NO FEAR

Isa 41:14

'Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob, don't be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you. I am the LORD, your Redeemer. I am the Holy One of Israel.'

    "For the believer there should be no fear.  Our hearts ought always to be full of hope and faith.  We have the courage to face any situation, knowing our Lord can never fail us; no never.  Our trust is in the everlasting One.  Why be sad, when he has promised to keep us from all harm and protect us from all evil?  We have victory in the name of Jesus.  Turn your eyes away from men, and grow in the knowledge of the Lord.  Know him, draw close to him, for his word is your strength, your might, and your double portion.  As you look to him and nothing else, you will know his power and your strength will be restored.  Men will fail, but Jesus never.
    Only as you begin to doubt your Lord, do things appear too hard to accomplish and you begin to imagine you are too sinful or too weak to do what he has asked you to do.  You think you will fail.  But you are looking to your flesh and you are right.  You cannot do it and you are too weak.  You will always fail.  So put your hope and faith in Christ alone.  In him alone is there victory.  It is Christ who produces the fruit; you are only the vessel he uses.  As you begin to declare praise to God and place your love upon him, your faith will start to rise.  Look to the flesh and faith wanes.  Trust in the Lord and joy will fill your soul.  With doubt comes oppression, worry, fear, and defeat.  You are tempted to give up.  Simply remember when things look bad, or you are being tempted, it is the Father having his way with you.  Was not Jesus himself tempted?  He is working out his will in you, and it is his will that you give him thanks in every situation.  It is your duty to give him your love and praise.  So resting in his love and praising him, you will show forth your utmost faith and trust in him and you will enjoy the fellowship which comes from trusting in the Lord.  He will aid and deliver you from all evil.  He will produce good fruit in your life.  It is Jesus who does all things well and he always will.  You have nothing good in yourself, but what he has given to you first.  It is he who gives you the victory!
    He has loved you eternally.  He has taken you out of darkness and brought you into the light.  He has clothed you with a robe of righteousness--his righteousness.  He has called you and chosen you, not to trust in your own strength, but in his supernatural power.  You are to exalt him and lift him up among the people, and then they will be drawn to him and find help.  When you ask, believe that you have received the answer and it shall come to pass and you shall have what you asked for.  It matters not what you ask for, as long as it is in his word, for his word is his will.  You shall receive what you ask for because of his grace.  Trusting in him to do his will, is trusting him to do what pleases him, and his will shall be done.  He has promised to fulfill his will in you.  Only he can do the work, only he can bring it to fulfillment, and what he has appointed for you, he will bring to pass.
    Do not doubt his love.  Do not doubt his will.  He longs to bless, heal, and forgive, and he is no respecter of persons.  His love is extended to all.  He longs to do mighty miracles and wonders through you, so let him take control of the reins of your heart, and the fullness of life, joy, peace, and love will be yours.  Even in times of trouble, he will be your refuge and strength.  You will have no fear, though the mountains be removed and cast into the sea.  Abide in his strength, and he will do the works through you.  Lay aside your own strivings and find rest from your labors, as you let him work through you.  He will surely answer your prayers and show you great things.  He is not deaf.  He hears every word, every prayer you pray, and he sees the desires of your heart.  He is a great and mighty God, and there is no limit to his power.  Even while you are yet speaking, he will hear and answer you.  Do not be afraid to come into his presence with your requests, for he will not fail you, or refuse you the answer.  Only see that you do not ask for your own lusts or greed, but for the glory of his Kingdom.  Wait upon the answer, trusting in him fully, and from Heaven the answer will come.  Goodness and mercy shall follow those who wait upon the Lord, trusting in him.  Every mountain and obstacle he promises to remove, as you begin to move Heaven's power by your prayers.
    Do you want to see greater things than you have ever seen before?  Then ask for them.  This is his promise in his word.  Do not refuse his call to believe him for great things.  Do not grow cold in your heart.  Do not look at the circumstances of your own life.  Walk in the way he has told you to walk.  Lift up your eyes to the heavens.  Look to the hill from where your help comes.  See the Father upon his throne.  Have a pure desire to follow him, and you shall see him grant your desires.  He will use you to lead many others to him.  He will do it.  Don't be afraid, for he will speak through you.  He will give you wisdom and tell you what to say.  If you lack wisdom, ask without doubting, and wisdom will be yours.
    Your shoes shall be iron, and your feet shall be brass.  Your foot shall never be moved, for he will sustain you by his righteousness which never can be moved.  He will anoint you and your strength shall increase.  Obey the One who redeemed you, the One who is your help.  Lay down your life for the One who gave his life for you, and you shall obtain joy and gladness.  You are his chosen bride.  He desires all your heart, so he may use all of you.  It is time to be glad and rejoice in his salvation, for he has saved you from the wrath to come.  He has delivered you from this present evil world.  He has never forsaken his children and he will not forsake you now, even to the very end.
    He has not left us to our own devices.  He still has a work for us to do.  Looking into his word we shall see, and he will open our ears to his voice and we shall hear.  Then we shall open our mouth and speak his word, and souls will be drawn to him.  His power has healed us and made us whole.  Let us never allow discouragement or doubt to hinder us.  Instead of looking at people and the things around us, let us look only to Jesus.  The world has nothing to offer, for it cannot satisfy our soul.  He longs for us to draw close to him, so he can reveal to us the treasures hidden in the darkness.  He longs for us to come to him expectantly, for we are the joy of his heart.  It is not our actions which please him so much, as it is the love of our heart which brings him pleasure.  Though we go through trials or chastisement, he brings what he pleases into our life only because he loves us.  As we endure, he will bring us through to victory, for he is all-powerful.  Before we were born he had his hand upon us.  We are his, and no man can pluck us out of his hand.  Shall he not create and cause to be brought forth?  Shall he not speak and cause it to come to pass?  Is his arm shortened, or his strength weakened?  Is he not the God who is more than sufficient to save us?
    He will hold you by your right hand.  He will uphold you in his paths.  He will never leave you, nor forsake you, neither fail you, for he is who he is and he changes not.  Fear not, but rest in his love.  Let your soul be even as a weaned child.  Rest in the bosom of your Father, who has fed you, clothed you, brought you forth, watched over you, protected you, defended you, strengthened you, held you close, worked for you, blessed you, forgiven you, washed you, cleansed you, had mercy on you, guided you, given you wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, given you the full measure of his richest treasure, filled you with his good Spirit, given you the fruits of the Spirit, made his face to shine upon you, loved you freely, fulfilled his word to you, brought you forth from the fire, from great trial and tribulation, from great sorrow and temptation, from vexations and fears, from trouble and dread, from evil and darkness, and who enabled you to overcome the enemy who was too strong for you.  He delivered you and set you in a safe place, his secret place, away from the storm and the tempest.  He set your feet on a solid rock, where once you walked on slippery depths, near dreadful pits, but with cords and bands of love he kept you from slipping and utterly falling, for his word cannot be broken and he swore to never let you go.
    For his word's sake and for his great name's sake he ransomed you and made you his own, keeping you from the destruction of your own design.  He restored gladness, light, laughter, joy, peace, rest, contentment, righteousness, happiness, true riches, health, wealth, healing, power, the light of the eyes, the beauty of your countenance, freedom from pride and passions, liberty, rejoicing, the garment of praise, the robe of cleanness and holiness, new desires, hope, and a zeal for life.  Your children shall be his.  They shall learn of him and be at peace.  They shall come from the east, west, north, and south.  From all lands shall they come, and to his brightness, as moths, they shall be irresistibly drawn.  So rest, and have not an evil, unbelieving heart, doubting that he is able to save.  Do you not believe that he is stronger than any sin?  Has he not erased the guilt and failures of the past?  So trust him to keep you from sin and rest in his word, as a little child would rest in the arms of his father."

