Recalling, focusing and remembering where the Lord found me when I cried out.  There is no turning back regardless of mishap or mistake.  I am his for the duration and my faith, security, strength, hope and destiny lay in the Lord’s hands.  The only difference between me and the guy we refer to as lost is that I realize those simple facts.  I serve a sovereign God, who is free to change me, shape me or sit me on the bench if I refuse to follow the game plan.  I am only disposable if I make myself so by kicking against the goads of God’s harvesting.  I have embarrassed him, ignored him, forgotten him and begged his forgiveness more times than are measurable in one conversation, but still he looks at me with those loving eyes of a proud Father.  Especially when I’ve lost the game and figure he will give me nothing but shame, he lifts me up, dusts me off and puts me back in the game reminding me who I am and who I call my Father.

There is no other place for me.  I’ve been excluded, overlooked, mistreated, taken for granted, used up and called by so many pejorative phrases that I ran out of places to attempt acceptance.  I don’t fit in anywhere but in the shadow of God’s wings.  Sure there will be a group of people filled with the spirit who see me for what I am and love me regardless.  Those I call my Brothers and they don’t belong here either.  I refuse to be upset by my lack of popularity, because my sharp edges counter the slick, sultry, spineless tactics of the world.  I will never be able to impress them, nor hide from them, his light shines through my eyes.  So, I have to figure when things get hot and they start looking for sacrifices I will probably be offered up quickly.  Lord knows half of my blood family would sell me to the Ismaelites for a good bowl of porridge.  But thanks be to the Almighty God that whatever they plan for evil he will turn to good.  Not to serve my good pleasure or to somehow make fun of them for my edification, but because he loves them so much whatever he’s got planned will win their hearts for righteousness.  You see I cannot lose.  I get to play an important role as an unknown guy, representing a God that most would give everything to know and from which others run and hide.

But days like today make me think and I know that is what he wants.  That I should encounter circumstances, pain and opportunities which make me turn to him and say, “Lord I really messed this up, and there is no visible path to recovery”.  All the time I know that after the pain, shame and abandonment subsides he will show me something tomorrow I was incapable of seeing today.  This world provides the stimuli and the Holy Spirit guides and teaches based upon the roles we must play.  Sometimes I wish that I were easier to teach though, because it appears that he has to consistently develop new methods and levels of agony to get my limited attention.  Forgive me Father for being such a poor study.  I really am getting tired of my apparent inability to get even the slightest bit smarter/wiser.  He still believes in me which causes me to get up and try again, but this time, perhaps this time I will do it under his power, his strength, his patience and authority, so that something will be done right.  Lord let me succeed in doing what you need done, once.  Praise the name of the Almighty God, the Father of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.  The creator, sustainer and lover or all.  In Jesus name.

Father I am humbled, encouraged and alarmed at all the same time.  The artillery you have sent across the bow of our Christian vehicle has seemingly created rekindling of emotion.  It is all well and good that people “feel” something when they are in a church worshiping your name, but that emotion lacks the requisite Spirit sponsored action following such encounter.  When will we stop being impotent as the Body of Christ?  Have we kept your Holy Spirit at bay for so long that he no longer lives within our vessels?  God help us if this is the case for few shall see eternity through rapture if this stands.

I pray for fire Father, Holy Fire, coming down from on High so that none can doubt your sovereignty.  I don’t want to do great things if the end result of those things fails to bring hearts to you.  I do not want to serve myself and sit back at the end of the day tabulating my accomplishments.  When this life ends I want it to have accounted for something, the only thing worth doing is bringing people to the cross where they may experience relationship with you.  There is no other success.  Father how have we quenched the Spirit in such a way as to effectively eradicate him from the church?  Please show me how to rectify this misgiving.  Without your spirit we are simply flesh.

