Blessed Turmoil Within.


Door in a Wall

Image by Irish Typepad via Flickr

20And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22“Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23“Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. 24“But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. 25“Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.

 

Woe to all who call good evil and evil good.  Woe to those who mix drinks with abandon.  Woe to those who do not consider the Holiness of God in their daily doings.  Woe to those who live their lives as if there were nothing beyond this place of testing.  Woe to those who consider the testimony of Jesus as a fairy tale.  Woe to those who make no attempt to grasp the meaning of life on this earth.  And woe to those who, after hearing the message of Jesus, turn from it with shrugging shoulders.

Glory and honor, and promise belongs to those who endure for His Name sake.  Blessed is the man who considers the abject horror of his sins.  Blessed is the man who sobs at what he has done contrary to the Word of God.  Blessed is he who hates his life in this world, yet longs for help from He who cannot lie.  Blessed and filled is he who finds the repentance necessary to secure the forgiveness of God in Christ Jesus. 

And Blessed is the Lord for making this place of testing.  He has set the wall between Himself and us with a firm foundation.  There is but one Gate.  And, as the Lord Himself has said, “Few there are who find it.”

By His Grace.

Here Comes the Next Second in Your Life. Are You Ready?


The Passage of Time

Image by ToniVC via Flickr

The seconds of a day tick by and we all do as we can, each according to our ability.  Some seconds tick by without fanfare or notice.  Some record a giggle, a tear, a foolish moment, surprise, worry, anxiety, fear, and memories.  Some seconds announce a memorable moment.  These last according to their severity or impact.  Regardless how each second presents itself, time has passed.  And with each passing second we are hurled toward singular moments of enormous importance. 

When someone is shot, there were moments before that led them to that place.  When a car wreck happens, there were moments before.  When we do something really stupid, there were moments before that didn’t announce it was going to happen.  And isn’t that a shame.

And so it goes.  controversy is like that.  We pound our hearts and brains with all we can muster to enter into a contract with each second of our lives.  Struggling to maintain sanity, we live our lives.  Yet time has a way of providing proof that we are not perfect. 

I present this post as a simple notice of something true.  To me it speaks of both my failings and my successes.  But most of all, it speaks of something profound:  The only man to enter life innocent and leave this life the same way was Jesus, the Son of God.  With the Lord Jesus, there is no regret or stumbling.  His performance before His Father was flawless. 

And, by the way, I’m likely about to regret a couple seconds in this very day. 

By His Grace.

“I have said, ‘You are gods.'”


Sculpture - head of Jesus Christ

Image via Wikipedia

Who are we?  Why did the Glorious God of all create us?  We are a jewel in His Majestic Glory.  We are the work of His hand.  Yet the wicked abound.  Even the wicked are created to become sons of the Most High God.  They spurn His rule over them.  They are men of His creation.  But they desire their own desires.  He would have us all desire to serve Him.  And in His service there is no shame nor burden.   With His Word, he proclaims “I have said you are gods.  Yet you will die like mere men.” 

He has set us to live that we might learn from Him.  We are led by the Mighty Hand of God’s desire and Glory.  We are placed in a tent of flesh that we might learn humility and obedience.  Yet men by millions hate His guidance.  They build for themselves every pleasure they imagine.  And the Lord has allowed that they should have their day.   I have heard a man say “Read the books of those who hate the Most High God and His people.  It’s only fair that you read the books of my longing, if you expect me to read and understand the Book of yours.”  And what was the reply of the Lord within me to this man?  “I do not seek to be fair.  I seek the truth of God in Christ Jesus.” 

We are set apart to glorify the Lord of our Calling!  We do not strive under the same dementia as do those who throw away the very One who gave them minds to consider the world around them.  They are lost in a place of testing and can give no answer for their lives.

The Lord will have His day and He will not be put off.   Every man will answer to His Majestic Righteousness.  He has been patient with those who are now His enemies.  He has given every opportunity for them to consider His ways and to humble themselves under His Beautiful Will.  Refuse, you hated of the Lord’s Glory.  For you turn from His pleasure to seek your own.  Refuse and die.  Or choose to accept His gift in Jesus, His Christ, and live.  He offers, with open hand, a peace between you and His Glory. 

May the Lord of Life forever be glorified for the work of His powerful hand in the works of His people.  May His people know who they are and become pleasing to the Lord.  Rise up and dress yourselves with the Glory of God!  You are His sheep.  He has set you to wander in this Place of Testing, that you might learn of His ways.  Jesus has gone before us that we might perceive both the punishment of the wicked, and the reward of the Most High God for those who desire His ways.

By His Grace.

Walnuts.


Juglans regia (the Common walnut or Persian wa...

Image via Wikipedia

Look at the Glory of God revealed in the world.  Consider that no man has ever built a walnut tree.  This is the work of God given to man that man might consider the Glory of He who cannot lie.  He provides for man.  Man does not provide for himself.  Consider the animals He has given us for food.  Consider the plants He provided for our health and strength.  Consider the air He has provided for the lungs He created.  Look at how continually God provides regardless the sins of man committed in His Holy Sight.  Look at how He has caused the ocean to obey His limits.  Consider how He has commanded that man should perceive His Glory in the works of God’s hand.  The miracles of God’s Glory surround us.  And only the disobedient will consider the works of their hands as more important than worship of God.  He has made the way clear to man.  Worship the Lord God Almighty only.  And turn away from all boasting and sin before His Holy Throne.  How can we worship in truth if we remain outside His Glorious provision of Jesus as our sacrifice for our sins?  Will you refuse Him who calls from Heaven?   And do not mistake the “calling” of God toward holiness.  We are created to worship the Lord of Life.   We are not created to seek the works of our own hands.

By His Grace.

One World Charity


Do you recognize the difference between “One World” charity and Christian Charity?  It’s easy.  Listen for the name of Jesus.  Look for the glorification of the God who made us.  In the One World approach, you’ll hear nothing about God.  But you’ll hear a whole lot about how good man can be when he does good things.

Walking as Dead


You have strayed from what is right and run after all kinds of evil.  Your body is wrapped in addictions.  Your mouth is full of cursings and wicked words.  And you think there is no longer any hope for you.

Yet there is hope.  There is no need for you to wander in this darkness any longer.  I testify that I too was encased in all these things.  I too was a fool.  I did things, said things, thought things, and chased after every manner of evil.  But it was Jesus who set me free to stand before The Father with confidence and a clean mind and heart. 

People speak of forgiveness as though it were a “pie in the sky” dream.  I tell you it is real!  When you come to Jesus there is a true transformation which takes place.  Though it’s not an over night experience, you will find evil slip away from you. If you will remain with Him, He will transform you into His desire.  No longer will you chase after evil.  You will begin to desire what is good.  He will teach you what you should do. 

There is absolutely no lie in what I’ve just said.  I testify as one who has been set free of evil.  Though I am still a man and stumble around a bit, it is His leading that will bring me into God’s presence clean and justified.  God is the Judge.  God is the One who forgives through Jesus.  It is God who will lift you up from death to life.  All men and women walk as dead in this world until they are set into The Life by Jesus. 

By His Grace.