EVERYBODY NEEDS JESUS

2 Th 2:16-17

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you

in every good deed and word.

    There was a dog.  It was a beautiful, gentle dog.  A man beat the dog.  He was not a bad man, but the dog didn't know that.  He was not an evil man, but the dog didn't know that.  He was just an unhappy, angry man, but the dog didn't know that.  The dog only knew he was being beaten.  The dog was frightened.  Even a dog wants to be loved.  That's why he wags his tail.  Even a dog wants respect and companionship.  That's why he wants to be petted.  But when a dog is beaten down, he hides his tail between his legs and looks for someplace to hide.  Sometimes a beaten dog will bite.  Even a dog can be taught to be mean and cruel.
    Do you feel compassion for the dog?  How much more compassion should you feel for those whom satan has beaten down?  A hurt dog is liable to bite anyone, and people can lash out the same way.  We cannot see inside a person's soul.  We don't know why they're evil and cruel.  We only know they act evil toward us.  We don't know what makes them unhappy.  We only know they are unhappy with us.
    We need to pray for them.  Lord, make us more like Jesus in compassion.  Help us to see their hurts.  Help us to understand.  Free us from our hurts.  Change our negative, self-centered thinking into positive, helpful thinking through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ!  We are tempted, as others are, to adopt a self-righteous attitude toward sinners.  We are prone to look down upon, to feel harshly toward, and to condemn people and their selfish attitudes.  We are even capable of condemning our fellow believers.  We are tempted to place upon them a very high standard by which we think they should live.  We are good at pointing out and criticizing their every wrong move.  We are liable to think, if they don't act a certain way toward us, that they do not have the proper attitude.  But are we then showing the proper attitude?  The proper attitude is to lift Jesus up by showing his love to all, so all men will be drawn unto him.  This is the right attitude, for it is the attitude God demonstrated to the world when he gave his only Son.
    Everybody needs Jesus.  They need his love.  They need his salvation.  Who doesn't want to go to Heaven?  Doesn't everybody want to be happy?  People act hostile at times, but this doesn't mean anything other than that they're acting like people.  People simply don't know any better.  They haven't met Jesus yet.  A basic truth of our existence is that all living beings, from roaches to royalty, want to improve the quality of their life.  We want the same thing everybody else wants.  We're really no different than anybody else.  We're no better, no worse.  Only the world doesn't know what we know--that Jesus alone can improve the quality of our life.  We know this, not because we're smarter than everybody else.  We know this, because Jesus was good enough to show us his mercy.  People really need to know the Lord.  If only they knew how good the Lord is, everybody would run to him.  Deep down all nations, all tribes, all peoples of the world, all poor, all rich, all the young and all the old, need Jesus real, real bad.  They just don't realize it yet.  Soon they will, for one day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
    When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a banner against him.  People are not our problem, they are not the enemy, but the enemy uses them against us.  Sometimes we're surrounded by cruel and heartless people.  So when the enemy comes with his attacks from all sides, assaulting our mind (for the battle is in the mind), when we are drained and all strength is gone, when we have done all we can do, then we must look to the Lord for help.  We must forget about ourselves, our cares, concerns, faults, problems, doubts, and fears, and simply start thanking and praising the Lord.  It is then that his strength flows in.  When we offer up a sacrifice of praise for the love and patience he has shown, he gives the strength we need.  We don't have to lash out like others.  The Father has shown respect for us.  He has shown compassion on us.  We have his word and his Spirit in us, giving us power over all the power of the enemy.  Instead of cursing, we bless, because God's Spirit of love bears good fruit out of the soil of our lives.
    The Lord made us out of the dust of the earth.  He made us out of the fertile ground.  We are God's soil.  He made the soil to have life in itself, and so life is regenerated out of the soil.  Soil needs moisture, sunlight, and air to produce a crop.  His Spirit is our air, water, and light.  His Spirit gives us life and breath.  We are his crop, his harvest, the trees of his planting.  He has planted his seed within us.  Some are the good soil, some are the dry, rocky soil, and others are the soil covered with thorns.  Each one bears fruit according to the choices they make.  Some of us receive God's water, air, and light, and bear good fruit.  Others reject God's Spirit and bear bad fruit.  Those who bear bad fruit reap the results of their sinful choices.  Those who choose God's way, experience the power of God, and God's power always produces a crop of righteousness.  Are we the good ground bearing fruit for eternal life, or are we the rocky soil bearing fruit unto eternal punishment?
    The enemy comes to test our faith.  These trials come to make us stronger.  Through experience we learn not to rely upon ourselves, but upon Jesus.  We learn to give thanks, even when we least feel like thanking him.  When Heaven seems far away, and our eyes are clouded by the troubles and trials of earth, this is when we simply trust him.  We rely on him to pull us through.  He always does.  He brings the rain when we need it.  He gives the light we need to grow.  He gives the air we need to breath.  He brings us back to Heaven.
    Our Father's presence is what makes Heaven heaven.  He is Heaven.  He made Heaven.  He made all things, and so he is a part of all things.  He inhabits, he lives in the praises of his people, so when we praise him, he brings Heaven down to us.  We're in Heaven on earth.  The Father is able to take care of all the details of our life.  He is able to protect us from the evils of this world.  He only asks that we trust him and thank him for all things, for when we thank him, all troubles and temptations fade away.  When we call on him, the world fades away.  Praise be to God!  He is a sanctuary, to which we may continually run.  Out of his continuous love and kindness, he provides a haven for us.  We are pleased to be his child, and he is pleased to be our Father.  Praise his name!  He will complete the good work he has begun in us.  He will not leave his garden to be devoured by the wild beasts of the earth.  He will not leave his vineyard to be spoiled by the heat and the cold.  He takes care of his own.
    Without his Spirit, we are undone.  Without the Spirit of the Lord we are all corrupt trees, full of rottenness.  His word is the water, the Spirit, and the life.  Without his word we wither and die.  We become cold, dry, and hard.  We become unhappy, angry people.  With his word, we are living trees of righteousness.  The righteous are like trees planted by rivers of living water.  We will blossom forever.  Without his Spirit, the work never gets done.  How can we live apart from him?  He never turns his back for a moment.  The ravens would descend and devour us in an instant, were it not for his Spirit being with us always.  Jesus is the best scarecrow a garden ever had.  He never sleeps, he never slumbers.  He watches over us night and day.  He is ever vigilant to watch for attacks from any and all enemies.  He drives them away with a word, with a wave of his hand.  One word from his mouth is louder in the enemy's ears than the crack of a lightning bolt striking at the enemy's feet.  The enemy would rob us of every good thing, if he could.  But he can't.  Because every promise God ever made is ours, and shall be for all eternity.
    Do you feel like Moses?  Like you don't know what to say or what to do when times get rough?  When people act tough, do you know what to do?  You have the same God who spoke to Moses from a burning bush.  You can hear his voice, too.  God gave you ears to hear, eyes to see, and a mouth to speak with.  He'll show you what to say and do, if you listen to his word.  You can walk unafraid before kings.  You can walk through a desert filled with serpents and scorpions, because you have the staff of God's word in your hand.  The same word that freed you, will free others from their bondage, so speak it boldly!  Tell them not to be afraid of the scorpions.  Tell them that Jesus will protect them from all harm.  Tell them that Jesus is the best gardener they could ever have.  Tell them that they can bear good fruit for all eternity, when they place their heart and soul in the Master's care.
    Moses had a brother named Aaron to help him.  You have a big brother named Jesus.  With Jesus by your side, is there anything you can't do?  The Father longs to see all people united under the banner of his Son and under the promise of eternal life he brings.  His plan is to reach out to all those who are hungry and thirsty for his Kingdom.  Once our eyes are open to his plan, we can see how everything around us is working toward the goal of God's Kingdom.  Jesus has a promised land better than that of Canaan.  He has a city greater than that of Jerusalem.  As much greater as heavenly things are than earthly things.  As people recognize Jesus as the King of Heaven, they will see he has a better way for them to live.  They will see he has something good, something great, and something wonderful planned for them.  They will be drawn to him, as they see him lifted up.  When they see Jesus lifted up, they will know he is the way, the truth, and the life.  He is the way leading to God.  He is the truth leading to happiness.  He is the life leading to peace, joy, and love.  Praise him, because he is good to all, but he has been especially good to you!

