Monthly Archives: November 2014

No shortage

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There has been no shortage of good ideas for programs to “jump start” the Church.  Teetering from shrinking coffers and growing costs of doing business, Church Leadership teams are constantly trying to “change it up” in order to bring in the apathetic host of disinterested believers.  Maybe if we don’t do hymns anymore, how about shortening the sermon or switching to worship times that consistently assure parishioners will be home in time for the big game.  We need larger daycare of Friday night football/basketball gatherings to hopefully capture the interest of young people and somehow pray that we can slip in a little info about Christ.  What have we become, luxurious buildings with latest technology and sound systems, to worship a God who humbled Himself for our salvation?

We cannot get anyone out onto the streets to disciple, which if I remember correctly was the basis and duty of “EVERY” Christian.  People arrive in fifty thousand dollar cars, briefly leaving their million dollar homes all to come and receive the Word, then drop a buck into the basket.  How is this  synonymous with God’s heart.  I constantly must counsel myself about placing expectations upon my Christian Brothers and Sisters to come out with me to the local homeless shelter or Spirit filled worship center to see the fire being set by the Holy Spirit.  Yet they spend thousands of dollars on vacations to this or that place just so they can pamper themselves and garner pats on the back for how hard they work all year.  The most amazing factor is that never have a shortage of recommendations and judgments regarding how “other people are so messed up and need to find Jesus”.  How do we expect them to find Jesus if we as the designated ambassadors for Christ will neither demonstrate His love for them or tell them How to find Him through the Cross?

I give you the Book of Jude, a Brother to Jesus Christ and ask that you evaluate our collective behavior.  I do not wish to judge, but in truth when colleagues refuse to do the work set before them we must eventually make them take an account for their poor or insufficient performance.  What would you have any of us do who are doing our best to obey God and remain separated from this poisoned fray?  Shall we remain among the un-Godly acts of those who call themselves by the name of Jesus yet refuse to do the work for harvest?

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,

To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for[a] Jesus Christ:

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

I pray with every fiber of my being that those who have been saved awake themselves to the importance of the moment in which we are found.  This is the time leading up  to the return of Christ Jesus.  Please do not find yourself outside the closed door, weeping, gnashing your teeth because you thought yourself worthy.  Remember, Jesus Himself told many to depart from Him that He knew them not, calling them doers of iniquity.  If there is no evidence of the Holy Spirit in your walk with Jesus then you should have a sudden rush of fear when reading this challenge.  Remember the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord and we are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  What about having and displaying reverent fear of God do we not understand.  If you think that you can accept salvation and then not be changed into a new creature by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God then you are sadly mistaken about salvation itself.  Remember it is the Holy Spirit that seals believers for eternity, without evidence of “baptism by Spirit, there has likely “never been salvation”.

Lord God open our eyes to what it is you would have us do in these wicked days.  Let us not look to our own will and fulfillment but rise to do that work that was prepared for us before the founding of the world.  We love you Lord and await your return.  In Jesus Name.

The God of Order

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There is order to the universe.  There is gravity and erosion and molecular change throughout God’s creation,  placed in perfect balance, effect and process.  This order and our human desire toward averting or prohibiting chaos are reflections of the King who made us.  This order is reflected throughout the Bible.  His Word makes sense, even the perfect flowing design that effectively lays out the wonderment of God’s Plan for human kind.  There is one place where this order is so clear that even the blind may see evidence of God’s reflection.  We have but to look to the two commandments that Lord Jesus told us which all the law and the prophets depend, both regarding “love”.  As with any other idea created by the Lord this rests on orderly principles for understanding.

Lord please allow me to say this in a manner that is both correct and appropriate for describing Your intention.  We must first Love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, a love reserved for no one or no thing else.  Through our understanding of just how much God loves us especially/even when we were lost, broken, shaken, alone and wicked we begin to grasp the concept of unconditional love.  From this point we move to a similar understanding of self worth, based now entirely on the fact that if God loved us at our worst then we are in fact “worth” loving.  Learning at this point to love ourselves, because it feels good to be of value, a value that has been entirely established by God’s view of our worth, we start to understanding “how each of us wants to be loved”.  Having a solid grasp of this idea we can now see our way toward loving other people in such a manner, thus loving them as “we ourselves wish to be loved”.

