Tag Archives: Jesus

Beaten

by

0


Beaten!  His skin ripped open to show what’s beneath.

The shame of rotten lips assailed His ears.

They hung Him exposed.

Then they railed at inaction.

Silent of protest, the Lord endured.

Like a lamb He was led to the slaughter.

The understanding of His Father filled Him.

From the foundation of the world, was this Lamb accused.

For you He endured.

For you He obeyed.

For the Father’s wisdom reaches out into eternity,

And does not flinch from truth.

What is written is written, both scorn and love.

What will you say with your flesh blessed life?

Will you say you can add to this perfect torment?

Will you work to gain what Jesus offers?

What horrible beating will you invent that you might ascend?

Jesus paid the price in full.

“It is FINISHED!”

 

Glory is His Name!

He delivers what cannot be known.

The conscience is quickened.

The heart is reborn.

Good is seen against the bad.

And hope springs up from desperate thrashing.

What is the response from those touched by this hated One?

Shall we fight along side He who was considered too ugly to live?

Shall we washed hogs return to the mud?

Though the answer can be spoken here.

The answer remains in the actions and thoughts of those who receive.

He is Glory!

And He is allowed to judge all.

For He is WORTHY!

By His Grace.

Breaking the Bonds of Guilt.

by

0


Tameshigiri

Image via Wikipedia

There are men who will tell you that you can control yourself by meditating on your inner self.  While this might be displayed by them under immense controlled moments, they will tell you it takes years of practise to accomplish these tasks.  They break all kinds of materials with their bare hands, feet, arms, head, and legs.  They maintain a peaceful appearance when under stress.  They can accomplish above average feats without flinching.

Does this have correlation to Christianity?  The answer is absolutely.  While it takes years to perfect a body which can endure great stresses and come out the other side unscathed, the Christian can endure from the moment of belief, all kinds of temptations.  Belief in the Lordship of Jesus is key.

Religious people train themselves over years of obedience to rules and ordinances.  Thus they become similar to godly through repetition.  Adhering to knowledge, they adapt themselves to living a good life.  But even a drunk can do this in a moment through the power of Jesus. 

What’s the power Jesus gives to those who believe?  It’s called forgiveness.  When a man meets this forgiveness, there is a power that rings through his soul.  He no longer feels the guilt he once felt.  He becomes free to live!  He finds himself in love with God.  Guilt, having been the barrier to a clean soul, is now transformed into a deep love for the One who was able to judge him to death. 

Such a man will now walk with a steady gait.  Over time, his eyes will brighten.  His tears during prayer turn to tears of joy instead of hopelessness.  He has seen the fires of judgment and walked away a living man.  The power of Jesus is a dynamic transformation from death to life. 

That man no longer desires all the wickedness he once craved.  He sees it as a horrible plight, which belongs to the lost.  He is now free to live a life dedicated to creating and not destroying.  And all this happens in the blink of an eye.  It happens at the moment of belief in the Lord Jesus’ power to save.

by His Grace.

Mush to Man

by

0


A chimpanzee brain at the Science Museum London

Image via Wikipedia

It’s been said that children are little adults with their heads full of mush.  But I remember when my head was nothing but mush.  I thought I had a brain.  But I didn’t.   It was just a container of giggly mush.  And I ran around in this world thinking so very highly of myself.  What a fool!  And certainly someone to laugh at if I hadn’t been so angry and antagonistic all the time.  I guess that’s why most of us laugh at men like I used to be behind their backs. 

Life has a way of slapping us around a bit.  In general, the process causes that mush to cook, stew, and bake.  The hopeful end of man is that he will eventually get a real brain out of the process.  And left to his own devices, man will likely gain something positive out of his experiences of life.  Yet I know a way to quick bake a brain.

It seems our head is microwaveable.  I mean, we can endure specific beams of truth that will cause us to mature a whole lot faster.  This is the work of God through the Holy Spirit within us.  He points out the truth in our experiences and causes our conscience to come to boil.  Wanna grow up a lot faster than most?  Allow Jesus to take charge of your life.  Listen to what you hear in regard to what is true.  Do what you know you must.  And just sit in front of His Holy Fire and bake a while.

by His Grace.

