Category Archives: Uncategorized

Eyes in the Night

by

0


I rose before dawn, as is the habit the Lord has taught me.  My little dog lingered with me while I dressed.  I asked her, “Do you wanna go out?”  Her excitement answered in a mute yell.  Down stairs we went.

Now, it’s not my habit to turn on the porch light when I let her out.  But darkness seemed really dark this morning.  And it’s not my habit to go out and stand on the porch when she ventures to the grass.  But I did both this morning.

We stood there in the silence of 4am.  But a soft “huff” broke the silence.  I thought it was a deer, sounding her alarm.  Then it came again.  “That’s not a deer.”  It was too short and lacked the same thrust of larger lungs.  As I listened, four glowing eyes came racing across the tiny road and were headed down the drive way right toward my little dog.

It was the fox!  And not just one, there were two!  With their razor-sharp teeth and trained violence of a hungry warrior, they intended to consume my dog.  She wouldn’t stand a chance.

Without a thought, I flew up my arms to out stretched position and gave a loud “huff” (somewhat like a growl).  I no longer saw the eyes.  They had turned faster than I could blink.  I heard that familiar scream they make.  Both of them screaming in fear as they turned like lightning and ran away.

No fear attended my dog.  Only a slight startle at their screaming retreat.  She came up to me and just sat waiting to go back in.  She was done.

No fear attended my mind or heart.  The Lord had given me immediate wisdom, strength and peace.  He had waken me for this display.  He had wakened my dog’s desire to go out.  She doesn’t always want to go with me on those early morning excursions.

He had brought us to the place of confrontation.  The foxes were ready and hungry enough to challenge the presence of a man.  My little dog was ignorant of their bloody intent, enough to remain still.  He caused me to know exactly what to do and at what moment to do it.  Then He dressed me with understanding as I peacefully sat to consume my first cup of coffee.

There is a hungry bunch of foxes who prowl throughout the world.  As He has protected me and my dog this morning, He protects all His children all night and day long.  HE  IS FAITHFUL.

Praise came from me as understanding came from Him.  Fearlessness is the outcome of such teachings.  But it is not the fearlessness of a warrior.  It is that lack of fear a child has when daddy is walking with him.

Praise God for Jesus, His Righteous Christ!  Let all creation praise the One who has overcome.  God alone is good and true.  His Holy Living Word is fully dependable, true, faultless in righteousness, full of mercy and love.  The Living Word is the very meaning of “Grace”.  May His Holy will be done forever.  Amen!

But for Christ

by

0


I look back over my life.  From time to time a memory triggers an avalanche.  I can only sigh.  Not one act of beauty can I find.  And if there was anything beautiful, it is tainted by the duress of position or opportunity.

It was either the result of a compulsion to do what is right because of my position in this world, or that I found an opportunity for gain.  Therefore no man is righteous.  And all of his righteous acts are as if filthy rags.

But for the mercy of Christ Jesus’ sacrifice, I would have been among those who are gathered up and tossed without care into the bottomless pit.  No scream to save you.  No pleading to soften the blow.  No anger can touch the one who has judged you rightly.  Down you go, hopeless and destroyed.

As in my days of complete destruction, now there comes upon me days of building and hope.  I had listened to my own advice; directed by avarice and desire.  Now the Lord teaches me to listen and to do.  And I see that what he builds is lasting, good, and full of purpose.

I did not know, but neither did I ask.  There was no reward for the man I used to be.  Death without mercy nor consideration was mine.  I had no defense nor was I likely present justification on my own behalf.  This is the sentence to all who reject the mercy of God in Christ Jesus.

Come and taste that the Lord is good.  All who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.  Such is the promise of God to all men.  He cannot lie and he has sealed his word with the very blood of His Son.

Seeking praise

by

0


If you do the work of God and look for praise you are on very dangerous ground.  The work of God will not receive praise from men in general.  We know this, either because we were told, or because we have experienced the rejection of men for the sake of God.

But it is also not wise to serve the living God and look to him for praise.  I say this knowing there will be a difference of opinion.  God himself knows  the heart of every man, he will give to each according to his great wisdom.  Therefore I am  not stating a categorical.

There is a day of praise we look for rightfully.  “Well done my good and faithful servant.”  It is appropriate to look for that moment.  But we take note, that day is not embraced in flesh.

While we are in flesh we are weakened by the sinful nature’s pride.  And it is usually this weakness that causes us to desire praise from God.

Rather than seeking His praise, for now, we are only to consider our service rendered as expected.  Do not seek praise, instead seek the next task.  If God sees fit to give us praise, that is his choice. 

May it also be mentioned, this applies to men.  If you find yourself serving for the sake of the praise of men, then you stand on a really dangerous ground!  Flattery abounds.  Flattery destroys.

By His Grace

God’s will

by

0


Everyone of God’s people want to know His will for them.  Classes are taught.  Spiritual gifts are explored.  Examples from God’s people in the Bible are exploded before our minds.  The teachings of the Apostles are illustrated with all diligence. And personal testimony is given that we might excel.  We search and search.  Still we are all but lost.

I have found, personally, the help of men to be useless in discovering God’s will for me.  Though no aspect of known sound doctrine is useless in itself, there is an end to its usefulness if we do not connect ourselves to the sovereign God.

