Foster Love for the “I AM”


English: Scroll of the Psalms

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The end of a man’s life is the greatest point of importance.  Regardless what he has done in his life, what he grasps to do according to the will of God for man is far more important.  We take our lessons from the Lord Jesus in the days of His flesh.  We read the Psalms and see that He loved the law of God more than anything on earth.  And we see that God raised Him up to Great glory because of His love for God’s ways.

This is the sum of our lesson, to learn to love the ways of God more than the things of this earth.  Whether this happens at the beginning of our days, or comes upon us in our last years.  To learn to love God and His law is of the utmost importance in the end.

Strive with regret.  It is appropriate.  But also strive to learn to love God’s ways in that you learn to do them.  In this way our days are ended in a holy striving.

A Citizen of Heaven, None the Less.


Português: Uma cela moderna em Brecksville Pol...

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An American citizen in prison is still an American citizen.  Though his rights have been curtailed, he is none the less a citizen of America.  And if something were to happen where only Americans would be rescued, he would be rescued.  He is counted among the least of the citizens of America.  But he is a citizen.

I’ve been considering the greatest and least in the kingdom of God.  Who is the greatest is left for the judgment of God in Christ Jesus.  So it is with the least.  But for all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, salvation is offered.

Now.  I would like to say that if that one who is a citizen in prison would begin to speak out against crimes, he would elevate himself as a citizen.  Isn’t that what early release from punishment is all about?  Though he can never attain any “great” position in America, he can certainly gain some footing in society.

If you are struggling with a horrible reputation before the Lord, I urge you to work toward supporting His kingdom as you never have before.  You have lost something in your weakness.  But the Lord Jesus has never lost anything.  Supporting His name, giving honor to the Holy One of God, and helping to build up His people is the appropriate thing to do at any level in the Kingdom of God.

By His Grace.

A Dream


English: At work in the metal shop making engi...

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I had a dream that the Lord Jesus came to a place on earth in my time.  He came to a place where men worked with metal.  Other than that, I don’t remember a whole lot about the dream.  But I am struck by something important.

The Lord was very intent on doing whatever He came here to do.  He didn’t come to sign autographs on pictures or baubles and trinkets.  He didn’t come to be lauded as the Lord of Life.  He came to accomplish something the Father had sent Him to do.  He had little to say to anyone.

I am struck (once again) by the single-mindedness of the Lord Jesus.  He lives forever to do the will of the Father in heaven.  We are told that He is not a respecter of men.  Which means that the Lord Jesus will never consider the will of anyone as more important than the will of the Father.  It is to our advantage to remember that with a great clarity.  It is not we who manipulate the Lord.  It is our duty to obey in all things.  We are the ones created.

I believe it will be the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit that will amaze us on the day we see Him face to face.  The Lord is Holy.  That is to say, He is set apart for the purposes eternal.  Though He works with us in our daily lives, He is completely focused on what is perfect and will last forever.

For now we see people dividing the Scriptures as they please.  They pray and speak as if they have some special in-road to the Lord Most High.  In a sense, the Lord laughs at those who make such claims.  For the desires of God are not like the desires of man.

By His Grace.

What’s that Light???


Star symbol; full star.

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I step out this morning.  It’s cold and a bit breezy.  I should have worn a coat.  But it’s ok.  I won’t be out here for long.

I look up at the sky.  The morning sun is making a difference in the appearance of the stars.  And it occurs to me how the stars dim as the massive ball of fire called our sun comes into view.  Not one of those stars actually dims.  It is the brightness of the Sun to us that causes them to fade from view.

So it is with Jesus.  We do our work under His Glorious rule.  And we continue to work as He allows and directs.  But as we are working, the Lord appears in the midst of our work.  Without our knowing or will, the Lord becomes MORE than we.  This is a sign to us of what will happen when eternity breaks through time.  So, it is wise for us to remember that it is the Lord Jesus who will Blaze with Glory.  We are nothing more than servants of righteousness.  Yes, we have His promise that we will be given more on that day.  But we are simply men.  We are blessed to know His Holy Name.  And we are blessed to serve as we do.  But the one receiving the blessing is always lesser than He who gives it.

By His Grace.

Remembering Who We Are.


Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wodeyar, Scion of...

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Two things come to mind this morning that bear posting:

The first is that it is God who raises up leaders of nations to accomplish His will among the world’s people.  And what that man or woman does is a direct reflection of God’s will among us.  This is a hard thing to understand as we see what we have known being undermined or destroyed.  But consider this:

There was a people who lived in America before the “white” man came ashore.  Their culture, religion, and economy were destroyed.  This has been so throughout history.  Those who took over lands and peoples always felt God was “for” them.  The people subjected to a different rule always felt like God had abandoned them.  It appears to be our turn to experience a certain defeat.  But God is still God!  And it is His Holy Wisdom that will rule into eternity.  This is why we are instructed to pray for them, to do good to all men (including our perceived enemies), and to allow ourselves to become subjects of the rulling peoples.  It is pleasing to God that we should live as He does.  What does that mean in this instance?  Remember how He sends rain on the just and the unjust?  Remember how Jesus submitted to the rule of His own people, as well as the oppression of the Roman machine.

