Tag Archives: faith

Estranged, But Never Alone.

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Alone he sings

I find something rather puzzling in my experience of Christ Jesus and His “Called out ones”.   I stand alone as though I were cast out from everyone in Christ.  And there’s no doubt that the non-believers hold me in contempt.  The latter is as it should be.  The former gives me a bit of pause.  I accept the Lord’s leading without reservation.  And I’m not here to gripe about what I receive.  But, as much as I try, I can’t seem to gain acceptance from God’s family. 

If I were face to face with my brothers and sisters, there would be no indication that I don’t fit in.  But in the “real world”, (that is, outside the traditional Church environment) I walk alone.  And regardless how I try to “fit in”, there are no companions in The Faith to walk with.

This is a curious plight.  I don’t feel slighted in the slightest.  And I hold no one at fault.  But, for the life of me, I can’t find an explanation.  I might point out my quirks.  But everyone’s got them.  About the only thing I can look to as partially to blame is my focus on what is Christ Jesus.  Perhaps I would have better fit in in another part of history. 

Regardless.  I do enjoy a vibrant life in the Lord.  And perhaps it’s proper that I should feel shorted in anything else.  I will take what is given me and rejoice in this estranged life.  For God knows all.  And He is able to save by leading us into the life of His choosing.

By His Grace.

The Joy of Sharing Jesus is Overwhelming!

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Jesus The Christ: The debt paid in full.

I sit here pondering this magnificent privilege of spreading “the Faith” in the words of this blog.  What a joy to share Jesus the Christ of God!  In the former blog He let me create, buttermilk80.wordpress.com, I felt this same joy.  It’s consuming to speak of Jesus when He is the object of all my desires.  Consuming, even to the point of drowning out the world around me. 

He is absolutely wonderous to behold through these eyes of faith!  OH WHAT VISIONS OF PROMISE JESUS IS!!!  And even sealed lips will not stop praise for His ways.  He is no respecter of man.  His focus is directly pointed on the will of His Father in Heaven.  And how marvelous Jesus is!  From the foundation of the world He was destined to suffer for fools like me.  Regardless my place in His Glorious Kingdom, I will praise Him forever!  Even if the grave would hold me for 10 million years I would sing of the praises of Jesus (if indeed He lets me speak in that place).  For He is the mercy of God in bodily form.  The oil of Joy that covers Him must be a wonderous thing.  He rules with an iron scepter.  And will never bend toward the sin of man.  He calls from Heaven to turn all men from wickedness to the Righteousness of the Father in Heaven.  And every soul will bend the knee in reverence to His Glory!

By His Grace.

Related articles

Glenn Beck and the “Two Witnesses” of Revelation.

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Flag of the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem

Image via Wikipedia

(Since this entry was written nothing has come about to warrant its writing.  I will leave this post on my blog.  I see that a lot of people are searching for such things.  But I will remind the reader that prophecy has its place.  All the while, leading a life filled with the Holy Spirit of God is of vastly more importance.  While we search for what is to come, let us remember to live a life worthy of God’s blessing.  Prophecy will do nothing to help us as we stand before the Throne of Christ Jesus.  Obedience, however, will help us immensely.)

I just posted a difference in beliefs between Glenn Beck and the children of the Most High God through Jesus’ sacrifice.  So I feel a bit redundant bringing him back to my blog.  But something is transpiring which demands attention.

Glenn is planning to take his media power to Jerusalem.  It is his belief that he must stand with Israel in the coming days.  I pondered this move in light of the Lord’s plans and wondered how this might fit in.  Though I don’t have direct word from the Lord on this, I’ve come to a realization that might hold some water.

The current media ignores Israel, being quite liberal and ungodly in their approach to the world’s plight.  And we have heard of the two witnesses which will appear to testify to the world’s ungodly behavior.  It’s not likely that the current media would even notice them, given their present bend to sin.  But we are told that these two witnesses will be seen by the entire world.  Is it possible that Glenn’s move to Jerusalem (along with his powerful outreach) is a direct hand of God?  Perhaps the Lord is setting up the stage on which these two men will carry out their appointed tasks.

