Gifts of the Spirit


The one who makes a personal art of the things he knows he can do, can be referred to as an artisan.
                      ~
There are men who make worthy pots and pans.  Men who paint, and men who “stand” and speak of what is true.

There are gifts that are inherent from the teachings we endure.  They come to us by virtue of our parents, peers and more.

But a singular gift is sent from above to everyone the Lord will love.  For the Glory of His Majesty, His Christ; the Worthy One and Free.
                     ~
At the beginning of my walk in Christ, I used a talent that seemed to emerge from nowhere.  I kept it to myself, for it was very useful.  I spoke to the Lord with paper and ink, writing my thoughts and writing possible responses.  I came to perceive the wisdom of God in the responses that were chosen.

No one saw those early writings.  I don’t know what became of them.  And perhaps it doesn’t matter.  For, little by little, I became because of them.

He had gifted me to become a scribe; to write down the things I encountered that belong to Him.  Not that I am above my brothers, for my writings are ramblings and small.  I have read the things that belong to masters of the same gift.

This is an awareness of my own journey.  But every child of God receives something uniquely special.

The Apostle Paul said this to his spiritual son Timothy:
6 “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

Had men laid their hands on me, and spoke of the gift that is in me, I would have known to fan it into flame.  But no mention was made, for no one knew.

Decades later, I began to perceive a gift to relate the things of God.  His wisdom is given freely to anyone who asks and believes.  There is nothing special about this man.

There is nothing special about you.  But the Lord of life has seen fit to give such gifts to every one of his children. 

The purposes of his giving are hidden and woven into the fabric which spans the boundary between heaven and earth.  Your gift is exclusively for His Majesty. 
I say this with a desire for the deepest of encouragement; that every child of God may know he has a distinct purpose.

Examine what you do (if you do not yet know what gift is yours).  Look at what you love to accomplish, those things that bring the Lord praise.

Try to forget for a moment those things which you see others accomplish.  Though your gift may be similar, it will be unique.

And be careful as you listen to those who may advise you.  As it was for me, the decades between, it may not be for all.  But I suspicion that if man can manipulated it, or direct another along his way, the result is too close to man’s hands.

Read all the “how-to” books you want.  In sum, they will say no more than this.  You will find yourself still requiring an answer.

Many assume that the wisdom of man can direct them in the wisdom of God.  If you search far enough you will find this fallacy a lie.  Yet many embrace the traditions of society.  There they remain, the rest of their life, lacking.

What can be faned into flame, that already rages among men?  How is the richly variegated wisdom of God glorified, if everyone is the same?  And how many of His gifts have fallen to the dust unused and unnoticed.  Ask yourself: “Should that case belong to me?”

By His Grace

The Beast at My Door


Humility is a fleeting beauty

For the sake of the beast within.

She comes to kiss with eternal lips.

And thus, for a moment,

The beast is subdued.

But soon he finds a bobble,

That others do not have;

A rock, a leaf, a twig, or sand,

And he rises once again.
                      ~
Sin of pride crouches,

At the threshold of our door.

He desires to have us,

That he may have “what’s more”.

This horrible, putrid way of man;

This pride of life says, “Yes I can,

Be more than my brothers or sisters can be”!

To be equal with satan’s sin, you see.

The Apostle Paul had mentioned with three,

Prayerful attempts to be rid of thee.

But God in His Wisdom knows His design:

“My Grace is sufficient,

Humility’s mine”.

It’s given to man to endure and subdue,

That hideous beast that is me, that is you.

The deadliest animal ever to live,

Can be muzzled and chained

By the Glory that’s His.

By His Grace

Listen to Your Soul


A message from your soul to your will:

He stands in eternity.

The judgment?

He is already there.

It is you, who walks

In flesh and disrepair.

The faith you have,

He does not need.

For he hears the Spirit’s calling,

With high fidelity.

He’ll stand one day,

And face the truth;

What you’ve done in the body

Will go with you.

Listen to him!

Help him along!

Become his strength

To sing the new song!

As sure as your dependence is,

On what you used to be,

So your soul looks to you now,

To provide what you both need.

By His Grace

“Scare Me Daddy!”


If it were a game (This war between heaven and hell that resides in the soul),  the startled response of men would touch the humorous bone.   Their reaction to the truth of God in Christ Jesus (The rejection of the gospel among men), would be funny.  The fearful look on their faces is often a caricature of humor.

As if the game that fathers and children love to play, “I want you to scare me daddy, so I can laugh at fear”.  What delight there is in giving.  What solace there is in receiving.  A game of loving kindness dressed in terror.

But this is no game my friend, and I am not enheartened by their fear.  This is no joke.  This is no game: “The one who sins will die”.  The terror on a soldier’s face, as the sounds of battle approach, is not funny.

This Father, The Holy One, will not allow the fear of death to be swept aside.   His Holy demands stand strong, and eternally serious.  There is acceptance, yes.  But there is also a rejection at His Holy Throne!  Just as they are enthralled with his Beauty, that very moment of His unveiling, the fear of death shakes their soul to blackness.

There will be no laughter at failure.  Rejection is void of humor. 

Though we are children, He addresses us as men and women; fully grown and able to comprehend.  When we were children, we played such games to prepare for this very war! 

As you laid aside your toys, now let us take seriously the truth God offers.  Let us perform the old saying, “Grow up”.  As you entered into adulthood, now let us enter into sobriety.  It is certainly the natural progression of things.

The game of “Scare me daddy” is long gone.  May the fear of God assail our frail hearts.  The game prepared you to trust, despite your fear.  Now employ your learning.

By His Grace

Spurned Beauty


All men love the truth, for a moment or two or three. 

Whisper in their ear, and their eyes alight with glee.

But speak of their obligation, and their lamps quickly grow dim. 

For they desire glorious reception.  Certainly not to obey Him.

By His Grace

Trust


Of the things of Heaven,

I have not a clue.

By force of hope,

I am thrust to trust you.

Not by sounds or syllables,

Are my ears confused.

But by the very truth,

You are forced to use.

You are our eternity,

Blessed and always to be.

While we are of the tiny things;

Death is all we see.

Cataracts born of temporary,

Obscure your Glory from me.

Yet I will dare to hope.

For what You say will be!

By His Grace