Stay or Leave, He is Glorified.


Photo taken by Graham Kingsley

Image via Wikipedia

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.

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.

Faithful in Poverty. Warriors of Righteousness.


A beggar with leprosy in Bodhgaya.

Image via Wikipedia

I reign in Majesty!

Will you receive me in rags?

I offer you Eternal Life!

Will you accept death all alone from My hand?

I Am the purpose and Creator of Life.

Will you serve me though no one notices?

Mine is the Eternal Spring of Joy!

Will you shed the tears I give to My servants?

Who will join Me in the task of My Father?

Who will stand in the assembly of the wicked,

to proclaim the words of Righteousness?

Who will lose all for the sake of my Name? 

Who will forsake all and appear before them, lame?

Yes!  I offer Life!  Come, prepare for the feast at My Table.

 

 

By His Grace.

A Dream


Old Bottles

Image by GlenBledsoe via Flickr

The following is the result of a dream.  May the Lord Jesus dress our hearts and minds to understand.

The metal bottle

I dreamed of those who worship technology.  I saw that they allowed themselves to believe their lies to be truths.  They had invented a program and its implements which would allow them to appear in any form they wished.  Though it was not they who appeared in any form, but their image portrayed through their instruments.  I saw how they could project their image in any manner of state.  Some would fly.  Some would become invisible.  Some would conquer things of imagination.  But none of this was real.  It was a way for people to escape the reality of their situations.  And they embraced it with a great joy.  And this joy washed away every awareness of sin and its consequences.  And through this invention, God and His Holy Commands was also washed away from their minds.  To them, this new experience was worthy of all worship.  And they gave themselves fully to the worship of this invention.  The people who worship this invention will say to themselves, “I will fashion myself after this.”  Or, “I will fashion myself after that”.  But they will forget to fashion themselves after the Holy One of Israel!

In the dream a young girl appeared from an old house, which was built on a small hill.  The woman who stood near me addressed her by a name I had never heard.  The young girl was asked how it was with her.  Her response was that “He is coming home”.  And with that, she tossed a metal bottle toward the woman beside me.  The bottle did not contain anything, for it had no opening.  As the bottle was nearing the woman’s hand, the young girl said, “It is such a shame that he has been bound.  He is not mean as they have said.  But he is beautiful and peaceful.  I’m glad he’s coming home.”  And the woman beside me agreed.

The Warning

Awake!  You people of the Lord awake!  What has come to be is preparation for the stage of the end.  Come out of her, lest you share in her sins.  The world is about to embrace its god.  They will truly believe he is innocent of any evil.  And this lie will propel him to leadership on earth.  They will worship the beast and the image of his name.  For they love all things pleasure, and hate all things Godly.  We are witnessing the advent of the stage on which God’s wrath will pour out.  Awake!

The Lord has sent man a strong delusion, that man might believe the lie of his own works.  Man has embraced technology as if a god.  And he will not turn from this work of his hands.  Remember how it was before all this.  How man was at the mercy of God for the provision of his food and shelter.  Remember how lovingly the Lord of Life took care of His people.  And He even sent rain on the godless and ungodly.  His mercy has no bounds as He provides for all mankind.  And note how His people had no want even in times of horrible persecution.  How cruel the lord of flies treated God’s people.  He was bound and technology took root.  This was done so that the end days would look unlike any other day on earth.  This was done so that those who hate the Lord of Eternity would commit themselves to the way of death.  And this was done so that those who believe the lie would worship this lie, and the father of all lies.   Every man will reap whatsoever he sows.  He who sows deeds in his life to bring glory to the Father of Christ Jesus, will reap life.  Those who sow to gain their own pleasure, will reap their own pleasure.  And when their ability to please themselves is taken from them by the appearance of God, they will have no crop to harvest.

Man has created the implements of this coming war with his own hands.  And these implements will be the source of his own destruction.  Take note how technology has become the religion of the world.  Look how the world is coming together over the works of man’s hands.  Listen to what they are saying.  And take heed that you are not fooled into believing their lies.  Even the President of America has said, “Science will save us”.  And see how millions agree with that statement.  With lies they promote their greedy agendas.  With lies they subject the people of this world.  With lies they gain power toward the coming war.  And with lies they create the weapons of their own death.  Do not join them!  Seek God’s Truth.

