Tag Archives: Christ Jesus

God’s Presence

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One day, when I was in college, I was called in to a certain teacher’s office.  Another teacher came to sit with us two.  A question was asked.  I don’t remember the exact phrasing, but it sort of went like this: “What makes you think that God appears to men today?”

I was relatively young in Christ.  And I don’t remember my response.  But in retrospect, I am still amazed that these two should ask such a thing.

It was a Bible College!  It was a popular Christian College on the west coast.  Yet there were two teachers there who did not believe in the living presence of the Living God.

I was stunned by the question, I do remember that.  I was angered that such people, in such a position of ability, should even dare to challenge one of their students with such a foolish and unbelieving question.

I could not give powerful answer on that day, I do remember feeling rather weak before their “mighty” minds.  And I do remember how I relegated their teachings to “small” after that day.  I had doubted their power in Christ before that.  That doubt only grew from then on.

But doesn’t the question remain?  And isn’t it asked by far more than two unbelieving teachers in a Bible College?  There are millions of “Christians” who have wrestled with this very question in their heart for years.

The answer does not appear in physical proof.  It comes to us by faith.  Yet, I can testify that the power of the Living God does rest upon those who believe.

We hear the Word.  We believe the word.  And as we apply that belief to our life, the Living God moves in.  The more we turn to that belief, as our singular power to live each moment, the stronger is the presence of God.

The answer to their question is something like this:  “If God is not willing to reside within His people, then everything you stand for is a blazing lie.  Everything you’ve taught is worthless trash.  Therefore, your position, title, and all the money you make here, is stolen.”

I wish I had said that.  I wish I had sealed my lips after speaking it, got up from my chair, and left them to ponder.

Majestic Glory of Christ

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26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then “ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” (Luke 23)

I picked up my guitar this morning.  Bruce Carroll’s song, “Driving Nails” was before me.  I tried to sing the song.  But sorrow came to the top.  I tried again.  But a tear issued forth.

I left the song unsung for a while.  But I tried again later.

The sorrow of Mary’s plight struck me with intense reality.  May God grant me strength to sing that song with hope.

See the Majesty of Christ!  Perceive His Holy strength!  At the very prospect of ravaging nails, he turns to encourage.  He turns to instruct.  The Mercy of God walks that dusty path to obedient death.

The “Cat of Nine Tails” has torn his flesh.  Fists of his Father’s enemies have pummeled his faithful face.  Spit from vile mouths mingles with his own blood.  Though he walks to certain death at the hands of a godless horde, he continues in the Holy will of His Righteous Father.

Perceive His Majesty!  Consider His Holy Faithfulness.  What man can be like the Master?  Yet isn’t His strength offered to all?  Because of Him, there is Stephen.  Because of Him, overcoming is born.  Because of Him, Hope Endures!

Driving Nails

Bruce Carroll

Since that blessed night in a manger, she watched her baby grow, It seems Like yesterday He was in her arms, where did the time go?, He learned His Fathers trade, as she marveled at It all, The sweat dropped from her Little Carpenter as He made the timbers fall,
(Chorus) She can hear the driving nails upon the Hillside, and she prays that His spirit will not fail, she watches as a young man undertakes His Fathers Will, as she stands and listens to the driving nails
In the streets of Jerusalem a child can disappear , She was frantic as She looked for Him, Until She began to hear, the hammers up at the temple, she called Him as she ran, surprised she found Him teaching like no ordinary man
(Chorus)
Darkness covered all the land in the middle of the day, she began to tremble as the earth began to quake, Hammers, Nails & Timbers of The Carpenters Trade, made the sound that pierced her soul as the Cross was being raised (Chorus) And She cries and Listens To the Driving Nails

 

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Mystery to Marvel At.

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Oh, Holy Lord, You are full of Truth.

We are of those who receive.

No truth lives in us, but that Your Holy Mercy dresses our hearts.

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I came to eat at the table of the Living God.

Did my rising lie to me?  Did I wake to fill my belly?