Father don’t leave us to the non existent mercy of the flesh and some from fallen creation.  Give us Your Holy Spirit so that we may live in abundance, truth and acts of faith that free the lost, heal the sick and banish the fallen.  Father, give us back our hearts of allegiance and commitment to your word and will.  This life is a waste without my purpose and seeing the church in such a weakened state makes me shiver.  Give us hearts of obedience and surrender and let it begin with me Father.  This is the fourth watch when times are cold and dark, let your light shine in our hearts and our eyes so that this forlorn world might find shelter from the pitch of night.  In your precious name we pray Lord Jesus.

Inertia is palpable.  The calm has disappeared replaced by a noticeable race toward crescendo.  Not global warming per-say, but a measurable increase in the impact, severity and rhythm of events.  Passions cluster to prepare for collective efforts against this or that principle, policy or politic.  The warnings came, they were avoided and ignored, now perfectly selected power brokers, indwelt by the powers that would see the world tumble have been placed in positions where they seek to change the course of history.

Some have been monitoring and for their research, observation and factual recount they have been received demagoguery as prize.  Where the line of demarcation from acceptable intelligence have found single points of data socially acceptable but recognizing any trend as paranoia.  Look for yourself.  The earthquake patterns have steadily increased for the last several years both in severity and frequency.  Now they are prevalent and regular along volcanic hotspots and tectonic seams.  Egypt, Syria and Lebanon are now in crisis and the conspicuous power broker is the “Russians”.  Saudi Arabia just announced an alliance with whom, the “Russians”, decidedly backing away from a relationship with the United States.  Ferocious fires rage out of control and man’s ability to lead nations has eroded to the point where a multitude of countries, states and cities are facing financial ruin.  When will it become acceptable and evident that these occurrences all match Bible Prophecy regarding the last days, right down to the recent moves by the Catholic and Southern Baptist leadership to “tone” down the rhetoric.  Which is actually a move away from Biblical Truth as guide replaced by what, politically correct tolerance of what God called abomination.

I feel the heat that accompanies friction as two points in opposition begin to rub against each other.  The world is lining up onto two sides, those who believe and those who refuse to believe.  The Lord is beginning the warnings, birth pangs, to notify us of His intentional intervention in to worldly affairs.  Ignoring them is only a short term option for over time each of us will be involved at some level in the coming events.  The action will begin in Jerusalem, so watch the horizon for news of an assault by Israel on Iran or perhaps an attempted incursion by Israel’s neighbors to capture Jerusalem.  The field is ripe and the tipping point of ignition is coming.  Will you be standing next to the fire or in it.  Your call, come to Jesus and find rest.  Praise Almighty God for His grace, mercy and righteous judgment.

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to the teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.  Ezra 7:10

Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion.  Beside him on his right stood Mattihiah, Shema, Ananiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.  Nehemiah 8:4

Glorify a moment by remembering and understanding its unique importance as a smidgen of time.  Returning home with diamond tears blurring vision, a vision of their once destroyed capitol rapidly reconstructed by the flesh of their own hands.  An instant where each knew God, not only understanding the lore about him, but actually seeing his masterful hand bring them back again from slavery.  And in this priceless instant you would guess that none would miss a single glimpse, utterance or passing breeze.  Yet we have demonstrated weak observation skills.  For who is it that stands to his right and left but men who shared in the captivities of Babylon and Persia.

Numbered among them is one so conspicuously anonymous.  Again we seem perplexed, nonplussed and unaffected.  This man is one of three who were thrown into the raging furnace for refusal to bow to a certain bronze statue.  Now it dawns, oh Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego, which were their pagan names forced upon them, covering their true Jewish names of Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.  Mishael had made it home through the entire ordeal, even when Daniel remained to die and be buried in Persia.  This is the nature of God’s promise, that we will all make it home someday, some sooner and others following after a time, but none shall be lost for we serve the Good Shepherd.

And on that day, not unlike this fine day of return to rebuilt Jerusalem we will worship the Lord with our faces on the cobbles thankful to call him our King.  Whomever says that they have read the Bible through and thus are fully prepared, let them be reminded of this piece of hidden manna.  Mysteries remain in this Living Word given by God.  It is the nature of God to conceal a thing it is the nature of kings to find them out, proverbs.

