This is not a practice round but the real thing. What I do now is being used by the Father for Good, all of it especially those mistakes I have made. There is one path for each believer not many. No Broad boulevards leading directly to damnation for how may a man walk with the and in the Spirit of God and find his way to the lake of Fire. That presumes that the path I have chosen has always been of my own reckoning when God repeatedly admonishes the faithful that He is the one who is determined to complete the work in each of us. In fact, if I do desire to follow the path of my own heart I know its steps lead directly to Hades. That is why a believer is led by God’s Word, His Spirit and His Divine direction allowing them to avoid the pitfalls, snares and wiles of enemy and self determination.

What that breeds when understood and applied as James continually recommends, is a confidence born of steadfast faith in the Person of Jesus Christ to deliver us where, when and provisioned exactly as God intends. This is the strong tower of God’s Surety, a belief in Him not self and wonderful peaceful place detached from the trappings, illusions and diversions of this corrupted world. Adam could not save himself, could not forgive and cleanse himself though we all know he certainly felt that way and tried to no avail. Our leadership leads us to get kicked out of paradise seeking the knowledge and stature to compete with God and avoid His commandments by creating our own “Paper” World. In this house of cards we find all despair, depression and doubt. Walking with God we find Confidence beyond the failings of self and the Fallen. For we must never forget that one third of the Angels led by one arch angel made their free will choice to challenge God as we have.

What then should I equally care about my own frailty or incertainty of self? None. For it is not upon my own direction, thinking, planning, cleverness or equipping that my successful journey for God that my life depends, but upon every Word that proceeds from the Mouth of God. Why then should I care if enemies defeated on the cross who themselves have expressed their own free will determinism to contend with God direct me to follow their own proven foolishness? May the Lord rebuke them if He so chooses for I know not the purpose for their creation only that it appears He made them to chase me back to God when I stray from the skinny path of His intention. This is not a drill, these tests are real and as I march through this life carefully, circumspect, being careful to put God’s Commands and voice before my own or other icons, I am given a surety that surpasses the doubts and decay of this world.

Father, thank you for bringing us into these modern trials of our faith. With Joy we face them as Your Word speaks clearly that having done so Your Spirit’s Patience shall enter the mix doing its perfect work of perfecting each saint. I do not wish to be mistaken Father but know that even when I walk as a child does and make those mistakes that you will use them for the Good of Your Perfect Will as a Good Father does and allow me to learn from each of them in my improvement. Father I walk with you in total confidence realizing that what you have designed for my life is exactly what I need to be prepared for eternity serving You. There is no faith or hope found within my own performance, passions or pretense. I have sampled of my own works and seen them faulty by self-design. In Your Spirit’s direction and command I find all things that make me a man capable of standing in the flood, fire or conflagration. For I stand not upon my own adequacy but upon the Rock of Ages that cannot be moved. In Jesus Holy Name.

I suffer from a past filled with stupid; thoughts, actions and ideas. that is no longer the case. The mistakes I make these days are mistakes of attempt not of intention. My mind has been cleansed of my own insanity, pride and immaturity leaving me freshened but humbly responsible for all that I say, do and think. It is precious this life, too precious to allow my own power to pull me into the displays for which my heart will experience regret beyond the living of this life. Having escaped that past it now appears near impossible to hide from accountability or plunge headlong or cooperatively into the stupidity of days born of this present age.

Love has born me aloft. Yes I have always wanted the love and respect of a good women but that is something that has never been given me. Oh, but the Love God prevails in my mind’s heart and walking that skinny path of His direction is sweeter than any union that I may imagine. My flesh and this world would have me participate in the fruitless contention for vain Glory or items beyond my earning having won them through argument or worse. These things are filled with palsy and paralysis for the Growth found in God. I don’t want trappings when I am trying to live free from encumbrance, I do not want folly when searching the mind of Christ for the foundations of the Universe and I do not need passionate opining for the love of my life when I certainly have found a Love that surpasses all of it.

