Category Archives: Praise

From My Point of View

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From my point of view, God is indescribably great. 

Some may call my point of view theology.  But in saying that, I think they would have a hard time nailing down what I believe.  Even I would have a hard time finding supporting scriptures.  But then I’m not a scholar.  And my knowledge of Scripture is usually pointed in the direction of application, not theology.

What I believe has come to me by Bible reading, faith, prayer and diligent observation of God moving in my life. 

In the way of Bible reading, I am relatively fluent.  But there are certainly masters of the art.  I may well remember what it says, but I likely can’t tell you chapter and verse.

I say faith.  I’m afraid you need a microscope to find mine.  If faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain, how much can I hope to brag.  The Rockies are still where I found them.  The Appalachians are still filled with trails to hike.  And there are still enough hills in America to hide gigantic wheat fields.

As far as prayer is concerned, I am no prayer warrior.  I am more the man who will pray as he knows, and ask to be taught.  It is here that God has revealed enough to make me able to walk as a Christian. 

I am no prophet as some define Prophets.  And I am no teacher, but for the fact that we all teach by the way we act.

And as far as diligent observation goes, I see with what bleak eyes God has chosen to give me.  I watch the wind blow.  I listen to the words men speak.  I take note of the way of men as opposed to the way of God.  And I even listen to the birds.

All of this was written to admit I know nothing.  All of this was written to avoid a war of words and ideas.

With all that said let’s get back to the idea of how great God is.

We are a product of an answer to an accusation.  The accusation is that God demands too much and does not provide sufficiently.  (this is the specific belief that may draw conflict)

How great is God?  God is so great that he allowed an enemy to amass, in a place that he willingly created. 

God is so great that he entered this mass of enemy.  He assumed their form and there was nothing beautiful about him that he should be desired.

God is so great that he willingly taught this enemy about a way to live instead of die.  All this he has done knowing what would happen. 

God is so great that he allowed his enemy to take him by force. 

God is so great that he did not complain while they mocked and beat him. 

God is so great that he allowed them to strip him of all his glory.  He let them flogg him to the point that he was no longer recognizable as a man.  And in this he made no complaint or accusation.

And here is the crowning achievement of the greatness of God:  that when the Word of God assumed his place as the rightful King of kings, he reached down to his mass of enemy, and continually offers salvation for those who hate him.

Yes God is great!  Men may dispute his existence.  But for those who believe, he is the supreme power of salvation.

Oh how my soul wants to continue.  There are so very many reasons why God is great.  But I’ll leave this to stand. 

May the spirit of God strengthen, convict and convert as the will of God dictates.

Amen!

By His Grace

Carried By Jesus

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http://www.soulsupply.com/blog/n/carried-by-jesus-141027

By His Grace

The Charade of Men

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Waking brings him near. 

The daylight testifies to him with loud and colorful words.

The night, and even sleep, are times of expectation.

He trains the soul to love him.

Hunger for the Holy Lord erupts like a pent up volcano; no one can quench it

This, in measure of the words of men, is how it is for those the Lord has called to be his own. 

The world ascribes these things to those who are set aside as pastors or priests.

They say:
“Let them wear the cloth or other significant clothing.  Let them remain in the building we have allowed to be called the church.  Force them, by expectation, to live as marked men.  In this way we will know who to avoid; who to share our convenient and crafty lies with.  Who it is due, that we should render our list of convenient excuses.

Let us war with fairness.  Let the enemy be marked blatantly.  How else can we subject them?  How else can we control their evil influence?  Even among the enemies of our own blood, uniforms are displayed.  Make it be so with them.”

But the Lord has seen the folly.  He has allowed man to play and evil charade.  All the while men think they have contained what is holy, the living God has raised up a people in their midst.

Hate the Lord’s people, old wicked an adulterous world.  Divide them and secluded them from all your unholy ways.  Despise the one who glorifies the Holy Name of God in your presence.  The fire of God will never leave his people.

But it is your religion to cast away the things of the living God.  It is the religion of this world to destroy the things of heaven. 

God will never be touched by your abomination of faithless faith.  You put your faith in what is not.  The living God will not be contained.

