Tag Archives: hope

Sweet Dreams are Made of These

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I was at a truck stop scanning in my papers while I listened to a song that was playing.  The song is “sweet dreams are made of these”, by the Eurythmics.

I’ve heard that song hundreds of times before.  But the power of what she was saying dawned on me like the rising Sun.

Everyone is looking for something.  That must mean we are all compelled to search.  And she’s right.

The variety of religions in the world range from obedience to what they call holy law, to the abuse of self and others.  Regardless, men search as a compulsion.  This is proof that there is something to be found.  Even the atheist searchs diligently to disavow the search.  But his activity proves there is something to be disavowed.

How happy then is the one who finds it?  How secure in his way, does his life become?  And what great peace should overshadow him 24 /7?

Christ is the answer.  He is the one that is provoking the search.  The errant things men do are caused by their misunderstanding. 

If you would have what everyone is looking for, search diligently into the things of Christ Jesus.  You are compelled to search. Why not search what is true?

If a man can’t find the truth he’ll create his own series of lies.  But I testify that the Living God is alive among his people in Christ Jesus.

By His Grace

“The Righteous State”

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We could write about the joy and war of walking in “The Way”.

But what a waste of words for those who pleasure all the day.

The quiet joy of righteousness they know no thing about.

Just mention “Thanks through holiness”,  you’ll see them shudder and pout.

For what they need to hear will fall on plugged up ears.

They consider such great words as only from their peers.

But shall we hold the pen in place,

Though such refuse to run the race?

Perhaps tis not to them we write,

But those who seek with all their might.

The audience is not the question.

We simply write God’s clear Salvation.

They cannot say amen to such,

As love the way of man so much.

But there are those who hunger still.

We write that they may have their fill.

For none will have eternal part,

But those clean hands and purified heart.

No sin will never enter in.

Beautiful wretches!  Let them begin!

Lovely souls with hearts contrite.

Lacking hope and void of might!

Their beds awash with tears of fright,

From crying all throughout the night!

Come repentent ones and taste

Forgiveness and “The Righteous state”.

By His Grace

Carried By Jesus

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http://www.soulsupply.com/blog/n/carried-by-jesus-141027

By His Grace

Likewise

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You can not sin against God without consequences.

Likewise:

You cannot love God without consequences.

One destroys, the other brings life.

You cannot remain apart from him without experiencing death in many fashions.

Likewise:

You cannot be included in his love without experiencing life in many fashions.
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PSALM 34

1 I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

By His Grace

Ethics 101

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We all see it happen all day long.  Relatively decent people making wicked choices.  But let’s face facts.  Wicked choices are expected among the population of this world.

If you don’t strive to be first, your counted as insignificant and stupid. 

If you don’t break the law, just a little, you’re just not an intelligent person.  After all, they won’t throw you in jail for small infractions.

If you don’t lie a little bit, you will be hated by everyone who knows you.  No one confides in the man who tells the truth.  Curiously, such a man is utterly untrustworthy in this world.

In light of all this, I thought to myself, I would like to teach a class whereby men are taught ethics.  But within a fraction of a second, I changed my mind.

Though they would all nod with agreement while they were in class, by the time they got out the door they would forget everything they learned. 

So I thought, the fix, then, is to create a fast search chart.  Let the men hold it while they do all the things they normally do.  But who would be stupid enough to do that?

It was then that the comparison ignited in my mind.  This is what the Holy Spirit does for those who believe in Christ Jesus.  He is the living educator.  And he lives in the soul of those who trust in the Son of the Living God.

What is the summation of all this?  The summation is that those without the Holy Spirit have no hope of doing righteousness.  They are locked in a battle to see who can be the most wicked and get away with it.

They are not free men, regardless what society says.  They are bound to wickedness as surely as the moon is bound to the earth.

As the Apostle John wrote, “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. The one who does what is right is righteous . . .”  (1 John 3: 7)   And surely, the one who does what is wicked is a wicked man.

No man can hope to do what is right without the Spirit of God leading him constantly.  No one can hear the Holy Spirit accept that God gives him spiritual ears.  Man is completely hopeless without the sacrifice of Christ.

It is important to note that the word “practice” is often used in conjunction with righteousness.  He who practices righteousness will eventually do it habitually.  We already know how to be wicked.

There, I just held ethics 101.  You don’t need a cheat sheet.  You simply need to fall to your knees and ask God for help.  Or you can remain just like you are.  The choice is right there before you.

By His Grace

He Needs Your Help

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The promise of God, it’s  deep and it’s sure;
Lasting forever and ever.

To forfeit our standing for smallest of pleasure,
What horrible loss do we suffer.

The power of prayer is cut to the quick.
Our confidence: shattered in place.

All for the sake of a runaway smile;
On a downcast and darkened face.

Our Lord for the sake of the joy set before him,
Endured the cross, scorning its shame.

While man, for the sake of a joy set before him,
Disgraces His Holy Great Name.

Who can speak of reward such behavior does strip?
Who has understood what’s ahead?

The echoes of promise lay shattered and torn,
While our heart is filled up with regret.

Isn’t there something to which you can reach,
Inciting a love for your God?

Avoiding the places that rip you away;
Restraining your feet from the “broad”.

There’s a man who will stand on that Great Holy Day,
And his standing depends on you.

The choices you make for that hope far away,
He’s depending on what you now do.

By His Grace