What then is the pursuit of a man neither tethered to the things, ego prizes or amore of this world but the things yet to come which may be leveraged in this life to help ourselves grow and others reach beyond their own propulsion or captivity? Though imagination remains an engine of what that may be or become it is inadequate visionary apparatus for those things which may not yet be perceived through the eyes of a man attached to this dimension. Prophetic clarity has never been offered through the Sovereign Window of God’s Eyes and Word. I do not crave those talents or gifts I have not been given for that would cause to look upon the Ones I have lacking contentment or perhaps look upon my Brother’s gifts with envy, neither position is rewarded in the Kingdom of God.

I do not yet know all that I have or will be given this side of eternity. I do however know that what I will be given is more than I deserve, more that I will need and probably going to eclipse any preliminary musings thereof. Contentment is a tool of confidence and resolve that wastes not the yearnings of my present man in pursuit of the unlikely or upon some false impression or identity. I am what I am in Christ Jesus and that is not just okay with me, but better than okay. Part of the self induced doctrine of Happiness is being content with what you have been pursuing or have yet to find. IN fact, happiness is so sweet when it is seasoned with patience for the PURSUIT of happiness is all the founding Fathers could promise. For they must have known that it is unsustainable and must be revived, refreshed and continually sought to maintain flavor. For men may never remain continually happy only filled with the Joy that God gives without end.

Showing up is all that I may account for in any instance where God has bid me become a success. For there is no me when there are Miracles to be done, only God’s Holy Spirit and my momentary, empty tanked capacity to do the impossible through God’s Powerful Spirit residing within my heart. There is no me in this game, other than my complete dependence upon God’s Provision at the appropriate time to effect the transformation He set me about. There never was a me after the time I asked Him to send me.

Today I met the dread of my own inadequacy and laughed at the fact it used to control my entire world. Clumsy, without panache and far cry from any resemblance to eloquence you find me confidently looking at the gauge and seeing nothing but vapors, yet I know God will show up and do something amazing. This world and God’s enemies want to mock God by making me public spectacle which is easy for powers of arch angels and demons. What they’ve repeatedly forgotten is God never makes mistakes and uses the small, weak and untalented, a category that I sometimes unwillingly admit to to confound those who cease to attempt to contend with Him in Sovereignty.

God could use a toadstool if He so chose. But He has chosen man as the recipient of His Affection and the Domicile of His Power through which all things were made, for, by and through Christ, His Son. I am so grateful that God has not chosen the toadstool but hold on to no misgivings regarding just who it is has defeated Hell and Death. Yes, I claim and accept the adoption, inheritance, Grace, title of Son of God and my calling to Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness and self control. What I do not lay claim upon is that I have done any of it. He gave me the breath of Life, the Light, strength, growth, faith, talent, treasure and time. I am thoroughly amazed that I get to walk with Him on the journey from Divine Learning Opportunity to the next.

No there is no folly or misgiving here, God owns all the Glory, Honor and Praise for any thing I have, the things I’ve done and the destination to which I aspire in humility and wonder. Yes, I believe Him light year’s more than I believe in anyone else including myself. So venture to wherever He guides and stand in the face of overwhelming odds I say YES and why not? For God made all of this it is a rudimentary understanding that the creator of worlds knows exactly how they are made and unmade. This is no grand puzzle requiring established genius or brilliance, it is simply fact and logic. I am frankly astounded that there are any who will attempt to resist the Grace He offers, it simply makes no sense.

I am sorry for my arrogance. How a man as simple as I could be proud in any manner is another of those illogical puzzles that simply makes no sense from the outset. I am thankful to be on the road to simplicity. I am thankful to have little in the manner of worldly treasure for I have seen it be and maintain great burden for my worldly Family and for those who somehow seek to outsmart the Omniscient, Almighty God. I most often get in God’s way when I try to brilliant and am much better off waiting to receive direction before someone get’s hurt in my attempt which most often is me. Yes, I do have a good mind, thanks to God. Yes, I am able to fight my way out of most situations or think my way out if the fight is untenable, but the simple fact that having waited upon and listened to God’s direction Inever would had to do either prevails every time.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

We are promised Tribulation in this world by these words of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are offered peace in Him by listening to the Word that He has spoken unto us. And though we are told to expect tribulation we may meet that chaos in the joy knowing that Jesus Has already defeated those enemies of Death, Sin and Hades.