The following is the account of these two men from the book of Revelation chapter 11.  I present this, not as the direct word of God, as something for all men to ponder and respect.  God will move against the sins of this world.  How He will do it is only in our hands to watch.

1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.”  5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

 7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

 11 But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

 13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

 

May all who seek life from the Lord through Jesus be made to wake.  The time is nearer now than ever before.  Do not get caught sleeping.

As a supplement to this post, I invite you to read Man’s Understanding of Holy Lacks a Bit.   (which is another post on my blog)

By His Grace.

What We Believe Matters.

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Political commentator Glenn Beck at the Time 1...

Image via Wikipedia

I respect Glenn Beck‘s “ministry”.  I know that in the world of media he stands out rather loudly for the best man can aspire to under religion.  Glenn will often refer to the doing of good on the part of those who care about what is right.  And I find no direct fault with the world seeking what is good.

But I hear something missing among his words.  Though it is good to pursue righteousness, there is a certain righteousness on this earth which man will rarely aspire to accomplish.  What is “good” among men might not reach to the “Goodness” of God’s perfect will.  Glenn is promoting that “We will be the key” to positive change toward righteousness in this world.  I am forced by the word of God to differ.  Man will never be the key toward the Righteousness of God.  God’s will alone can accomplish the eternal and therefore perfect Righteousness. 

While Glenn will encourage others to reach up toward God for help, it is more on the order of “enlightenment”.  Perhaps it would best be summed up as, “Lord, help me do the right things”.  And in one respect, this is a right request.  If we are asking that we might understand and do the Will of God, we are in the right vein.  But if we are only asking that God bless the work of our own hands we stand slightly amiss.

This difference of belief could be considered subtle by most.  But in the end, only those who do the will of God the Father will be allowed entrance into His peace.  What is the will of God the Father?  To believe on the Son of God, Jesus.  To obey Jesus’ commands to do everything Jesus tells us to do.  We are not set aside to redeem the world.  That is to say we are not saved to retain human implements of freedom on this world.  We are embraced in the blood of Christ Jesus to be implements of the will of God.  It is quite possible that man’s freedom will be dashed by God.  And I find this latter idea holds a great deal more water than manipulating government policies so that we can do anything we please. 

What we believe matters!  Who we obey and serve matters.  Believe in the directing of Jesus and you stand on solid ground.  Believe in the “goodness” of man and you stand amiss.

By His Grace.

Something Rather Odd.

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I had heard and believed that it was the man who chose to be saved by professing a faith in Jesus.  And I cannot dismiss the power of that confession.  The modern church teaches that this profession is all that is necessary for salvation.  And even the Lord said that “All those who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved”.  But I find something a bit odd about that.

As I’ve walked a few years and encountered many different facets of salvation, I’ve come (rather continually) face to face with the source of that confession.  It is the Lord who raises a man’s soul to reach out to Him.   As it was the Lord who gave life to the soul who now calls His name.  In all things, it is the Lord who IS.

Why does this prompt an entry in this blog?  Because I think I hear a different story coming from the mainstream churches:  Some how, they profess, there is a way a man can save himself by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus.  Though there might be some merit to this “calling out” in regard to the Lord’s ears, I have some issue with using man’s will as a basis of salvation. 

I find that regardless where I stand before the Lord, it is the Lord who is the end all game decider in my salvation.  And it is to Him that every appeal and item of “The Faith” belongs.  In all things, it is Jesus Alone who saves (and this to the Glory of the Father in Heaven).

Consider what I’ve entered here with trembling thoughts.  If you think differently on this issue, the Lord will make it plain enough in time.

By His Grace.

In Death there is No Vibration of Life.

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I sit in the shade.  My arm is receiving the sun light.  I notice that my watch is leaving a reflection of the sun on a surface in shade.  Noticing how, regardless how still I try to make my arm, the reflection vibrates with movement.  And I am reminded that there is a place where that arm will never move again on its own.  There is a place where nothing of this body will move on its own.  Thus I am reminded that death is given to man as an obligation.  I will yet see the face of He who redeems and He who is able to provide life to those who trust and obey.

PS:  Please forgive the use of so many references to myself.  I couldn’t figure out how to tell the story without me in it.

By His Grace.