All God’s teaching, demonstrates this same order and patience in “studying to show ourselves approved”  or “rightly dividing the Word of God”.  First we must read or hear a concept, spoken in God’s Word, this is the primmer for “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”.  From that point it is entirely orderly to request more from God and seek answers, as is the nature of Kings, Proverbs.  It is orderly to hear a thing, study a thing, determine and choose to believe a thing and then take actions in life based upon that established belief.  We cannot believe what we first have not known.   Now as with Peter, there are orderly exceptions, faith in God may make us privy to ideas beyond our realm or station, but this is the orderly process of God in His reward of true faith.  If you seek Him You will find Him.  You cannot get more orderly, straight forward or simplistic than that.  Think on it, simple if-then statements are the most orderly formulaic concepts available in this world, if this then that.

I do not seek to serve God because I am odd, strange or simply hopeful of a different reality/universe.  I serve and love God because He loved me enough to leave me direction, providing order even where there is chaos.  Because of my relationship with God I am able to have PEACE in the midst of circumstances beyond any human control.  God gives me a semblance of His order to dissolve the frantic and fearful parameters of circumstance, taking my fear and replacing it with courage and victorious understanding.  Following Christ makes sense.  No amount of scientific pontification, charismatic oral presentation or repeated media implication/indoctrination will reduce the impact of God’s Orderly presence in the life of each Christian.  The enemy has been defeated in our lives, we have nothing to fear, even death has no hold upon our imminent future.  We have been sent free for eternity, and you know what that makes a whole lot of sense to me.  Choose Christ, choose order, receive life, forgiveness and freedom, a gift from the God of Order, Almighty God maker of both Heaven and Earth.  The one God, God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, holder of Truth, Justice, Righteousness and Faith.  In Jesus’ Holy Name.

Witness

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Father hear my prayer.  I am powerless to assist those whom I love the most.  They fail, falling prey to the poisons of this world, their grimaces waking me at night, their moans worrying in the day.  The drugs, taken to escape, age them rapidly, their bodies die, their minds fray and their spirits lay captured in the pits of mired despair.  Save them Father, I cannot bear to be so powerless when I am the adopted son of the Most High God.  The sick lay begging assistance and I have nothing to offer, the lame falter and I can only try to understand, the Fatherless remain unloved and I am impotent to call their abomination to the awareness of the Church.  It is almost bearable now to be so incapable in my own life if only I were able to help them.

Father take me, show them Your Grace and Mercy.  Raise them up from the pits of blackened despair.  This world has gone astray and that alone is enough to break my spirit, but must it take so many innocents with it in its festering wake.  I know that Your Plan, Will and Word are always fair, I just see so many suffering the destiny that should be reserved for the wicked.  Father, we need you now.  The shadow laughs at our folly.  Their depression is beyond my reach and that shatters my heart.  Is love and empathy meant to destroy or may my petitions send Your rescuing angels to deliver them from madness and destruction?  Father, I call upon You now, asking humbly that You send us Your Holy Fire to cleanse this land of its inherent, wicked slumber.  Let hearts be kindled to blaze so that the light drives darkness before its mighty outstretched fingers.  Free them from the grasp of deception, despair and allegiance to the night.  Wake them so that they may pray for harvest.

Am I meant to be this pitiful in my recourse?  Must I sit here and simply record with these tear washed eyes, this broken heart, the loss of humanity’s struggle or shall I become the victorious witness You have meant me to become.  Let me preach of Your redemption.  Let me spread Your Truth and Hope to fill the dry lamps in the heart of men.  Let me pray such a prayer that You may hear and answer my plea for humanity.  Give them peace.  Was I truly meant to care this much?  The pain in Your heart must be unbearable Father as You have watched us wreck havoc upon each other throughout the ages.  I cannot stand being an empathetic and sensitive man, I most certainly would never want to be God.  I am thankful that You alone are God.  I beseech You now to answer my prayer and give me hope, give me life abundantly, grant me courage to stand and let me speak the Power of Your Spirit into this bereft humanity.  In Jesus Name.

Myths and experience

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http://www.jpost.com/International/Exclusive-Cornered-but-unbound-by-nuclear-pact-Israel-reconsiders-military-action-against-Iran-382541  Is there Biblical context to this portended strike by Israel upon Iran?  What does the Word of God say about this potential issue?

