Teach me to reign in my enthusiasm.  Show me the power of silence in preparation of uttering appropriate words.  Give me the consistent control, focus and comprehension as the Spirit uses me as vessel.  Loose my tongue upon Your timing and for Your purpose.  I pray that you will forgive my idle phrases and flippant banter spent for my own account.  Give me peace at night reflecting upon my own kindness and compassion.

I don’t like melancholy Lord, but I know that these moments come upon us for great reason.  Time of meditation, review and redirection always seem to be well spent.  The part I dislike about it is the dampening of spirit.  The moments when my energy is spent, feeling emptied of my own internal courage and comedic nature.  These are the moments when I know You most.  When I’ve put away my own folly, ambition and disinformation seeing that when all that I have is gone, you are still there to provide and protect.  It is a lesson in surrender this grey mourning of my soul.  Let me keep this calm, humility even when my batteries are bursting.  Self control and moderation are often my best companions.  Keep us safe Lord as we go about your business.  Let us be forever mindful of Your Glory.

You save me every day reminding me I’m free at last.  Praise You Jesus My Salvation and Hope.  Amen.

God is our refuge and our strength, and ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, thought its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  Psalm 46 1-3

Why do I need to know this Lord?  And will that knowledge somehow make me personally stronger?  Am I to expect these occurrences that will shatter my resolve?  Why do I fear when things fall apart, is that where my feet find solace, in the solidity of this world?  How does it change me as a man, this confidence in the fact that you will always be there as shelter, strength and succor?  Do you know anyone like this and how does that person’s behavior effect your own level of stability or shame?  Is it true that men and women who follow Christ are noticeably different or is this simply, unobservable hypothesis?

You are what makes me different Lord.  I am a house that claims You as Tenant, Lord and Master.  Shall I fear loss of this life, never, for it is You who breathed it into me.  A life not measured by length, ownership or earnings but by substance is what I have been shown.  Revelation of unfailing love, protection and yes jealous discipline.  I am thankful that you care enough for me to check my foolish behavior with a stern hand of direction, hope and education.  Let me not be shaken, not so that I may not be fearful or to limit my loss but so that others may see that steadfast resolve and such unmistakeable fellowship and fealty.  Yes tremors will come and seas will rage but they only serve purpose for clarification that at the end of all we count “stable” You remain unchanged, just as loving, protecting and encouraging as you were before the storms began.

The Lord Almighty is with us: the God of Jacob is our fortress.  Psalm 46:7

Words created, words will condemn, confessional words set you free.  Actions confirm or deny the spoken words.  Sponsored thought signifies the health of the heart, mind and spirit.  In harmony they are righteous, in discord hypocrisy.  How in my resemblance to the Lord do I demonstrate this discerned understanding?  Do my works follow pure intent and declaration or do they dissemble, minimize or obfuscate the things I’ve stated that I believe?  For true belief is action upon the truth of that faith by putting to practice the philosophies to which I subscribe.

I cannot both say that falsehood is wrong, or that taking an unborn life or homosexuality are abomination, then go and tell lies or abort a child for personal convenience or condone sexual relations between the same gender.  I cannot support, and by support I also include, “not condemn”, wicked practices while remaining fully aware that Christ hated these acts.  American cultural practices of tolerance to the things which the Lord speaks directly against are in themselves disobedience.  Sin is sin is sin, whether is it mine, yours, politically correct or socially acceptable.  When you “do as the Roman’s do” you assert your ethical policies above that of the Lord’s Word and find yourself again in direct conflict with the Maker of the Universe.  A position I do not envy anyone.

Recently I have seen and heard many prominent members of leadership and the national press who declare themselves of the Catholic faith refuse to condemn or actually ally themselves with these practices.  For example, the Vice President’s refusal to align himself with the published views of the Catholic Church’s view on abortion in direct conflict with the Lord’s Word on this abominable act.  Additionally, Bill O’Reilly declared his support for “civil unions” again in direct conflict with the Word of God and the Catholic Church to which he claims allegiance.  These statements demonstrate a moral decay of our national purity and erode the foundation of America while promoting the ethical relativistic tendencies of our youth.  This lack of adherence to the norms of our faith foster a leniency toward the desire to be obedient to the Word of God subsequently germinating an environment where man may be turned over to his own will.  “There is a way that appears right to a man but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6  

