Do you mourn your current relationship in prayer with the Lord God?  Is there something that He is calling you to do that just cannot, will not or would not be obeyed?  Do you feel that you aren’t good enough to do the work that God has for us?  Where then would you find that approval?  Is there something that you could do, maybe pray harder or more arduously?  Perhaps you could spend several more hours a week in Bible Study or maybe go to church another couple hours per week?  Maybe you could volunteer more, take care of orphans or widows until you felt right with Jesus?  This is a difficult position, slandered by the enemy for disobedience, lack of service or devotion.  What if I were to tell you that it is not in your power to do anything to correct this situation?

Do not fall for the bait and switch of the enemy, where he replaces quantity or quality of works for surrender.  God is the only authority.  God alone can make us Holy.  What would happen if a man tried to stay on the path all day long, he religiously followed what God wanted him to do but for one moment of weakness he fell short?  Does all the work/effort that he exhibited account for nothing?  The righteous life is beyond our capacity.  We should certainly dedicate ourselves to staying on the path and thinking of pure and Holy things, forsaking evil deeds, but we must remember that we are all sinners.  To forget that fact puts each of us directly in the susceptible position of wearing the accusations of the devil.  We do not have the authority to condemn or judge ourselves, that is reserved for the Lord, as He created us and paid the price for our redemption.  God knows that you fall short.  God knows that you want to do better.  If His plan allowed for Him to come to earth to save us from our sins do you believe that He would also provide a method by which we could remain in good standing with Him.  That method is not “quantity of good works”, it is surrender to His Works and Sanctifying Spirit.

You cannot live up to righteousness, but you have righteousness.  You cannot earn your way into heaven, but you are going anyway.  You cannot be good enough based on your own feeling of worth, but God still says that you are good enough if you will believe on Him.  You cannot defeat the enemy in his pursuit of slandering your name and stealing your joy, but he has been defeated by the Glorious Work of the Lord Jesus where he stripped the devil of all authority in your life and made a public spectacle of him and his minions for all to see.  You do not deserve Glory, but it has still been given to you for repenting of your sin and believing on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the King.  The devil will tell you that you cannot overcome this world, but the Lord says that you have already overcome this world by believing that He has already conquered this world and everything in it.  Will you mourn your current inadequacy in service to the Lord, remaining in your own judgment of your worthiness or will you depend upon God’s definition of salvation which is based upon your faith in His deliverance?  Remain in feeling and suffer defeat or depend on faith and overcome.

You are a joint heir in Christ Jesus.  Do not give away what could not be earned.  Have faith, be obedient, ask forgiveness and press on toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus the King.

The silent prayers of benevolent God said on your behalf.  I wonder the perfect sound of Jesus and His prayers for us as He invalidates the slander of the accuser.  A voice of pure mercy, bringing to bear the undeniable truth of redemption, having paid the bailsman’s fee for all of us.  What noise would follow such eloquence, perhaps the silent contemplation following all truth.  Does the resounding thunder of God’s judgment follow denying the motion for the prosecution or is all argument abandoned once Christ speaks?  The things we cannot know in this limited life.  Oh the things we cannot know.

The accuser has no gravitas in heavens court, no where to stand at its gates, no voice within its worshiping throng.  Appearances reveal that his only authority remains on earth, though even that has been stripped long ago.  To what illusion due we owe allegiance, that God’s Word would be superseded, replaced by the musings of created beings?  Lord, let me utter not even one word of folly, misdirection or falsehood.  I will not aid or abed the plans and machinations of your enemies by supporting their misgivings and false teaching.  I will not follow those determined to enter the longevity of death and isolation.  An isolation with constant reminder, pain and suffering as they yearn to be back in Your presence.  That shall not be my guidon, I shall follow the light of the Word up the narrow path with sure footing.

You are my hope Lord and this life only a temporary learning opportunity where soon I will be forgotten or perhaps remembered fondly.  Let me lead many to the cross where they may ask their heart’s questions and be answered by the Spirit through salvation.  Give me what I do not have, the ability to be effective for Your Glory.  In Christ’s name I pray, Jesus the name above all others.

