Tag Archives: Religion & Spirituality

Trials.

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TRIALS ARE LIKE FIRE

Image by whologwhy via Flickr

What shall we do as times of adversity fall upon us?  If we belong to the Lord, there is only one response to adversity of various kinds:

2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”  (James 1)

We consider such things as from the hand of our Father.  We are being allowed to suffer for the sake of His name.  We are being taught to obey regardless the cost.  And we are to ask to receive wisdom in our plight, so that we might obey with a steadfast heart.

I did not write this as a cute little slice of scripture.  This is a real life answer to real life problems.

May Your Holy Will be done as Your wisdom and understand directs.  You are my Lord, Teacher, Master, Father, and Love.  You alone are God.  And You will purify Your people!

Amen.

By His Grace.

Bablyon Revisited

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Official presidential portrait of Barack Obama...

Image via Wikipedia

President Obama and his staff will remain in power until the Lord removes him.  What will be accomplished to the nation will be accomplished, and there will be no avoiding what is coming.  It is God, Himself, who is in control of all things.  Even what appears to man as wicked falls under His final authority.  Either justice will be rendered as we live in this tent of flesh, or the Justice of God will be rendered at the final day of sin.  But make no mistake; God is sovereign.

Personally, I believe the current trend of approaching communism will continue until America, as we knew it, is obliterated.  Man’s version of freedom is to accomplish anything BUT the will of God.  We have been allowed to exercise our sins long enough.  And God will not allow it to continue. 

It is God’s mercy that such freedom to sin is taken from the hand of man.  Do not consider it a loss.  Rather, consider it an oportunity to seek the face of the One who made all men.  I speak as one who is coming to know that the punishments inflicted by God to His people are a loving hand which directs us to become His people; those who know the difference between what is right and what is wrong.

What is coming upon America is at God’s direction.  And those who rebel against His will, will suffer.  Prepare yourself for what is coming by humbling yourself before the Most High God.  Accept His direction and submit that you might receive His gift in Jesus, His Holy Son.  Regardless the tendencies of society or politics, this submission is required for all who will live.  How much more important does this submission become under times of God’s rebuke?

By His Grace.

Proof of Our Wicked Hearts.

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The Ten Commandments, In SVG

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The heart of man is wicked beyond redemption.  If you want the proof of this, present yourself to the Holy God of Israel for inspection.  He will render the truth to you, and you will come away knowing.

By His Grace.

A Painful Understanding

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tears.....

Image by JD | Photography via Flickr

I sat alone.  Sitting in a painful understanding.  More will die than live.  While those who will live are few, their life will be full.  While those who die will be more, they will have no say in their death.  For: those who die are already dead.  And those who live are given a taste of promise.

My mind has come to see this.  What is to come will come.  Though I do not wish to see it appear for the more, there is excitement for the sake of the few.  And how this vision of what is sure to come unsettles the heart.

Though the more deny their fate, they will surely see it.  Though the few render the testimony of truth, they are counted as fools.  Yet God will be glorified among us all.  So be it.  Even so, Lord Jesus, come.

By His Grace.

Do Not Seal Up Your Testimony!

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Fear - Graffiti

God’s people will speak in the Great Assembly of the righteous.  Why should we not speak such things in the assembly of the wicked?  Is it fear of rejection?  Is it a fear that you will be punished for speaking those words you know belong to God? 

Fear does not belong to God.  And those who are called by His name should throw off such coverings.  Release yourself from what is wicked.  Join the throng who have testified on this planet.  Many have had their blood mingled with the dust you now walk on.  And should we keep silent for the fear of words alone?  You might think you will lose friends.  How is that a shock to you?  Who is the friend of the Lord’s people?  Has God pronounced that everyone will be your friend?  Didn’t He tell us they will hate us because of Him?  So how can you now cower in a corner with your worship and words of Glory? 

Look how the wicked come out and proclaim their wicked words and actions!  See how they dance with abandon before the entire world!  Yet the Lord’s people keep their faith hidden lest they bring shame upon themselves.  I tell you a truth:  The shame of keeping quiet because of such fears is and will become a shame for us before the Most High God on that day.

If I sit on a stone and ponder what might happen to me if I do something, the fear builds.  But put me in front of a man who is about to bust my nose and I’ll stand my ground.  I’ve done that a couple times.  So I know what I’m talking about.  I don’t fear what is right before me.  I find fear, as a threat, more intimidating than the real thing.  I WILL NOT LET FEAR RULE OVER ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   The very moment you find fear becoming your master, put one foot forward into that place of fear.  Start typing those words.  Speak with your mouth and nullify that threat.  Make it real!  Cause the fear to come out of the shadows and it will dissipate into vapor!

Your choice.  Obey your fear.  Or obey the Lord.  It’s not really more complicated than that.

By His Grace.

It bears saying the following:

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A cropped version of Ecce homo (Behold the Man...

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I know that the wicked are blind to the Lord’s commands.  Though they hear them, they cannot do them.  Where is the power to overcome the one who now lords over them?  They have not known the power of Jesus’ sacrifice.  So they give up and return to their sin.  Yet the Lord will judge them rightly.  Though they deny what is rightfully God’s, He alone is their judge. 

But do they not know?  Surely the Lord has left His mark in their soul.  They know that they are not clean before a Holy God.  How do I know this?  Because I am from that stock of wicked men.  I once walked in the shoes of blind obedience to every pleasure I could lay my hands on.  I once spurned wisdom and righteousness as if it were a lie.  Self was my god.  And, oh how I served him with vigor!

He has entered in and caused me to bow low before Him.  Even these words were spoken to me on a night when He came to visit a fool: “Go ahead and kill yourself and come to my Throne.  For I have much to say concerning you.”  What a GREAT fool I was!  To think that the grave could shield me from the One who made me.  Now that I begin to understand the Holiness of God I gladly receive His teaching.  Though I stumble before His commands, I find my every rebellion exposed.  And this exposing is now the breath of life He gives me.  The wicked will deny Him His rightful due, only to find His judgment before their very eyes.  Life without God is unspeakably futile.  But life with His teaching is joyous and rich; for we dance with joy at the mention of His Holy Name.  And His rebuke is like cool water to a parched throat.  The wicked would not like to abandon their ways.  On the other hand, because of His Glory, I will never leave the blessing of His presence!  Hear what has been said here.  Fear God and live!