Morning


Twilight

The colors are almost here.  And the dew is suspended like a blanket.  Listen to the Robins praise the joy of the coming day.  “Eat!  We will eat and fly!  Ah, to fly again.  It is a day for us to soar.  Thanks to God for this beautiful morning!”

Stillness reigns at the advent of day.  The world is not yet awake.  Ponder, Saints!  Give that moment of marvelous joy a place to light.  For your day is nearly here.  He watched over your sleeping, though He left your dreams alone.  No message has been delivered while you rested your weary bones.  But now your eyes are open and your neck will crane to see.  sovereign Lord please help me to perceive what must certainly be.

Those whose faith has blossomed into a sort of knowing are so very blessed.  Though we can’t touch our desire, we are propelled into a hope beyond anything this world offers.  The longing becomes intense.  Yet the strength of what we don’t have is stronger than what man perceives.

Look!  We too can walk in places without feet.  We see what is, in a place of temporary colors.  This is the land of shadows.  But every shadow is cast by something of substance.  And every shadow lands on something of substance.  How unspeakably brilliant is the Glory of God to even cast a shadow in a land of darkness!

Glory to God Most High!  He is the Father of the Lord of Life!  May His will be done forever.

By His Grace.

All the Way.


Highway

Image by yewenyi via Flickr

You’ve heard it said, “All the way . . .”.  “Pull it all the way out”.  “Take it all the way there”.  The phrase “all the way” indicates completing the task.  In Christianity, we are encouraged to “walk in the way”.  And the two phrases combine to describe the expectations of the Lord for His people.

Walk in the way.  Stay in the way.  And continue until you have reached the end of this way.  Do not let yourself slip to the right or the left.  Do not shrink back from moving forward in the way.  And continue in this manner until you have completed your life.

What is the way?  Listen with all your heart, strength, and soul to what the Lord has instructed His people to be and do.  Read the Bible with a desire to understand.  Pray with earnest honesty to the Lord for help in understanding.  Then practise what you are learning.  Continue in this way for all your life.  It will do you no good to say, “Well, at least I tried a while to follow Your requirements.”  Those who will receive the “Well done, good and faithful servant.”, will be the ones who have applied the Lord’s demands with a continuing effort to please His Holy Will.

Do not let your life become a fool’s work.  Consider both the warnings and the promises.  Consider them all day long and into the night.  Keep your feet from slipping in this world of slick ground.  Corruption abounds.  Don’t let it taint your way.

And a highway will be there;
   it will be called the Way of Holiness;
   it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
   wicked fools will not go about on it.

(Isa. 35: 8)

By His Grace.

“i”


Death

Image by tanakawho via Flickr

If we die tonite, few will cry.

 

We die like dogs; just food for flies.

 

In dirt is where our bodies lie.

 

The bugs and worms, we satisfy.

 

But LIFE demands we testify.

 

Though hopeless masses vent their cry.

 

There’s One who hears and bids, “Come nigh”.

 

“I’m strength enough to change your life.

His name is Jesus.

By His Grace.

Black to White, Hopeless to Hope Filled.


White&black

Image via Wikipedia

I read a post by someone who was in the process of taking away their life.  Hopelessness had done its gruesome work.  I left a note in response.  But I don’t know if it’s too late.

What about you?  Are you on the edge?  I have been there a number of times.  I remember waking up in a pool of vomit and marveling at my failure.  I didn’t want to be here.  And the sight only depressed me more.  I was not dead.  WHY?  More hopeless lay ahead.  For at least another year I floundered alone.  No one cared.  No one could care.  I was on the way out.  Nothing I did was good.  Nothing I could think found the strength to live.  I was absolutely lost.

Then came the Lord.  Jesus came back to get me.  He found me driving and spoke to me to lift me from hopelessness.  I don’t know why.  I wouldn’t have bothered to save me.  But Jesus has.  I am no longer tossed to the wind of cruel hopelessness.  I have vastly more than I ever thought possible.  I have hope for today, forgiveness of yesterday, presence of mind to cope, and the promise of eternity with Him!

I don’t have religion.  I have the Living God!  He cannot lie.  And He has promised me eternal life.  It’s due to Him that I am here.  And it’s to Him that I live now.  I will die.  But it won’t be at my own hand.  This hope is real and it’s available to anyone who calls out to Him for help.

By His Grace.

Either We Are or We’re Not.


Open door at Hidcote Manor

Image by Neosnaps via Flickr

Such is the plight of man without God.
That all things real will find no cause.
And what will the outcome of this life be?
It will all hinge tightly on who you say is HE.
It’s the life we lead that names us friend.
And all, that not, will find the end.
It’s those who seek with all their might.
In this dark and sin blackened night.
Who find the hope they’re looking for.
It’s Jesus, who’s the open door.

by His Grace.

Butt Bumpin Babies.


walking baby tux

Image via Wikipedia

In our walk with Jesus we continue to encounter different places of experience with Him.  And, though this isn’t the first time I’ve had that impression, I’ve come to realize a “new” place for me.  I suppose this place I’ve reached is not new to many.  But it’s fairly new to me.

I’m coming to a firm knowledge that He has caused me to desire what is eternally good.  It’s not that I can do everything we’re suppose to do as Christians.  But there is a consistent desire within me to reach out for the “best” I can attain.  While even the “reaching out” is as a baby staggers in its first few steps, the desire is much like that of a baby who finally realized it can walk.  Though the baby will fall often and hard.  There is absolutely no “give up” in the baby’s mind or heart.

The Lord has placed within me that specific lack of give up.  And He has replaced hopelessness with desire.  It’s this desire that will become the engine for the greater things the Lord has in mind for me.  We are His.  And over time He makes that very plain.

By His Grace.