UPON THE SHORE

Eph 3:16-19

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Who have we in Heaven but you? Who are we serving? Who have we been wanting to see all this time? Who has been walking with us, talking with us, guiding us all these years? Who do we want to see first when we get to Heaven? Who will we be praising throughout the ages? Who on earth do we desire beside you? Who loves us more than anyone else? Who has been our most faithful friend down through the years? Who has always stuck with us, been by our side, been on our side, and never forsaken us? Who cares for and loves us more than any mother, father, brother, sister, friend, relative, or anyone else, even a spouse, could ever love us? Of course it's our lover, friend, companion, guide, our supplier, the wielder of all power, the loving Savior, Jesus Christ. No one else even comes close. We don't even love ourselves as he loves us. Praise his name forever and ever!
Let this be your fervent prayer as you wait for the day you will be with your Lord: "Jesus, as I your face behold, so my feet stand within that strand. For I hear your voice coming from the mountain, resounding among the hills. The very hills which encircle me round about, as they did the children of Israel when they were faced with the sea on one side and the enemy hotly pursuing on the other side. But your voice reached across the sea and opened up a path for them, until they passed through safely, while their enemies were drowned. Then they did sing a great song of deliverance to you. Then they did sing and rejoice, when they stood securely on the other shore. And with the faith you have given me in your word, I stand upon that other shore right now, and so founded upon a solid hope (my hope is in you, Lord Jesus), the hope of becoming made in your image, I your face shall behold, and I shall clasp your hand, never to let it go, and I shall be made like you--perfect in beauty and love--and I shall forget all the past. All the sin, all the woe, and every tear from my eye, you shall remove, Lord Jesus.
So now, Lord Jesus, as you stand before me here upon this earth, as you stand by me, my ever constant friend and companion, as your Spirit now rises up within me Lord, I rejoice in what I have in you now. It is mine now. By the eye of faith I see it now. I see a beautiful land fairer than day, and in joy I rejoice. I bind the evil spirits in the name of Jesus Christ. Satan, get behind me. I resist you. There is no room for doubt, or any other sin, in my heart, as I submit myself, oh my Father, to you. My Father, my heart is yours. My Father, my joy is in you, for all the joys of earth shall pass away. For the earth is changing day by day. It changes; no two days are alike. For each day holds new things, but always and ever my heart rests in your word, the sure foundation, the rock of my salvation. And with the knowledge that my feet shall stand on that strand, I stand firm upon this hope, as though it were already accomplished, and so my joy ever flows and never ceases. Thank you, Father!"

