing.  Man will never receive the same level of glory as will the Lord.  So we rest in that confidence.   This is why we serve Him.

I hope this gives hope to those struggling against despair.  Keep that confidence you had at first.  It is Jesus who saves from first to last.

By His Grace.

What’s that Light???

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Star symbol; full star.

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I step out this morning.  It’s cold and a bit breezy.  I should have worn a coat.  But it’s ok.  I won’t be out here for long.

I look up at the sky.  The morning sun is making a difference in the appearance of the stars.  And it occurs to me how the stars dim as the massive ball of fire called our sun comes into view.  Not one of those stars actually dims.  It is the brightness of the Sun to us that causes them to fade from view.

So it is with Jesus.  We do our work under His Glorious rule.  And we continue to work as He allows and directs.  But as we are working, the Lord appears in the midst of our work.  Without our knowing or will, the Lord becomes MORE than we.  This is a sign to us of what will happen when eternity breaks through time.  So, it is wise for us to remember that it is the Lord Jesus who will Blaze with Glory.  We are nothing more than servants of righteousness.  Yes, we have His promise that we will be given more on that day.  But we are simply men.  We are blessed to know His Holy Name.  And we are blessed to serve as we do.  But the one receiving the blessing is always lesser than He who gives it.

By His Grace.

Remembering Who We Are.

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Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, Scion of...

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Two things come to mind this morning that bear posting:

The first is that it is God who raises up leaders of nations to accomplish His will among the world’s people.  And what that man or woman does is a direct reflection of God’s will among us.  This is a hard thing to understand as we see what we have known being undermined or destroyed.  But consider this:

There was a people who lived in America before the “white” man came ashore.  Their culture, religion, and economy were destroyed.  This has been so throughout history.  Those who took over lands and peoples always felt God was “for” them.  The people subjected to a different rule always felt like God had abandoned them.  It appears to be our turn to experience a certain defeat.  But God is still God!  And it is His Holy Wisdom that will rule into eternity.  This is why we are instructed to pray for them, to do good to all men (including our perceived enemies), and to allow ourselves to become subjects of the rulling peoples.  It is pleasing to God that we should live as He does.  What does that mean in this instance?  Remember how He sends rain on the just and the unjust?  Remember how Jesus submitted to the rule of His own people, as well as the oppression of the Roman machine.

And the second thought is to do with Martin Luther King.  I notice how he is being set up as a glorious man.  The people of this world rally together under his name.  How is this?  Shouldn’t the name of Jesus be first on our tongues?  Wasn’t it Jesus who Martin worshiped?  Yet they make all kinds of beautiful noises at the mention of a man.  Figures!

The Lord Jesus will receive His rightful due in time.  But for now, we do not see Him being presented as the Rightful Ruler of all men.  Take heart, this will not last forever.  And those who glorify men will be ashamed when they see Him as He truly is.  Speak!  Go ahead and speak of man as if he is something.  It is God who will divide our words, intentions, and actions.  And it is God who will divide His people’s words, intentions, and actions.  Let us be sober then.  To live as God’s people in a world of chaos and rebellion.  Chaos, because they who do not have God do not have direction or understanding of eternity.  Rebellion, because they deny the name of the One who has made this place of testing.

By His Grace.

Respectful Silence

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Make a salt lick and the deer will die.  They become predictable.  And predators learn quickly to watch that spot.

Salt-lick, Lizawka, Białowieża, Polska

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Learn to love the sound of a barking dog at night.  For that dog will be silent in the morning.

Look at the bare trees in the winter and marvel at their potential for shade in the summer.  For they are engines of beauty at rest.

Take a lesson from the book of Enoch.  He learned to love the hand of God in every form.  Life, death, health, sickness, wise, and stupid, wealth and poverty; God is at work among us all.  Who among us has been able to say, “I made all this”?  Who among us knows what the death or birth of a fly will cause in the end of things?

Grass will green with warmth and rain.  Rocks will break down into sand.  Clouds will pass without leaving anything more than the memory of a shadow.  And sometimes a cloud will wash away even the most firm foundation.  Who can stop what is to be?  And who can cause what is not to become what has been?

God is sovereign.  His name to man is Jesus.  Who can force the Lord to speak?  And who can silence Him when He utters commands?  Be man and be silent in your thinking.  Judge not, the Lord’s ways, and you will not be judged.  Keep your idle heart free from hatred of what is.  Learn to love every aspect of life.  God is not idle.  So be patient.  Be hopeful.  Be respectful of what you do not understand, and wait on the Lord’s powerful hand.  Horror will turn to joy.  And joy will turn to horror.  Listen to the Lord’s commands and live.

 

By His Grace.