NO FAVORITES

2 Chr 16:9

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

  
   Children of God, rise up and take your place!  Take the authority and power invested in you through Christ, and in all areas of your life break the hold of the enemy.  The power of God always prevails, so take your place and loose his power in your life and in the earth.  Go forth and conquer by his living Spirit, and win the hearts and souls of the people.  Renounce the works of the enemy, and bind his influence.  Give the enemy no quarter, no mercy, no place in you.  Let the Spirit of God in you sweep away the enemy's strongholds.  See, look, and listen to what the word of God has plainly given to you.  Learn what belongs to you in the heavenly realms.  And as you wage war against the enemy and take your place, then the will of God shall be wrought in your life and his word come to pass.
    His word has opened your eyes, and you have light where once there was darkness.  With the Lord on your side, you will never know defeat.  Christ has already destroyed the dark powers and made an open mockery of them by conquering death, sin, and hell.  Such power guarantees your victory; it guarantees your success.  So take your place in him.  Take whatever you need.  Follow in the steps of the Savior, who though he was greater than all, lowered himself as a servant of all.  Be like Joshua, who was nothing more than a simple servant to Moses.  But when the time came, Joshua took his place as leader of the nation of Israel.  Be faithful in little, and he will give you much!  Fear not to take your place in him and speak forth his word, reminding yourself always of his promises to you, and you shall go from glory to glory, leading the way for others, so they might find their place in him.
    Have faith in his love for you.  This is where you will find strength in times of trial.  Have faith in the work he's done in you.  Do not rely on yourself, but rely on what he's given you.  The enemy will always try you and test you, to see if you believe what you say, but the child of God who has chosen and made up his mind and has willed in his heart to follow Jesus, the enemy can do nothing to this one.  The enemy has no power to make you turn back.  The Lord's desire is for you to know that it's his work in you, not your works, that will stand the test of time.  You can rely on the good work he has begun in you, for he will complete it.
    Rejoice, count it all joy when you fall into temptations and trials, submit to God's way, resist the devil, and you will come through shouting the victory.  No matter how long it takes, you will come through.  Behold, and see how Job came through great trial, and afterwards received more than he had ever hoped to see.  Observe, and see how long Caleb waited to receive his inheritance, the promise which had been made to him.  Be strong in faith, and you will grow stronger every day.  You can even grow stronger physically by faith, as well as spiritually, for as the Lord preserved Caleb's strength those forty years in the wilderness, and as the Lord extended Job's lifespan, even after Job had given up all hope of living, so our mighty God will preserve those who love him and cling to his promises.
    There is no end to the joy of those who open their heart to the Lord, so do not close your heart to him.  As Jesus becomes your closest friend, your joy will never end.  You will know him in ways that mere men will never fathom, even if you were to tell them of it.  Come away, beloved of the Lord, and learn of him, for he is meek and lowly in heart, and he will be to you better than ten thousand other loves.  Only let your heart be his garden retreat, his holy resting place, his sanctuary, his home, and his throne.  For you the joy shall never cease, when the Lord becomes your one desire.  For knowing him, you will discover the secret key to the knowledge of God.  The secret to which nothing else compares.  So bow your ear and be attentive to his voice.  Open your heart, and you will feel what he feels, and know as he knows.  Love the Lord diligently with your whole being, and he will show you his countenance and glory.  This is how you find your place in him, and when you find your place in him, your reward will be evident to all.  Your life will beam with his glory.
    The presence of God has the power of life.  Joy flows as a river from his throne.  Go to him and drink deeply, and you will live in total satisfaction all of your days.  His presence will always be near, as you open up your heart to him.  He longs to take your burdens from you.  He longs to hear your voice, and hear you tell him of your day.  He longs for you to talk to him, as you would talk with a good friend.  What better friend could you have?  What more compassionate and caring friend is there?  So unburden your soul, and let him lighten your load, and make the heavy burden easy to bear.  For his joy is your strength, and in his presence is an abundance of joy.
    Our Lord has the ability to do anything.  He has the ability to give us the ability to do anything he asks.  He has the ability to give us the quality of life we desire.  He has the ability to enable us to accomplish anything.  But do you believe he has the ability to do it for you?  Your only limitation is that which you place upon yourself by your lack of vision; your lack of belief in what God can do through you.  In actuality, there is nothing God can't do for you, if you'll let him.  Was there ever anything impossible to those who trusted in God?  The sun stopped moving because someone believed God could do it.  Iron swam in water because someone believed God.  Men walked through fire because they trusted in God.  An entire nation walked through the sea because they put their faith in God.  And best of all, Jesus achieved immortality because he trusted in the power of God.
    Who was Joseph, if not just another man?  And not even a man, but a mere child.  Yet he had dreams.  Where did those dreams come from?  Did Joseph see the future under his own inspiration?  Or was God with him?  Did Joseph have an easy life?  Was he given any special favor or advantage?  Wasn't he persecuted, tormented, envied, hated, despised, afflicted, wrongly accused, rejected, forsaken, forgotten, and imprisoned?  But God was with him.  Joseph had the faith of his fathers.  He trusted in God, in spite of his limitations and setbacks and sufferings.  Who was Joseph, but a man who knew what God could do?
    The Lord has no favorite children.  He shows no partiality.  He will do for you what he has done for others.  Solomon was only a man, and he asked for wisdom, and God gave it to him.  You can have the wisdom of Solomon and Daniel combined.  You can endure any suffering, and still have the joy of Paul and The Apostles.  Your life can be beautified with love all the time, if your trust is in him.  You can have the strength of Samson, the patience of Joseph and Job, the faith of Abraham, the song of David, the courage of Caleb, the success of Joshua, the leadership of Moses, the prosperity of Isaac, the power of Elijah, the determination of Ruth, the boldness of Peter, and time would fail to tell of all that God could do for you, if you simply had the faith to ask.  Why would God reveal these things to the prophets, if he didn't want us to have them?  Why would he have shown us what is to come, if he didn't want us to know what awaits us in the future?  Why don't you take the joy and gladness God offers to those who trust in him?  Learn the secret of faith, and take the limit off of what God can do for you.
    Jesus said we can have whatever we desire, if we believe God will give us that desire.  What is it you desire?  Is it your desire to have all that God wants for you?  Faith springs out of right desires.  If we desire to have things to use only for our own satisfaction, can we have faith in God?  When we know our desires aren't right, and we know God can see what is in our heart, then we really can't say we believe God will give us those desires.  If we know we desire only what God wants for us, then we shall have the necessary faith to obtain our desires.  God is not in the business of making everybody a millionaire, although we'd all like to be millionaires.  God is in the business of making us rich in things which really matter; things like love, joy, and peace.  It's better to eat bologna with a happy heart, than to eat steak with a sad heart.  When God sees our desires are right, he'll give us more than enough to meet our every need.  If he can stop the world from turning because someone asked him to, how hard is it for him to meet the simple needs of one of his children who asks him in faith?  If your desires aren't what they should be, start by asking the Lord to give you the right desires.  Your very life and strength for living comes from him, and he can give you all the faith you need.  "According to your faith be it unto you," the Lord said.  Whatever you can believe for, he will do it.  Even for you.  Only believe.

CHOSEN

CHOSEN

Rom 9:2-3

I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race.