For the mature Christian seeking practical answer to the question of what we should expect as we grow in faith, this is the penultimate display and demonstration of growth in the mustard which becomes a tool set of practicable and powerful gifts by we may resist the enemy.

Facing this guaranteed tribulation with the Joy prescribed by Christ in the knowledge that we have available peace in Him allows the unlimited patience of the Holy Spirit to do its perfect work leaving us un wanton, secure in God’s Provision, protection and hope. What that means to a mature Christian is we may stand, even in the face of crisis or evil and know that God will provide whatever we need at the precise required timing.

This stance in understanding provokes a conscious perspective of this world which is; incapable of healing itself, winding down toward a conclusion written by God and eviscerates the believers from the cadre crying, “Peace, Peace, Peace”. We know that our peace is only found in Christ and stop looking for it in the world leaving us a new, refreshed and content understanding of the times in which we reside.

The Holy Spirit opens this verse with another promise given by the Word of Jesus spoken that we may not be offended at what the world will do to us when the times arrives. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

You see Christ even anticipates that some will believe that they were supposed to be delivered from persecution and take offense. We may live a near perfect life and still be accounted along Christ and suffer for the sake of His Gospel and their contempt/mockery of the King. This is probably the toughest truth for most to accept that many will be martyred, jailed or persecuted for the sake of His Name. Therefore it behooves each member of the Body to fully reflect upon the Word given unto us that we may know tribulation is coming or is here, Peace is found in Him alone and we ought not be offended by our trials and sufferings as Jesus told us they are on the way.

The most frequent concept of preparation is logistics. However, the Christian need prepare multiple dimensions of which the most important perhaps is the Spiritual level of preparedness. Residing in His Word, Prayer, Communion, Meditation, Worship and Fellowship must be regarded as the vital arenas for Spiritual preparation. Though we must be mindful that Faith Without Works is dead Faith, so we must prepare and then Walk to find the practical application of our intention. Times are coming that may surpass our expectation for chaos. Therefore please take some time to listen to the Word Jesus Speaks to us in John that we have that spiritual awareness commensurate with what Christ Prophesied would come about. May you be richly blessed in Peace by Jesus Christ the King.

Love, whether given in sentimental understanding or deep considered purity is the ultimate achievement of man’s pursuits. All other travails and ambitions are self serving, works associated with the comfort of the individual while love seeks to unite all men. I may not shirk my responsibility to these people that God has given to each of us and narrow my focus in pursuits to achieving or arriving at a position where my needs are fully met and honestly look myself in the mirror in contentment while the guy down the street is starving knowing I possess those means to change his circumstance. For this is not love, certainly not the Love God showed me. This is not sentiment trapping us in government definition of socio economic framework but the Love of God which has naught to do with political systems but rather the shared decency and understanding of all men before our God.

Why, in self considering ambitions do you seek to inhibit my challenge to share that kindness and considered care with all whom I meet? What threat does it proffer you to see another man give His Life in honor of the King of All Things? How is your stature elevated by diminishing those Godly pursuits? How are you improved by making mockery of any man’s God given personality or abilities? How is His Love served in putting men under your own personal power or stature when God does not such thing and respect’s no man different than any other, whether greater financial means, talent, knowledge or family breeding? These two things are clearly disassociated and immediately place us in danger of serving other gods or self. Being on God’s side means you subject your will before His.

This battle is clearly for the Spirit of America and this world. Each of these humans must recognize the powers and dominions of this world under which we may be entranced or leveraged to further either Worldly or Godly pursuits. Having become self aware of these influences we must either join God in His authored protections from captivity or slavery to these influencers or capitulate and join them either consciously or otherwise. This is the time of our choosing. That is the structure of God’s Intention, that each man be allotted the time of this short life to choose upon which side or hill he will stand. All other aspirations of this life are false and even if a man were to reach the pinnacle or accolade of worldly achievement he will find himself the greatest loser in the purposes of eternity. That is why you detest or hate me, that is why you find mocking my service to God and His Creation an irritant. For you have either chosen the worldly pursuits of man and dominion or you are well on the path to doing so and find the Love of God and His achievements abhorrent.

