Tag Archives: Religion and Spirituality

Understand What God’s Will is.

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Copperplate by B. Kilian, from: Thomé de Jesus...

Image via Wikipedia

The target of this blog is God the Father through the sacrifice of Jesus.   And often I will write things which bite at the pride of man.   I do not apologize for anything I’ve posted.  Yet it is important to note that I do not hate anyone. 

The Lord teaches His people to hate what is evil and to cling to whatever knowledge of His ways we can accumulate in our soul.  So if you are offended by what I write, what am I supposed to say?  The Lord is Righteous and Pure.  There is nothing on earth with which we can compare His completeness.  And anyone who speaks of the Lord with a focused eye to what is True is going to grate against the pride of man.

On the other hand, I too am a man.  And you can be sure that the turmoil between the pride of man and the Glory that is God resides in my heart too.  It is impossible for me to say I love the Lord in the same way He loves us.  But with all that I can muster I return to Him the measure of love He has been successful to teach me.

This brings me to the following scripture as an aid to explaining what has just been written:

“1Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2)

May the Lord give eyes to see for all who desire His will.  Regardless where you find yourself today, the Lord can lead you into far more.  Only turn from the ways of the world and seek His ways.

By His grace.

Winter 2011

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Drifted House

Image by Just Us 3 via Flickr

Those who we regard as “those in the know” say that this winter will be harsh.  The animals seem to agree.  Bugs are more plentiful this spring and summer.  And I felt a tiny bit of stiff water droplets on the porch railing this morning.  Hard winters mean tough times for everyone. 

Add this tidbit of information to the political, financial, and social scenes and you will come away with a sense of foreboding for what might happen this winter.  Gold is soaring upward due to the markets in the world.  Corruption is over running righteousness in the leadership of every organization.  Islam is busy taking over countries which will allow them access to tons of munitions and political clout in the world.  Politically correct speech is demanding an end to the absolute nature of truth.  While investments are losing their value in markedly dynamic free falls, unemployment and foreclosures are continuing to rise. 

This winter poses a serious threat to far more people and families than I’ve ever seen in my life.  Wouldn’t this be the correct time to seek the Lord Jesus?  Wouldn’t it be a great time, this fall, to slam your body to your knees and ask for salvation?  No one boards up a window after the hurricane passes through, in the hopes of keeping the blasting wind out.  Well, not the wise anyway.  Today would be a really great time to seek Jesus.

By His Grace.

Serving the Master

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A brick wall

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The great difficulty in Christianity is not performing up to the Master’s expectations; that is, to live the Law of God.  The greatest problem we find is humbling ourselves enough to ask for His power to overcome.  The real and immense barrier to being a productive Christian is pride.

 

By His Grace.

Creation to Now and Beyond

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The Garden of Eden from the Très Riches Heures...

Image via Wikipedia

Creation to Now and Beyond.

 

Millions have questioned the statements regarding the time it took God to create the universe and the earth.  They suppose that God is limited to our time and resources.  He made the stars.  He made the earth.  He made the sun and moon.  He made the water, clouds, and land.  And He made all the plants, animals, and even man.  He has done this and He did it according to His powerful hand.

Shall you continue to speak of God as though He were limited as we?  Do you know or remember the story we are told of how Jesus calmed the storm?  He spoke to the sea and the wind and immediately there was calm.  He did not let the storm die down while he held on frantically to His people in the boat.  He did not allow the little boat to float in the air while the sea tossed.  And He did not create a bubble of protection around the boat from the wind.  He spoke to the wind and seas and they simply stopped their thrashing about.

The clouds were not permitted to float on in their course as is the nature of things.  And the waves were not allowed to slowly cease their tossing.  When He spoke they simply obeyed.  Shouldn’t this tell us something about the Lord’s power? 

And why did He provide the proof of His Majesty like this?  Was it so those men wouldn’t die?   No!  He is the Lord of Life.  What is it to Him if men die?  They come to Him.  And did we forget that He raises the dead any time He desires?  He did this to prove to them that the Father of all life was within Him, testifying to the Glory that is Jesus.

What do you say concerning Jesus?  What do you say concerning righteousness, holiness, and sin and death?  He was.  He is.  And He will come.  There is life in your hands right now.  And He is demanding that you accept this word of truth: 

He has made you that you might worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.  He has provided proof of His Glory all about you.  His demand will remain upon you all the days you live here.  And the demand will be sealed at the moment of your death.  Jesus has come to testify regarding the Father’s will for man.  And this testimony was supported by various signs and wonders, which came from the Father of Life.  For those who believe, Jesus is God.  And He is God regardless of your willingness to believe. 

So why focus on the things unknown or debatable?  Why not focus on what is currently both in your hand to do and that which is demanded of you?

May You bless these words Father.  In the name and power of Your Holy Son Jesus, Your Christ.  Amen.

 

By His Grace.

Speak While You Can Speak With Freedom.

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Who will allow the Lord’s word to be heard?  Shall we leave that speaking to those who are trained to speak?  Do you believe in the Word of God?  Speak what you believe.  Are you afraid to speak because you’re not sure you understand it all?  How much “all” are you waiting for?  And what will your lips speak when they are commanded to speak regarding the life He gave you?

By His Grace.

Provoked to Throw Away Garbage.

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Trash rendered

Image via Wikipedia

I saw a young man’s blog post speaking of how he turned away from Christianity because he didn’t experience anything from the God of Christianity.  He was expecting something “other” as he searched out the Bible.  I will respond here with something that all God’s people come to realize.

When I pray, it’s like speaking to the wind.  I say words and wait for a reply.  Yet that reply often never comes in the form of a sound.  It rarely comes in the immediate understanding of my mind.  And sometimes I walk away from prayer feeling nothing at all. 

But God is not silent as we refer to silence.  And would we foolish men comprehend the thoughts of God if He gave them to us?  No.  But there is a way in which prayer never goes unanswered. 

A man walked up to a brick wall which was covered with gold.  As was the tradition of the people, he knelt down and spoke to what was said to be on the other side of the wall.  He asked to understand things so that he might do what is right.  He got up, searched his mind and heart, and walked away shrugging his shoulders.  He felt no change at all. 

Later on, he walked by a place on the sidewalk where there was a piece of paper which had not been thrown away.  Right next to the paper was a trash can.  Contrary to his normal tendency to just pass it by, he stooped, picked up the paper and threw it into the trash can.  Without noticing that he had just done what was right, he walked on sad that his prayer hadn’t been answered.

 By His Grace.