Tag Archives: Christ

A Thought Worth Thinking

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stop. sit. rest.

stop. sit. rest. (Photo credit: McBeth)

We are throughout the land.  We are scattered but not as a band of men are scattered.  It remains said, “In Him we live and move and have our being.”  Where you are right now, so am I.  What you suffer I also suffer, for we are the body of Christ Jesus.

A rejoicing hair on His Glorious head will cause a tingling in the little toe of His left foot.  Just as well, an assault against His knee is an assault against His nose.

It is good to remember that we are connected even though we are vastly different.  Surely His elbow does not desire ill for His heal.

An Appeal For Prayer

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This picture was found at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eusebius

I appeal to those who read this blog to consider a request for earnest prayer.  I know God has raised up prayer warriors among His people.  And it occurs to me that perhaps there are a few who read these words.  This appeal is directed toward the salvation of a certain young lady.  Due to propriety, it is not seemly that I should begin conversation with her as such things may be perceived as less than holy intent.  Just the same, it has been on my heart to seek the Lord’s mercy for her salvation.

Please allow me to relate how this soul has risen to my attention as a matter urgent enough to deliver to you.  During prayer one night I was presenting the Lord the list of people He has laid within my reach.  Through one of those souls this girl has been near enough to my life to make me aware of her habits. I had been praying for these souls under two requests, which I had laid out at the start of the prayer.  I had prayed that these might be strengthened in the faith, and that they would increase in holy behavior.

As the prayer moved through I perceived the Lord was willing to receive the words I had spoken regarding these souls.  But when I came to the name of this young woman the receiving was blocked.  It was as if my words were spoken into nothing more than the carpet on which I knelt.  I stayed still before the Lord for a while to consider this.

Weeks later I am convinced that she is in a position vastly different from those souls I had listed before the Lord.  I have since begun to mention her to Him in terms of salvation through His mercy.  And this petition appears to receive His understanding.  But I am still not satisfied that my prayers on her behalf are sufficient.  Therefore I thought it reasonable to appeal to my brothers and sisters for help in this matter.

The Lord has brought to my attention a story which relates this item.  The story is not as short as to incorporate it here in full text.  But I will supply a link which you can read as the Lord directs.  (You will find the story on this link in Chapter 25 of book 3.  http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250103.htm ).  While I recognize that we are not a people who are used to reading many words regularly. A knowledgable approach is recommended when encountering the salvation of souls. This matter is pressing hard against my heart and mind.  Even this morning, I was wakened early by the thoughts of her name before His Throne.  Thus I have come here to appeal for help.

Specifically I appeal for one of our Family to be brought near her to teach her “The Way”.  And I appeal for prayer that she might be released from the family of death.  One without the other is an utterly useless situation.  As you will note in the story related in the link, simple prayer without discipleship or discipleship without prayer are useless in the salvation of souls.  I may pray, but I cannot disciple due, as I mentioned, to propriety.

I ask you then, by the love of Christ among us all, to hold this young soul up before our Father for the saving of her life.  I know there are so very many we could lift up to the Lord so that our time in prayer might consume every moment of our lives.  But please note that I am not in the habit of requesting prayer from those brothers and sisters who attend the words I write here.

May God grant wisdom and impart desire to whom He wills regarding this.  If you are not affected by this appeal, please do not feel compelled.  I would not want to burden anyone with the things God does not set them apart to do on His behalf.  I thank you for your time as you read these many words.  May God bless you for giving your brother a cool glass of water to drink while we travel in this land baked dry by wickedness.

By His Grace.

Notes From Reading “The Shepherd of Hermas”

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English: The Lord Jesus Christ in the image of...

English: The Lord Jesus Christ in the image of Good Shepherd. Early Christian trsdition of symbolism. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am reading “The Shepherd of Hermas”.  I have stumbled on a few thoughts regarding “The Faith” and “The Way” that are worthy of note.  May the Lord of Life impart understanding through these words.

There are men in whose life righteousness has been King.  And there are those whose life has been dimmed by sin and a certain broken consistency with righteousness.  To the former, in Christ Jesus, is the prospect of salvation and glory.  To the latter, in Christ Jesus, is the prospect of salvation and far lesser glory is the prospect of their faith.  To each eternal life is offered.  The righteous will seal their identity in the body of Christ if they remain consistent to the end.  The wayward soul may attain to salvation in Christ Jesus if they will mend their pace toward attaining what the righteous own by their consistent actions of godly living.

What aspect of “The Faith” remains upon each group is that each is encouraged to add to what he already has attained.  What man can muster the measure of righteousness which the Lord Jesus held from birth to death?  So we encourage one another to add to their testimony all things good and sure.

In one way, I cannot help my brothers more than to render these words of hope and encouragement.  Yet, by my own appropriation of righteousness, it is possible to impart some worthy provocation toward what glory the Lord will give to those who practise righteousness.  That is to say:  If I live out the truth of Christ in my own life I can leave a legacy of example.  And in this way we are more effective in encouraging one another to a living faith.

And I am made aware of another aspect of “The Way” which we hear little about.  Salvation is not found in knowledge.  Rather salvation is found in “The Doing” of what is pure and right. And as we do what we are told more understanding will be given to us.  This understanding is said best by the Lord Jesus, as spoken by the “New Living Translation”:  “Those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Matthew 13:12)

Many seek to understand the greater things of God.  They perceive that if they understood more they would, naturally, become more adept at doing the things of God.  While Godly knowledge is good to own, there is an obvious tendency for knowledge to “puff up” a man’s perception of self.  It is better to be lacking in knowledge of revelation while doing the things of God, then to be over filled with pride for that which adds very little to a man’s obedience to the commands of Christ Jesus.