My prayers are made manifest by footfalls of my walk with Jesus.  This is crunch-time, the fourth quarter the denouement, the period where mystic, meets magic meets miracles of God.  The prevalence and increased occurrence of coincidence in my life is validating my theory regarding the preciousness of our remaining moments in service to Christ Jesus.  Each day, I am led into relationship with the exact people who by thought, meditation and prayer have been seeking the assets to evoke their perceived purpose for the Kingdom and their legacy.  Kindred spirits are being gathered for the purpose of Harvest and if this is ignored, simply regarded as coincidence, then perhaps the value of Divine introductions will be lost in opportunity.  Look around you, the birds have comfortably nested within the mustard tree, relegating most believers to powerless personal ministry.  For those believers who have been aware, obedient and watchful, the opposite is obvious.  Individual ministries are beginning to take shape.  The fire of one ember, put to bellows and kindled by the fuel of Brothers is beginning to produce an inferno that will soon be beyond dismissal.  Even this day there are millions who have never bent a knee to Baal.  On that comfort and the hope in God’s inerrant Word I will build my house to warn all of the coming storm in the Earth’s tribulation, The GREAT DAY of OUR LORD and the time of Jacob’s trouble.

God Bless Israel, for her moment of testing approaches.  God does not mince Words when speaking of His beloved.  They are held to a standard that few of us, if any may understand.  They will not be left in their moment of trial, but surrounded by the might, power and love of Almighty God.  They must suffer for their wandering, but in the end they will be with God, as He promised.  To those nations who threaten the Nation of Israel, I pray you heed God’s Warning.  Bring no harm to her for you have poked your finger into the Eye of God.  Regardless of your thinking, your correctness in pointing out her failures, for even though you speak some truth, God has proclaimed that those who bless her shall be blessed and those who curse her shall be cursed.  It is not Israel that we should fear but God, for He has spoken of His undying faithfulness to His beloved nation, even in their adultery, God shall not abandon her even for a moment.  Be advised, be educated, be warned.  The nation of Israel shall only be judged by God, not by man’s quarrels.

I serve the Lord our God, I do not serve the adulteress actions of nations and men.  The time of action is upon us and that action requires a Love for Humanity that surpasses our own capacity for forgiveness, hope and understanding.  We must be fully dependent upon the Holy Spirit of God if we are ever to achieve that love for which we have been created, redeemed and filled by the indwelling of God’s Spirit.  If you want purpose then it is known to all  Christian’s, for Christ has defined and commanded each of as to His purpose.  Go and make disciples of men, teaching them the Gospel so that all may come to the knowledge of God through Christ.  That is a paraphrase of God’s Word on this issue, Lord please forgive me if I have indicated anything that is not consistent with Your intention.  Let us be set aflame by the indwelling of Your Baptismal Spirit.  Let us demonstrate the power of God through Christ to this world that is flooded in impotence.  Bring us a healing hand, kind hearts and the courage to stand in the face of overwhelming odds, amassed enemy forces and storms.  The time of trial approaches, let each of us look internally and make our hearts right with God for that moment when it will become paramount is assured.

Praise You Almighty Father, the one God of Heaven and Earth.  Jesus forgive and deliver us from the evil that seemingly prevails, but which must be dispelled at Your return.  Let Your return begin today in the hearts, words and walks of every Christian, let the enemy be scattered at the proclamation of our righteous and hopeful faith in YOU.

Tell the story

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Making tents so that no one may say that I have come to tap into their abundance.  The Lord has given me two hands, a back and a decent mind, so that I may use the sweat of my own brow to provide for my family’s needs in continuance of our called ministry.  Granted it is difficult to work in the world without becoming caught up in the world’s monetary lust and pursuit, but as Paul and others evidenced it is entirely possible.  Where is my heart, what do I use as excuse to keep me from ministry?  Do I mourn the lack of funds as the prohibitive reasoning behind my giving, or do I give and know “in faith” that God will provide for all my needs according to His riches and Glory in Christ Jesus?  Look, I often use excuses, but the difficulty for me is that I eventually must admit to God and to myself that I have been ducking and dodging my responsibility.  The only evidence of faith that I may provide is completed work for the Kingdom.  Without action, life and faith are mere words.

If my life is Christ living, then it must be lived for others, as Christ has done.  It is no longer about me, my wants, my wills, my gifts and my bills.  What does God want of me today?  Not what is God’s will for my life so that I might find purpose in understanding the entire script for my existence, but understanding what He commands me to do today for the Good of His Pleasure.  He Loves them and wants that I remind them of that fact.  It is after all that simple.  Tell the story, forget the glory, unless of course it is for Him and the marvelous things that He does for all of us.