The Celtic blood doth sing in my soul.
A song comes from afar, across the waves
Of time and space to where I now dwell.
I feel a yearning for something lost,
Something glorious, that is inexpressible.
And I feel an expectation of something yet to come,
Something marvelous, that is indescribable.
And yet I feel a haunting sorrow, too.
The Faith of the true God is the banner of my people,
But the banner has been trampled to the earth.
Our enemies gloat over us, and oppress us still.
For many have forsaken the God of our fathers,
Many have betrayed the covenant of Christ,
And many have paid the price for such unfaithfulness.
Those who carried the banner,
Those who planted it on our shores,
In our hearts yet live, and breathe,
And testify to our tribulations.
We have suffered for our Faith,
But much more evil is the pain,
Of those who have suffered the loss of their Faith.
Still, among the Faithful a bloodline stretches across
The barriers and beyond the boundaries
Which constrain mere mortals--
Those whose existence is limited to their senses.
Our bloodline extends from an unbroken race,
A bloodline running strong since mankind's dawn.
A bloodline pure, unmixed,
A lineage, a family, not of frail flesh,
But of something much more enduring.
We speak of the spiritual, or may we say, the mystical
Union of the Brotherhood of the Faith.
This is a misunderstood mystery, a skeptical claim,
Even an enigma to those who abide outside the Faith.
But for those who are members of Christ's Clan,
This Union binds us together as one Race,
Outside the limitations of time and space.
Our ancestry is more sure and certain,
Than the rotation of the heavens in their spheres.
The song still lives in the sons and daughters
Of Saint Patrick.  Those who follow his Faith
In the God of the Christ.  The Redeemer
In whose blood was bound the future fortunes
Of Ireland and her sisters;
The nations who would share in our Faith.
We will raise once more the banner,
The banner which has never known defeat,
And bring back again the wayward ones to their God.
And so shall our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified,
He who died for our island, and he who rules us still.
We shall restore the banner, and bring him back the glory
Which once was his, and rightly should be his alone.
The blood of Jesus is our plea for deliverance,
The blood of Jesus is our only hope of safety,
The blood of Jesus is what makes us strong,
The blood of Jesus is what makes us one.
The blood of Jesus did not fall in vain upon the ground.
It was not in vain that the Son of God breathed his last.
But would his sacrifice avail for our race,
Or would our race forever be lost?
Would the ancient religion hold us in eternal prisons?
Would the darkness remain upon our land?
Or would the light of Christ's great love,
Be enough to lend sight to our blinded eyes?
His blood did avail over all,
Releasing our tribe from the chains of deception,
Bringing the freedom only the truth possesses.
Saint Patrick, pursuing his given destiny,
Conquered in the name of our Great Messiah.
The banner was taken by the hearts made glad
By the good news of the God who had saved them.
Thank him whose name is Reverend,
Holy, Faithful and True.
The Father, who, looking over the portals of time,
Sent his Son, so that this life-giving message
Might travel long miles far
Beyond the pale of that chosen land of his friend, Abraham,
Until it reached even the shores of our fair home.
And then, being set free from our former master,
We became willing servants of the Lord of Heaven.
What have the years brought down to us?
What has time done to our Faith?
Is the truth no longer the same?
Or are our hearts no longer moved by Christ's claim?
If others have trodden the banner down,
Should we forsake Christ and follow the crowd? 
Regardless of what our earthly parents have done,
We renounce the past of which we had no part.
We are not beholden to any, whether kin or not.
We will not give place to the dead,
Nor yield allegiance to the past,
Neither give preference to those who have gone before.
Nor shall we be snared by their faithlessness,
And put mortal blood above the blood of God's own Son.
We must answer to no man for our Faith.
We belong to none but the Faithful,
Regardless of who our forefathers might be.
Nor can we rely on others to carry us home.
We must have a Faith which is all our own.
Not for a moment, will we be ashamed to put
Christ's blood first place in our heart and soul.
We have no allegiance stronger than that.
We have no ties stronger than those
Which bind us to the cross of Jesus Christ.
We need our Faith restored.
We need to raise the banner again.
Our pride is trampled to the ground.
Our hope is crushed beneath the heels of our enemy.
The pride in which we gloried was the Son of God.
Why are we ashamed to bear his name?
The hope in which we trusted
Was Christ's promise of everlasting life.
Why have we forsaken our hope?
Will it be that Erin shall stand at the bar
And be proclaimed faithful before the saints and angels?
Will she be received into mansions fair,
Or cast out into everlasting darkness?
Shall her people be present
At the great banquet of the Lamb,
Or will they stand weeping outside Heaven's gates?
Will they be restored to the Unity of the Faith,
Even as the divided and scattered nation of Israel,
Shall be gathered together as one at last?
Has the time of destiny passed away for our island nation,
Or has she yet to see her finest hour?
I know not of the rest of mankind,
And of the families of men,
But I know of mine, and whence I came.
And thus my heart is heavy with a yearning indefinable;
Sometimes crushing, sometimes sorrowful,
But tinged with hope and expectancy
For some yet unseen wonder which is to come
Unto those who are the descendants of
Those first faithful followers of ours.
God bless the lineage of our Savior,
Which being a bloodline of True Believers
In the one and only God,
Chosen by God, and elect according to his word,
Has never been broken since Adam,
But has been preserved by the word
And kept by the power of God unto salvation.
Blessed be the Lord from his place,
And may he grant cover and shelter
To Erin's Race within his tents.
He is our Banner,
He is our Shield,
He is our Sword,
And may he be our Lord;
Whether others, kin or foe, follow or not.
The song comes from across the waves.
The closer I get to the shore, the stronger it grows.
The song is of his grace.
The song is for the Faithful,
And speaks of our Lord's faithfulness and truth.
His mercy rests upon us still.
I am following, searching, climbing, pursuing.
I am hoping, listening, watching, waiting.
I am yearning, hungering, thirsting, longing,
For the likes of those with Abraham's Faith,
And Paul's Faith, and Patrick's Faith,
And of others who likewise have followed
Their same path, to come back to Ireland again.
To Christ I swear fealty, my oath, my loyalty.
His liege and ambassador I am.
None other ever loved me so, nor ever shall any,
So I look for no other.
God grant that my heart may be true
And sing forever of Christ my King and him alone,
Who shed his blood for such a one as I!