To be a Christian means to contemplate, understand and acknowledge the acts of the Christ, our Savior.  Do I demonstrate my Christian belief or merely state that it exists.  Reality requires concrete action to convert theory to law/truth.  That is why the theory of evolution is so dangerous because it lacks such confirmation yet its supporters claim it as substantiated truth.  One can only assume that they want it to be true as that will free them from culpability to the Truth that is God’s Word.  The only truth is found in God’s Word and any departure from that “Rock Solid”, unshakeable truth tempts calamity.  I do not wish to be turned over to my own decadent mind for I have seen the corruption in my own leanings.  Depend on the Lord, not on men, but follow me as I follow Him.

Yes, my mistakes, sins and falsehoods will be forgiven as I repent (confess and turn away from) those sins acknowledging the price that was paid for this received grace.  My subsequent thoughts, words and actions following my sin demonstrate presence of the Holy Spirit in my life and confirm the honesty in my relationship to Christ.  They must be in accord for reality to be any measure of personal salvation.  Do my words match my thoughts and my actions?  This is available for all to see.  Lord Jesus You see my heart, only You alone know the truth of my answer.  Please let me be found righteously believing in the power of Your redemption and let my works be demonstration of my love for You and belief in Your Truth.  Praise God in Jesus’ Mighty Name

I want to sing with tears of joy, knowing for a moment that my sound has reached the ears of God.  He sees me now, adoring eyes capturing my thought and all I can do is avoid His gaze.  To think that He might love me breaks my reason, shatters my argument and reduces me to mud from which man came.  I am His breath, living life that He ordained for a time and purpose that He designed.  Take from me this shroud the world bids me borrow.  I want to sing of the mercy, grace and peace of God.

Strip all from me that seeks confusion.  Reduce me Lord to essential idea, nothing concealed, nothing delayed, no potential misdirected.  Give me the force of a needle to penetrate all Your enemy cohesion.  Let me reflect my definition.  Give me the exact opportunities and prepare me to demonstrate Your Glory in my adequacy as a precise tool for Your intention.  At my last breath give me the fulfilling thought of exhausting that final breath in accomplishment of my life prescribed tasking.  Let me hear those glorious words for which we await Your Glory, “well done my good and faithful servant”.  Let me sing to You for eternity.  Jesus be praised.

Look over there.  Someone said that there is something mystical, something spectacular something new and amazing.  They say to us, don’t tout your tired old principals of morality and clean living as something good when we have the supernaturally spectacular to amaze and entertain.  Can’t you see that your position is unpopular and therefore lacking substance and little chance of support?  Wouldn’t you rather see something that man’s hands have crafted, certainly this rivals anything that you ascribe to the divine?

This is all we’ve got so you better soak it up, drink it in, delight in the pleasure of the moment and if you cannot be at peace at least be imbibed by the intoxicating texture and fragrance of pleasure.  Live it now, breathe it in, dance until the spasms leave you unprotected against the overwhelming force of collective consciousness.  There is no reason, no wisdom only pursuit and satisfaction.  Can’t you see it?  Unfortunately I can, clearly.

Abundance and joy have nothing to do with boredom, decay and demise.  Death has no friends, but those who live in the light know laughter, kindness, care and freedom.  Yes freedom, you look at me amazed.  Oh I see you thought that I was trapped by some legalistic doctrine of piety and paralysis.  See, I get that I cannot earn my way to heaven, I do this out of love for what I have been given.

I do not wish to hurt you because I love you, but I see no joy in momentary glory or instant gratification.  Sure I see the appeal.  But that is short term thinking and I am an eternal believer.  The people I am surrounded by make me laugh, share my cares, sharpen my thoughts and show me repeatedly the wonderment of God’s creativity.  I see beauty as a reflection of the hand which made it.  I don’t worship the thing but rather the Spirit that brought it about by thought and speech.  I am no pauper, having given up all that glitters for empty promise and a bag of hope.  This life thrills me to overflowing, I just don’t see this as the final act, but rather as preparatory scenes gathering our attentions for the main event.  The price of entry paid for by my loving Father in exchange for my belief, trust and faith in His ability to deliver, not my own.  That is probably the greatest thing about eternity is that it doesn’t depend on me whatsoever.  For if it did my hope would be lost.

