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Lonely to sit alone and imagine a Godly conversation.
So many souls just brushing by.
The silence is a roar of conspicuous nothing.
Joyful to know that God is near.
The silence is a roar of conspicuous something.
Not counting the souls who bustle about.
The cave of isolation is never far.
And the comfort of His presence is always near.
By His Grace.
By speaking openly for the Lord I realize I have taken the place of a saint who is now with the Lord. And this causes me to wonder who will take my place when I pass through The River?
They say he ran a carnival, he used to come to town
‘Til one September afternoon he shut it down
They tell me something happened, some say he lost his mind
Now most September afternoons this is what you’ll find
An old man on the corner where he used to sell his show
Now he shouts what sounds like foolishness
As the people come and go
CHORUS:
New lives for old
Warm hearts for cold
Have I got a deal for you today
C’mon, step right this way
And get your new lives for old
He puts it in the paper, he goes from door to door
The people say he’s such a fool to come back for more
Old friends are mostly puzzled, they don’t know what to say
Cause ever since that afternoon he’s just been that way
It’s like the old man died and someone came to take his place
Now he just stands out there bellowin’
A smile upon his wrinkled face
Repeat CHORUS
Remembering the story as I once passed through that town
I thought I ought to stop and see if he’s still around
There was someone on that corner where I heard he’d always stand
And he chuckled when I asked where I could find the man
He said “Thank God that crazy fool finally died last spring”
And I said “I’ll take up where he left off then
‘Cause I’m pushing the same thing”
Some concepts are worthy of repeating:
“New Lives for Old” by Wayne Watson.
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It’s been said that children are little adults with their heads full of mush. But I remember when my head was nothing but mush. I thought I had a brain. But I didn’t. It was just a container of giggly mush. And I ran around in this world thinking so very highly of myself. What a fool! And certainly someone to laugh at if I hadn’t been so angry and antagonistic all the time. I guess that’s why most of us laugh at men like I used to be behind their backs.
Life has a way of slapping us around a bit. In general, the process causes that mush to cook, stew, and bake. The hopeful end of man is that he will eventually get a real brain out of the process. And left to his own devices, man will likely gain something positive out of his experiences of life. Yet I know a way to quick bake a brain.
It seems our head is microwaveable. I mean, we can endure specific beams of truth that will cause us to mature a whole lot faster. This is the work of God through the Holy Spirit within us. He points out the truth in our experiences and causes our conscience to come to boil. Wanna grow up a lot faster than most? Allow Jesus to take charge of your life. Listen to what you hear in regard to what is true. Do what you know you must. And just sit in front of His Holy Fire and bake a while.
by His Grace.
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It would be to our advantage to make sure that our religion causes us to do what is right before the Father’s eyes. It is not possible that religion can suffice in itself.
Suppose an Angel was told to take charge of a star and make sure it burned with the certain intensity that God ordained it should. It would be good for that Angel if he monitored the star and feed it according to the will of God. But suppose that Angel said to himself, “The star is mine to watch over. God has considered me a great Angel because I am in charge of a star. And suppose that thought became the singular reason the Angel remained near the star. In time he did not feed the star the proper amount of energy sustaining elements. Instead, he simply maintained it as he desired or remembered. Either the star would burn too brightly or begin to dim. What do you think the Lord will say concerning that Angel’s work?
To bring this thought down to earth consider that the star the Angel is placed in charge of is a star not visible to earth. Much like this blog. I write as I feel led. And I write that anyone reading might be compelled to consider the Lord. What does it matter to me if no one reads it? I am given this task of building a resource for the Lord. Regardless the popularity or visibility. And if I fail to continue to build it, I alone will answer to Him. It is not my responsibility to provide the eyes of those who might benefit from this blog. It is only my responsibility to continue to build it.
I could stop building posts here. But wouldn’t that become a thing of the past? Something I rely on to have done. Perhaps some would read what was written and walk away with a renewed spirit for what they gained. But would I be able to tell the Lord that I kept my place? Or would I have to confess that I built for a while but no one came to visit. So I stopped building. That’s not what I want to be telling the Lord who made His way all the way to the cross and allowed the third nail to penetrate His body. It would be better for me to be able to say “It is finished”, when I can no longer add to what He has allowed me to watch over.
Isn’t that what religion can become? We begin to attend the needs of our religion as we see fit. We no longer desire that it should match the Lord’s desire and demands; which are in place due to His wisdom. It is wise for us to consider the Holiness and Purity of the Lord as we attend our religion. We are the ones who will be held responsible for what we know to do. Whether we succeed or fail to deliver our full attention to what we know is right, we will be held responsible. Be careful that you do not fall into disrepair for lack of understanding. You alone are the one who will answer for what you do with what you have been given.
By His Grace.
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A curious problem is beginning to gel in my mind. By “gel” I mean I think I’m grasping the importance and answer to a problem that plagues all men, but especially Christians.
If we allow ourselves to interpret what we do as who we are we will surely learn to hate ourselves when we find we can’t do any more.
I’ve seen many come to anger, bitterness, hatred, and selfish thinking, when they come to the place in their lives where they are no longer able to accomplish what they thought was their strength. The allowed themselves to become identified by the work they could accomplish.
Beyond the power of words to convey, it is important to remember that a servant is not a king. You are only a servant. And you will wear out. You have no right to claim praise for what you do. Doing good deeds is what is expected of you. And the fact that so many don’t do what is good should not allow you licence to consider yourself a “good person”.
The one who remembers this will enter into inability with peace. When life brings you to that place where you can’t do anything to be proud of (and it surely will), you will become a servant of inability. Any other approach will lead to everything negative. A rock is a rock, regardless where it finds itself. Be like that in your heart. And remember that Jesus is the Lord, not you.
By His Grace.
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My eyes have seen another morning.
Precious will it be.
To speak of things eternal,
To lift up One called “He”.
I crave a day when eyes will open.
And never more will shut.
To speak a praise eternal,
To lift up One called “He”.
“23But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. ” (Phillipians)
By His Grace.
We: Live, Die, Face Judgment. Jesus or die twice.
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