What is Forgiveness


Lord Jesus, Holy Father:

That you should be willing to forgive our sins as we forgive others. Such an awesome mountain of failings blown away by a breath from your nostrils. And all we have to do is humbly ask you and receive. Living out a life of thanks in the valley of penetrating knives. Just as you showed us should be done.  


What incredible power to overcome that is; eternally beyond our words to describe. Not only does someone love us, but the very creator of all things!


Spoken at your birth sustained by your righteousness forever: “Peace has come to earth, and goodwill to all men” (paraphrase).


Billions thank you. Recognizing that we can’t thank you enough. And even while we thank you, doesn’t the next failing prepare.    


By your display and patience you are astounding! Ceaseless and endlessly powerful is the love of God for all who call on his Holy name.  

Alpha and Omega


I wake and consider what heaven is; what eternity is made of.  

I know you, like me , have heard all the stories 100,000 times. Still we can’t understand the Majesty of Jesus.


The nature of his Majesty is faithfulness and righteousness. He has always done the will of his Holy Father, and he always will. 


No one else has ever been that faithful. No one ever will. No one can. No one else has been with God from the beginning. No one else has been tested as he, yet found blameless and pure. He is first and best in absolutely everything. That’s why he is perfectly trustworthy.  


We can’t perceive his glory. It’s simply not possible. And even though we know the nature of the wilderness in which he was tested, we can’t possibly understand his strength of love for God to endure with absolute purity.  


These thoughts are just a beginning to the things of The Faith. But from this place, the glory of God among us explodes into every possible good thought and deed.  


As foreign as it is among men, it is appropriate to speak words of glory for Jesus. Even while we debate what people would think of us if we spoke like that, all of creation in heaven has been doing it since the beginning. And without the slightest embarrassment or hesitation. 


I know I’ve said these things before. I know I’ll say them again. And I know a time is coming when I won’t stop.  


These are not just words. They are a door to joy. They are a window to eternal glory. They are a hand extended from heaven to lift us up from this place of death and trouble.   They are the pure strength we’re looking for. 

Indestructible!


Messed up!
So what?
Change it if you can.

Demolished dreams!
So it seems.
Is it more than you can stand?

Better to take the blows.
Those hateful, horrible woes.
Yeah, take it on the chin.
Let Your Life Begin Again!

Times of Sobriety


Food for thought:

When life goes well, people feel strong.  But such strength always leads us to a false illusion.  For the bad times do come.  What right then did we have to feel secure?

The wise man remains sober even while he laughs with joy.  The bad times then have no effect on such a man’s perceptions.

But see how the bad times devastate those who live for pleasure and joy.  As if such people have a right be at peace in this world.

Perfect strength is sobriety in Christ, it will not be found anywhere else.

Worthless Powers


The superstitions of Man are so abundant and deeply rooted that we often live in endless trouble determining what is false and what is true.  The Living God alone is true.  He has glorified his Holy Son as the only source of Truth. 

We say we know this.  How is it then that we continually turn to superstition as a testimony of what is strength?  “I hope luck will be with me.”  “Maybe Fortune will smile on you.”  And I won’t name the kind of so-called gods people use to bless one another.

Why do we beat around the bush?  Why do we call on every “power” but Jesus, when we speak to one another about prayer and the power of God?  Why is the name of the only true God so hideous that we are ashamed to speak it with confidence?  Are we truly afraid that others will laugh at us?  Is that all it takes to make us cower in the dark shadows?

Whose opinion matters?

You are all greater than I.  You are all reasonable and trustworthy people.  You have not done the things I have done.  But add this understanding to the things you do.  Then you will be the people you say you are.

The Singular Miracle


The gospel is minimized to the best of Man’s ability.  Within the days of Man, all the chores of the flesh take precedent.  And today so very many even actively campaigning against miraculous work of God.

Blind, blind and blind are all the people.  Who has considered The amazing puzzle.  Who sees the Christ of God for what He is?

It is not as though the Christ suffered periodically among God’s enemies;  as if once every 30 billion years the Holy Word of God must enter a creation that despises him, and be crucified for their unholy sake.  The precious miracle of God has blossomed; the Son of God has been sacrificed.  But who sees it as it is?

From Adam until now billions of men have come and gone.  Yet only a handful have understood.

In his excellent Holy wisdom, the Living God has made this place of testing.  It’s a done deal folks, and we’re living in that moment.  The Eternal God has performed his eternal task.  Even while we rested in Oblivion.  And even while I write this, that particular oblivion continues.

The reaping is next.  The final word will be spoken and all the souls of men will appear before the Living God.  Still men minimize the grand work of God to create this place.

The illusion of the temporary is that powerful.  Days come and go, and the mind of man is captured by the things that are not eternal.  How easily we push aside the reality of eternity.  “I’ll consider eternity when I get there.” Perhaps many even blame our limitations and use them as excuses.

This is not written to make people feel guilty.  It is some faulty and meager attempt charge our minds according to the truth of God in Christ.

See the gospel for what it is.  God’s Holy Son has been tested and found worthy to be granted exceedingly great Glory.  Once and for all he has become Master by the test he endured among us.  For eternity he had not been glorified.  But now for eternity he has!

Wake and consider these things.  We do not live in a place that will continue forever.  And at the sum of our days we will appear for the reward that belongs to us for the sake of our doings.  Where does the Holy strength of God rest in our minds?

By the wisdom of God we are not “just passing through”.  We live our days inside eternity.  Today IS forever.  Christ Jesus is glorified.  Once and for all eternity has done an unspeakably beautiful work.