ENLIGHTENMENT

Eph 1:18-19

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

You met Jesus and all was changed. Now things must change again. Jesus was your first love. Have you lost your first love? Sin, doubt, earthly cares and pleasures, forgetfulness of what Jesus did for you; have these replaced or taken away from the love for Jesus in your life? You must meet Jesus where he wants you to meet him, on his own terms. You must meet him anew, to renew that which has been tarnished. You must cast out the old and receive the new. At the very beginning, you received Jesus. You must still receive, and not reject him. He is the fountain from which all blessings flow. You have tapped into that fountain. It is flowing through you. You must continue to drink and continue to tap into that fountain. Listen to his Spirit, and by his great love he will help you find the joy you once had in following him. Jesus is all in all. He is all. He is all your joy, your life, your everything. There is nothing good in life which is not from Jesus. Jesus is the author of eternal life. Jesus is the finisher of eternal life. Jesus is the one who gave you eternal life. Jesus is the one who has kept you in eternal life. Jesus is all that is good. All that is good is Jesus. Fill our willing vessels with your loving Spirit once more!
The life of God in us is not stagnant. His life is like a spring, bubbling up effortlessly. The Holy Spirit is not a stopped-up well, which one must unstop to draw from. He is a river running freely. The life of God is an ever-flowing, naturally vibrant source of energy. We do not have to strive to draw from this source, but rather he flows within us, for he has boundless energy. It is we who stop up the flowing fountain within us. It is by yielding to the desires of our own flesh, that we cut off the flow within us. If only we would get out of the way and allow his life to flow through us as he desires to flow, then we would be full and overflowing with life. We could not contain all of his fullness. We would have to let him flow out of us.
God's word is like sunshine, but grass will burn up and die without water. The Spirit is the water. We can hear the word, but without the Spirit quickening it to us, or enabling us to act on the word, it will burn us up. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Without the Spirit we are no more alive than dead, dry grass, which is good for nothing but to be taken and burned. Many hear the gospel, but the people who do not believe it and receive Christ into their hearts, remain dead and dry. People's hearts are so hard, that they allow the enemy to dull their minds and blind their eyes. Who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? How imperative it is for us to have the Spirit of the Lord in us, enabling us, endowing us, giving us the power we need to overcome the world! We who have the Spirit are alive, for we water the seed of the word with prayer and praise from our heart. Then God our Father causes the seed to grow and bear fruit.
We must continue to walk in a spirit of faith. If we can see through the eyes of faith, through the eyes of our spirit, then spiritual things will become a reality for us. For if we are to do anything for the Father's Kingdom, first we must get a clear picture in our spirit's eye, of what his Kingdom is like. Then it will become more real to us than anything of earth. For our Father is able to do far above all we think, or conceive through the imagination of our heart. If we see the things he says to us in his word as being real, then nothing shall be impossible to us. All mountains shall be removed. We must have his Spirit inside us, in order to have this spiritual vision. The Spirit opens our eyes to all the unseen realities of God's Kingdom. Our spirit, connected to the Holy Spirit, becomes alive to spiritual things. When we didn't have God's Spirit, we were dead spiritually. Now that we know God, we hear his voice, we feel his presence, and we see things we never saw before.
Most of all, we must keep our eyes on Jesus, for only he can save, only he can deliver, only he can heal, only he can do great things. We simply watch as he does all things well, and he will do all these things through us, as we see him through the eyes of our heart, for did not the Savior say, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these." (John 5:19-20). The eyes of the Lord go searching through the earth, so he may show himself strong on the behalf of those whose hearts trust in him. Let your hand, oh great Father, be upon those whom you have made strong with your strength!
He shows us his salvation. He shows us his life abundant. He opens our eyes to see a portion of the marvelous light in which he dwells, the light which no man can behold in all its' brightness. He has shown us a glimmer, a glimpse of the reflection of that light, that pure light, illuminating the path to abundant life. See it with your eyes; the eyes of your spirit. The exact same Spirit who lives in Christ, dwells in us. Jesus is not half-God, half-man. He is all God and all man, and his Spirit lives in us. We are as Jesus was in this earth, and he was our example. We are sons of God. We have his abundant life. We are empowered by the same power Jesus had while on earth. We are fully God's new creation in our spirit, yet we are still flesh. But greater is he who is in us, than that which is of the world. Jesus showed us, by example, the life we could live if we follow him, and we want everything he has for us. We consider all things blocking the way to his abundant life to be not worth having, or even worthy of our attention. We want to see more of the great things he has in store for us.
To know Jesus, this is our determined purpose. Searching out his ways, walking in his paths, seeking his face, knowing his will and the intents of his heart, knowing his ways are best, experiencing his love, hating the things he hates, and loving and cherishing the things he loves and delights in: this is our only purpose for living. More like Jesus we would be. More of him we wish to see. All his words we want to hear, until our path is bright with cheer. In his paths we want to walk, of his glory we want to talk. Only his thoughts we want to think. Of his pleasures we want to drink. Following his call, like sheep who listen only to their shepherd, we will lay down beside him and find rest in green pastures.
The visible things of creation were spoken into existence, because God knew that what he said, had to be. By the invisible word of God all the visible creation came into being; we being a part of it. We have God inside us, and we can also exercise the power of God by speaking into visible existence, things which are now invisible. All we have to do is believe in our heart, say it, and receive it, for it shall come to pass. This is the faith we earnestly covet. We desire to be like Jesus. We speak mountains out of existence. We speak Kingdom realities into existence. We say the same things Jesus said, and see them happen right before our eyes. Then we are being like Jesus. We strive to keep his word before our eyes, so we may see the invisible things of God. Unless we see the invisible things, we can never make them visible in our life.
May our goal be to make the Lord number one in our life, in every way, for how futile is any effort without the blessing of the Lord. How useless are our efforts without the power of his Spirit behind us. May the Spirit flow like a river in our life, and may we then find joy in all our labor, for this is a gift from God and the greatest good a man may find in this life. May the Lord then prosper the work of our hands, so we may have the time and resources to not only work, but spend time with him, and fulfill his destiny for our life by spreading the message of salvation. His ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts higher than our thoughts. May the Lord direct our goals, plans, and hopes. Even if it is not what we want, may we trust the Lord and follow him, for his way is best. His way is the only right way to live. It is not what we can accomplish that matters, for it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God that lives are transformed and miracles are performed, and with the Lord behind us, we shall accomplish the works which will last forever.

