Tag Archives: servant

A Rock is Just a Rock.

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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.

The Ark

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In the building of a task there is a beginning and an end.  No one who builds according to a specific plan keeps building after the plan is accomplished.  A house has a place where it can be called “finished”.  You walk to the park, and there is a time and place where you can say you arrived.

Noah was told to build an Ark for the coming flood.  And it wouldn’t take a scholar to recognize that the building of an Ark did not go on for the entirety of Noah’s life.  There was a final peg pounded into the gopher wood.  There was a final animal which entered the doorway.  There was a final word spoken among them as the Ark lifted from its mounting.  And there were final things done as they left the Ark.  In short, the building of the Ark was a one time task the Lord told Noah to do. 

This blog has reached that point.  The Lord has made it plain to me that I have arrived at the place where His work is completed here.  Through me, He has created what is now refered to as a “bag of seeds”.  It will remain available for His work.  This place is a tool in the tool box of the Lord.  He will direct people here as He sees fit.  I may add to it from time to time.  But the consuming fire to build is over. 

The building of this place of testimony has been an absolutely consuming fire within me.  And I know it was of His doing.  Even as I read back through some of the posts, I’m amazed at the depth of ideas and words.  These words were not mine.  They were given to me that I might leave a place where the Father is Glorified through Jesus, my Lord.  All glory belongs to God!

As you read through these things it is important that you know these are not the words of a man alone.  I know that I interpreted what I saw sometimes.  But the vast majority of the writings are eternal.  And it important to note that these things are not to be considered Scripture.  There is, already, Scripture.  I have no desire to replace them.  It is through the Bible that you too will find inspiration to testify.  But itis  the Living God who continually provokes glorious testimony from His people.

I encourage everyone to write and speak the glory of God within them.  What are we if we don’t contribute to the salvation of men?  And what are we if we do not fight with all we have for the Glory of God? 

With this post I conclude what was begun in me.  I will now live my life as if I had never typed one letter of this blog.  Not that I abandon the Lord and His will.  But this task is finished. 

Father, I ask Your Holy hand to guard this place.  To keep Your work separate from me.  And to Glorify Yourself in Your work.  This has been a magnificent blessing that You have given this poor man to accomplish!  And I am honored to have served you in the building of this “bag of seeds”.  May the peace You had before the creation of the world return to You and Your people.  In the Glorious name of Jesus, I present you this place as it rightfully belongs to You.    Amen.

By His Grace.

Vain Superstitions

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We are not called to frolic in the guestimations of the world regarding the Holiness of God.  We are called to join with Him in implementing His will among men.  While men make guesses regarding end times, the “Way”, the nature of Jesus’ salvation and glorification, God remains steady and sure.  He does not shift or change according to the limited understanding of man’s wicked contrivings regarding Holy.  God is.  And it is enough for us to live by the faith He gives each one of us.

Cease your constant wandering and rest.  It is God who works His will in His people.  Do not be swayed by all kinds of foolish words with which man builds his kingdoms.  They speculate about what is true.  It is God’s domain to KNOW what is true.  The one who follows Jesus will lay aside all this foolishness and pick up what is absolute.  God is willing to share wisdom to anyone who will ask.  And He will share this vast resource without judgment of any man’s history or bend toward wickedness.  Only, let us not give in to believing all the short sighted superstitions the world begs us to endure.  Hold firmly to Jesus and the truth He reveals.

Let those who will chase after vain knowledge; knowledge that is puffed up by the mind and wicked heart of man.  It is not the lot of Christians to cave to the foolish of the world around them who do not know the Lord of Glory.

By His Grace.

Hey, Look at Me! I’m a Grape!

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Let’s put man in proper perspective.  The earth is the garden of God to raise a crop of people who will willingly worship Him in Spirit and in truth.  Often in the Bible we are compared to a crop.  It is as though we are grapes, for instance.  If you have an arbor of grapes, do you wail and cry when you pick a bunch of grapes?  Of course not.  They are designed and grown from your garden to consume them.  They provide something for your body after they are ripe and edible. 

A man of God realises that he is part of God’s crop.  He allows himself to be grown specifically to be harvested.  Harvest for us is the point of death.  It is at that point that God is harvesting our bodies to release the soul.  Ripe would be a term applied at the wisdom of God.  We are harvested when He determines it is time. 

Be careful not to consider yourself as anything more than a plant.  God is, in the end, the One who will decide your use to Him.  He is eternal.  We are the ones who are waiting to die.  That is, to be harvested for His Glory.  “What is man that you are mindful of him . . .”  Worship Him.  Serve Him.  It is for that purpose you were born.  And it is to Him that you will return.

By His Grace.

Cooking While Sleeping.

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No one is useful to a task unless he applies everything he has to that task.  You can’t drive a car well if you’re busy texting.  You can’t do the dishes if you’re playing with the dog.  You can’t mow the lawn if you’re in the basement watching football.  And you can’t serve the Lord of Glory while you’re busy chasing after the things of this world.

To love the world is to be at war against God.  Yet to love God and seek His complete will for you is going to put you at war against the ways of this world.  A person must decide which side of the war is best.  God has said that He wins in the end.  And it will be those who have come under the leadership of Jesus who enter the victory celebration of God.  While the world will bow with perfect tears and sorrow, God’s army will enter with their heads held high and with great joy and singing.

For now we see things turned the other way.  The world looks down on those who serve the One who made us all.  But the day will come when they will be the ones to find their eyes unable to look up.

By His Grace.

Concrete Man

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My feet plod along through this withering wind.

And my body is perched top them both.

There is stealth to my way which few comprehend.

But I promise you now with an oath.

If you’ve met this new that I’ve come to be,

Then you’ve stood near the One who is true.

Though my skin and my words are how you see me, 

The One who gives rest is near you.

I carry His word and His promises strong.

Though the wind around me shoves hard.

He has given me power to move forward headlong.

He has made much more than a card.

By His Grace.