And the second thought is to do with Martin Luther King.  I notice how he is being set up as a glorious man.  The people of this world rally together under his name.  How is this?  Shouldn’t the name of Jesus be first on our tongues?  Wasn’t it Jesus who Martin worshiped?  Yet they make all kinds of beautiful noises at the mention of a man.  Figures!

The Lord Jesus will receive His rightful due in time.  But for now, we do not see Him being presented as the Rightful Ruler of all men.  Take heart, this will not last forever.  And those who glorify men will be ashamed when they see Him as He truly is.  Speak!  Go ahead and speak of man as if he is something.  It is God who will divide our words, intentions, and actions.  And it is God who will divide His people’s words, intentions, and actions.  Let us be sober then.  To live as God’s people in a world of chaos and rebellion.  Chaos, because they who do not have God do not have direction or understanding of eternity.  Rebellion, because they deny the name of the One who has made this place of testing.

By His Grace.

Explain This.


Crashed Toyota Matrix

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A man was in a multi-car accident.  It wasn’t fatal for anyone involved.  But the incident rattled the very soul of each survivor.  Parts of automobiles lay in every direction for 50 yards.  Air bags deployed now lay like fading mushrooms.  Doors sprung open display the vulnerability of the flesh of man.  Tears on the faces of the women, and the wide eyed faces of the men, testify to the shock.

The miracle is that no one was hurt.  Not even a scratch on any of them.  The wonder of their situation began to sink in.  And, as they stood together, one by one they began to laugh.  Six people stood among carnage laughing.  When the police finally arrived, the scene was a bit macabre.  The ambulance and fire crews had no work. Officially, the only work was cleanup and writing.

Later in the month those six people gathered at a café to share their joy at being alive.  As they sat around the table and recounted the possibilities, they began to slowly notice something.  There were no words to describe their encounter.  Each of them could tell their story but what words could describe the shock, horror, fear, and anxiety in those fateful moments?  Language was the barrier which could not be surmounted.  And they eventually sat silent.  Each of them began to break down in different states of tears.  At this point they realized just how alone they were.  Unable to tell the completeness of the story, even to those who were involved, isolation was almost a tangible element between them.  Such violence gone silent.

Though their experience is unique, we all understand the limits we face each day.  I want to tell someone something.  But the words don’t always come out quite right.  And there is always need to clarify.   Yet, the clarification itself isn’t clear!  What frustration!  Yet, what a common bond between lay us all.  Even if we say, “Here, let me show you”.  The message is filtered through the mind and heart of the receiver and the sender.

With this foundation, I present the reason for this entry:

I have warned about the reality of God’s promise to the wicked.  Unfortunately, I haven’t been there to see it happen.  And even if I had seen it with my own eyes, how could I relate it to anyone?  But I believe with a fever that such things are going to occur.  I have also spoken loudly about the promise of God to those who accept the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice.  Though I haven’t received it in full, I believe it with a severe passion.

Like those in the accident, how can I hope to explain what I know to anyone?  Even other Christians are hard pressed to share their experience of Jesus with each other.  And these people have a common bond beyond this world’s perception!  We use words like glorious, joyful, peaceful, amazing, and such.  But none of them can hold even one sliver of a moment in His presence in prayer.  Nor can they relate how amazing it is to experience the reality of His forgiveness after we have knowingly sinned before His very face.  How can any of us hope to convince the wicked of their plight?  It has to be a God thing, this conversation about what is coming.  It is God who communicates the completeness of His promises to each one of us.

Hell is real.  The promise of God to utterly wipe out the very souls of the wicked (history, name, hopes, and work) is true!  But these are just words, aren’t they?  If you don’t believe, what can be said to you?

This post is a venting of frustration.  Because I know that if you don’t believe, there’s nothing more I can do for you.  You will, indeed, experience a horror far more real and lasting than those possibilities of the accident I spoke of. And, if any of them had died, they would still face the Most High God.  There is a “second death”.   Yet, those promises of God to those who believe are to be like the six who survived without a scratch.  There is eternal life!

Consider that story.  If those people realized they couldn’t even share among themselves, how could they hope to explain it to others?  A life shattering miracle happened to them.  But that “happening” is uniquely theirs alone.  Salvation is absolute and real.  And, to those who are actively living under the rule of Jesus, life in the Lord is more real than the things of this world.

Please consider my words.  The accident coming on the unsaved is going to be no accident.  If you’ve read this, it is much like someone having a vision before the drivers left their house, office, ball game, or wherever they began their fateful trip.  And the one who had the vision warned the driver to stay a moment longer.  Would any of those drivers listened to the one who had a stern face?  Would they have stayed a moment longer?  Please consider the promises of God in Christ Jesus.  Come!  Come share in the reality of the forgiveness of God in His Lovely Son.

By His Grace.