Moments, when I speak with God about anything are better than all else.  I reach for this or that and it fulfills but with a tinny aftertaste consistent with things of this world.  That stands to reason as the most prevalent, “surface” metal on the earth is tin, supple, flimsy, easily warped and rusted.  They are not filled by the Spirit and they wear me out, the death of a thousand cuts I believe it was called.  Must I really feel so out of place?  Is this what just passing through really means, that I must yearn for the hereafter so that I may finally be at home?  Lord, I know that you sent me here to fulfill my purpose, perhaps just doing it for you will reduce the insubstantial effect.  When You come to establish the millennial reign, I hope that I stop feeling so darn alone.  It is okay because I know that I am here for Your good pleasure, but it would be nice to be part of a true family.  Though I pray that being among those Brothers and Sisters who have put on the imperishable will let me feel some of what means to be home.  I know that my only inclusive solace now is time spent with You.

Your enemies Lord have been effective in seeding despair, illusion and falsehood.  I look in the eyes of people and I see their deep concern, distrust and misunderstanding.  Lacking truth they are susceptible to the winds of revolution, conquest and rage.  Their knowledge of You has grown so thin that they barely find enough love to give themselves, leaving none for others.  Compassion is something to be envied as the benevolent are heralded as worthy of praise, praise that belongs solely to You.  I cannot stop them Lord and that makes me shutter as I see them intent on passage to places reserved for Your rebellious sons.  Why must so many misunderstand?  Show me the way to dispatch and disperse the Good News of Christ in a such a simple, clear, demonstrative way that it cannot be ignored, disputed or denied.  Let my eyes see You clearly so that all those who look into them may see Your Glorious reflection and know that You are the One True God.

I am only a reflection of You.  Let me be the small flame in ignition of Spiritual Fires for cleansing revival.  Let it begin in this nation and circumvent the Globe.  In Your precious name I pray, Lord Jesus My King.

Solomon – discernment, Isaiah – Witness to God’s prophecy, Jeremiah – Servant to God’s message, Moses – The weight of God’s Law and the freedom of God’s redemption, Ezekiel – God’s impending wrath upon sin, Abraham – Commit to belief in God, Jacob – never give up on God, Joseph – God fulfills promises, Mary – anointed servant, Rahab – God’s mercy and forgiveness, Paul – Absolute dedication to the inescapable truth, Peter – faith trumps words, David – There is no other path, Jesus – The reason for all of them.

I was reading through Romans yesterday and I realized several things; Paul loved people so much that he was willing to suffer everything, even dispel their ignorance in order to share the love and good news of Jesus. Pastors have fallen pray to ceremony and pontifical preaching so that the truth of the gospel is limited when the Spirit of God does not direct the message and lastly the Lord chooses perfectly those He has designed for each esteemed role within His service.  I feel His anointing upon my service, but I cannot as I have done above clearly define the purpose of my service in a short description.  Perhaps that is the job for other anointed to clearly discern my purpose.

This world is faltering, our allegiance to chaos and the unraveling influences of wickedness have brought us past the turnout where we have left the path following predictable norms.  We have entered the realms of possibility where characters beyond this worldly plane now may apply greater influence upon the dimensions of our progress.  But they are mistaken in their glee, for God remains in charge even in a tottering mechanism.  One finger strategically applied may either shatter the structure, right the machinery or even completely redesign reality.  Most, not fully believing in God as the creator do not understand His sovereignty in this or any world.  satan counts upon our ignorance and self-reflection, hoping that we only believe that we can limit God’s authority, power and influence by our own limited definition and understanding.  My definition of God has no impact on His reality where His definition of me has infinite control.  He created me not the opposite.

Be informed, follow the Spirit of God, fulfill your destiny and leave the outcomes to God.  Thank you for taking the time to read my words.  I hope that they lead you to a greater respect, desire and willingness to read God’s Word and obey His plan for your life.  May the Spirit of God ignite in your heart an understanding of His love for mankind.  May the Lord of Glory Bless you with grace, peace, security and hope.  To God be all the Glory, honor and praise.  In Jesus’ name.

I cannot control every aspect of my life, especially where others are involved.  I can only remain true to that which God has placed upon my heart.  We all share the absolute truth of God, though some will try and deflect, interpret or diminish the importance of His directives upon our lives as Christians.  The Word says what the word says.  And to be absolutely frank with you, I don’t agree where people claim that is just up to interpretation.  If you have spent anytime studying the Word, it is plain to see why the Lord had men write the old testament in Greek during the 3rd Century before Christ.  Reason being that Greek is a highly specific language that leaves little room to interpretation and since we have the Hebrew as well it allowed for educated parallelism when there was question.  Additionally since the Bible, or the Septuagint had been put down so far before Christ’s birth, no one could dispute God’s prophetic Word regarding Jesus’ coming.  No one could claim it were some manner of Jewish trick having suddenly materialized after Christ’s arrival.