I love you but will resist you simply by following God’s Will for my life for His Spirit resists your pride. I humbly and simply love you but cannot allow your bitterness and bile to for a moment inhibit the power of the Love God has given me to share with His People. All are offered this same option and it is their right to choose where they serve here and where they spend eternity. I do not seek to make that choice only influence it to the extent that my Loving Kindness may sway them to seek God. Hearing and answering His call upon each of their lives is a personal matter between each man and God over which I have no control and never will. Perfect Love casts out fear, may mine be perfect before God’s Eyes. In Jesus Name

In the resolving heat of the approaching evening I sighed. Not like me to find despair in general content, but the weight of tomorrow’s expectations pressed in heavily upon my resounding indifference. As the smile returned in the envelope of protective peace the causes for which I fought increased in resilience and fortitude. We all face the specters of failure and remorse but those who find victory in advance of its visage tend to dictate the levels of darkness allowed in their presence. Overwhelmed for some is invitation for finding that overdrive gear to others. The passing moments do not own title to my attitude. I alone choose to be afraid or sad and in this instance I engage the machinery or happiness and joy staring directly into the dangers of morning’s rise.

What will the dawn ask of us? What stretching, curvature or adaptation will we employ to find our way in the desperate deluge? The siege comes whether we run, stand against it or fall we shall face the enemy’s rage. The story is not yet written though the courage that left our hearts as the trumpets sound bids us believe all is over and done. Where will they find that one man with ambition, pride or envy larger than the life that seeks his own? Who will march forth into the fray ten times larger than his ability to withstand knowing that something beyond self must exist for heroes to be made and named? Who will believe in an outcome yet written? Who will stay the stage til the curtains draws to close? In what will they find a heart stout enough to silence the ravenous cries in the dark?

Free will my connection to hope drawing all courage from somewhere unknown I plough on through the fields of my destiny. In growth, submission and passionate discourse I come upon the apples of gravitational discovery. Failing to breathe as I take it all in the horizon feeds my hunger for the beautiful. Longing for something I’ve yet to locate I double my efforts searching the ground, forest and sky for tangible evidence or clue. Renewed in the frequent reflection upon victory I change my opinions regarding those things I once thought were treasure. And measure my days, long and winding as they are by the beats of my heart made to skip at their contemplation. The importance of things and those which may be discarded for loss of clinging.

When did time begin? Well that would be when we had a need for it, for being outside of time, God, would have created that device to give us order and established understanding of a mortal world. What need would God have for time except as an instrument through which to train humanity regarding the preciousness of this short life or the need to make decisions and complete tasks within the timing allotted for those actions. When I think of time and when it began there are always two parts; the beginning of my worldly birth of my Earthly Mother and Father and then the moment of my rebirth in Christ where I was made anew of heavenly seed instead of from the Sinful dispersion of Earthly creation through the bloodline of Adam and Eve.

For me there are distinct moments within time that mean more that any other. However, they would be insignificant without the struggle against the construct of time in which they are measured. For instance, is their an associated time with “the Beginning of Wisdom is fear of the Lord”? When I was enlightened with the awesomeness of Almighty God to the Point of absolute supplication, humility and reverence before Him was for me the beginning of my true life and thus the most important point of my eternal rebirth, having been sealed at that very moment by God’s Holy Spirit in total, authentic belief. How may anyone but God and that individual experiencing this watershed moment have knowledge of a person’s salvation before God? Yet, many who claim the faith and wisdom of Christ continue in the erstwhile effort to claim themselves redeemed while declaring for certain the faith/wisdom position of others based upon their own knowledge, intelligence or observance. This is already established impossible as God and the individual are the sole recipients of that knowledge.

Why then would some believers anoint themselves with this insane capacity for discernment that no man possesses? As with all things of mortal measure it is obvious to somehow obtain status or presume authority which does not exist by imaginary creation of levels of piety between a believer and Christ. God, hates this practice of the Nicolaitans. There is no chain of command before God in Grace. We are all the same before God and each person yet to Know Christ has been given the same Truth that is God according to His Word in Romans 1. That is assure that all have the opportunity to accept or deny the gift, that they may neither boast or proffer excuse at judgment. This is the only way that the One Fair God would have it done that none may say they are or aren’t saved by their own works but only by the belief on and faith in the Ascended Son of God who has been given all authority and Judgment.