Lord give us understanding, purpose, reliance upon Your Word and a comprehensive imminence.  Let us be fully aware that Your return, if it is to be as a thief in the night, will probably come today, because few of us are expecting that arrival.  Give us a heart for service bringing droves of hungry hearts to the cross for cleansing salvation.  Take from us the idle self worship which requires we make and covet excuses as to why we are not telling the greatest story we have ever heard.  Scoop up the Holy Fire and throw it down upon us, igniting our hearts in passion, worship and praise for Your Glory.  A fire that spreads to the hearts of mankind bringing them back to God in fealty and faith.  Praise You Lord God for Your righteousness, patience and Truth.  In Jesus Name.

Separation

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Weeds and chaff, wheat and grass, goats and sheep, faith and mockery.  Hostility is taking shape as the norm.  No longer fostering peace, protestors now cry for blood, scapegoats and ill gotten gain.  Politicians breed contempt as a tool to keep the struggle feeding the perpetuity of power.  Churches, closely define their doctrine as differing from their denominational, Brothers and Sisters down the street to assure no cooperation in healing, appealing and kneeling for the Lord our God.  In the midst of hateful paralysis the world spins tilted toward a chaos of our own making.  Will we cry out to the Father for intervention on behalf of all, not just the few?  I wish that all would come to the Knowledge of God, but the Bible clearly states this is not to be the case nor the outcome for humanity.  That does not prevent us from mourning the fact that a huge swath of humanity will find themselves eternally separated from the God who loves them.

I am tired of hearing the stories of Church Body wounds, delivered by parishioners, staff and trusted/tested elders, eliminating the opportunity for success in the Body of Christ.  Town’s people are starving, fighting for a leg up in the struggle with a brutally inclined humanity, yet we stand ill prepared to aid them.  The innocent suffer at the hand of those who would control their bounty, yet we stand idly because we cannot let loose of any of our tithe, instead sequestering to pay mortgages on multimillion dollar buildings.  Poisoned hearts, turn their ill intentioned gaze at anyone appearing minutely to differ from their selfish Church rules and regulations or wealth parameters.  Hateful glares penetrate the spirit of any young man singing too loud, in joy and jubilant worship, to the God who saved him.  What then authentic is left for the poor, lost, sick, blind and hungry?  Where is the power that was given us by baptism in the Holy Spirit of God?  This is not serving God, but clearly service to self.

I call upon the pastors and church bodies of this and other towns to put aside the differences associated with politics and buildings.  Stop fighting to keep the right number of sheep in your flock, leave that to God.  GO and find the LOST, bringing them into the fold as Christ demanded.  Stop, fattening up the flock, force feeding them wickedness and division, instead of the everlasting joy of Gospel LOVE and FORGIVENESS for all who will repent and believe.  I don’t care if you are Catholic, Episcopalian, Baptist, Lutheran, Christian, Apostolic, etc….. I care that you believe in the Work of  the Lord Jesus Christ upon the Cross to set humanity free from  sin and death if they repent and believe.  Beyond that let us go help those that need it and share the Good News of Gospel.  And by the way if your church has a program that feeds the poor, helps people quit drugs and alcohol, or cares for widows, orphans and indigent then sign me  up to support your efforts.  We will only be an effective body when we work together to bring the love of Christ to this chaos inclined world

I don’t care that you wear a suit, jeans, a motorcycle jacket or have a hanging cross around your neck.  I care that You Love God and that He loved you enough to save you from the prison keeping you from redemption.  I care that you have heard and obey His command to make disciples of men, teaching them to spread the Good News of Christ, doing the work of the harvest.  I care that you love people so much that you have surrendered your personal wants and desires to serve the greater need of God’s Will for this planet.  I love you and wish that the Lord Jesus Christ would remove the devil’s deceptive veil, keeping us from seeing that we have always been the same family.  I care that we don’t just loosely use the Powerful Name of Jesus Christ the King as a descriptor when we have never even known Him.  Belief and faith create action, without it as James so aptly proclaimed, our faith is dead.

Come do the Work while their is still light remaining for soon the night shall come.  Praise Jesus Christ.