In Charge of a Star

by

0


The oldest star of our Galaxy: HE 1523-0901

Image via Wikipedia

It would be to our advantage to make sure that our religion causes us to do what is right before the Father’s eyes.  It is not possible that religion can suffice in itself. 

Suppose an Angel was told to take charge of a star and make sure it burned with the certain intensity that God ordained it should.  It would be good for that Angel if he monitored the star and feed it according to the will of God.  But suppose that Angel said to himself, “The star is mine to watch over.  God has considered me a great Angel because I am in charge of a star.  And suppose that thought became the singular reason the Angel remained near the star.  In time he did not feed the star the proper amount of energy sustaining elements.  Instead, he simply maintained it as he desired or remembered.  Either the star would burn too brightly or begin to dim.  What do you think the Lord will say concerning that Angel’s work? 

To bring this thought down to earth consider that the star the Angel is placed in charge of is a star not visible to earth.  Much like this blog.  I write as I feel led.  And I write that anyone reading might be compelled to consider the Lord.  What does it matter to me if no one reads it?  I am given this task of building a resource for the Lord.  Regardless the popularity or visibility.  And if I fail to continue to build it, I alone will answer to Him.  It is not my responsibility to provide the eyes of those who might benefit from this blog.  It is only my responsibility to continue to build it.

I could stop building posts here.  But wouldn’t that become a thing of the past?  Something I rely on to have done.  Perhaps some would read what was written and walk away with a renewed spirit for what they gained.  But would I be able to tell the Lord that I kept my place?  Or would I have to confess that I built for a while but no one came to visit.  So I stopped building.  That’s not what I want to be telling the Lord who made His way all the way to the cross and allowed the third nail to penetrate His body.  It would be better for me to be able to say “It is finished”, when I can no longer add to what He has allowed me to watch over.

Isn’t that what religion can become?  We begin to attend the needs of our religion as we see fit.  We no longer desire that it should match the Lord’s desire and demands; which are in place due to His wisdom.  It is wise for us to consider the Holiness and Purity of the Lord as we attend our religion.  We are the ones who will be held responsible for what we know to do.  Whether we succeed or fail to deliver our full attention to what we know is right, we will be held responsible.  Be careful that you do not fall into disrepair for lack of understanding.  You alone are the one who will answer for what you do with what you have been given.

By His Grace.

A Rock is Just a Rock.

by

0


DSC_0113

Image by louisvolant via Flickr

A curious problem is beginning to gel in my mind.  By “gel” I mean I think I’m grasping the importance and answer to a problem that plagues all men, but especially Christians.

If we allow ourselves to interpret what we do as who we are we will surely learn to hate ourselves when we find we can’t do any more.

I’ve seen many come to anger, bitterness, hatred, and selfish thinking, when they come to the place in their lives where they are no longer able to accomplish what they thought was their strength.  The allowed themselves to become identified by the work they could accomplish. 

Beyond the power of words to convey, it is important to remember that a servant is not a king.  You are only a servant.  And you will wear out.  You have no right to claim praise for what you do.  Doing good deeds is what is expected of you.  And the fact that so many don’t do what is good should not allow you licence to consider yourself a “good person”. 

The one who remembers this will enter into inability with peace.  When life brings you to that place where you can’t do anything to be proud of (and it surely will), you will become a servant of inability.  Any other approach will lead to everything negative.  A rock is a rock, regardless where it finds itself.  Be like that in your heart.  And remember that Jesus is the Lord, not you.

 

By His Grace.

Stay or Leave, He is Glorified.

by

0


Photo taken by Graham Kingsley

Image via Wikipedia

My eyes have seen another morning. 

Precious will it be.

To speak of things eternal,

To lift up One called “He”.

I crave a day when eyes will open.

And never more will shut.

To speak a praise eternal,

To lift up One called “He”.

 “23But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. ”  (Phillipians)

By His Grace.