Or was I wakened, that I might be filled for the purpose of proclaiming?

“Selfishness remains in bed.  But earnest desire wakes the soul.”

 

Life beckons,

“Come eat of the things that are good.

It is My desire that all should taste truth.

It is sweet to the soul, to breathe the Holy things of My Father.

Wake.  Wake and proclaim.”

 

How powerful is the sacrifice that has been offered on our behalf.  How unable to proclaim, are the words of man.

Do we truly understand the Glory of God in Jesus His Holy Christ?  How can we comprehend the Majesty necessary to accomplish the Holy Will of God the Father?  Yet He has done it!  He has overcome!

Jesus has carved that impossible Way, in this horrible wilderness.  Though this place is void of understanding, The Holy Christ has overcome!

The season is upon us to remember the baby.  But how can the baby be separated from the magnificent man He became; that God Man, The Christ.

I am filled with things I cannot express.  There is a vision of this Holy One which escapes my ability to comprehend.

I have not seen mysteries this morning.  I have been witness to simple truth: Every man is a liar, but God alone is true.  Every man merely receives.  But God alone can give Life.

Man comes to God with desire in his hands.  Though he gives the Living One praise, there is expectation within him.  Purity escapes us.

Which of us understood?  Who, of man, knew to ask God for that Holy Baby?  Yet God gave, despite our darkness of mind and heart.  Who of us understood?  Who could know to ask God that His Holy Son should be crucified?  Yet obedience was produced, through that awesome strength of Love.

Which of us understands?  Who has known to ask what all this means to us today?  Our bend to receive is so powerful.  All we perceive is need.  Even in our praise, we are held captive to need.  But the Free One has given of His endless resource called Love.

Mystery?  You want mystery?  Why?  When the simple Gospel of Christ Jesus is more than a man can eat in his entire lifetime.

Men look to prophecy.  They strive against the hidden things to unveil the “marvelous”.  How futile are such things?  When it is fully time, God will unleash answers.  But the Holy answer to our plight has already been unveiled!  Christ the King has been born among the enemies of God.  And words have been spoken, “It is Finished”!

Marvel at these things.

Truth For Sale

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There is a distinct possibility that I’m about to lose a new-found friend.  Yet, in an effort to avoid the loss, I’m going to preface this post with a few short words.

This one I’m about to give answer to, is not alone.  He will know who he is.  But I won’t make mention of his name.  It’s not the new-found friend I’m attacking.  It is a certain concept that has gripped the “new” Christian church, with a “Gorilla Tape” grip.

I must also say, that if we bolt and run because someone points out a faulty premise we hold dear, we stood on quicksand long before we heard the correction.  I don’t want any loss.  But I can’t let this slide either.

 

What association does money have with Christ Jesus?  What value does fame have before the Living God?  Nationality is a cause for pride, not a source of godliness.  And if we are not accepted for some worldly division, what is that to us?

You want to write to make money.  There’s nothing stopping you there.  But if you want to make money by writing Christian books, you stand on really thin ice.  “Freely you have received, freely give.”  Anyone recall that?  Did Peter charge the beggar anything to heal his legs?  Did Jesus charge admission for any of His words or miracles?  Are we required to pay anything to receive salvation?  Then why would we use the freely given Gospel of Christ to make money.

To sit and gripe that no one will let you join in this useless profit, is a bewildering sorrow.  Isn’t salvation enough?  Did your nationality come up as you stood to accept the Lord?  Did someone say, “Oh, you’re from ‘this nation'”?  We’re you excluded from the joy of Christ because your skin was a different color?  Wasn’t the Gospel presented to you FREE?  Wasn’t it proclaimed in your native tongue?

You can do what you want.  What’s that to me?  But to make money because of the Son of God?  Aren’t there plenty of other ways to earn money?  Isn’t this world plentiful enough to inspire writings worthy of a couple bucks?

Again, you’ll do what you’ll do.