VOICE OF CHEER

Brother Joshua spoke saying,
    "Sometimes the voice of Jesus is but a whisper in our ear, but always his voice brings us words of cheer.  If we would but listen and obey his voice, then he would give us a place among the great ones of the earth who have walked in his ways and kept his word, and who have believed the words of the New Covenant.  As we wait before him, getting to know him, fellow-shipping with him, praising him, and learning to love him, we'll know the power of his Spirit remaining upon us every day of our lives, and signs and wonders will we see.  It is as we ask, that he answers and sends the blessings.
    For those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings as eagles.  They shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not be faint.  For the Lord gives strength, and out of his mouth comes sound wisdom.  Out of his mouth comes forth the words which prepare and strengthen us for battle.  Whatever it is we seek from him, we shall surely find it.  We all can live victoriously in him.  Remember that what Jesus did, he did for us.  He did more than die for us.  He lives evermore to intercede for us.  Jesus lives, our compassionate high priest, knowing every trial we go through.  The enemy accuses, but Jesus intercedes.  The Spirit makes intercession for us when we don't even know how to pray, or what to pray for, or know what's coming, for the Spirit knows all things.
    He loves us, for we are his own.  He has told us we are chosen for a purpose, a purpose which he shall fulfill.  His grace and kindness is upon us forever.  He is not angry with us any more.  Let us be clay in the Master's hand.  Be humble, not proud.  Condescend to those of low estate, even as he condescended to come down to us.  He needs us to reach out to others.  Why are so many turning aside when the time is so short?  Are the signs of the time of his coming not plainly seen?  So let us know him and abide in him, and we will not be led astray.  He sees us from his throne on high, and yet he walks beside us.  We shall walk with him in places that angels fear to tread.  He sees our sorrows, our cares, and he knows the number of hairs on our head.  He will help us, for he is our helper, and we will not fail, for the Lord cannot fail.  He will open the windows of Heaven, and pour out his blessing, and we shall be a blessing in the earth.  Freely we shall receive, and freely we shall give.  And in everything we shall give the praise, honor, and glory to him, for this is his will.  He will be with us unto the end of the age.
    You have a work to do, and you shall find it in your secret prayer closet.  Work now, for the time comes when there will be no work.  Men will not come to you.  You must go to them.  Thrust in your sickle and reap the harvest now.  Jesus will anoint you to do his work, and your hands and feet will be anointed to do his will.  Fulfill all the good pleasure of his will, and you shall see things which you didn't even know existed.  You shall see that which you've not seen before, as the Lord said by the mouth of his servant.  He will bring it to pass as you abide and rest in him.  Plow up your fallow ground.  Sow to yourself in righteousness.  Prepare to meet your Lord who is returning.  Work now, while it is yet day.  The night comes when no man can work.  Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Evil increases, so you must rely on Jesus in order to live for him these last days.  You must stay close to him, for you know he will stay close to you.  You must stay strong through him.  Desire his meekness, righteousness, and holiness in your life.  Trust in and appropriate the blood of Jesus.  He is your salvation.
    His chosen shall be kept and sealed through the Holy Spirit.  Seek eternal treasures, for in a short time you shall be at rest with your dearly beloved Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  The Lord is good.  His mercy endures forever.  Seek the Lord and his presence forever, and in his presence you shall dwell; in the presence of the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending.  The Lord in the midst of you is mighty.  His Spirit is upon you.  Do not doubt the moving and presence of his Spirit.  There will be a mighty move of the Spirit and many shall find the Lord.  As you lift him up, he shall lift you up.  Let only his Holy Spirit direct and lead you.  As you give yourself to him completely, then he can use you.  Give all of yourself, your service, trust, and obedience; then leave the rest up to him.  After you give your whole mind, body, heart, and soul to love and cherish him, you can do no more.  He will do the rest.
    Do not worry.  He shall fulfill his will in you.  He is faithful to keep you until the end.  His will shall come to pass, so take no thought for what tomorrow may bring.  Listen only to him, and he will lead you beside still waters.  Don't be pulled away by the distractions of the world.  Walk humbly with God and he will reveal himself to you.  He can use you to reach even those who don't want to be reached, so reach out and let him use you.
    Do not doubt the greatness of his power.  Do not let your heart be troubled or frightened by anything you see or hear in this world.  The people's hearts are hard, cold, blinded, and deceived.  Only Jesus can change the dead into the living, and he will surely manifest his power--just trust and obey.  His word will lead and guide you.  He shall make you whole.  For simply a portion of his power is all that is needed to raise the dead, cast out devils, heal the sick, preach the good news to the poor, and proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.  Even the most stouthearted and hardhearted sinner shall have to acknowledge his might.
    As his Spirit leads, you shall follow.  If he says stay, then stay.  But if he says go, then go in peace, for he has sent you.  Follow him, deny yourself, for he will lead and guide you into green pastures and still waters.  His love is ever with you.  Believe his Spirit and do not doubt, but follow him.  He has taken you through the fire and through the floods, and now he is glad that you are through them.  He carried you on his wings when you fell, even as an eagle bears her young on her wings.  Dwell in his secret place and abide under his shadow, and no evil shall befall you and he will teach you many things.  He is your all in all.  He is your friend and helper.  He watches over you all the day long.  His presence is by your side always, everywhere you go.  Trust in his ability to save and help you.  Follow the truth, heed his voice, and you shall never go astray.
