Years ago I use to pump gas in the mountains of Oregon. One night a car with two nuns came in and I filled up the gas tank. When I was finished they gave me a credit card to pay the bill. I went into the shop and processed the credit card. After they signed it I ask them “When the Rapture happens who pays the bill”? I think they were a bit stunned at the question what they lacked was a sense of humor.
Monthly Archives: August 2013
Strong as God Needs.
They led Him in, and He did not resist. They beat Him without mercy, but He did not plead for mercy. They accused. But He did not defend or accuse in return.
They led Him out to finish their murder. He went willingly, until His legs could not find strength. They pounded nails, He did not resist them. They raised up their murderous machine and let it drop violently into the hole. He did not complain.
He endured. He prayed for them. Then He uttered words that will echo throughout heaven and earth forever, “IT IS FINISHED”! Jesus had BECOME!
They thought they were so smart to devise such a deterant to crime. They thought well of their league to dish out such violence that none would oppose them. They think so very highly of themselves for what they can accomplish.
Oh foolish, proud, man! Don’t you see that you had become the ladder He had to climb to become the High Priest forever between His Father and you? No, you likely don’t. All eyes will see this magnificent Son of God! All eyes.
Lord please let these words penetrate to the inner heart. Let them consider Your Lordship. Let them understand that even their wickedness is being used to groom Your people. Man is, at best, nothing but a servant.
You are Holy forever!
By His Grace.
Freezing Fuzzies
Foreigner sang, “you’re as cold as ice. . .”. Somehow we all understand what that means. There are a whole lot of songs about mean men and women. How about that miner’s song about “Big John”. Or Jim Crocie’s “don’t mess around with slim”.
Nobody questions the meaning of those songs. But I wonder why we haven’t heard a song about the true wickedness, meanness, and general mayhem directed at God. The lyrics might include such things as: “Go away, I don’t need your help. . .”. Or, “I don’t care how much you love me, I love my sins all the more”. Then there’s that line they do all the time but never talk about, “Wish I’d been there at the crucifixion” .
I admit it would be out of character for the world to be honest. But at least it would make people face the truth of their relationship with Jesus.
Can You Say Weird?
It’s ok to have our nation run by serial liars who have a sincere hatred for Christianity. It’s ok if they just bend every law, as they apparently feel the need to do quite often. It’s ok to give those people more money, power, and honor. Evidently.
But let a conservative step up to lead and the nation goes nuts. We’re not even talking about someone spouting Christian beliefs. Just wanting a reasonable approach to governing, balanced spending, and allowing the people to assume more responsibility for their own lives, is enough to provoke a linch mob.
Weird, huh? The only reason for this, that I can tell, is demonic activity. Why not? Where’s the godly activity?
Is God Prone to Violence?
By the way people keep away from God you would think He is a horribly violent individual. I am not making fun of the unsaved or ungodly folk. I am just pointing out a rather curious “confusion”.
Jesus is the exact representation of His Father in Heaven. So if we look at Jesus’ character and actions we can determine if God is violent by nature.
Read the Gospels (matthew, mark, luke and john). Besides the event in the temple where Jesus made a whip and drove out the greedy, where do you find violence in Him? (Take note that the people were displaying a misunderstanding of God’s reason for building a temple). The answer will have to be “nowhere”. Why, then, are folks so terrified at the Bible, Christians who love to share the knowledge of salvation, godly living, a consistent prayer habit, and going to church?
The answer is not found in God. The answer is to be found in the people’s love of every form of pleasure and wickedness. Yep! That’s right folks! You find yourself shying away from God because the idea of making friends with Holiness is a sincere offence to you. By our very nature we are far too proud to humble ourselves before Him and ask for help.
Yet help is exactly what Jesus is offering. He promises to work with you to transform you from a God hater to a God lover. I know you don’t think much of that God lover stuff yet. But you’ll see, in time, why Christians aren’t afraid to be hated by the world. And in the place of hopeless futile little pleasures and foolish pride appears a magnificent joy.
Who would know better what is right, good, lasting and perfect behavior, God (who has been forever and will never cease to live) or man? He is watching you read this. Do you care? Tell Him so. Listen to Him. He has promised to lead us to righteousness, love, and eternal life. If only we will just listen and obey. If you cant hear, tell Him.
Addictions
Some addictions are absolutely deadly. Some will steal your reputation and your future. Some addictions have no apparent effect on you but they absolutely and utterly destroy everyone who knows you.
But not every addiction is harmful. Apparently I’m addicted to breathing. At least once a day I’m addicted to sleep. Take either one of those away and I will suffer withdrawal symptoms.
There is an addiction that I have found that has no ill effects whatsoever. It cannot be taken away therefore there is no withdrawal symptom.
I am addicted to the gospel. I think about it all day long and into the night. In the morning I look at my dreams to see where the gospel has been talking to me. I love to write on this blog about the Lord I am learning to love.
The most beautiful thing about this addiction is that its source is not from this world so no one can interfere. And though it may not be legal in some places in this world it is fully acceptable before the Most High God. What a wonderful thing to realize it’s okay to be addicted to a certain joy.
Thank you Lord Jesus!
English: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – College Street Site (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Words From There 