May the Living God bless these things for the sake of His Holy name to all people who desire to please Him.

By His Grace.

The Surpassing Great Advent of Wickedness

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Christogram (labarum) with Jesus Prayer in Rom...

Christogram (labarum) with Jesus Prayer in Romanian. Jesus Prayer in Romanian Doamne Iisuse Hristoase, Fiul lui Dumnezeu, miluieste-ma pe mine pacatosul. English translation Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner. This image appears on the cover of all editions of Romanian translation of Philokalia Français : Christogramme entouré de la Prière de Jésus en roumain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When I was a child I was taught to respect my elders, be kind to everyone, and consider myself last in everything.  This teaching was taught to the extreme.  By the Grace of God, I have developed out of that harsh treatment (to a great extent).

Being taught by Jesus now, I am taught to respect my elders in the faith, be kind to all while keeping in mind that there is a “justice” in the world, and to consider myself the servant to all men.  This teaching is being taught gently with mercy for my ignorance.  By the Grace of God, I am developing into the kind of man we all aspire to become.  (This is not to my account a righteousness.  But it is a gift from God through Jesus.)  Understanding that none of us can fully attain to the Glory that is Christ Jesus, we are encouraged to emulate the truth He allows us to “hear”.

I am shocked, however, to be witness to a new breed of human emerging on the scene.  People I thought would be steady and mature are beginning to adopt lies to themselves.  They hear some accusation against the righteous and run as a herald.  Foaming at the mouth with hatred of all that is pure, they run head long as servants of demons.  This is not the kind of place I was raised in when I was a child.

The very fabric of the world has changed, as if a blanket has developed a mold.  Young people wear disrespect for truth just as the young of past ages wore truth for the simple reason that they were taught that truth endures.  Older people are the most surprising to me of all.  For after living their lives through experience of lies and truth, they now prefer to spout ungodly lies against everything associated with God.  And I am surprised at how willing they are to put on the clothing of liars and demons.

Though I speak of being surprised at these things, there is no reason for my astonishment at the increase of wickedness among men and women.  We have been warned that such things will take place.  And of “increase”, the wicked will continue to mold their souls till the Lord comes to war against them Himself.

“Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.

Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.” (Rev. 22: 11-15)

This warning remains for all men.  Regardless your background, the Lord does not lie.  If you want to be clean seek the Lord Jesus’ mercy.  If you find yourself unable to care, consider this:  The wicked will not find pity before the Holy Throne of the Most High God if they appear without the covering of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Amen!  Even so, Lord Jesus, come.

A Letter to Freedom Lovers

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Election 2012 button

Election 2012 button (Photo credit: League of Women Voters of California)

You have petitioned for freedom.  How tirelessly you have worked to gain what you are not to have.

College

Jet Skis

Wide Screen TVs

Marvelous luxury in cars, houses, prestige, wine, liquor, beer.

Sports

Vacations

Happy family reunions in exotic places

Innovation upon innovation, medicine, electronics, gadgets of various kinds.

Sunday strolls with loved ones

Tolerance for every thought, expression, lie, or truth.

In short, you have petitioned for freedom to increase the work of your hands.  The regard for Holiness, godliness, suffering that you might learn obedience, reverence for everything Jesus, and locked down defense of God’s Gospel, have not been the central part of your petition.  Do you honestly think, with regard to the things mentioned above that God is slightly interested in allowing this generation to gain what they should not have?

All the while: Billions of His holy people have arrived in His presence void of the pleasures of this world.  They stand praising His Glory and waiting for the culmination of His work in the Saints still struggling today.  Through the Lord’s eyes: His word has been cast among us and billions have listened to the point of “Doing”.  Where is the “Doing” among those who strive to be free to seek all forms of pleasure?

All America poses along the fence of “tomorrow” waiting to see what will be granted to them.  “Freedom is coming”, they say with expectant eyes.  We will gain what we want by vote.  But the Holy Will of God is ignored among them.  Does a student gain a favorable grade by not completing the tasks the teacher grades her students by?  What is highly valued among men is abhorrent in the sight of God.  Likewise, what is highly valued in God’s sight, is abhorrent to seekers of pleasurable freedom.

Welcome to My Home

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Supper

Supper (Photo credit: psd)

You are invited to come to my door.  You need not knock.  For the door has been waiting for your approach.  I have stood watch for you all the day and as my strength would allow during the night.  And if I heard a noise during my sleep, as I slept at the very threshold of my door, I listened all the harder for your approach.

There is a meal prepared for you here.  The Lord encourages me to maintain a beautiful bounty for such as you.  I know what you seek.  I know your hunger, as it is my own also.

Take note that you knew the different scents of what is prepared long before your nostrils encountered the in the gentle breeze.  The scents of what is prepared is so foreign to this world.

Prepared is a bowl of forgiveness.  I will refresh your portion any time you ask for more.

I have been instructed to provide you the bread of life, lathered with the ointment of mercy.

The cup contains suffering.  But it is not bitter, as you may suspect.  Though it stings the lips, appears at first bitter to the tongue, you will find the contents utterly satisfying.

I have been instructed that your cup will never empty as long as you remain at the table.

The main plate you will find heavy, ornamented lavishly, and warm to the touch.  Upon it, when it is delivered to you, you will find delicacies beyond anything you have ever hear of.  Mercy will be delivered to your sitting.  And you will be encouraged to consume them endlessly.

Welcome, my friend.  Enter and consume the bounty of the Lord.

By His Grace.