    The blessing of the Lord is yours freely to enjoy.  He will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly.  Be good and faithful, and you shall wear the crown.  The Lord Jesus will begin to show his power and greatness to the men he died for.  Delight yourself in him and your desires shall be granted.  Come to him for power.  Come to him for rest.  Come to him for strength, for you are weak, but he is strong.  His yoke is easy and his burden is light.  Come now with no fear, but with boldness.  Then the Spirit will come down as a flood, for he loves you and has redeemed you.  You have been set apart, because of the evil of the world.  The Lord will never leave nor forsake you.  Never forget the day he redeemed you, because it is precious in the sight of God; the day when the Spirit was poured upon you from on high.  Do not listen to the voice of men, only to his word.  Then act according to the Spirit within and by his word.  He who loves you is coming, and he shall reign forever.  So be it."

MATCHLESS GRACE

2 Cor 12:9

He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

We need to be thankful for all the things God allows in our life. Praise is the way we demonstrate our trust in him. If we replace our agenda with his agenda, we will be well prepared in heart and mind to meet every crisis. We are like servants who must be ready to do our Lord's bidding. If we let him be in charge, he will see that everything in our life is in its' proper place. If we are guided by his wisdom, nothing will be out of order in our life. If we desire only to know the Lord, his goodness will fall upon our soul like the morning dew upon the grass, reinvigorating and refreshing us. Every day will be a bright and shining new day. His presence will dispel the darkness around us, and we shall walk in his light. He loved us before we were born, and he laid out beforehand a storehouse of blessings just for us. These blessings we inherit, as we read and follow his word. If we remain unafraid of men and of what they might say or do, then they cannot steal our blessing. What is most important is what the Father thinks of us. He is the one we are to please. Since we were born, he has been watching over us, waiting for us to come to him so that we might receive the things he already had in store for us.
So come and drink of the water of life. Come to this river which shall flow forevermore. The grace of God is the greatest gift you could ever have. Christ is able to make all grace abound, so having all grace you may have more than enough power to face all problems, and face them well. So having all grace, you may have the strength to face every challenge and every task with pleasure, knowing his grace cannot fail to help you in every situation. His grace is sufficient for you. You are no exception to the rule. If you find that you have failed the task, then you did not partake of his grace. But where sin and failure abounded, grace did much more abound. Even in failure, you are not lost. There are more battles ahead and victory lies in store for you, if on his grace you rely. For by grace you were saved, and by grace you can stand in God's presence as his child. Praise Jesus for his matchless grace!
Remember, the chastisement of the Lord is his loving way of getting you back on the right road. You need not fear his wrath, although you should respect him with reverence and awe. Though you have failed, do not forget it is by grace alone you were saved, and it is by grace you stand. Never forget it is only what the Lord has done which causes you stand. Did he not say he would teach you his will? Surely he shall show you the way. Heed his Spirit, fully trust him, and you will learn how to obey. He is always on your side, and his ways are always right. Only acknowledge your sin, and continue to seek him for more grace. He loves you, and his Spirit is yours to enjoy. So delight yourself in the Lord and he will grant the desires of your heart, for he is most gracious, loving, and kind.
The more you appreciate what Jesus has done for you and what Jesus has given you, and when you ponder what he has brought you out of and how great a change he has made in your life; then you will long to praise him more. Death has been destroyed and now you have eternal life, because of his love for you. He looks for you to be of humble heart, for it is the humble in heart who he can lead, guide, and direct. The humble are those who walk by his side. But if you are proud, he will not leave you or desert you. He will not let you go, or leave you helplessly reliant on your own strength. He has never forsaken his own. Rather, he is ever longing to come back and take you, so you might be with him forever. He hears your cry. He sees your heart which seeks after him. He waits for you to humble yourself, so he may bless you and lift you up. He waits for the lost and the downtrodden to respond to his love. He waits for the cold in heart to come to him. He waits patiently for those who have turned from him to come back to him, so they may receive forgiveness.
Everything you possess has been given to you. It has been freely given. All is freely given from God. Before you were formed in the womb, these things were prepared for you according to his will. When you were born from above, new things were given--love, joy, peace, gifts of the Spirit, and everlasting life. You did not have them or make them, neither did they come from you, but they were freely given! When you recognize this, you shall begin to see how abundant his grace is to you. He did not give you all these things to use for your own purposes. Do not think proudly, as if you did anything to deserve all these blessings. Do not deceive yourself, by taking the glory for his gifts. You will receive the greatest pleasure by using your blessings and gifts for God's glory. Like an obedient son, who knows he will inherit all his father has, use all these things to build up his Kingdom, and you yourself will share in the rewards when you receive your kingdom. Joyfully, thankfully appreciate the grace he has bestowed upon you, as you use all you have for him. Then you shall obtain the full potential of all the rich dividends which await you at your journey's end.