Moments

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If I divide them into moments, they are so remarkable it dispels concern and worry.  Trying to eat the entire slice of life all at once activates panic, frustration, fear and all those overwhelming, daily attributes.  But when I look at what He allowed me to do today in the midst of an environment I have been realistically convinced could never be used for Kingdom Purpose, I am overjoyed.  The living of purpose produces irresistible and unmistakable JOY, joy that possesses the greatest magnetism for Christ.  They saw me today, and because I saw their pain, loneliness and recognized their searching hearts, they asked and I answered willingly.  So, much pain created by the brutality of this world and the only salve is Jesus.

My wounds have been washed clean, my pain healed, trespasses removed and forgiven.  The window this has allowed is that all those who see the light, desperately seeking similar freedom, are beginning to ask openly for directions.  What a gift I have been given that I might through my simple testimony, love for Christ and willingness to share the Gospel move them one step closer to relationship with God.  This was a day of fulfillment, a day that explains that meaning we have all sought throughout the history of man.  My purpose is to see their pain and tell them where to find rest then remind them real love exists.  They crave relationship with Him and they need encouragement, understanding and love from me.  Today, it all took shape, and God once again reminded me that He has never left me, even for a step.

Some think me foolish and turn away, some see foolish, unbridled joy and wish to know its  origin.  My happiness is not assured for it requires constant maintenance, but my Joy is overflowing, catching fire  and spilling on everyone with whom I come into contact.  I am sorry that I have hurt anyone when intending to tell them truth.  Forgive me Lord for being slow to surrender, thank You for my freedom.  In Jesus Holy and Precious Name.

A time such as this…

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Why do I believe that I have been given my current opportunities to spread the Good News of Christ and the Hope of salvation, redemption and sanctification before God?  Do I feel that I will somehow be spared the repercussions of a world increasingly hostile to Christians, simply because I am perceived innocuous?  Do I believe that my passivity will garner me acceptance, favor and even safety when wickedness abounds?  The mob is ready, primed for an activist leader, directing, commanding and feeding their rage.  Do any of us in a position to declare the truth believe that there will be a better, more appropriately suited time for us to make a difference?  The fields are primed for planting, it is the season of work, I pray that the laborers all hear the call.  What then does fulfilling God’s Will for my life look like, if not, standing up for righteousness, truth, justice, mercy and grace?

It is not okay to deceive my Brothers and Sisters.  It is not okay for me to ignore your pleas, just to please my own desire to fulfill my manifest vision for my sphere of opportunity.  It is not okay for me to stand by and hold the coats of the wicked as they cast stones at the innocent.  It is not okay, in my feverish passion to want someone proclaimed guilty because of my anger or displeasure.  The question is will I be of courage and know that God will arrive or will I retreat, remain quiet or hope to blend into my surroundings?  What do I call blessings anyway?  Are they simply the sweet, bountiful abundant pleasures of soul and spirit or do they include such things as toil, and battle and care for the innocent?  Are my blessings about me or are they about God and the love He gave me to share with those who have none?

This life and my station are not about my edification, comfort and position in history, they are about what I may do to further the Kingdom of God, serving my fellow man in his endeavor to rise above his animalistic tendencies.  If not for God’s salvation I would most likely have never have recovered the self inflicted wounds of my wretchedness.  Amazing Grace is just that and I must be ever mindful that it is for God’s Purposes that I have been recovered from the muck and mire.  Lord, I cannot convince them of their errant steps, but you can. I cannot give to them a salvation, sweeter than breath and life itself, but You can.  I cannot fill their hearts with hope when this world drains them of the last vestiges of courage, but You can.  Lord let me share with them the only thing that can make this whole thing worth while, You.  Those who call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved.  That name, that sweet name of Jesus Christ, the Power to overcome.

Driving passion

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If passions rule my actions then whose passion?  Is it God’s eternal passion for the lost of this world to find their way home to salvation and relationship?  Is it passion for this or that movement to create prosperity for this group or remove power for that group?  Is it for gain, monetary or treasured artifacts to include ourselves in the select few capable of chasing their dreams indefinitely?  Is it to fill the houses of power with people who look and act like me, men and women who will further my agenda or national intentions?  Or are my passions synonymous with God’s Will?

