Tag Archives: sinners

For Emergency Only

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The godly will endure trouble.  For this trouble, God is righteous to uphold their cause. 

The ungodly and the sinner will also encounter trouble.  But how is it they believe God must help them?  Wouldn’t God be righteous to allow the trouble to provoke them?  Yet his loving mercy is extended even to his enemy.

I read the account in John chapter four, where it speaks of a nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.  He begged Jesus to come and heal his son.  The Lord replied to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will by no means believe”.

It’s hard to miss the fact that Jesus was not pleased with the request.  But what is it that would have given the Lord pleasure?  The foolish might think the death of the child.  But how could that be so?

God is not a charity.  He is a purposeful engine for godliness.  Though he is merciful to our ignorance, his desire is that we understand.

Let us not be consumed with the things of this world, be they profit, poverty or sickness.  But let us understand the will of God, that we should become godly men and women.

God will take care of us as our needs arise.  Are we willing to endure for His Holy Name’s sake?  Are we willing to let our faith grow?  Or do we demand solution for the things we cannot control?

Shall a servant refuse to serve the king until he is fed?  The good servant will rise on an empty belly and make sure his master is well taken care of before one morsel of bread touches his tongue.  The king will take care of what profits his kingdom.  If that is so among men, isn’t it more so among the things of God? 

What are you using God for?  Let us be truthful and admit that most people use God for some emergency tool.  And to the shame of the church, such expectations live among Christians.

By His Grace

While You Slept (a prayer for help)

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While you slept I could not.  But my waking was not as it is in the city that never sleeps.  For there they plot to maintain their wealth.  There they plot to cheat, murder, rape, and gain what does not satisfy.  Their waking is to flesh.  Not so with mine.

My heart has heard the warning of demise.  The words come from Holy lips.  But the sound is softer than the landing of a feather.  It is a whisper.  Yet the gravity of their sum is like the sounding of a cannon.  So I do not sleep.

Perhaps to pray, a sufficient response and expected.  But does prayer require bent knee?   How, then, could we obey what is spoken to us, “pray without ceasing” ?   No.  Prayer is here with you now as you read this.  Our hearts are bent together in unified terror for the losses most certainly to come.  As reeds in a wind storm, let our hearts bend toward The Holy Throne.

This I will offer.  “Amen” if you agree.  Then, if the burden finds root in your soul also, leave your own words to Him here that we might mutually agree.

“O’ Holy Father in heaven,  Yours is might of might.  It is said of Your Holy Son that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  So it is.  For this He is worthy.  For He is the exact representation of You, His Father.  What we see in Him is that of You.

You teach us to love as You love Your Son.  So be it!  This is good and right.   You teach us to care for the weak.  We watch You raise up help for all men in need.  You show us how to be kind to our enemies, for we witness how you provide food, clothing, shelter and strength to those who abhor Your Holy ways.  We witness these things and stand in awe Your Majestic heart.

Father, our nation is willingly killing itself.  Your people are to blame.  We shut up Your perfect words behind closed doors on Sunday morning.  We said little or nothing as the nation around us began to decay.   Now, You have allowed liars to lead us the rest of the way to destruction.  We did not keep Your word.  We counted Your mercy as if You would shelter our sin.  May that NEVER be!

Now, I present these words of truth to You and all who will read them.  We ask that we be shown if there is anything that can be done to save this place from what is beginning to take shape.

“Horror approaches.  Godless days among the godless!”

Yes.

You rightfully ask, “Do you love Me more than these”.  Yet when asked if fire should be called down on the wicked, we were told we do not know the God we serve.

Holy Father, You are mercy!   Kick Your people awake as was done to Peter.  Open the steel bars over our sleep encrusted eyes.  Show us our sin and folly.  We have neglected what is our duty before You.

Lord, You are tender.  Your touch is life and precious.  Please touch us.  Your name is Jesus.  You are the God who saves.  We ask, humbly and with understanding, please wake us.

By Your Grace.  Amen.

Family Matters

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Ahnenblatt Family Tree Example

Ahnenblatt Family Tree Example (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In speaking with the Lord about who I have become, by His Grace, He showed me something of great value.  I was frustrated by the limits of righteous behavior I found in myself.  While I thought of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, and how he pleased the Lord so that God took him.  He lived for 365 years on this earth.  And he did not taste death because he lived in such  a way as to please the Holy and living God.

I looked at my life and wondered at my own wickedness.  As the sadness of my utter failure came seeping in, the Lord spoke an idea to me that has helped greatly.  I will try to convey the understanding with as little words as possible.

There are 12 tribes of Israel.  And each tribe has its own clans.  A clan represents a collection of families who trace their history to a common origin.  While they belong to a certain tribe they are identified under certain sub segments of that tribe.

Then the Lord showed me something I had not considered.  The Gentiles, that is those who are not Jews by birth but who belong to the line of  people who do not have the direct blessing under Moses, are divided into clans also.  Let me explain.

There are men who were raised in families who have passed on a love for the things of the Lord.  There are families who have passed on the love for traditions of men.  There are families who promote certain levels of sin in their lives as if it is their right to chase after a limited amount of wickedness.  And then, there is my clan.  Those who have passed on a boundless wickedness to their children.

The Lord in His mercy will judge us from the stock we were raised in.  What were we taught as children that has remained undetected within our memories?  A man who was raised by holy parents (gentiles, none the less) will remember things holy.  A man who was abused sexually and driven from holy behavior since he was old enough to speak will not know how to perform for the Lord like the former family.

But here is the rub.  Have you excelled beyond your clan?  Are you striving to rid yourself of the horrible wickedness that was passed down to you?  This is where He helped me understand.  There is a certain peace involved in understanding these things.  His expectation for those of the lesser clans is not as intense as those who were raised to know better.

There is a whole lot more to say about this.  But I think, for the sake of readability, this is enough to convey the message.