I have put my life, my hope, my faith and my will in the hand’s of someone I imminently trust.  In return I have learned the definition of love, the meaning of joy and the treasure of wisdom.  I am a winner, headed for a seat at the table prepared for His glory and by this I am overwhelmed.  Won’t you join us.  In Jesus I live.  God be praised.

The relationship between a man and his Father can never be fully understood by onlooker’s.  Sure there are those with worldly knowledge that may make educated speculation upon the inner mechanisms or chemical interactions.  Only a man and his Dad can completely comprehend that special bond of creation that they share.  There are even those men who have never taken time to investigate, fathom and expand their own relationship with their Father.  This provides a quandary, being the sole individual with the capacity to fully understand and cultivate such relationship then not employing that unique ability seems foolhardy.  Why wouldn’t a man engage his own gifts and entitlements as a son when that process is the only path to maturity, security and deeper understanding in this lifetime?  Do we wish to know or don’t we?  Which side is the real face of the coin?  How else but through investigation, practice and retention do we gather the Father’s wisdom?

How does a man get to know his Father?  Isn’t time spent with your Dad the only way to really know Him?  Sure we are related but that is entirely different then having a deep understanding of what that relationship means.  Raw materials possess the potential for riches but it is the refinement which defines and emancipates their true value.  Sure you are loved by your Father when you come into this world, but when and how do you actually love Him?  It is through the process of passing through this life that we become close to our Father.  Seeing that he never leaves, never avoids, always forgives while continuing to guide us to maturity through a firm disciplinary hand and counsel.  Isn’t that something that we should want and pursue?  Don’t you want the best that this life can produce?  Can you imagine something better than having an entirely honest fellowship with your Father?  I can’t.

Holy Father that I would have served Your Glory with the sinew of my soul.  Your grace is such a mystery.  Paul who gave all still mused over his inability to do right.  Shouldn’t I be able to give all to You out of gratitude for this incredible forgiveness shown to me?  Should I even care an inkling what men might think of me?  Why can’t that spirit part of my self arise to truth and turn away from the lures, false foundations and relationships offered by this world?  Perhaps this is meant to produce the state of desire for humility that I am currently feeling.

I do not know Lord, but I am willing to learn from Your Spirit.  Teach me to do good for the sake of Your Glory and nothing else.  It is not wrong to have or use the tools provided by Your bounty, but show me how to be the proper steward of all that I have been given.  Let me not bring shadow to anyone seeking Your light.  Give me the patience, character and kindness to represent You fully as a righteous ambassador for Christ.  Let me not be caught unaware by the deceptions and self serving promptings of Your enemies.  Allow me to dream of nothing but my eternal life in Glory and to use all my hope, credentials and assets toward bringing all of Your children to right relationship with You.  For that is my purpose here, all else will be less than fulfillment.  It is in Your Mercy, Grace and Joy that I find sustenance, growth and life.  Praise You in the Mighty Name Of Jesus Christ the King.  Amen

What do I expect in my Christian walk of faith?  To take each step lightly, watching closely my footfalls and taking care with each word uttered?  Do my thoughts match my belief?  Do my actions reflect honest commitment to honoring the Lord and bringing Him glory with every work?  Can I consistently put my back to the plow, tilling the earth before me in preparation for the Good Seed of God’s Word?  Or must I rest, seeking shelter under the Almighty Wings of the Father, finding peace in the shade of His Majesty, Grace and Glory.  I think we all know the answer to these questions, but do we allow ourselves to listen to those answers and take solace in a time of reflection, rest and restoration?

I have not measured up.  But the concentration on self in that statement makes it evident that I am not listening to God’s perspective of me as a man and rather listening to the shepherd of goats.  I am not going to say that everything that I have done or will do is bringing Glory to the Lord.  I will say that in all worldly gold or gems there are imperfections and dross.  I am being sanctified and this fact reminds me of the Truth of the Promises God made to me.  He loves me enough to persistently apply pressure, heat, healing and quenching to temper me for eternity.  I am his work, in this new life He’s given me.  Born again to Glory.  Reworked for honor and good works and in the end I will become that which he has ordained from the beginning of the ages. To that I end I must be understanding, patient and long-suffering to allow Him his works in me.