Though all the things I mentioned are extremely useful and should never be put out of the way, they are like studying the scriptures and believing that by our study we are saved.  But salvation comes from God.

Jesus has taught me over and over again to “Consider what is.”  By this, I look at all possible views of my situation .  By His grace I consider all possible repairs.  Then when I go to prayer I strive hard to listen to my thoughts.  If something appears in my thoughts that is noteworthy, while in prayer, I ask about it.  He has been faithful to clearly point to the answer.

Yet I will mention here that there are times when all possibilities have not arrived.  It is quite possible that we need to go.  Simply move in faith and God sometimes brings completion to our request.  In all things I have been taught to carefully consider what is.

All things are by faith from first to last.  But we should not hold too tightly to the instruction of men.  The best of intentions can sometimes lead us horribly astray. The truth resides in the living God through Christ Jesus. 

I testify that he is willing and able to lead us clearly.  We go to him with everything.  We expect every possible scenario.  We receive what is.  And in that, it is our rightful place to be thankful.

Holy Father, I ask you to bless these words with understanding.  Millions have tried to help in this regard.  I suspect that few have succeeded.  I cannot hope to succeed unless you intervene.  By your grace and mercy then, may your people find direction.

By His Grace

The death of souls

by

0


Alright here we go!

Squirrel up your tongue; get it nice and limber.  Pat the soft skin under your chin until it’s nice and loose.  Roll your neck side to side until you hear vertebrae snap.  Now you’re ready.

With your best bad guy accent say the following:  “I’m going to make you believe what I want you to believe.  I’m going to make you believe it so well you’ll think it was your thought.”  Now you have to give that typical bad guy laugh.  “Mmmmwaaaahhhhhh!”

That’s over the top isn’t it?   I mean, that kind of bad guy monologue is only in the movies right?  Not really.  It happens to you several times a day.  Reach over and turn off the music and I’ll tell you what I mean.

Go into the grocery store and what do you hear?  Go into the shoe store.  What do you hear?  As you drove there or from there what did you listen to?  If you work on a factory floor the chances are you hear it all day long.  And you go home singing the last song you heard.  When was the last day you didn’t listen to a single song?

“So what?”  You ask me.  “That’s nothing like the bad guy monologue!”  Are you sure?

What’s in the lyrics you’re listening to?  Most people will tell you they don’t know, they just like the song.  It makes them happy to listen to it.  Really now.  With something so attractive and so unknown, how much room is left for abuse or manipulation?

Considered the basic lines of lyrics today.  You cheated on me but it’s okay I cheated on you.  I know you’re married but I want to go to bed with you.  Divorce sucks.  Divorce is great, as long as you don’t have to pay for it.  Your body is sexy, and so is mine,  I hate you.  

And on they go with violent or wicked behavior being profiled inside music you love so much.  All the while,  most people couldn’t tell you what a song is trying to say.  But your brain has heard it quite clearly.  And your life is a reflection of what you’re told to believe.

Godlessness, hatred, envy, lies, divorce, murder, drug abuse and drunkenness, and every other kind of wicked behavior is praised in the lyrics of today’s music.  Even little children are running around singing immoral songs.  And few people even think about it.

I’m not going to bother to talk about what happens in the evening when you get home and turn on the television.  Let’s just say you wake in the morning to sin.  You go to bed at night having been immersed in sin.  How are you supposed to break free?

Listen to the lyrics.  Think about what they’re telling you to believe.  Don’t take my word for it, prove it yourself.  As you watch television think about what they’re trying to make you believe is true.  Think for yourself for a change!

If you really want to prove you’re being manipulated, go on a music and television fast.  It occurs to me that you might not know what a fast is.  It simply means ,do without. 

You will feel horribly uncomfortable.  But why?  You’re not sick.  No one is beating you.  What you’re feeling is the lack of someone telling you what to believe.

By His Grace

Sickening tendencies

by

0


From the perspective of Christ within me I look out on the world in which I live.  The name of our God is rarely heard in praise.  No, they use him to curse.  Among the mass of men Jesus is used in every way but Holy.  They call on him in times of trouble, but when they get their way he becomes forgotten.

They eat to their pleasure without thought of its source or thanks.  They advertise, without ceasing, the glory of man.  The news never carries any message from God’s Word.  He is not news.  His word does not sell well.  So they relegate all that is God to fully unimportant.  The very One who made us and sustains us all has become fully unimportant.  And they think this is acceptable.

If they bow down to worship, it is in a place where such activity is socially acceptable.  Therefore their worship verges on useless.  Among them no one asks, “Why do we bother to do this if we are not sincere.”  All the while, the tender Lord pricks their conscience in this regard.

If man understands anything about God he keeps it to himself for fear of rejection.  What possible reception can they expect when they appear before the Most High God?  They will surely receive what is do them in full!

Let us, who are bought by his blood, refine our will to serve the Holy Lord Jesus Christ.  Let us be the inverse of the world.  May God become everything important.  May our bowing before him be an extension of our life before him.  May our worship and life be a holy fire.  May we speak and act of him without cost to those who hear and see.

There is a sickening in me to witness these things in the world.  I am only man, and so I cannot see as God sees.  If this is unpalatable to me what is it to God?  For I understand the gospel in as far as he has taught.  But the Lord Jesus IS the gospel!  How does the rebellion of this world appear before his holy throne even now?

By His Grace