Litigate against the Lord’s people.  Separate them.  Mark them and place them in containment.  Still they wander among you free men.

You will never contain the living God.

By His Grace

Likewise

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You can not sin against God without consequences.

Likewise:

You cannot love God without consequences.

One destroys, the other brings life.

You cannot remain apart from him without experiencing death in many fashions.

Likewise:

You cannot be included in his love without experiencing life in many fashions.
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PSALM 34

1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

By His Grace

Broken and Naked

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From Psalm 119:

122 “Ensure your servant’s well-being;
do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,
looking for your righteous promise.
124 Deal with your servant according to your love
and teach me your decrees.
125 I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes.
126 It is time for you to act, Lord;
your law is being broken.”

I sat and pondered Church.  Perplexed at her ailments, I searched to see if there was something that could be done.

It is not as though she is void of the word.  She is rather, void of understanding.  For the word is preached in her, everyday and in every corner.  What she lacks, is a firm, wise hand of leadership.

“For lack of vision the people perish”, it is written.  And the vision of God’s shepherds has been obscured by the world’s proclamation of peace.  How then can the church stand with holy strength?

I remembered a passage as I looked into these things.  “It is time for you to act, Lord; your law is being broken.”  I thought this was an appropriate prayer.

But when I view it in this context, it is not talking about reparation for sins; that is to say a heavy hand from God.  Instead it speaks of Glory.

The words are the end of an appeal to the Holy Father to glorify His holy Son.  Because the holy laws of the Living God are being broken, it is time to present the sacrifice on behalf of those who need it.

It is a difficult thing to look at the beauty of the Living God, and see the hatred for his commands that thrives in his church.  Even a passing glance will provoke some measure of pain.

But as we are told, “mercy outweighs judgement”.   We must allow the Holy Lord to reserve his right to judge.

All day long, a lament is sent to the throne of the Living God.  “Please O’ Sovereign God, purify your church.”  Hearts bent toword the Lord, like sunflowers in summer.  The Lord’s faithful people make intercession for the sins of their brothers and sisters.

But they do not call for the heavy hand of God.  They call for the water of sacrifice to be poured out afresh on the hearts of His people.  They call for a renewal of understanding.  They call for eyes to see, ears to hear, and souls full of vision to lead.

Therefore teach them.  Show them the severity of their sin.  Show them the incomparable suffering necessary to secure their release.  Teach them about his glorious hopeful promises.  Gain vision!

Holy Father:  I thank you for cutting short my folly.  I thank you for showing me these things.  The church belongs to your Holy Son.  And he will never abandon what is his.

Still, we lament, O’ Holy God!  Your covenant is being broken.  Shame covers your people, where it should be a glorious and radiant hope.  We are ashamed and do not realize it.  We are sick and wax near death.

Instead of shame there is praise, “You do well to condone all sin.  For God has commanded us to love all men”.  Was it for this that your precious blood was spilled in such great agony?  Were you glorified as first above all, that your people may remain in squalor?

Please rise up Sovereign Father, in Christ Jesus Your Holy and Righteous Son, and purify your people. 

This prayer simply finds its place among your holy things.  You will act according to your great and eternal wisdom. 

Let it be known that we did not cower in fear.  Let it be known that we stood apart to proclaim a wrong.  All of this we have done because you have loved us.  All of this we have done because you taught us this was true.

The glory is not ours.  The glory belongs to the one whose blood has written the covenant of the living God. 

Purify your church, Holy Lord Jesus.  Set us in right standing, that we may proclaim for your glory.

Amen

P.S.
A related article, of considerable value, can be found here: http://theagetocome.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/the-kairos-moment/ The title is, The Kairos Moment.

By His Grace

Consumed

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I look at myself, and I see the Lord Jesus.  But I don’t see myself in the same light as He.

For He consumed Himself with the Joy of obedience toward His Holy Father’s will.

I, on the other hand, am consumed with the effects of forgiveness, partial obedience, and the consequences of sins (both past and present).

What an odd comparison to find living in my soul.

 

Without question: Jesus Christ, the Holy Lamb of God, is King of all!  Indeed, salvation belongs to our God and to the Lamb.  As it will be sung on that Holy Day, so it is memorized by compulsion today.