I have seen perfection and His name is the Lord Jesus the Christ of God, the Lord of All Creation, the Spirit which hovers over, in and beyond all things.  I pledge my life, my soul, love and spirit to the Lord.  Even in rest He never leaves me.  No one else loves me in this way.  Praise You the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.  Thank you for being honorable when I cannot.  Thank you for being trustworthy when I can only abandon and betray.  Thank you for being True when I can only find deception and illusion in my heart.  You are truly God.  In Jesus’ Mighty Name I praise you, Father of Glory.  Amen.

Among the righteous.  Dilemma at best, pondering the question of self-righteousness should be our greatest lifelong self inquiry, without faith, remaining unanswerable.  Tremendous quandary that the Lord would give us salvation yet leave us to ponder the question of exception or exclusion for the balance of our worldly existence.  The Bible clearly states that we “can know” that our salvation is solidified yet even those with faith have moments of self-loathing sponsoring doubtful interrogatory.  What then is the mental state to which God would have us epoxied?

Did Noah know that he was saved?  Did Moses, David, Daniel or Peter?  All these believers made tremendous mistakes in their pursuit of righteousness.  Do you perhaps believe that any of them questioned their worthiness before the Lord?  The answer is “all of them” doubted, all of them pondered, all of them came to the Lord in amazement and humility questioning why they had been chosen for glory.  It is not my place to be righteous but to volunteer my life to the One who can make me righteous.  It is not my place to judge my own worth but to hold tight to the promises of God that declare my value in His Eyes.  It is not my place to continuously seek one more good work to perhaps tip the scales of judgment in my eternal favor, but to accept my position as a sinner in need of delivery from the Righteous Judgment to come.  It is my job to demonstrate my love for the Lord through adherence to His commands and joyful pursuit of the evangelical tasking He has set before me.

I am a sinner and continue to be amazed at the wickedness of not just the world around me but that which emanates from my own soul.  I need Christ, every day, every moment in performance and in prayer.  I am not declared righteous by poll, piety or position but by He who indwells me.  It is Jesus that is righteousness and thus I have been made righteous by proxy.  It is too glorious to comprehend but I love it.  It is too amazing to convey but I still declare it.  It is not by works that I will ever be saved but through faith I pursue good works to honor the gifts of grace and mercy.  Jesus be praised.  We shall see that Glory soon.  I wait, tremble and reside in peace in anticipation.  A position which cannot be explained by anything but faith in His eternal Glory Amen.

Casual Christianity is becoming expensive in America.  Those who have not truly allowed themselves to be transformed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, hesitate when the conversation requires them to make a declaration of faith.  That is the price of dallying with Christ.  Everywhere are shades of gray in the USA.  Political correctness, tolerance, ethical relativism and wavering morality, all which require abandonment of the absolute truth of God,  have turned loosely professing believers over to their decadent mindset.

The attack on Christian faith, because of its adherence to the absolute truth of God’s word, is now mainstream.  Social Christianity will rapidly ebb away as the price for being a follower of Jesus continues to escalate.  For the true believer this is a glorious moment in the walk with Jesus Christ, that moment when we get to be tested, suffer with Jesus and find out our mettle.  This is the testing place God designed for us, the crucible, the forge, where the Smith removes the dross from our souls.  This is sanctification.

There is now a price to being a follower of Jesus Christ, sure you can sign on with some perverted version of the faith taught by mockers, false teachers and blasphemers, but you cannot escape the mushrooming segregation occurring in the churches, barrooms and banks.  This is the Lord’s Work and it is not for the weak of heart, social butterflies or groupies.  I know that there is a huge push to divert people from over-concentration upon prophecy in scripture but the Spirit of Prophecy is Jesus Christ.  He set this segment in history up for the purpose of bringing all back to Him.  We must be tested so that we are given every opportunity to reject the world and return to Him.  Are we willing to pay the price that cannot be covered, loaned, begged or borrowed from any other human being?  Are we willing to personally declare the Lord Jesus our Savior and King when it costs us possession, pride, position or portion?  Praise God the decision time has come to us all.  In the absence of persecution there are always luke-warm believers, enemy infiltrators and those with immature faith.  Our faith will soon be tested, Praise the Lord Jesus in all His Power, Righteousness and Glory.  My King soon to return to set the story straight.  Amen.