There are so many looking for loopholes in any vow they have taken in order to free themselves of duty, obligation or responsibility that the fabric of humanity is unstable.  Considering so many now refuse to rely on God’s absolute truth as the immovable foundation, no wonder they are in disarray without pillar, pylon or cornerstone.  Is it not far more fulfilling to have people in your life that share commitment and longevity?  Must we erode even each man’s character to the point where nothing is sacred, dependable or sure?  Doesn’t that feel somehow incomplete?  If I have nothing sure, straight and true to share with someone going through the dark night of the soul, then how is it that I can ever claim to have assisted him or brought him peace and solace?  How can I provide someone rest and peace if I have neither definition, direction nor process understanding.  I don’t know how God does it, but I do know the road-map by which you may discover His light and truth yourself.  Never depend on me as the expert.  With My God, He invites you to go to the source with your questions.  I invite you, that is if you have the courage to ask God to reveal Himself to you.  What will you do then when He does?

I will praise the Lord my God and allow you to deal with the effects it bring upon your heart.

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this?  Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.  We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers.  Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.  O Lord our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.  I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.  All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent.  And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.  O Lord, God of our fathers Abraham, Issac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.  And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.”  Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.”  So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers, they bowed low and fell prostrate before the Lord and the king.  1 Chronicles 29:10

How do I understand God’s awesomeness by looking in to the words and deeds of David?  Re-read, if you would please the passage above and see a man, not a god or demigod.  A man who had done his best to live his life for God, knowing fully well that he had failed but in that failure found humility.  A man who is said to be after God’s heart, who is himself apparently amazed that God would find any pleasure in being given, as homage, objects we deem treasure in order to demonstrate our willingness to honor his name.  Then we see God’s true awesomeness in David’s prayer to keep our hearts faithful to the Almighty and that his son would be faithful in fulfillment of his duties to build the temple for God.

I see in this moment the precarious nature of this life, its glory and its folly.  That we humans can for instants shine in our likeness to God and then quickly depart from that attention to once again fall into disloyalty, false pride and idle workings.  How can we maintain such understanding and as David live to a good old age ever mindful of God’s generosity, kindness and love?  It is all his and he gives to us freely for the asking, if we will only believe.  He even provides for the unbeliever, not just the ones who will eventual seek truth, but for those who have no intention of choosing righteousness.  This is the God that we serve, the lover of all and sustainer of life.  Lest we forget his holiness and our feet fall on insubstantial ground, let us remember David’s last words to the whole assembly, “Praise the Lord your God.”  David may have doubted his people but he still had faith, faith that the Lord our God would deliver us even from our own misgivings into lives of righteousness and subsequent works of Spirit and Truth.

Lord, with all that you have given me, even to this life, I praise you.  Come Lord Jesus, come.  Amen

Do not despair, now may not be the time for play but we shall frolic in the hereafter.  There is work to be done and although neither of us feel the energy, commitment nor inclination, this is our purpose, to lay the groundwork for the coming King.  If we shirk our work then others will be employed, perhaps even the rocks, trees and sky will sing of His glory if we neglect it.  We have always doubted if we had the gumption to stand up when it meant losing something or maybe everything.  Isn’t it great that we get to find out the truth?

I was not born to give into whimsical torture or threats against my person or property.  I see now that I have been trained so that when the opportunity arises I will be given the choice to declare the name of Jesus, perhaps for last time or cower in frailty accepting my worldly citizenship.  We both know that there is no thought more distasteful then the silence of my tongue when given opportunity to shout for the King of Everything.  How have we become so palsied, prideful and dispassionate?  We chase blossom with no bouquet, feast without flavor, treasure with no taste.  Just a hand full of cloud we are left empty after each sexual encounter, counted coin or vanquished competitor.  Our story amounts to nothing but myth told to eighth graders hoping to somehow justify lifetimes lost.  There is no substance without eternity.  We are left in the dirt our lives turned-out pockets with not but lint memories, soon forgotten as one less mouth to feed or one more competitor with which to contend.

