Category Archives: Encouragement

What Day is This?

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Timidity and fear, what do they have to do with the people of God in Christ?  Boldness and peace, confidence and love, now these are the targets to which Christians should shoot their life.

Why are we timid?  Isn’t it because the voice of wickedness is so loud? 

Why do we fear?  Isn’t it because we fail to believe?

How does a Christian become bold?  Isn’t it because he trains his ear to deafen at the roar of the world, entertaining no sound but the beautiful whisper of God in his soul.

If a man will learn these things he will have peace, confidence and love.  He will become bold for Christ.

The more wicked the day, the more opportunity.  What day then is this, that Christians should cower in a corner?

By His Grace

The Nature of Temptation

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What have I learned about temptation that is worthy of writing?  So much is written on the subject.  I did not dare write about it until I had something more to offer.

I have learned about its true nature.  It is not just an unwise choice, born of rebellion against God.  And it is not a single action. 

It always starts as something small.  It never comes upon us in its full-blown nature.  In this it is rightly called an enticement.

Among men there are things of beauty.  Among men there are things that can rightfully be desired under the right circumstances, and within a proper limit.  But the enticement of temptation will draw you a little farther.

Consider the beauty of woman.  Along with desire for wealth, her beauty rates very high in the failure of man.  What does temptation whisper, as it begins its routine enticements?  Doesn’t it make remark in regard to the things of our perceptions?

We say yes.  She is beautiful.  Then temptation agrees, adding an observation of your desire.  The enticement has begun.

Temptation whispers to you that lust is only natural.  By now you are ready to agree.

But as the foolish man enters in, temptation does not keep quiet.  He adds more shame upon shame.  By now you are not only too weak to resist, you encourage him to speak.  Pathetically, by now you consider temptation as an honorable teacher.

Before a short while is done abominable things have crossed your filthy heart.  Temptation does not end with enticement.  It takes a man or woman to the classroom of filthy thoughts and actions.  And when physical satisfaction has been found, it laughs at you!

Now temptation does what it is renowned to do.  Its strip you of pride, and rubs your face with all that is filthy.  You are a disgrace before God.  You are a disgrace before the Holy Angels.  You are a disgrace before all humanity.  You are a disgrace to yourself!  The only one who is pleased by your stupid choice is temptation.

Worse upon worse, temptation now knows your weakness!

Take note in all these things, I did not call temptation the devil.  The book of James tells us that we are tempted and drawn away by our own desires.  Yes he is called the tempter.  But we, my friends, are the ones pointedly to be blamed.

I have used the example of woman.  But I do not blame her singly.  It is the most pervasive temptation among man.  But it by no means stands alone.  Everything that draws us away from what is good and pure is sin.

To some it is lying.  To another is money.  To one it is gluttony.  To someone else it is self-abasement in any form.  And temptation will testify, “The myriad is large”!

Temptation knows your weakness.  Be honest with yourself, my friend, so do you!

I tell you a truth.  You will not overcome the things that tempt you from within.  Try as you might you will not find the strength.  You are bound like a prisoner to repeat your filthy ways.

The only one who can free us is Jesus the Christ of God.  And I do not say so with the slightest sliver of shame.  I testify to you that overcoming temptation is quite possible.  But you will not overcome if you do not call out to him.

Eternity will be purged.  Did you know that?  Once this place is done, this place of temptation and testing, nothing that is sin will ever find life.  If you needed provocation to consider resisting temptation, let eternal death sink into your mind.

Those who desire righteousness will seek His Holy face.  Those who are content to be filthy will never raise their eyes.  Death will cover them forever.  And no one will say, “Sweet dreams”.

By His Grace

No Time for Prayer

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I know what men are saying in their hearts, “There is no time for prayer”.  I know this because I have not only heard them say it, but I have said it myself.

But a different season has come upon me, and this by the loving mercy of the Living God.  A time when prayer lengthens.  A time that is not only filled with requests, it is also filled with a lingering.  And it is in this lingering that I begin to understand what I did not know before.

But as to what men say, that there is no time for prayer.  Let me ask a question.  How much time have you spent in your life retracing your steps from things you knew you could have done?

I have heard people say, “There is no time to make a list!  I must go and do what must be done”.  And in their anxious haste, they spend more time trying to remember than it would have taken them to make a list.