By the way, there are millions of anonymous writers.  And there are hundreds of ways to spread the Gospel for free.  What counts to you, profit, or the glorification of the Lord who’s Holy Blood bought your joy and inspiration?

Blue Christmas

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Throughout the night, the last song I heard playing continues to echo in my mind.  Exhausted as I was, I slept well.  But the power of the song continues.  Even all my dreams were touched by endless sorrow.

I wake with a heavy heart.  For the things I have done in my life will not leave me alone.  This is a picture of the life I lead for decades.  It is a haunting echo of the man I was.

With desperation I realize I need a friend.  I need someone who is not like me.  I need someone whose resources are endless.  I need someone near me who can care.  This is, of course, the Living God in Christ Jesus.

I hide from men as a loner, because I do not want to teach them the things I have done.  If I speak to them face to face, the testimony of myself comes to the surface.

I push the Lord forward before me, between they and I, that they will not assume a wicked life can have any righteousness.

The song is “Blue Christmas”.  I am void of explanation that I should have any joy at all.  The things I have done in my life are death.  My value is to die, and to die, and to die.  If it had not been for the mercy of God, I would be dead already.

This is my testimony before all men, according to the things I have done. 

I know I am not alone.  Everyone of you can testify the same.  If every man is honest with his history, death is all he ever was.  And without the life that God offers, no man has hope.

But isn’t this the reason why I testify so vigorously?  Because the One with endless resource has offered his bloody hands to me.  He teaches me to receive.  He promises me a new song. 

I cannot live in my past, for it is nothing but death.  I cannot live in my present, for memories drown me in sorrow.  And if it were not for the Living God, to come and touch me with compassion, my future is nothing but darkness of death’s promise.

This is what this blog of testimony is all about.  I write that many may have life.  I speak as loudly as I can about the endless resources of God to love you.  I speak as loudly as I can, to educate every man regarding his own worthless life.  Let them perceive the disparity and yearn for health.

God is mercy.  He holds out his hands all day long to every man, woman and child.  “Come, let us reason together.  Though your sins are as scarlet they shall become white as wool”.

Hope!  Precious and vibrant hope!  This is what the Lord offers!  Yet with a heavy sigh, I wonder who can take it.

Who is willing to lay down their precious death?  Who is willing to abandon their regretful memories; their only solace in the dark?  The compensation of man for the nature of what he is.

Yes Christianity requires much.  There is holiness to attain.  But in this work there is life.  We are death.  We are headed to death, and all we have is death. 

All the while God stands.  Life, promise and pure integrity, is held out for any who come and take it.  To die is easy.  For that is what we are.  To live, simply requires laying down death.

This is the new song he gave me, as I sat with heavy heart.  He reminded me of the new song that waits to be sung.  The compassion of God is not a fable.  It is in fact, the endless resource for life.

By His Grace

Bring Out the Will

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Where is the astounding fruit of the Most High God among us?  It is hidden in our unwillingness to obey.  It is as if we have secreted His Holy Words into the thicket of our rebellion. 

Too many have hidden His treasure away, as if a thief might come and steal their riches.  As a result, many stand guard at their doorway; judging others as they perceive from their own darkness.  Where is the freely flowing Gospel of Peace and Joy?  Where is their vial of Living Water?

Who will go retrieve the Holy things he contains?  Who will reach into his thorny will and bring his obedience out of hiding?  Who will bloody his own hands to retrieve what is best for all?  Who dares “become”, that he might lead his siblings in Christ to what is best?

What is the will of a man in Christ Jesus?  What power does it receive if it is brought out of hiding?  What blessings are the Holy Lord of Life willing to bestow on the man who diligently gives Him what is rightfully His?  As obedience comes, so the prosperity of God appears.

In case my words are not clear enough to provoke specific action, let us read what the Lord has spoken to all who desire to serve Him.  Let us remember: the generation that serves the Lord with faithfulness, is the generation that passes down what is good and valuable before His Holy Face.  It is the blessing of their “children” to inhabit the better land. 

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 5)