Tag Archives: hope

To never leave

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Many Christians struggle desperately against sin.  One day, perhaps one week, they are fine.  They cling to righteous behavior and find their prayer life normal.  Then a small miss step occurs and the tumble begins.

With their consciences blackened, they bow before the Lord in prayer only once or twice a week.  And when on their knees before the Most High God they can only mutter a few words and then must run.  Perhaps some canned prayer is all they can lay their hearts to.

But the problem is not the first missed step.  It’s all the steps that lead to it.  Jesus tells us, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.” 

The opposite of that is also true.  “Cursed to continue in sin are those who do not desire righteousness with a burning heart.”  You won’t find that in the scripture.  But you will certainly find that on the lives of those who constantly tumble.

What would your life look like if you never left the Lord again?  What confidence and joy would you have if your prayer life spiraled up to heaven itself?  How would your understanding and witness be transformed? 

All this trouble can be so easily avoided. And all you have to do is fan your desire for God into flame. The Lord Jesus is watching and waiting. A continual crying out for mercy and righteousness will certainly bring a powerful response.

By His Grace

I Set Sail

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I stood on the shore.  A boat with sail was there.  Anxiety was upon me and I looked for escape.

Into the boat I lept.  With all my strength and quickness I raised the sail.  With knowledge of direction I headed out.

But I did not go toward Tarshish.  I sailed for three miles out.  Let the sound of crashing waves dim the onslaught.  Let their sound not reach me.  Let no bug or bird see me.  I have had my fill.

I pulled the sail down.  Let the great current pull me.  My knees slammed to the bottom of the boat.  And my soul set sail for God.
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Back on shore I write these things.  Refreshed and strong for battle.  But now perceiving the war is not mine.  The Holy One of Israel is my shield.

In him we live and move and have our being.  What then is assailed at us?   It is he who protects.  It is he whom they hate.  Who am I to stop my ears?

From atop the sea

His wisdom found me.

And all my anxiety

Has proved not but folly.

By His Grace

Here

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Night Sky 5

Night Sky 5 (Photo credit: dgrice)

Here, you dress me.

Here, I submit.

Here, I learn of my sins.

But

Here, I learn of Your mercy.

It was here that I found precious things;

The things that belong to You.

It was here that Your beauty shown in the darkness;

I came to understand lovely things.

Here, I find Grace.

Here, I find Mercy.

Here, my mind is become filled with the Hope that belongs to You.

And leaving Here, that hope becomes mine.

Thanks will roll from my lips forever

Because You were Here.

 

Thank You Lord, because You are Here.

By His Grace.  Amen.

You’re a Christian, huh?

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Happy Tears - old man [12]

Happy Tears – old man [12] (Photo credit: Zuhair Ahmad)

How can it be described?  How can words express the surprise, peace, acceptance, and tears that appear when the Lord Jesus comes to touch and whisper love to us?

 

One moment you’re living your life.  The next moment you’re on your knees sobbing like a little child.  His touch is that powerfully packed with love.  But how can it be described?

 

You think you’re a Christian.  I won’t take that away from you.  In fact, you might be the very brother or sister I will live next to for eternity.   But can we talk about what can be expected by those who say they love the Lord of Life?

 

Have you shed tears like that?  Have you ever been in a setting and found yourself filling with appreciation about the things of God?  What did you do?  Did you shut them down lest anyone see a drop of emotion manifest itself on the outside of your body?  Or did you let it consume you, knowing that what is unseen and unheard will be visible to all and yelled from the roof tops?  But those are things of the flesh.  Those are things we can accomplish.

 

I’m pointing to that specific and immeasurably different experience we strive to express when we have been touched by the Lovely One.  I will restrain my fingers here.  For I was about to dive into psalm about Him.  What good would that do if you haven’t experienced His nearness yet?

 

Instead, I will testify that there is a touch of God in this world!  He is not distant!  “In Him we live and move and have our being.”  Our souls are dark and willingly hide from Him.  But open yourself to the Lord of Life.  Hope, dream, expect and pray that He will touch you.  He is willing.  He is simply waiting for the proper moment.  It will be a moment when you least expect it.  And He will whisper His love and understanding to you.  Tears WILL flow.

 

By His Grace.

The Father of Lies

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He saw.  He learned.  He practised.  But he was not able to contain what he took in.  Pride swallowed him from the inside out.  As the righteous attributes of God grew, so did pride.

One moment surfaced the thought, “I will make a challenge.  I am worthy to be first.”  But it was just a thought.  Or was it?

Pride was nearly mature now.  The harvest of sin was near.  No, it was not “just a thought” .  It was the very instrument of harvest.

In deed, you will be first.  You are the father of lies.  The Lord Himself has given you that title.  And what was your desire has been given to another.  You contrived to murder Him.  But, to your horror, His righteous heart cannot remain in the grave!  HE IS FIRST!  And He is worthy to remain first forever.

No more challenges will surface.  None of those being groomed to take your place will ever consider equality with God something to be grasped.  No one will ever appear again who will resemble you.  Those He is redeeming are not from holy stock.  They are of sin and blood.  Jesus has purchased them with the very blood you caused to run free.  This will be their mark for eternity, “The Holy Lord of life has had mercy on us and for this He is our God”!

You are undone!  He, the Holy Lamb you slew, has opened your eternal reward.  There you will utterly perrish.  All who worship you will accompany you.  We will all turn our backs to you and truth will live among God and His people forever.  Amen!  Amen!  Amen!

By His Grace

Folly at its Best

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There is no crisis better than the one which gives those in power a chance to grab more to themselves.   There is no greater folly than to do oneself more damage by refusing to admit an error.

If there is a distinguishing difference between Christians and non-believers, it is that they recognize their folly and are willing to approach the Lord because of it.  Darkness hates the light and will not come into it for fear that its deeds may be seen.

It has been said the Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.  But to complete that phrase is the requirement that men who approach the Lord, to bear their folly, are willing to receive correction.

It is a horrible weight to bear ones on folly before the Lord.  It is folly upon folly to retain this stupidity in spite of knowing better.  For the judgment will show each man’s work according to truth. It is far better to receive failure because of our folly; the scorn of men rather than the scorn of God.

The man who writes this knows this to be true for I am a fool.