Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

He IS!

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A multi-volume Latin dictionary (Egidio Forcel...

Image via Wikipedia

Who has words of thanks like that of the Holy Spirit of God?   Who can measure his tongue in the rhythm of eternal words?  Who can speak the language of God as we express His beauty to each other?  What item shall we hold up to describe the nature of God’s sacrifice? 

In this land of shadows, who can match His voice?  He is the One.  And nothing we can contrive, sense, nor imagine shall come near the true expression of He who IS.  A land in which even our praise is tainted by pride, selfishness, a certain blindness restrained by the will of God as the sea is restrained by sand.

HE IS!  HE WILL FOREVER BE!  We are the ones who’s names must be accompanied with a qualifier.  Yet He IS.

By His Grace.

Age is Not Equal to Wisdom.

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Old Man Cactus

Image by Bill Gracey via Flickr

In my foolishness as a young man I sought the eternal wisdom from those with white hair.  I knew they had lived long enough to pass on something of value.  But I found no one.  I was sure there was a truth to be known.  And I guess it was the movies and stories about “wise men” that echoed in my head. 

Where was that wise man?  I remember being disappointed as I encountered one after another and found nothing.  I watched them drink till they were drunk.  I heard them cuss more than I did.  I heard thousands of dirty jokes from their lips.  I heard them hate others with a love for hatred.  I heard them speak of money and social standing as if they were more precious than life itself.  But I knew all this was a lie.  Where was the wise man?  Perhaps he was on a mountain in some remote village.  But he was not near enough to me to listen to what was true.  So I went about my business of living with a certain abandon and a deep sense of loss that there was no one to speak of those wise truths.

It’s my turn now.  My hair is becoming white with age.  And the wrinkles on my face speak of years spent.  Someone is watching.  And deep inside, that someone is desiring to hear the wisdom of age.  Am I able to deliver what they seek?  Am I willing to deliver what is true and lasting?  Ponderous thoughts to think.  Such a beautiful responsibility. 

Father, wisdom comes from You.  The knowledge of eternity is hidden in Your Holy Spirit.  I ask You to cause me to be and become a blessing for those who seek what is true.  By the Holy Name of Jesus, I ask your mercy.  Amen.

 

By His Grace.

Bloody knives.

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knife

How blessed are those who know the judgment of God while still alive here.  To see the horror of their sin before they see the face of He who will judge.

I stood, this morning, with a heart aghast!  My sins so blantly laid at my feet.  Oh that my sin were something I could lay my hands on; perhaps as a part of my body black with sores.  I would gladly reach my hand to that place and rip it out myself!  But I fear it would completely cover my body from head to toe.  Then what could I do to rid myself of what now is a stench to my nostrils?  “Woe to me!  Woe, because I cannot undo what I have done.  I cannot straighten out one minute of my life, let alone my years of sins! 

I am glad to see and know that I am in such a state of affairs.  To know that what we are is a hopeless people.  Without Jesus and the Holy Spirit, how can we know we are in such disrepair?  To know that sin infests us like hideous bugs in our flesh.  To stand with a willingness to rip out that which offends.  How blessed is he who knows these things.

It is as if I had murdered.  I stand with the bloody knife in my hand and come to my senses.  My eyes widen and my mouth opens without sound.  I realize what I have just done and am murdered by myself in my own heart! 

OH! Lord have mercy on this man of foolish intent!  And is not this awareness a rending of the heart?  Those who witnessed and gave their bid for the crucifixion of the Lord went away beating their breast at what they had done.  This is sin!  This is a blessing of knowing the judgment before you arrive;  that you might beg for mercy and understanding before you see His face.

 

By His Grace.

Thank You Lord!

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Thank You Trash...

Image by Daniel Slaughter via Flickr

I thank you Lord:

Because I was destined to burn with destruction.  But You told me this was so.

Because I became consumed with my plight.  But You showed me a way out.

Because I couldn’t muster strength to endure Your presence.  But Your love and mercy were so very sweet.

Because I faltered and stumbled, bringing alarm to my soul.  But You gave me tears of repentance.

Because I could not perceive Your forgiveness.  But You cleansed my conscience.

Because I ran about with Great concern for the sins I had held dear.  But You teach me The Better Way.

Thank You Lord God Almighty!  Your Mercy and Wisdom excel!  Thank You, Jesus, for Your hand is powerful enough to save.

By His Grace.

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

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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.

“Mine! Mine! Mine!”

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Adam & Eve in garden of Eden

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The seagulls in “Finding Nemo” said, “Mine.  Mine.  Mine.”  Children fight over what they want.  Men kill and cheat to gain what they can’t keep.  And death claims desire.  “All you had.  All you desired.  All you didn’t get to own.  All these belong to someone else now.”, says death.

When God made Adam, He made him so that His Son could testify to those who had never seen His Father.  Adam was created so that his offspring could receive the glory of faith.  The world belongs to the Lord of all.  Yet men act as if the world were the beginning and end of life.  They say to each other, “Give me what I want and I’ll step aside so that you can have the remainder.”  Scratching and clawing, they advance on the things at their hand.  But this is not the purpose of life here on this earth.

They deny the very existence of the God who made them.  They rebel against every law established by man and God.  Yet they claim that they have the right to partake of everything available to their grubby hands.  Yet, this is not the reason for life here on this earth.

God is glorious and beautiful!  Yet few men understand the reason for their lives.  There are those who do testify to the “something More”.  Yet they are laughed at and mocked as stupid. 

May the Lord, who has made all that is, be glorified, praised, honored, and served for eternity by those who are learning to love Him through blind eyes.  May all who worship Him in truth, yet stumble like blind men in a plowed field, receive the grace and mercy He promises in Jesus. 

Let those who hate God continue to hate Him at the appearing of His Son.  Let those who suffer receive the promises of His perfect hand.  Let those who desire to do right be blessed to do what pleases Him.  And may all my brothers and sisters be inspired to reach for that “something More”.

By the Glorious Name of Jesus these words are written.

Amen!  Amen!  And Amen!

By His Grace.

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