GIVE HIM GLORY

Rev 19:7
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!

The wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

    Because God is a good God, his joy is an endless resource we may draw on anytime.  No camp meeting ever has to end.  If we walk in fellowship with the Father, his joy will always be bubbling up inside us.  God is happy when we are happy.  He desires to give us his joy.  He only gets sad or mad when we do things which create unhappiness for ourselves or others.  So let us be happy, full of praise, at all times trusting the Lord with all our cares, needs, wants, and desires.  Then our joy will be nonstop.  When we recall that it is he who made us and always think upon his goodness toward us, we can't help but be happy in him.  When we forget that he made us, we forget what this means.  We forget that all power is his and his alone.  We forget that he can do anything.  We forget that we were nothing, and our life comes only from him.  We forget that without him, we can do nothing.
    The life is in Christ.  Christ bears all good fruit.  Every good thing which comes into our world is of him.  With him, we too may bear good fruit.  We glorify him by bearing good fruit.  When we seek his glory and not our own, we are free from pride.  We are free from the fear of man.  We don't tremble inside, wondering what others think of us.  We're never afraid.  We talk openly about Jesus, telling others about the source of all good things in life.  We're free of the false pride men always wear on their face.  We know Jesus is worthy and he alone.  It's our duty to glorify him.  We didn't make ourselves.  We're not worthy to take the praise and glory for ourselves.  We'd be lying, if we said we were.  We'd be deceived, like all those who seek the flattery of others.  The only right thing to do is to give God the glory.
    We can't go wrong following Jesus, since he is so good.  As we follow his path, we gaze straight into the face of glory.  If we go to the right, we make a wrong turn.  If we go to the left, we've left the right path.  If we turn around, no good will be found there, either.  If God ever changed his good ways, then we'd have no path to follow, but since he's always the same, the path to follow is the one right in front of us, leading to him.  The enemy will try to divert us and throw roadblocks in our way.  He'll try to throw circumstances at us to discourage us and steal our joy, but the thief is no match for us.  He will get run over by a saint who knows where he's going.  Simply walk right over him.  Look past the barriers between you and your destination.  Be a person of faith, and see beyond the mountains which block your view.  God has supernatural vision, and he can see what you can't see, and if you look to him, he'll show you what's ahead of you.  There's no sadness on God's path.  There's nothing but good, nothing but good.  So keep thanking him, loving him, and letting him lead, and you will never fail to get around the hindrances in your way, and you will never fail to reach your goal, for the Lord will hold your hand all the way.
    The prospect of an evil god is frightening.  If satan had been able to overthrow God's throne, how unimaginably terrifying would this world be!  Satan is the evil god of all men, women, boys, and girls who belong to him.  Jesus is the good God of all men, women, boys, and girls who belong to him.  Jesus is stronger than the devil, but see how much havoc satan wreaks on this world each day!  Satan's children have made the earth a place of degradation and destruction, and then the devil has the audacity to persuade people that it's God's fault the world is in such sad shape.  Bad things are sure to come our way, but it is not God who is bad.  God is always good, all the time.  He never changes from good to bad.  He can't be bad.  He can't be anything other than good.
    We could believe that people don't have any brains in their head, if we didn't know what was in our own heart.  It's not that people don't have any brains; it's just that they want to use them for their own ends.  Rebellion against God runs strong and deep inside us all.  Regardless of what people say, we know what they really think, because we once thought the same way.  If they admitted that God was a good God, and that they were really at fault for all the evil in the world, then they would have to put the blame on nobody but themselves.  They would have to admit that they're not right all the time.  They would have to admit that they're sinners.  This requires too much honesty.  Too much pride, too much selfishness, too much rebellion, and too much stubbornness resides in the hearts of men to give God the glory which is properly due him.  They only make things worse by blaming God for the bad, and taking glory for the good in their lives.
    Refuse to be proud, out of respect for your Maker.  When the Lord sees your humble heart, he can direct you in the right way.  Never assume you know better than God, like Job did.  But if you do become proud, remember Job.  God has a way of humbling us all.  He humbles us so that he may lift us up, and bless us even more.  As long as we remain proud, he can't help us.  That's why the Lord hates this thing called pride.  Pride robs us of his goodness.  Stay humble in your own estimation, but don't ever use your weakness as an excuse to fail.  If you rely on his strength you cannot fail, and he will get the glory for all you accomplish.  His goodness and mercy are like a massive tree, upon which you can lean your weak and frail frame and there find relief from the heat and the rain.  No matter how hard you lean, this tree will never fall.  Trust in the Lord and dwell in the shade.  Take time to tell him what you think of him.  Do not be downhearted and afraid.  Thank him for all the things he's made.  He has enough grace to grant you more power than you will ever need, so let his grace work and let it work in you.
    Lord, touch our heart and remake our heart as a child's, and we will make you the love of our life.  You are the Lord.  You have power and might.  When we look up at you, we don't see ourselves.  We see what you have done in us and what you can do through us.  We see that what you have done for us, you want to do for others.  You died for them, too.  You died to give us the privilege of knowing you, and knowing you, we long to help others come to know you.  We are your treasure.  You are our treasure in Heaven.  You made others.  They are our treasure in Heaven, too.  We are all one.  You are with us, holding our hand.  Our faith is in you, for you made heaven and earth.  Our faith is made strong in you, when we see the works of your hand.  We are the works of your hand.  May we glorify you!

