Tag Archives: Jesu

Time spent well

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First page of the Gospel of Mark, by Sargis Pi...

First page of the Gospel of Mark, by Sargis Pitsak, a Medieval Armenian scribe and miniaturist (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I do not waste my time weeping for the dead.  Millions more will die before it’s my turn.  That would be a whole lot of weeping.

No, I spend my hours trying to cheat hell of a few souls.  I find this activity far more consuming and profitable than wasting away for what is “A done deal.”

If the dead are with Christ, then they are more alive than I.  If the dead are in hell, there’s no bringing them back, and they are more dead than I.

So I will spend my energy trying to convince others that life in Christ Jesus is immeasurably better, regardless the apparent loss or pain.

By His Grace.

Trust

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Holy Spirit Stained Glass

Holy Spirit Stained Glass (Photo credit: hickory hardscrabble)

What has been given to Christ’s bride is precious and pure.  He says to me to counsel my brothers and sisters to trust.  It is by faith that we endure what is to come.  Therefore I urge all of us to trust.

Though we do not understand, trust.  If He has given it will be blessed.  Only trust.

We have been told to speak for His name’s sake.  We have been urged by our leaders to testify.  And we have not understood the message.  This understanding is missing from among us because we have failed to walk in His Holy ways.  We have spurned the power of the Holy Spirit which He has given us.  And by this spurning we have failed to testify with power.

Take to heart what I have said at His beckoning.  If you do not understand what I have said here, then approach the Lord who has bought you by His Holy Blood and ask what you will.  Understanding will be given to those who desire to serve.  Only trust.

Warning From the Season

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Snow

Snow (Photo credit: Amir Nejad)

The trees are losing their leaves.  A sure sign that the snows and ice of winter are approaching.  Even so, men are aware of the coming danger in life.  You will either clothe yourself and prepare for what is coming, or you will suffer the consequences through sickness and death. 

This set of signs, in the fall of each year, have been a clear sign from the beginning of creation.  Every generation has seen them many times in their lives.  There is a “falling” happening all around us now.  Few see what is coming.  But those who know Jesus, the Christ of God, know this is appearing as a warning.

Clothe yourself in the sacrifice of Jesus.  Obey what God has set for us to observe in the way of holiness and service to the Most High God.  Prepare yourself through Bible reading, prayer, and proper worship of the Lord, or encounter the purity of what is coming with foreboding.

There is a clear and ever-present message which comes from the Lord’s people.  “Repent and accept the leadership of the Living God, or perish with the ungodly.”  Hiding your head in the sand of society’s unholy behavior will offer you no more protection than if you plan to encounter the coming winter with the clothing of summer.

Government Sponsored Social Services, The Answer?

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Emergency Social Services

Emergency Social Services (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Life is given by the Lord.  Knowledge of what is Right comes from the Lord.  Love (pure love) comes from the Lord.  Prayer (effective and Holy prayer) comes from the Lord.

All the basic needs come from the Lord.  And if a man has all the above three, the extra things (those things which are above basic needs) are directed into the life of the believer at the leadership of the Lord.

Without Him we have nothing but basic needs.  Much like the plants and animals we survive at the basic level of life.  This is where most people find themselves living.  But there is a greater place of life and effectiveness here on earth.

The desire to seek and serve Him comes from The Father of Life.  We are only able to ask for His help.  Absolutely nothing else we can do will satisfy what is unseen and unknown to us in our base form.   Every other teaching (those teachings which ignore the power and singular Righteousness of God) results in a “religion” made by man.  But the Religion of God is a thing which is given.  The Religion of God is an off shoot of the “tree of life” which grows up within the believer.

This is the key to understanding the difference between the “good” actions of man and the Good actions from God within His people.  The world mimics God’s people because they perceive that works are the items which prompt God’s blessing.  They don’t realize that the Works they witness in God’s people are not generated from those people.

All day long the world encourages each other to do the things which are “good”.  But those “good” things fall short of accomplishing eternal value.  For instance:  A worldly man may witness a homeless man asking for money.  Giving him what he asks for is the obvious answer.  Perhaps, however, God has something other in mind.  Considering this, a group of people might institute a social program to provide that “something more”.  But they may or may not hit the mark God has in mind.

This post is something for people to consider.  Man’s answers to perplexing problems rarely (as in once in every 400 years perhaps) accomplish what the Lord desired to do.  With this in mind, you would think folks would ask for the Lord’s help.  But where, then, would pride find a home?  Since humbling ourselves before the Most High God evicts pride and the love of applause, we’re not likely to see a lot of that.

