Monthly Archives: February 2012

1 John 3:14

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We know that we have passed from the death of this world into the eternal life of God’s Kingdom when we find ourselves joyfully obeying His commands.  Those who do not obey have not completely passed from death to life.  We know that no disobedience will remain when we are brought into the presence of God for eternity.  And we also know that when we obey God’s commands we become full of a desire to love.  As we mature this desire becomes a full bloom within us.  And we have confidence before the Most High God through Jesus.

We begin in a tiny shred of belief.  God grants us mercy to grow, according to His wisdom and mercy.  All along the way we encounter items of concern within us that need attention.  And to these encounters I say, strengthen your belief.  Retain the confidence you had at first and do not begin to doubt.

To those who have begun to rest on that shred of faith I say this:

If you do not have this love of God growing within you, you will regret horribly that you did not consider it important to fan it into flame.  I do not say this to frighten you for no reason.  The intent is to wake you from a slumber the music of sin and rebellion in the world has caused in your soul.  On the day you see Him face to face, it will be far too late to cultivate that obedience and love.  What you do here is what will be presented before Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

I urge you to consider these things.  Today is all you have.  Set your face in the direction of obedience and love.  Do not look back as sin and rebellion, so as to go back to it.  This is the day your heart is being tested.  I urge you to do all you can to pass that test.  The gift of God in Jesus is free.  But it is freedom to set you free of sin and disobedience, and rebellion.  It is not freedom to do as you please.   It is freedom to do as God pleases.  Do not allow yourself to be fooled.  He who sows to the flesh will reap destruction.  He who sows to the Holy Spirit of God will reap eternal life.

May God grant you understand, wisdom, mercy, and forgiveness as you contemplate these things.

The Ladder of Divine Ascent is an important ic...

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Believe

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Grace Baptist Church (1882) - steeple

Grace Baptist Church (1882) - steeple (Photo credit: origamidon)

Believe.  Such a simple command.

Yet see how many build on the sand.

“Upon the Solid Rock I stand.”

His voice, a whisper, so true and dear.

Reminding me that He is near.

The Way.  The Way!  It is so clear.

But eyes transfixed on wickedness,

Will miss His Grace; that Blessedness.

Believe.  So lovely to confess.

A Prayer

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Praying Hands (Dürer)

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Father in Heaven, Glory to You!  Beautiful is Your Holy Law.  And wonderful is Your Way.  All You are is marvelous to behold.  You uphold those who love you.  And You provoke us to love you by the Love You have shown in that You loved us before we loved You.

You have protected Your servant with a powerful and gentle hand.  When I was at the mercy of the blood drenched animals, You came to me to support me.  For this I give you all the praise my tiny soul can muster.  I thank you!

I have spoken to You about this.  And I said, “Oh Lord, if you will promise to provoke me to speak I will continue to speak for You till You open eternity upon me.”  Your reply was, “You have My promise.”  For these things I worship You with a full heart.  Honor is Yours.  Integrity was born by Your Holy name.

I place this message here so that You might receive the Glory due Your name:

I ask You, Living God of Israel, to open the door of ministry in this place.  Fling open the window of blessing that You, in Your Wisdom,  have kept shut.  I see the Love You offer.  I see it with eyes anew.  I see the strength You abundantly give.  And I know that I can trust Your protection forever.  By the magnificent name of Your Son Jesus, I present myself as a willing servant.   Teach me what to say.  Teach me what to do.  Teach me what humility is.  And I will embrace you with a great love forever.

All I ask, Lord, is that You save souls by Your work in this servant.  May Your Beautiful will be done forever!  Billions will praise You, for You are worthy of all praise forever!

I Will Speak.

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"Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Je...

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They whisper to me, “silent, be still.  Do not speak of the Lord, so much, in public.”  And in days past I tried to remain silent.  Time would pass and I would speak again.  Some would attack my words.  And in unpreparedness, I drew back.  But now I speak with a fluent desire.  I will be with Him forever.  What is it to me that I should be ridiculed for such a short time.  He, the Lord Jesus, received far worse from His own people and had no sin in Him.  Who am I to think I should not encounter opposition and isolation because of His word?  He speaks for me to the Father, why should I keep my lips closed for Him?

And I think of another man who spoke for the Holy name of the Lord, Jeremiah.  What do we hear him speak regarding this plight even now?

Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction.   So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long.  But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,”  his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in;  indeed, I cannot.  I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side! Report him! Let’s report him!” All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.”  But the LORD  is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.  They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced;  their dishonor will never be forgotten. (Jeremiah 20: 8-11)

Therefore, I will speak.  For I know I am not alone!  I will not allow Jeremiah to stand alone.  Though he is now at peace, we will all stand together as one on the day of God’s judgment and release for those who love Him.  And what shall be said of the tens of thousands of men, women and children who stood their ground in the face of certain death for the sake of the Gospel?

No, I say.  As long as the Lord gives me breath I will speak of His Lovely Way.  And what shall I say to those who watch with desire.  In their hearts they say, “Oh please don’t stop speaking the word of the Lord.”

By His Grace.

Cat Gut Slings

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Sling shot

Sling shot (Photo credit: jbrownell)

There was a city who’s walls reached up 500 feet from the ground.  The stones used were of the strongest material known to man.  Within that city reigned a King who had in his control weapons which could decimate the strongest army that might dare advance against those walls.

One spring day such an army did arrive.  In their hands were brass swords and slings made of cat guts.  They made taunts toward the city with great bellowing pride in their voices.  They spoke to the people on the top of the wall and warned them that they would soon over throw the city.

How foolish would the people of that city be if they regarded those taunts as anything more than the meow of the cats they killed to string their pebbles?

 

Why Did the Man Cross the Road?

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Road blocked by landslideYears ago I did something so shameful that it has stuck in my mind.  It’s been over 30 years now.  But the memory is quite vivid.

I was walking into Troy, Montana, from my father-in-law’s property.  As I came into town I saw a man walking toward me.  He was quite shabbily dressed.  His beard hung low.  And everything I saw about him spoke of something my momma would have told me to avoid.   So I crossed to the other side of the road so that we might pass without saying “hi”.

As he drew near he spoke to me from across the road.  “Don’t run away from things you don’t understand.”  I looked at him and walked on by.  How shameful to judge that man by his appearance.  How deeply that experience cut into my heart.

And now, I see people avoid me because of the words I speak.  They don’t even get to avoid my body on an isolated road.  Now, I embrace every soul I can get near.  I recognize when others switch sides of the road as they come near.  But even those I will acknowledge with my eyes or heart.

I thought I would post this because………….. well, I don’t know.  Perhaps the Lord can use this to help others.