Do I look to feed the hungry, not only their bellies but that empty hole within their spirits that may only be filled by Christ?  Do I seek to Father the orphaned, showing them love of God so that they too may find their way home to our Eternal Father God?  Do I seek to prop up, protect and look after the elderly, especially the widowed, so that they may find the honorable way to share their wisdom, gifts and love with those who may tremendously benefit?  Do I look to protect the innocence of the young and those who cannot avoid corruption?  Do I scream at the coming night in the Name of Jesus Christ, shining the light of His righteousness in to dark places, forcing principalities to scurry?  Do I stand for God’s passion for the lost world, proclaiming His love and forgiveness to those who would repent and be saved?  What passions drive my heart, my song, my walk?  Do I follow reason, justice, mercy and overwhelming kindness overall or in truth do I serve the call of my passionate flesh?

The enemy is easy to combat when you look to the transparency of his passions.  Wherever deception exists it is made to cloud evidence of ungodly passion.  The truth needs no protective shield, deceptive veil or misty mechanisms.  The truth is spoken freely without regard for political position or passion.  It is wrong to watch my fellow humans go hungry, be poor, but it is worse yet to leave them without the HOPE OF CHRIST and eternity.  Follow the passions of man and you will see what drives each initiative.  Follow the passions of false teachers and the treasured tale of chasing gold will become painfully evident beyond the deception of their public words.  Follow the passion of warriors who would kill the innocent for the completion of their cause and you will find naught but wickedness.  Speak truth and consider passions dangerous, for many have been killed or made poor in the name of manly passions when God would see them set free and prospered.  Lord Jesus guide the passions of my heart to serve Your desire for mankind’s salvation.

The day!

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Am I preparing for Christ’s return for His Church, tonight?  If not then I fail to comprehend, accept or contemplate the principle of imminence.  I also have become determined to overlook or ignore that Jesus continued to offer preparedness parables to the faithful.  Jesus, although He continually expressed the need to spread the Gospel, so that the lost would find salvation, He repeatedly offered teaching regarding, “being ready” to the saints.  Being ready for what, you ask?  Thank you for asking.  Being ready for His return for the Church.

Jesus’ second coming will be nothing if but spectacular, coming down from the clouds, the faithful behind, to speak into existence the level judgment of the disobedient and salvation to the Jews.  Why then did He continually remind the saints that “He would come like a thief in the night”?  Clearly He referred to two differing events, one a return to snatch the Church from the judgment to come, which they were not designated to suffer, the next a dynamic entrance to take back the deed to the Earth and pass judgment on the wicked.

The Lord will at some point come to remove the faithful.  I prefer to understand and obey His repeated calls to “readiness” as a Christian.  Current evidence in the powerlessness of the Church unfortunately cries out to the absence of the Holy Spirit within those who believe they are within the Body of Christ.  Since the Lord continually called us to have “oil in our lamps”, being filled, so that we might be found “ready” when the Master comes, then the answer to this questioned readiness resides in the filling of the Holy Spirit.  This was one of the Lord’s most frequent topics when teaching to believers.  It is essential that we seek to understand this teaching and take adequate steps in faith to making our hearts, minds and spirits ready for His coming.

I look forward to the Day of the Lord.  Not because wickedness will finally be dealt a resounding blow by the Creator, but because this world will finally accept that there is one Creator, who is the rightful ruler of all universes, to include mankind.  I weep the deception ever present in today’s discussion, I mourn those lost to pursue magic potions, divination and escapism, I crave a day when the truth is no longer argued and we can get about the business of doing the work without question.  I want to serve.  I don’t want to be king.  I don’t want to be God or be honored for how well I’ve worshiped His Glory.  That is where satan’s travesty began, probably accepting glory for how well he worshiped God.  My pride is just as dangerous.  May I lead you to the Cross where you may understand God’s eternal Glory and bask in His righteousness.  May I only exist to encourage you and love you in your travails.

I am sorry that the terrorist’s quest for peace with God has left them destitute, angry and misshapen.  I pray that the Lord our God, touches their hearts in such a way that the veil of hate is removed from their eyes and they may finally see their sin, so that they may be cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ the King.  I am sorry that God’s enemies had to suffer death at the hand of our soldiers, I only wish that they had found Jesus reflected in our hearts, words and faces before they found it necessary to enter in war against us.  May the fire of heaven rain down upon the enemies of God and may we find it in our hearts to forgive those who have brought misfortune, pain and death to our families.  Heal us Father, take from us the bitterness that leads to rage and separation from Your Everlasting Love.  Grant this Earth Peace.  Lord rebuke Your enemies if it is in Your Will to do so, and let us love them enough to forgive them and change their hearts forever through the Power of Your Love for mankind.  In Jesus’ Name.