The Body of Christ is a mess, having eschewed the Power of the Holy Spirit by replacing themselves as Men and Women in Christians command structure that never existed and thus accepted the success and/or failure of their programs to achieve what God ordains must be done in the Great Commission. This is the sole reason for the current feckless and powerless lack of effect within the Body of Christ. Men of intelligence just as with the Pharisees and Sadducees have constructed their own list of works, rewards and achievements within their own Worldly Businesses. This has made the church impotent to the miracles and blessings typical to first century and further believers as men did what they always do and make imperfect that which God already created Whole. For instance look at the effect upon this nation. We once followed God willfully and happily accepting His Sovereignty and completely understanding the principle that without a Sovereign Gift of God in inalienable rights that may not be removed by Man of Angel, there are no inalienable Rights, Period. Our Founders knew this emphatically and wrote/preached this truth knowing fully that when men of this nation departed from this essential wisdom that so too would depart our inalienable rights in Self Governance authored by our True King.

With the exception of short term and long term missionaries paid for by monthly business meeting voted budgets the Church has all but stopped the local Mission field which was the bread and water of life in Christ’s Ministry and that of the Apostles. No longer may Pastor’s who are supposed to be example servants to all tell you how many terminally ill patients live within a Half Mile of their Church, nor how many orphans live within a mile of their building. They cannot tell you how many unbeliver’s live within a quarter mile of their church nor how many people in their own neighborhood have yet to hear the Gospel Message. They have not met with the Jehovah’s Witnesses as they canvas their own Church neighborhood to work with or against the errant word nor have they confronted the Mormon personal recruiting efforts in their own neighborhoods by sending local missionaries to spread the Gospel Word. This is not about Pastor Bashing but we have gotten so far from what God commanded in our high mortgage, well carpeted, day care and conditioned sermons in professional light and music extravaganza’s called Worship, that we don’t hear the Holy Spirit outside Knocking wanting to come in and supp with us. Not to mention how many churches are selling books, trinkets and DVD/CD’s in God’s House.

The Bible says;

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Well, if the church has been present for two thousand years then why is creation still waiting upon our arrival? This passage also reinforces the involuntary subjection to our own vanity by God subjecting us to the understanding of Hope found in His Promises. We have been outsmarted, infiltrated and taken over by worldly eloquence and comfortable/acceptable Government Approved Business practices to achieve access to non tax status. That’s right we gave up control of the Church to the federal offer of tax Free Status and we rushed to accept them as our authority instead of God.

I will not bring slander against the enemy in this but isn’t there always someone eager to convince us for reward to worship or follow someone other than the only God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Isn’t that why the National of Israel in the Old Testament repeatedly ran into God’s weighty discipline for their addiction to worship of Foreign God’s and capitulation to sinful acts to please them? Yes, there are always those who have bowed a knee or kissed Ba’al but this nation have chosen a departure from God’s Law and His Commands not to mention the guidance and chastisement of the Holy Spirit in Our Walk. How many Christians have told me they have yet to hear a single Word from God’s Small Quiet Voice and always answer to the negative when I respond have you lived by His Word and Have you asked Him to Speak into your lives.

How much time do you think that you have? What is your main focus in this life? Is it God or perhaps retirement, bigger house, car, vacation, relationship, etc? How many people do we know that are beyond God’s reach of Grace? Are we praying for each of them daily or have we pronounced them beyond even God’s Reach? How are we preparing ourselves for the Divine Opportunities of God’s inevitable Assignment? Are we available or has the list of the things which must be done taken control or given ample busy Ness excuse to our lack of discipleship, prayer, worship, Bible Study and Communion with God and Saints? What does time mean to you? Is it in charge of your life or is God, or maybe You or some other voice? Can Time be a God?

Does it hurt when it’s not about me? So closely affected to the current circumstance that threatens to lock me emotionally to this moment, to this position in time, that my legacy and history remain tied to an affront meant for another. Perhaps a King? Perhaps someone with whom I have been associated at such level that I ought appreciate the optics of relation counting the assault as evidence of that kinship? Why should a man be concerned about his stance or his views unless they are questionable? The weariness calls heavily upon a man’s heart only when the interrogatory or attempted slander hold truth. In confidence a man is what he is not what is said to him or about him, for truth aids not those who wield heavy pen tongue.