That is the life, comparablely to prayer.   Do you believe this yet?  Are you at least willing to try to prove me wrong? 

By His Grace

The Advent of Impurity

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The beauty of a tiny child is magnificent.  But then they learn to speak, don’t they.  And when they have learned to speak they learn to understand our words.  From purity they are forced into a world of greed, and this from our very own mouths.

Show me then, what man can proclaim he is innocent of sin.  Everyone of us then needs the mercy of the Living God.  That mercy has a name.  Inexpressibly beautiful, that name is Jesus.

But I profess, with surety and boldness, that the forgiveness of Christ can pull us back to the purity of a child.  As we learned from our parents, are we willing to learn from the Father of Life?

Let this message entice you.  Push things around in your heart and make a place for it. 

2 “From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
            Because of Your adversaries,
            To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.”

By His Grace

A New Blog

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When I started my blog, I remember how frustrated I was for an audience.  They were glad when I left Facebook.  I wrote far too much and far too often, about a subject too few people are interested in.

I tried forums but they seem to get me nowhere but arguments.  I joined Bible forums but found people had a limit to what they wanted to give to God.  Out of frustration I simply opened a blog here on WordPress and started writing.  Not that the frustration disappeared, but at least I wasn’t fishing for responses.

In the following years, 2 or 3 would come alongside at various times, to support the things I said.  But all told, it was a lonely and frustrating adventure.

I often wondered, and still do, why it had to be that way.  Why didn’t the Christian community either embrace me or teach me what was true?  I don’t know.  And I refuse to dwell on the answer.  It is better that I be to blame.

With all that said, I will not follow the ways I encountered from others.  I’m going to showcase a blog here. 

I don’t know what the value of the content will be.  I don’t know the writer.  But I perceive there is an open heart behind the pen.  And I think it is only right to help those who strive to speak when others have shut them down.

I ask all my followers to take a look at this tiny little blog.  See if there’s something you can do to encourage the one who writes. 

This world is vast and difficult.  But they will know we are of Christ in that we have love for one another.  Do we dare contradict that truth?

Take a moment and say hi at the following blog.  https://melindagunderson.wordpress.com

May God bless us with mercy and wisdom for His Holy Name’s sake.

By His Grace

Can You Explain?

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We say with some semblance of a surety, “God cannot lie”.  If that is true, then how can you explain your lack?  How is it that so many have a form of religion but deny the power of it?  You have agreed that God cannot lie!  How then are you weak, O’ Church of the Living God?

You are like those who entered near to the land of Canaan.  You testify that God will fight for you.  But you make not one step toward the war!  With proclamation of great and glorious words, you live a lie

You agree with the Holy words of Christ, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free”.  But you are bound up in fear.  Are you able to explain this?

If a man buys a new car, he is filled with pride and tells all his friends about his beautiful possession.  He washes it and waxes it, parks it in a safe place, and takes great care of his great possession.  (Isn’t this true among so many of you?)  With confidence he drives it, for he trusts it with all his heart.  His heart is full of pride and joy as people see what he has.

Great big church buildings!  High-tech fills them.  The seats are plush.  The ornaments of religion are carefully and artistically drawn.  You have agreed with this construction and spent good money to accomplish your desire. Yet every Sunday, without fail, they are filled with people who do not believe!  Can you explain this?

You leave evangelism to those who are professionally trained to do.  Why?  They urge you and urge you to do the same, yet you fear to speak His Holy Name.  Can you explain this?

The power of God’s Holy Spirit and His people has become forced to hide.  There is no difference between those who say they are politically correct and those who proclaim they are Christians.  Those who worship the creation and deny the Holy God his Holy place, are the same as those who proclaim they are eternal beings!  Can you explain this?

I will tell you why these things are so.  But what is done about it is up to you.  You have exchanged the Glory of God for the glory of man.  It is as our truth-filled God has spoken.   “You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter”.

It is true, God cannot lie.  Will you take the time to believe his promise toward those who do not love him?  Are you willing to fear God and stop fearing man?  Are you willing to sprout legs and stop being a worm?  Are you willing to soar on eagles wings, abandoning your hole in the ground?  Isn’t the choice entirely yours?

By His Grace