Tag Archives: Lord

A Dream

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

Image via Wikipedia

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.

A Time of Clarity

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This picture shows an instance of the Sun’s “lifetime”.  That flare will soon be swallowed back into its place of origin.  Yet, the picture is proof of a moment extraordinary.  It is the same with man.  There are moments of clarity and beauty rarely matched in his lifetime.

How beautiful is the Lord Jesus.  For He gives portions to men.  “Portions of what”, you may ask.  Jesus gives portions of heavenly understanding to men.  Who has seen the Lord?  Who has entered the throne of the Glorious Father of Light?  And who of those have returned to speak of that encounter?  In the lives of men, the Lord quickens the heart and mind to understand His ways.  And I know that there was a place where He did that for me.

I give the Lord Jesus Glory for His gentle kindness, to allow me to see for a time.   I was shown understandings of the nature of man and God the Father.  It was the Lord who bathed me in mercy that I might perceive things of salvation.  Thank you Lord for that moment in my life.  May Your Holy Will be done forever.  And may Your people praise you with exceeding great joy!

Amen.

The Hope of Rahab

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Rahab and the Emissaries of Joshua

Image via Wikipedia

As we live our lives under the rule of Jesus, we are brought from understanding to understanding.  We are always growing in our knowledge of the Love of God.  And everyone of us who are learning to love Him have a testimony to share.  For this reason I drop this tidbit of words for the sake of His Glory:

We hear of how we should strive with all our might to obey all His perfect commands.  And it is impossible to remove any of them from before us.  There is, however, the element of humanity and sin within us.  Though He sets us free from the necessity to obey the sinful nature, we all find ourselves engulfed in evil foolishness from time to time.  This is something the world can’t understand.  They will say, “How can the people of God act so lawless from time to time, yet speak of a life free from ungodly actions?”  This is something rather odd, I readily admit.  But I submit the following for consideration:

Rahab, the harlot, was promised salvation because of one action.  She gave save harbor and escape to the men of Israel when they came to spy on the land they were about to conquer.  The Lord said that she would not be forgotten for this action.  It was in the identification with His people that she warranted being counted among them.  Though most of us won’t risk our lives in defending the Gospel, it is important that we recognize that the Lord is just and will not forget our sacrifices, words, actions, and intentions regarding His Holy people.

I encourage you who strive against great odds.  Many of the Lord’s people come from horrible backgrounds.  And shedding some of those styles of living is extremely hard to do.  Many will never completely rid themselves of these hedious problems before they are in His presence.  But we should strive, above all else, to remember that the Lord is Love, compassion, forgiving, wise, and Holy.  It is the Lord who will be glorified on the day of His appearing.  Man will never receive the same level of glory as will the Lord.  So we rest in that confidence.   This is why we serve Him.

I hope this gives hope to those struggling against despair.  Keep that confidence you had at first.  It is Jesus who saves from first to last.

By His Grace.

What’s that Light???

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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.

Respectful Silence

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Make a salt lick and the deer will die.  They become predictable.  And predators learn quickly to watch that spot.

Salt-lick, Lizawka, Białowieża, Polska

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Learn to love the sound of a barking dog at night.  For that dog will be silent in the morning.

Look at the bare trees in the winter and marvel at their potential for shade in the summer.  For they are engines of beauty at rest.

Take a lesson from the book of Enoch.  He learned to love the hand of God in every form.  Life, death, health, sickness, wise, and stupid, wealth and poverty; God is at work among us all.  Who among us has been able to say, “I made all this”?  Who among us knows what the death or birth of a fly will cause in the end of things?

Grass will green with warmth and rain.  Rocks will break down into sand.  Clouds will pass without leaving anything more than the memory of a shadow.  And sometimes a cloud will wash away even the most firm foundation.  Who can stop what is to be?  And who can cause what is not to become what has been?

God is sovereign.  His name to man is Jesus.  Who can force the Lord to speak?  And who can silence Him when He utters commands?  Be man and be silent in your thinking.  Judge not, the Lord’s ways, and you will not be judged.  Keep your idle heart free from hatred of what is.  Learn to love every aspect of life.  God is not idle.  So be patient.  Be hopeful.  Be respectful of what you do not understand, and wait on the Lord’s powerful hand.  Horror will turn to joy.  And joy will turn to horror.  Listen to the Lord’s commands and live.

 

By His Grace.

Outcast from the Outcast.

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Perhaps I would be better off to not post this entry.  But it consumes my thoughts on this Christmas eve.  And I consider that nothing I post will find a grand welcome in most homes anyway.  So I’ll post this pondering.

All my life I have had only a tiny handful of friends.  I’ve had many who tried to love me.  But to no avail.  Did their love fall short?   No, I was not lovable.  But what does that mean?

I look and look at society and consider the answer:  What does it mean that I was not lovable enough to retain friends or loved ones?  Does it mean that I am such trash that even the outcast among us would gladly throw me away?  Does it mean that I hate who we are with such a venom that even venomous snakes of men are repulsed at the vicious nature of my heart?  This line of questioning will certainly result in a unfruitful line of answers.  If I question myself along this line, I will most certainly conclude that I am not worthy to breathe the same air as everyone else.  And frankly, this has been my conclusion for decades.  Since I have gained no ground prior to this using these questions, it would be good to seek questions that provide a different group of answers.

How am I different than any other man that I should experience this alienation?  There is nothing about me that you would recognize at first which would provide that answer.  I’m just like you in a variety of ways.  Where the difference appears is in what I hold as important.

English: Indian Spectacled Cobra, Naja Naja Fa...

Image via Wikipedia

When I voice that “important” information, the result is alienation.  What is the difference?  I am quick to call things as they are.  I don’t monkey around with politically correct speech.   I have found that to do so simply puts off the inevitable games people play.  These games have to do with pride, importance, personal worth, gain, lies, greed, gossip, hatred of anything not “me”, and so very much more.

I’m not saying that I’m a perfect man.  I’m simply not willing to play the games of society.  Why?  Because I learned at an early age that no one wins in the games people play against each other.  Society says that we have to become something important.  And important is always defined by someone else.  If important were defined around a camp fire, we would consider bringing wood, killing something to eat, and providing some kind of shelter as indicators of what is important.  But add invention, and “important” escalates into something far more difficult to grasp and identify.  A man will say to himself, “I have gained what others do not have.  Thus I am important.  And it is important that others recognize me as important.  And those who won’t recognize my importance will suffer by my important hand.”

This is why I am an outcast.  I will not recognize this self made importance as valuable.  It is a lie.  And I won’t give glory to a life led by lying.   I give myself no glory for such behavior.  I certainly won’t give it to others.  Do you realize that even wearing the title of mom or dad can become a lie?  Even such a very reasonable title can become a “right” which demands obedience.  And in society such titles supercede righteous living.  How awesome to think that such a reasonable title can become so corrupt.

I am forced to accept my position in this world.  And it is often saddening to look around and count my friends by looking in the mirror.  But then I realize that even I have not been my best friend.  For I put myself into situations unholy and unrighteous.  Even I can’t trust myself.  Isn’t this why the Lord says to us, “Worship God only.”

Believe it or not, I would love some feedback on this issue.  We are all part of this painting of life in this place of testing.  So we are all vulnerable to the same problem I’ve laid out here on the table to eat.

By His Grace.