Look how God has been pushed away, for man no longer has need of God’s provision. They say that they can save themselves.  This is a lie and man has been instrumental in building the lie of his own death.  And now man is about to embrace another lie, the father of lies.  They will agree that his way is best.  And this is how so many will accept his mark.  They already love the work of their own hands rather than embrace the Lord of Life.  So it will be an easy task now, to turn their hearts toward evil, godlessness, hatred of what is holy and good.   Listen to what is being said.  “Conservative values are ancient and no longer needed.  We have created our own righteousness.  We have no need of Christianity or its people.  We will take what we want from the truth of ages past.  And we will throw away what we do not desire.”  They will choose the one destined to destruction, the one who was bound and is about to be released.  Awake!

Turn to the Lord God Almighty through Jesus His Son and receive the wisdom of His choosing.  Allow Him to lead you into understanding of what is Holy and true.  Turn from the ways of this world and embrace the Lord of Glory.  Awake!  Awake, you sons of the Bright and Morning Star!  The time is near.  It is even at the very door.  Depart from their company, you people of God.  They will receive the mark of he who lies.  And all who are not in the hand of the Mighty God of eternity will join them.  Turn to the Lord of Glory and live.  Turn away from all that is wicked and obey the Gospel of the Apostles.  Listen to the words and repent.  For those words and teachings we received were written by the very blood of He who is worthy to open the seals!  We serve the Risen Lord of Life.  It will be good if we are found serving Him at His appearance.

The Call to Remembrance

Use the tools of this world with wisdom.  But, by all means, embrace the Lord of Life and the message born by those who touched God, in the body of Jesus.  Remember that we are no different than those who walked with Jesus.  It is the lie of this world which has turned our eyes toward something false.  Pray to the God of eternity, the Holy God of Israel, that He might give you legs of Holy Faith and understanding.  If you have legs of flesh, you will not stand.  Now is the time of preparation.  The war is about to be let loose.  When it begins, it will be too late for many to turn.  For the flood of lies will consume all who are not loving the appearing of the Holy God of Life. 

Remember how the people of God were taken care of gently in the wilderness.  As they learned of the power of He who lives forever, they were placed at peace in a place of concern.  He was enough for them.  And He proved His willingness to shield them.  Remember how He dashed the aggression of their enemies.  Remember how He fed them in a place of no food.  Remember how He glorified Himself among them, so that even their clothing did not wear out as they traveled under His hand.  Remember His promises to all who call upon the name of His Holy Son!  And do not forget, lest you begin to treat the gift of God as an unholy thing.  Remember how they rebelled against Him in that place of testing.  Remember how His anger burned against them.  And remember how He redeemed those who loved Him, even unto death.

Be strong and in the Holy Spirit and believe the message preached to you.  Do not turn from seeking His Holiness.  And do not return to folly as He brings you from sin to redemption.  Walk with the Lord of Life now and escape the coming lie.  All who believe the lie will perish.  And all who believe the Son of Life will live.  And this living will be evident as the time of war blankets the whole earth.

 

By His Grace.

My Dad’s in Prison.


Jail cell

Image by Gerry Dincher via Flickr

I started out to search for the Lord God who made me.  Innocently I inquired from those who said they had the answers.  I found answers and embraced them as best I could.  And as a child I entered into a relationship with the Almighty God through Jesus.

Over the years it has become apparent that I stand in a very hated place.  I defend the Glory of the One who made me, gave His life for me, and is causing me to learn to love Him.  This has become very curious to me, this hated place.

If my dad had been an honorable man and was accused of a horrible crime.  And after the accusation he was remanded to jail for the rest of his life.  And all of society believed the lie that he was guilty.  And if I knew, beyond any doubt that he was innocent of the charges against him.  Do you think it would be right for me to sit quietly while my dad was in prison? 

Though I were the only one to stand up for him, I would stand.  Those who believed he was guilty would learn to hate me.  But should I stop trying to right the wrong?  It would be wrong for me to remain silent.  And so it is with God.

He has done nothing wrong.  But men accuse Him of horrible crimes.  He is jailed in society and people rail against Him.  He has been accused of the ultimate hate crimes.  But He is not guilty of any crime.  He will never be guilty.  And I will not stop defending His honor as long as He allows me breath.

By His Grace.