Will you stumble across new revelation when reading God’s Word?  Absolutely thus is the reward to walking with the Spirit of God through the garden of His direction.  These men were taken into captivity for forgetting to remember God’s Will.  Now the first thing they could think to do upon being returned to the city of grace was to read and reflect upon His Word for days upon end.  It is the true food made for fulfilling our spiritual hunger.  Praising God for His Word and His Promise should take our first ten thousand years or so in heaven.  I look forward to what comes after that.  I love you Lord and I love you my Brothers and Sisters.  Be well in Christ Jesus the King.  May He fill your heart with mystery and abundance through His riches and glory.  Amen.

Will you hear the Spirit that guides me to implore you, come to safety?  You see I know what is coming and according the Revelation 6 and passages further on, a time is quickly approaching where the Lord will unleash His wrath upon the Earth.  The four horsemen will be unleashed and a quarter of the worldly population will perish as God exerts His will upon humanity in an attempt to bring us to Righteousness.  And this is only one of the rounds of planned punishment meant to turn hearts to God’s Sovereign authority.  What He could not accomplish through simply offering mankind salvation, Love and Freedom, he will complete by creating such devastation, destruction and travesty that all those who will turn to Him in crisis will be given ample incentive to do so.

You see I may not be the only man that has ever told you about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The story when God came to Earth to live a perfect life, die and resurrect Himself in order to take away the sins of the world, but then again I may be the one guy who tells you about Jesus, at a time you are ready to listen.  satan’s rule on this planet is nearing its end.  There will shortly come a time when the Righteous King of the Universe will return as the Lion of Judah and take back what is rightfully His, Dominion and Authority.  There will be no “choice” left to those who have yet to make a decision, your ballot will have been left un-submitted, the time for casting your vote having past for all eternity. Rejecting Jesus is each man’s prerogative, but telling every person that I meet about Him is one duty/joy in which every Christian shares.  You see I know what is coming and I know how to escape the Wrath of the Lamb.  I cannot stand bye and watch as members of your family and mine face judgment when I can do something to help them avoid it.  I love you too much.

Soon the signs of Christ’s imminent return will be unavoidable even to the skeptic.  Blood moons, asteroids, giant hailstones, man’s sword turned against his brother, pestilence, war and ruin.  All will be ensconced in the darkness of man’s day of turmoil as God increases the pressure on the whole of humanity.  Fire, water, earthquakes, sickness, poverty, starvation and savagery will force each person beyond the point of brokenness.  Humbled by the God who asks us now come to Him freely and find rest.

When you see the believing Church leave the planet, know this, there will still be time left for you to make a decision for Christ.  However, at that time the cost of making that decision will be severe and most will choose to accept a fate away from God, fearing death worse than God.  I ask you now to come to wisdom, she is calling you to understand what it means to revere the Sovereign God and humbly ask for succor from His Righteous Judgment.  All it takes is to believe on the Work of Jesus Christ upon the rugged cross of Calvary, where He gave His life so that all men may be redeemed to God and have their sin life covered by His perfect gift.  Repent (Turn Away) from your sin, Trust in Jesus, find hope and forgiveness beyond the eroding sense of security that this world attempts to provide.  Join us with God for everlasting life or go to judgment for an eternity separated from Righteousness and peace.  For now the choice remains, but soon invitation will be rescinded.  I pray that you choose “Life” while the offer only costs humility, surrender and belief.