JOY IS MY DESTINATION

Neh 8:10-12

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve." Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

Our life must have direction or, not knowing where we are going, we will get lost and stray off course. If we fix our sights on a distinct destination, then we will steer straight toward the goal. Your words are the rudder of your life. So to have joy as your destination you must speak the words of life. You must speak these words so loud, even the devil can hear you. You must say to yourself, "The Lord is my Rock, and nothing shall ever move me." Then keep on speaking, until you see the things you've so far only heard about.
For I have discovered a safe haven. I have found a place of rest, peace, and tranquility. I have set my course on a straight path. I have plotted my course on a fixed destination. I have the goal in sight. I have a compass to steer by. I have a map to show me the way. I have a Captain who knows where the rocks lie hidden beneath the waves. His hand guides the ship. I simply let him. I stay on board and let him have control of the helm. I know I can trust him to bring me safely home.
Simplicity is the rule. I have fixed my sights on one thing, and that is the harbor where peace resides. Jesus waits for me there. I sometimes get my eyes off the goal. When life becomes too complicated, confusion often sets in, and often confusion leads to delusion. It is when I try to run the ship that I veer off course. I sometimes look at the storms around me and I get scared. I become frightened and veer off course, when I should steer straight ahead. I remind myself that simplicity is the rule, and still life keeps throwing confusion my way. Life won't leave me alone. Life keeps fighting against me. When I notice peace begins to leave, and I feel drained and tired, and the winds and waves rise higher and higher, I cry for help, and the Lord comes to my aid. Then he reminds me of the simplicity which I seek and I focus my sights once again on the destination, and I look away from the hazards of the journey and ignore the distractions along the way.
Only with Jesus' help have I been able to keep this ship afloat. It amazes me that his grace is so strong. His grace fills me with joy. I have peace to weather the storms. I have a life I never knew before. I grow stronger and stronger, as I sail closer and closer to my destination. He tells me to hearken to his voice, and his voice stills the surging in my soul. The future looks very bright when I am guided by his light. With his light, I am grateful for the present state of my life, and the passage of my days becomes sweeter as time goes by. I see that Jesus is all that matters. He is the destination. He is the peaceful shore. He is the island of everlasting happiness. He is the star guiding me. He is the wind filling my sails. He is the calming breeze leading me to a better place. He is, and therefore I need not fear.
He is my Father, this God who sent his Son to me. Like a father, he is sworn to protect and defend me. I have security and confidence in the face of all enemies. I need never want. I need never lack. I need never worry or be anxious. He searches my heart, and relieves me of all my fears. He knows me. He knows just how to reach me. He knows exactly how to help me. He knows what I need, when I need it, and he always comes through just in time. I have a Father who is wiser, stronger, more loving, more caring, and richer than any other. This is my Maker, my greatest and best friend, my everlasting haven of rest.
I find that the enemy of my soul is always and ever striving to drive a wedge between me and my Savior. He is ever working to get me to look away from the Lord. He attempts to complicate things for me, to throw me into confusion. The enemy tries hard to deceive me into thinking that my way is best. I thank my Father for teaching me that his way is the only way! I don't have to waste any more time wandering aimlessly, tossed about by every stormy blast life brings. I don't have to waste any more time wondering whether I'm on the right course or not. I don't have to waste any more time struggling to find my own way upon the vast sea of life. I don't have to waste any more time going in circles and getting nowhere, because I refuse to let go of the helm. Even so, the attraction of the world is so powerful at times that it is like a magnet tugging at my soul, throwing off my compass, drawing me off course. But Jesus, my Savior, is greater than the world! When I remember this, life truly becomes simple.
In the precious word of God I find the calm serenity my heart craves. In the word I find rest. In the word I find the simple truth which gives my soul such strength that nothing can shake me or disturb my peace. When I think of my heavenly Father, I know he always cares for me. How can I be wretched, worried, wondering, or wandering, when I know he is watching over me? How can I, except when I forget what his word has said, and instead I trust my own knowledge and understanding. The people of the world would have me think as they do, and be anxious and troubled about tomorrow. The world would have me doubt my heavenly Father, as if he could not see my need, as if he had no power to help. But I have known his grace too long to trust the world. I have seen his hand too strong in my life to trust my own wisdom. I have been given too much mercy to doubt his love and concern for me. I have come to his secret hideaway, where I find the rich treasures of trust, simplicity, peace, and confidence.
I want to grow ever more simple in my thinking, and yet more wise in my actions. I want to become like a little child, and learn to turn every situation over to my Father. I want to be ignorant of evil, and wise concerning good. I want to be blissfully unaffected by the evil around me, and instead draw strength from the awareness of God within me. I want to be innocent in my mind again. I do not want the knowledge of evil which sin, satan, and the world have brought into my life. I only want to eat of the tree of life, the bread of life, the living word, and to drink of living water. I want Eden's precious fruit for my sustenance, and Eden's delightful glories upon my mind. I want to walk apart from the world, and all its' worry, strife, and hate. I do not want the world to make complex that which is so clear to me now. I do not want the world's many layers of deception and distraction to wrap themselves around my mind, and fog my thinking. I do not want the venom of the serpent to poison my soul. I do not want the things which destroy the soul through lust, greed, and envy. I am no longer willing to sell my soul for a pittance.
In simplicity I find serenity. When I place my life in the hands of my Father, life is truly at its' best, so I keep my eyes on him who made me. I think of Abraham and Sarah who bore me, for I too am a child of the promise. It was a miracle, this new birth into the Family of God. It was not of my own making, or doing, or effort, or skill, or goodness, or wisdom. It was simply there for the asking, and Jesus did the rest. I keep my affection on him. I keep my eyes on the goal. I keep my love on heavenly things. I keep my thoughts focused on the salvation of my Redeemer. I think of others now. I strive to live as if I am the only Jesus they will ever see. I want others to find what I have found.
What a precious treasure, to have eternal life in a Kingdom which will never end! I am richer than JFK. I am richer than the Sultan of Brunei. I am richer than the Viceroy of Bombay. I am richer than the Empress of Cathay. She has a heavy crown to bear. I have nothing but a story to share. With my eyes on the prize, how can I be denied joy and singing as I travel along this way? Jesus is my destination. Jesus is my joy. Joy is my destination.