We haven’t seen such action on the part of humanity very much over our history.  In fact, when we do see it, true humility usually only lasts for the generation in which it was begun.  Therefore it is each man’s duty to seek what is truly God’s himself.  Most people will rely on the work of others who have done this humbling activity, thinking that they are doing the work of God.  This is what is meant by “man’s religion”.

http://www.hhs.gov/    Website for Governmental waste in human management.  There is never waste when God is directly involved.Think about it.

English: The Lord Jesus Christ in the image of...

English: The Lord Jesus Christ in the image of Good Shepherd. Early Christian trsdition of symbolism. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Choosers and Pickers

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Vehicle with its left directional signal activ...

Vehicle with its left directional signal activated. Front and side turn signals are visibly illuminated. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some people go to the store to shop for specific items.  They never leave with anything they didn’t plan to purchase before they arrived.  There aren’t many of these kind of people however.  Most people go to the store for one or two items in mind.  But in the course of shopping they are enticed into purchases they didn’t plan on.  They let themselves be directed by marketing.  Regardless our integrity as we go shopping we are, none-the-less, choosers.

The same is true in every aspect of life.  Do we choose to go to bed when we know we should?  Or do we stay up too late to face the next day rested?  Do we speak words that we know shouldn’t be spoken, or do we let it fly as our whimsical heart desires?   When we do our jobs, do we give it all that is true or do we only do enough to get by unnoticed.  Do we strive to fit in with the crowd or do we hate socially proper etiquette enough to do what is right, regardless how they taunt us to be like everyone else?

God has set us here to choose between His ways, our ways, and the ways of His enemy.  He says plainly that to choose any way but His is to be His enemy.  And, sadly, we all seem to choose to be His enemy far too often.  There is grace to cover our foolish and ignorant ways.  But we are encouraged to cease relying on grace alone to live out our lives in a willing obedience to His ways.  He tells us  “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.”  (Psalm 32:9)  But He allows us to choose our attitudes.

People build their own version of God’s commands.  And some rely on a strict code of obedience in their lives.  Our choices are laid out clearly enough, however.  Do we obey because we agree that Good is good?  Or do we obey because we fear punishment?  Perhaps we don’t even try to obey God because we simply don’t agree that His way is perfectly good and right.

Most drivers will turn on the turn signal long enough for one blink.  And they do this after they have begun to make their change of direction.  This isn’t obedience to the spirit of the law.  This is simply a nod toward the law.  The turn signal is there to tell others what you intend to do.  It is a warning for them that you’re about to make a change in the direction of your travel.  Look at how you treat this law.  Do you care about the others around you enough to develop a habit of use?   Or are you simply trying to avoid a ticket?  Turn on the signal a while before you make any moves, then you have obeyed the spirit of the law.

In the same way, we obey God’s commands so that we don’t hurt anyone.  We don’t obey so that we will receive praise.  We don’t obey so that we will gain eternal life.  We are to live out our lives in such a manner as to avoid harm to anyone, even God or ourselves.  Obedience is a choice we make every second of every day, and that for eternity.  We are to develop an attitude that looks for things in our lives that injure others (regardless how slight the offence).

Grace is provided as we seek His ways.  Grace is extended to all who turn from their selfish ways and seek the inclusive and harmless ways of God.  We show Him we care about what is good.  And He responds with the strength, wisdom, knowledge, and desire to serve what is pure and truly eternal.

Some people pick God’s things and ways apart, looking for the parts of it that make them look good or cause them happiness.  God says, take it all and apply everything you can.  What you lack I will supply with generosity.  We are all choosers.  Let’s not be a picker.

The Game of LIFE

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Board for the game Quantum

Board for the game Quantum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was said, “The game is afoot.”  And we knew the action was about to pick up.  Just what did that mean though?  It meant that someone was to pursue.  Someone was to avoid.  And, usually, someone had been victimized.  Quite possibly someone was either going to die or someone had died.  Regardless the story line, a crime had been committed and justice was employed to rectify the situation as well as it can be rectified.

I find this same concept in the Gospel of Christ Jesus.  We all know what it means to play a game.  And in some games we are the direct players, hide and seek is one which comes to mind.  There are also board games and video games, in which we are simply the ones who manipulate the outcome according to our choices.

This “place of testing” is just that sort (in my understanding).  We are the pieces which are moved from one place to another according to the skill of the Most High God.  He will win.  And He will reward the players according to their submission.  He is not unjust at all.  But in this concept I find myself more willing than ever to submit.

What is pleasing to God is pleasing to all, in the end.  And it is a privilege to encounter this game with a light heart; a heart willing to die for the sake of the pleasure of my God.  I know this is a slightly childish look at suffering for the sake of Jesus’ name.  But it is also a powerful word of inspiration to those who can stomach the reality of their position, plight, and hope.