But that is not the hope of Christians, the Bride of Christ, betrothed to the Lord of Glory for for eternal marriage.  Does it seem odd to think of the fulfillment of service to a righteous King?  That is the death throw of the sinful nature, writhing, attempting escape, wanting nothing to do with anything but self-service.  I am tired of self, does it not bother you as well?  A nest-bound baby bird with a ravenous appetite for salaciousness that never matures, never leaves, never stands alone or takes care of others, existing only to feed, feed and feed again then sleep.  I yearn to yearn no more.

I will find rest in You my Lord.  I await You and humbly ask Your forgiveness for my painfully slow maturation.  Thank You for Your Patience.  It is such an oddity to me that the only reason I deserve Your mercy is because You find some worth in what You have created.  Praise be to God, I am thankful that You find my faith in You acceptable offering because I have naught else to give but the love that You first gave me.  In Jesus’ Holy and Precious Name.

http://youtu.be/iIMaj944cqc There is no avoiding the common sense of a man guided by the Holy Spirit of God.

“I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there; in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and it was not there; in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”

— Alexis de Tocqueville, quoted in The Spirit of America

I am greatful to have lived in this period of American history.  We have seen the evil and the good and know that something tangible has been lost.  America of the 20th and 21st Centuries has been a case study of how a blessed nation of people loses God’s hand of grace by turning their faces away from the Lord toward “other” interests.  You see God is jealous for our fealty and worship and considers these alternate interests as other gods.

Since 1859, when Darwin released his theories of alternate explanation for our origin, we have been grasping at those postulates as hopeful proof of an escape route from coming judgment.  It is no rare coincidence that De Tocqueville died that same year, proclaiming that what made us great is the goodness and righteousness preached from American pulpits.  With all our power and might we’ve proclaimed evolution, truth and proceeded down the dangerous path leading away from God’s sovereignty and protection.  Living in this nation where people have “progressively” gone from enlightened truth to veiled ignorance has been an awesome challenge in remaining on the narrow path to God.

What awaits us on our present course?  We like to say that we don’t know and in our best fatalist/naturalist understanding we say something whitty about “survival of the fittest” or predict some kharmic enlightenment of mankind.  When the exact reason we resolve to these ill-fated attempts at prognostication is that we have exchanged the only real truth for a lie and thus been turned over to our decadence as reward.  If in fact the fittest survive then we should expect something akin to Hitler’s determination to do the world a favor and root out the weak through genocide.  Isn’t that what is coming with our new attempt at health care, an effective culling of the sick and weak by declaring it fiscally imprudent to provide them care in a timely manner?  Let us not allow evil’s mask to obfuscate the founding principles of wickedness which are to corrupt, conceal and consume.  It is easy to challenge the nobility of this widesweeping power grab by asking, will it affect the wealthy in any way?  Of course not, they will simply continue to pay for good care, that is why they may opt out in the grand new plan, because they never needed it in the first place.  Those who will suffer will be the weak, sick, elderly, infant and poor and of course who ever challenges the emperor’s authority.

I will not challenge the authority because it has been God Himself who has set the crown upon the heads of current kings.  This movement is not beyond God’s sovereign authority but rather, exactly that which God is allowing to happen as result of exercising our free will.  We have turned away from Grace, forgotten goodness, left the churches or turned them into social clubs delivering tickled-ear preaching, killed over fifty million innocent fetuses in the interest of self-service, sent men to war without God’s lead or blessing, spent our great grand-childrens inheritance, entertained every violent notion, ravenously pursued the dark sexual oddities of our imaginations and left nothing Holy, sacred or innocent.  This is the obvious outcome of our national practices.  Our only hope was God, without Him we have none.  For those who refuse to seek the Bible’s historical lessons we now see them repeated for us to learn experientially.

This was a great nation because it embraced goodness as its guide to prosperity in perpetuity.  No program, no waiting patience, renewed vigor or sacrifice will staunch its ebbing wound.  Our only salvation is to be found through humility, repentence and return to God’s saving grace and healing.  I do not see us bowing in humility but rather shouting louder in our prideful ignorance that we shall rebuild, overcome, solve our problems by programs, passion or financial manipulation.  These have all been tried and the results are firmly recorded in history that none of them will deliver us from the resounding peril of eventual collapse.  God is the only answer, His forgiveness the only key to unlock the chains of our self created captivity.  That forgiveness may only be found through Jesus Christ in repentence, faith and obedience to God’s Will.  I just don’t see it happening, but that is the wonderful thing about faith in God is that He alone can do the impossible as an answer to our prayers for this nation.  So I will continue to embrace the hope He has given me by asking Him to save this nation for His good pleasure.  I pray, that we Christians humble ourselves before God and ask His forgiveness for our transgressions, then repent of our practices.  I hope that He may hear our cries for mercy and turn His face back to us in favor, healing this land and returning us to the goodness we once held dear.