If the information exists, which it does, to prepare for just about any event why then do very few people open up the books, magazines and websites telling folks how to avoid catastrophe?  Why do people readily engage in philosophical repartee drawing the light to their words or wisdom, pride or foolishness, yet they will not take the necessary time to truly investigate all perspectives?  Have we truly become that lazy that we will not even lift the spoon to our own mouths, accepting our fates as sluggards?  Shall we be spoon fed the biases of those who would slant our views to their own committed doctrines?  Did the Lord command us to be Bereans or am I mistaken in thinking that He ordered ALL Christians to be searchers, reviewers and verifiers of the Truth?  Lethargy has profited from our willingness to pursue the path of least resistance.

We have been told what would occur before it comes to pass in order to establish God’s sovereignty in the mind of men and the provide fuel for faith among believers.  The Lord is outside of time and thus provided us the testimony of future occurrence called the Bible.  It portrays a future that will be openly hostile to Christians, yet we walk as if none of this information is real or worth the read or action.  It commands us to spread the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to love the unlovable out of obedient and grateful hearts for the salvation we have ourselves been freely given.  Yet “MOST” Americans churches lay fallow, planting nothing but their own buts in well worn seats, chatting about the world and its pleasantries.  We have brought our unholy thoughts, bodies and behaviors before the throne of the Righteous King, oblivious to how HE said that HE views these transgressions.  We have developed rituals, pageantry and programs that mimic true faith but simply and tragically couple us with a world full of pagans who practice the same filthy false displays of phantasmal faith.

The Lord provided all the information necessary to escaping the Judgment to Come.  Will we read it and be educated enough to make the right decisions, choices and actions for the Kingdom?  The Bible states that the Lord provides for “ALL” of our needs according to His Riches and Glory in Christ Jesus.  Will we accept Him as our savior, provider and King or will we continue to pursue the world’s riches and provision as our false security, even when each disaster demonstrates that the proud and rich suffer alongside the poor?  Will We READ Holy Spirit inspired words, so that we may make educated decisions or will we remain inclined to have the seeds of satan’s deception and falsehood planted where verdant seeds of God’s Victory should be growing a grand harvest?

Do you want to know or don’t you?  Your actions are a greater measure of your heart than your words and God sees them both.  Demonstrate that you stand for Christ Jesus by making your life a symbol for those around you to follow.  Tell them about Jesus, even if it gains you persecution, for your loss will be heaven’s gain.  If you will not become educated about Jesus, and stand up for Jesus or do work for Jesus, then how is it that you say that you know Him?  Isn’t Christianity’s greatest reward that we get to have a personal relationship with the Lord Himself, in this world and the next?  How then can we believe and call ourselves part of the Kingdom if we do not cherish and nurture one of its greatest gifts.  How can you know Jesus if you don’t get to know Jesus?  Would He say that He knows you when the time comes to enter eternity?

What shall we do about the current U.S. state of affairs?  What is our complaint, then once defined how do we determine if correction is viable?  Are we railing against the strong North wind or is our passionate discourse substantially effective?  Will the American people rise up and use the only corrective measure available to limit outreaches of a government on autopilot, the power of the vote?  Or is standing up for this country merely an exercise in futility as we gather speed toward Divine intervention in human affairs?  What should we be found doing when the Lord comes?  You are a believer right?  And He did say that He would be coming back to rule and reign following some pretty perceptible signs, right?  Only one thing can be true, we either have the ability to turn this thing around by somehow gathering a loud enough public voice or we cannot effect change because this is God’s plan leading toward eventual intervention.

Be honest.  Do you think that the current views of abortion on demand, same sex marriage and single path to God are going to change to a view that matches Lord’s Word?  Perhaps the Pope’s recent capitulation on all three of these issues will provide you the basis for decision making.  America has fallen, taken down by its own lusts and selfish desires.  And those of us who could have stopped the progression towards powerlessness did nothing or joined them in compromise.  Remember, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their wicked support of these same practices.  Begging the question, are we in America following the same path to a losing battle with Almighty God.  My answer is Yes.