My direction is love. Serving the Master of it I am called to extend loving kindness and care even in the midst of painful affront. Does it hurt and if it stings where is the bit of truth into which I may run to find the answers to the next personal Challenge of transformation. Skin is skin a permeable membrane why then does it hurt when things get “under” it? This world is motor oil to my internal waters of life. They shall not readily mix but over time shall become a putrid dark cloud where purity was meant to reside. Do not take the harm and offal from a man’s offered cup, meant in it taint to remove you from the pure and Holy Extension of Christ’s Love for mankind. They are not your enemies but are His Creation deserved of the respect mustered in reverence of His Likeness upon them. And when they have ceased in that reflection then it is solely His regard as to their outcome or disposal.

Some things are not mine to handle, twist and dispense. Some lives need no other assistance from my pen or will except that encouragement of their Kinship to the King. And all the things that I would have done or see come about are not the greatest outcomes for their lives but merely the whimsical wishes in my own screenplay. This is not my story to tell as I give not testimony of the Prince or Priest but of the King who gave me all things that I have and Am.

This direction is not my own so therefore you may not toy, touch or change it by your whim. Inalienable is a thing beyond your regard or mine. These makings and transformation of those things created by God’s Hand may only be effected in transformation by His Willing Hand. Yes I may poison myself in consuming the filth and products of a sinful world that I am no longer recognizable in His intended fashioning, but I am essentially what He has made nothing more or less a man to whom God offered Life, Love and for the Choosing more of the same in Eternal Purpose. You seek to hurt because you need to share your deep wounding in order to breathe free for a moment passing on as if virus the hurt that you will not bring to the Father for undoing. I see that pain and bid you lend to another for this is neither my fight nor God’s Will for me. Go in peace that you may find for you shall not receive it from His hand as you seek to bite.

Loving You. It is not a duty or a pressure but the authentic recognition of God’s Hand upon You. I do not look upon you and determine your worth based on characteristics either fond or fickle but know Your Worth in the Love of the King. He Loves you and that Is all that I need to do the same. Yes, I may not like your travels. Yes, I may have a different answer for you than the one you are determined to force upon the world to justify some internal conflict or warrant your angers at God, but that is not my issue and were I to make it mine then I have drunken from your cup eschewing my own. In this land of the misunderstood man and the list of theories proffered by men who would make themselves greater, I have none to offer. For in my own world I embraced shame and sin being set free only by the Loving Hand of God through His Son. There is no claim I may lay against the valor in my salvation that does not lead directly to the ONLY ONE deserved of that Glory or Honor. For my salvation is His, not of my own doing. To Love me you have but to Know Him. And if you do not love me I understand what that means. I cannot help but Love you for to do anything else would be a denial of the man He saved.

Moist leaves and forest chattel beneath my sandaled feet I became overly concerned at the lack of friction. So much so that I only heard the arrows whistle as it grazed my helmet, deflecting into a tree trunk with a customary frightening cathunk!. Out of my marching daze I roared racing headlong into the nettled underbrush as low and as fast as my legs could propel me. Crunching the underbrush with abandon the woods were kind in offering an uphill slope distorting their aim. I ran until my lungs burned and kept running only stopping a half mile or so down the other side of the broad hill to take a brief peek behind. Realizing that I had not been followed the ambush had been set and the opportunity missed. I don’t think they were waiting upon me specifically but were looking to take down any quarry, perhaps for robbery or murderous surprise.

A dangerous world awaits but none shall see discovery giving fear its reign. Air sodden with the random rains I took some time to regain my breath as the dark wood beckoned my entry. What swell the darkness proud to steal the heart of all men wandering? Conjured imagination and specters prime lay prudent for the asking. What dawn shall come to them places where sun may not call?