Praise the Lord God for all His Works.  Lord, Jesus, intervene in our plight and heal this land.

Can you see the Lord at work?  Only if you are aware of the signs and look closely.  Have you studied what must soon come to pass?  Only if you have dispelled fear and sought the truth of prophecy in God’s Word.  Do you know how important it is that we are currently discussing nuclear issues with Iran?  Only if you have read the prophecies of Ezekiel and Isaiah that tell of Persia’s importance on the unfurling scrolls of prophecy.  Can you explain why Syria and Egypt are presently embroiled in turmoil from which it appears that will not arise?  Only if you know what must happen to these two ancients foes when Israel’s sovereignty is threatened.  Do you see Russia and China rising to preeminence on the global political stage?  Only if you understand that these things must come to pass as they will be drawn by the Lord to battle in the valley of Armageddon.

Can you see the Lord at work?  Only if you have sought Him and learned the truth which has prepared you for all that must quickly come to pass.  Do you know what will happen in the years leading up to the return of Christ?  Only if you have studied Daniel, Isaiah and garnered the special blessing to those who have listened to Revelation and kept its commands.  Do you know where you will be on the day Christ returns, seated upon white horse or scattered seeking refuge from the wrath of the Lamb?  Does prophecy speak of the United States?  If it doesn’t do you know what this portends for American believers and the lost?

Can you see the Lord at work?  If you cannot, there is great cause for concern.  Praise God there are Pastors and Teachers around who can lead you to the Cross and the saving knowledge of Grace.  Then they can show you what the Lord says must surely and quickly come to pass.  If you don’t see the Lord at work, and you want to know why not please reach out to me or one of my Brothers and Sisters, as this is the most important information you would ever wish to learn.  Praise God in His Glory and Might.  Jesus Come Soon, Please.

Prepare my heart for prayer Lord.  Cleanse it, soften it, open it to hear and store Your Word and Commands.  This world loses luster, blighted almost to snow blindness, color fades to tans and grays.  Teach me that new song I heard upon the night, promising joy in spite of upset, persecution or assumed loss.  Show me that they cannot take that which is held tightly against Your bosom, safely in the palm of Your Almighty Hand.  Let Your Kingdom rise and may we soon delight in the Righteous Rule of the One True King.  I am so eager to learn that which is presently beyond my understanding.  Courage, peace and a fulfillment of belonging where I have been placed.  Show me.

Peel from me the layers of soot, ash and pollution that have hardened upon my skin.  Purify my soul so that nothing ill may reside within this temple.  Let me be a proper vessel for the Waters of Everlasting Life promised by Your Word.  They cannot doubt health, nor love nor true forgiveness.  Let me use these tools of discipleship in place of my insufficient programs and intentions.  You are the source of salvation, let me find that well within my spirit so that I may fill this cup from which others may drink and be saved.  Teach me to step aside and shine Your light upon the path leading to the Good Shepherd.  Let me not view my work through commercial, political or idol eyes.  Make me a slave to Your Sovereignty and commit my heart and each sub atomic particle of my soul to Your Perfect Will.  Lead me.

This path does not fall away beneath my feet, my footfalls finding sturdy granite to bear all that must be carried.  My fear washed away like the soil, fallen from my clothes, hair and heart returned from whence it came in the world of possibility and illusion.  If my greatest fear was of death which no longer has dominion in this life or the next then what supports its worthiness as an inhibitor or barrier to my victory?  How can something that cannot suffer the second death be frightened by loss of first life?  Certainly I will miss people, places and harmony I have seen in this journey, but it shall not compare to what awaits me.  I will do the best in this life to be prepared for the next and show as many treasured souls the way to eternity in the presence of God.  This world was created by Him for His Good Pleasure, my life shall not be spent in vain, earthly pursuit, but as kindling prepared for the quenching fire of the Lord God Almighty.  Set me aflame.

God be Praised in all that we say and do.  In the Everlasting name of Jesus.  Amen.