We will not turn this thing around no matter how ardently we pronounce virtue, truth and righteousness, but still we must proclaim it.  This country has decided that it does not need God, or worse yet it thinks that it is on the side of God but truly has a naive understanding of what that actually means.  We are critically uninformed about Jesus.  Even most pastors have a scant idea about prophecy and what will soon come even though it is clearly cataloged for review in the Bible they profess to be absolute truth.  For instance do you know that the day He arrives He will do battle in three different locations releasing His wrath on the assembled wicked.  He is not going to return for peace but to pronounce judgment upon mankind and establish His “Rod of Iron” authority upon the Earth.  Does this frighten you?  It ought to.  The Bible states that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  That gnawing feeling in your stomach right now is wisdom, embrace it and you will avoid the judgment that this nation will quickly receive.

Currently, minorities, youth, woman and the poor have been convinced that our government will reward their voting allegiance with easy prosperity, limited taxation and very little restrictions on personal expression of heart felt desire.  Contrary to historical fact, which indicates that unrestricted or unbridled governments “always” exercise authority through the cruelest possible means, they have fallen pray to the lurking lion promising riches and sexual abandon.  To believe that this government, contrary to all notable facts will somehow take the rights, welfare and freedoms of the people into regard as it consumes all it touches.  Wake up folks, this beast has an endless appetite and when it is done with its enemies it will eat its own young.  This problem although correctable in its early stages is now beyond our control absent absolute rebellion a concept that the enemy enjoys.  You see satan doesn’t care how we fall, just that we fall.  He would be equally pleased to see us divided and fighting each other as he would if we simply chose the wrong path and ended up getting what we ask for and deserve, ruin.  The only salvation is found in surrender to God and obedient dedication to what is right and true in exchange for eternity, safety, security and love.  But, most will never choose this route as it requires abandon of self, something that for most is unbearable.  They will choose to go to an eternity separated from God in exchange for fulfillment of the lusts of this life.  That is why we cannot turn this thing in America.

Our only hope of change in America is if the Holy Spirit were to sponsor revival, but such an occurrence is not present in the Bible.  Additionally such revival would be sponsored by the prayers of the saints to God, something which is not presently happening.  Basically, we need to abandon the false hope of political heroes and the well dressed televangelists, because it just is not supported by God’s Plan in the Bible.  We have been told to prepare our hearts, minds and spirits for the coming of the Lord and to be ready as He will come without notice when we least expect Him.  The time I least expect Him to come is today while I am fat, dumb and happy, living in relative safety and comfort of beloved America the beautiful.  Would he find me ready?  He will if I have anything to do with it, but I must admit I am getting wise because I fear the Lord more than I fear anything that this world can do to me.  Father make it that the fire in our hearts forces us to prepare in obedience and love for You and Your Awesome Word.  Let us be found ready when You come so that we may avoid the wrath to come.  Bless Your Holy Name and if it be Your Will, redeem this nation from its current path, returning hearts to You.  Forgive us for going astray, grant us peace.  In Jesus Name I proclaim the coming Judgment as righteous, for we will receive what we deserve, just as the Lord’s Word explains.  Amen.

The Lord did not state a case for His acquittal, because He knew the truth spoke loud enough for history.  Time and again the travesty of His innocence has played across the hearts and minds of man’s desire to be found not guilty.  As if the two are one in the same.  Do I have the will to stand in improper judgment knowing fully that truth will intervene to turn the apparent mockery of the moment to overwhelming historical victory?  I always thought myself incapable, but today the Lord proved me incorrect.  He led me to allow the truth to decide the sheen upon my reputation.  I left it alone, like never before and found that justice was done without my plea, cleverness or argument.

To do His work for His reasons, there is no higher regard.  Being able to act in any small manner, a disciple of God, is more reward than I could ever name.  I see young encouraged, misdirected find worth, stubborn be freed and joyous and the misbegotten find love from which they had been pariah.  The days are proving themselves evidence of His coming.  Even the wicked seem uncharacteristically so, as if they are acting over the top, no longer possessing authentic evil, but a frantic overplayed mockery of wretchedness.  Passed ripe, skin stretched, cracks showing.  The fruits of their labor unproductive, they strive to find some expression of their inner turmoil before the end comes.  But come it will, His Will and they know it now, just as those of us have seen the signs of changing season.