Refined in moments of deep thought and willing pursuit, my bastion brings peace only when I let the worries dissipate. Sworn allegiance to the brave few I have hewn my path through even the wicked glade hunting, seeking, investigating all that seems ill to good man’s eye. Castle’s with nestled hearth had rarely seen me visit. Looking out far beyond the land beneath my feet I am accustomed and welcome the highlands or the rolling prairie hills filled with bounty and silence. When they joined in my daily rest it would require a stout climb to some oft revealed perch where birdlike my crooked legs would be braced beneath me. Fire’s open eye looking all who entered. Camp’s home to those who need No King but the Maker.

Realism the dray of boring intent I waddle between the furthest dimension my psyche finds interesting. Done with the plastic vows of I never plan to get to it somehow my broad brush no longer covers the canvass of perspective. What in the universe improves with narrowing aperture? What cruise seeks to stay close and inspect that which someone should have pondered long ago. Everyone wants to go so far away, spanning parsecs and light years only to know that all you left behind has perished. Traveling not in time or distant but in the folds and punched holes in parallel tapestry I set my Spirit on High. Looking for moons yet wondered and days of light never made squeamish by the dark. My Spirit longs for eternal fire that shant be doused. I crave the light and what lay beyond, Hand in Hand with the Maker of the Dawn.

As I shake the webs from my brain, the thrum inside my cranium surrenders and I realize the Peace of having known the depth of psychedelic poisoned arrow tips. Looking at my shoulder clearly one had dug just deep enough in my buckler to have lain me unconscious in sleep filled trance for what must have been a full day, perhaps more. Concentrating impossible I sat cross legged in front of my thrice dead fire having been rained upon while I too laid open to the sky. Gathering my things I stopped to make some tea and listened to my heart play merengue beneath my skin so tightly bound. Gone for so long I hope that my deliveries would be forgiven, as I tapped my breast pocket for the letter my mind’s eye opened as I found not but one gold coin where the parchment should have been fingered. What was I going to tell them for a long gentle slumber traipsing the parallel universe would certainly not suffice.

How does my own will differ from God’s? Isn’t that the struggle defined for each believer in picking up their cross daily following Jesus? Our internal drives/Lusts are the voice of the Flesh, World, Anti-Christ. Do we wish to make war when we were sent to spread a message of Love while standing battle ready impervious to enemy assaults? What is the voice of self and how does it differ from that small quiet voice of God’s Spirit? Are we Listening and differentiating between God and Self? James warns and expresses the skinny Path.

James 4

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Yes, my enemies are wrong most often wicked beyond reckoning, but that has never been my responsibility to define their departure from God’s salvation. It is expected that at some point in my worldliness I am going to face and fail at the opportunity to proclaim someone beyond God’s Reach. That is my own frailty and fleshly imposition. For God loves all creation and only He knows who will refuse to hear and answer His Clarion Call the Covenant of Grace. The agreement is between each person and God I simply extended the reason to review and answer the invitation. For me to determine that Dem’s or deep state or a certain nationality or faith are beyond the Reach of God is the reason James counsels through God’s Holy Spirit otherwise. For blaspheming the Holy Spirit is the only unforgiveable sin, turning down God’s offer of Grace.

Any plan, direction or objective that drives my thinking and actions without congruency and counsel found in; Worship, prayer, meditation and discernment with God is driven by the lusts of the flesh. If I continue to pray Amiss, as God’s Word says for the things of flesh will they be answered in the affirmative? Most likely not as God’s Word never contradicts itself and this is pretty clear direction. Therefore identifying, isolating and being careful to remove those prayers for self is key to mature understanding and efficacy in prayer. Additionally, God knows what I need and He knows that which is for His Good Purposes as indicated in His Word of using all things to the Good for those who love Him and walk according to His Purpose. He says that even when I act wrongly He will turn it to good for His Kingdom. That clearly demonstrates that I am a work in progress, wrestling with the enemy, the flesh and the world against God’s Path and Purpose for my life.

Look to the Heaven’s from whence all Good Blessing comes. God knows what you need but He also can say no to those prayers asked for internal drives, lusts and self. Don’t pray amiss determine the voices that feed your motivation, thoughts and actions. Ask God to determine the voice of the Good Shepherd the only voice that God’s sheep are meant to heed and follow. May God answer all of your prayers as you approach Him in Spirit and Supplication to the Glory of His Name. In Jesus Name.