We are getting ready for a thousand years of peace, more grand than this life can know, in the presence of Holiness.  An Earth where man’s rule is past and chaos has given way to character.  The laws of science knowing that somehow true order has been restored, life flowing along to the music of creation near perfection.  I welcome this age, but I know the impact of each moment as His clock ticks to one then zero.  I do not wish for any trade to stand in front of the Lion of Judah at His return.  For my part I would beseech God to include me in His ministry, the squadron, horsed and ready, riding behind the Savior for Glory’s sake.  That is where I pray we all can be, me and you arm in arm at Victory’s Rising.  To God be all the Glory, Honor and Worship.  Praise King Jesus.

On which type of ground do you stand?  Are you the risk taker, looking for big gains, jumping from floating ice block to land in search of grand riches?  Or do you like the soft pliable loam of mountain valleys within which to plant seed promising abundance?  Given druthers would they find you restive on some jungle island, wiling away the years with verdant plenty?  Does the concrete, neon, fast traffic and noise draw you to the city where the opportunity lay for everyone to know your name and deed?  Does the golden wheat and rising corn call you to the toils and treasures of the wind swept fields?  Or is there granite underfoot, something substantial and old meant to stand the test of time?  Where do your feet call home?

Is it the solid Rock of the Lord God, the Rock of Ages?  I shall not be moved for it is in the name of Jesus Christ the King sounded from the depth of my determined lungs.  I look to the Hills from whence my help comes, It is the Lord who has covered my sins and prepared me to stand against enemy volley.  The high ground is ours for it is within God’s shadow that we reside.  Our lives may be lost but our victory shall follow us passed the veil of eternity, in to His waiting arms we go, to comfort, to rest, to life.  We shall forgive those who hate us and leave the judgment to a Righteous King who will dispense Mercy for faith and separation for disobedience.  It is right to leave these things to Him who is worthy to proclaim the world’s verdict.  Upon His Truth I stand immovable.

If a church does not teach you to go out and disciple, help the elderly, sick, orphaned and poor then it is a church that has lost its understanding of the Body’s intent.  If a group of believers sits joyfully fulfilled inside the confines of an expensive church building while people nearby go hungry, homeless or left to battle the powers and principalities by themselves then the members shame should be unbearable.  If ritual, robes and glitter have replaced washing of feet, supper in memory of sacrifice and fellowship in Love then a church is no longer serving God but some invention of clever men.  If you have forgotten the joy, humility and grace of having been redeemed from slavery to sin by a God who loved you so much He died for you then you personally have accepted coma over consciousness.  How can we keep our eyes on Christ and not do the work He commands us to do?  I will leave you to determine the root cause of this travesty.

America is failing not because it is no longer an economically viable entity, but because we have forgotten to Whom we owe our gratitude and blessings.  Our principled past allowed us to commonly pursue our own imaginations while maintaining an undercurrent of solid principles that required each man and woman to evaluate and constrain their own desires when they infringed upon the greater good of this nation state.  Just as the church has forgotten its charter so too have Americans forgotten our origins and why we found it worth giving our lives, honor and treasure toward creation of this “just” and principled nation.  If we are to turn things around we must first come to a consensus on who we are as a nation.  Do we serve self, greed and power or do we serve others as God intended.  The way forward is riddled with obstacle and snare for many currently in positions of authority want the face of this nation to become one that serves either the visions of the few or the desires of each man, either leads to catastrophe.  If we will not follow God we will be led astray by those desiring to direct us to disparate unrighteous purpose.

Serve God or manna, you get to make the choice but the difficulty is that if you do not choose Christ then your decision by default is manna.  There remains no middle ground.  Praise God for His Mighty Plan.  Jesus Christ the Redeemer of Mankind.