MORE THAN ENOUGH

2 Cor 3:18

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

    How does one draw close to God?  How does one draw close to the heavenly Father?  The secret is to look at him, instead of at yourself.  If you're weak, he has more strength than you'll ever need.  If you're afraid, he is more powerful than anything you'll ever face.  If you need love, he is the most loving friend you'll ever find.  If you need wisdom, ask him who knows all.  If you need joy, he has more joy than you could contain.  If you need power, he can do more than you can imagine.  If you need grace, he is the giver of every grace known to man.  It is in looking to him, trusting in him, and relying on him that you find all you need for life.
    He can erase your past.  You do not have to be a failure.  He makes all things new; he makes all things right.  He will bring you to where you need to be, no matter how badly you've stumbled in the past.  It's only because you failed to rely on him that you failed at all.  In Christ Jesus you are made complete, and every promise is yours for the taking.  Every day you decide to walk with God and trust in him, is a day you are walking in the best life has to offer.  It is the will of God that you lean on him for everything you need.  As you do this, you will find a closer relationship developing with your Father, and soon you will face every situation in life with hope and confidence, because your faith in him will give you the strength and power you need to overcome any situation.  When you finally see in the Father all you need and desire, then you will know what real peace is.  You will see that he is what every person needs, and you will envy no one.  You will see that his love is the same for every person, and you will have compassion for all.  You will find in him the satisfaction in life you've always craved.  Then you will be a witness to others of what God can do in their lives.  You will tell others to look to him, to trust in him.
    Jesus is with you in everything you do, and he makes you to prosper.  You'll make mistakes, but that's to be expected.  You'll learn from your mistakes, too.  Perfection is the goal for which you must strive, but you should not be dismayed if you fail to attain it.  The Lord accepts you as you are, even when you fail.  He alone never failed.  He has already made a radical change in your life.  God has opened the door to a new way of life for you, and no one can close it.  The Father has opened the door of your mind, and no one can hinder his wisdom from flowing through you.  He has opened the door of your heart, giving you a totally new heart.  He has given you a brand new start, a new lease on life, so praise him now and forever.  His love is all you need.  When he is your Captain, never will he steer you wrong, so give him the direction of your life and inherit the fulfillment of your heart's desires.
    If only we would look to him for all things, then we would never doubt his love for us again, and we would quit looking at how weak and hopeless we are in ourselves.  We would have a new self-image, an image reflecting the love of God for us.  This experience cannot be fully described.  It is known only to those who experience it for themselves.  It is truly what each and every person was meant to experience.  We cannot find this satisfaction in ourselves, or in other people; it has to come from God.  How can one describe the tranquility, joy, love, peace, and rest that is found in God's presence?  At his right hand there are pleasures forevermore, and in his presence is fullness of joy!
    He knows our every thought.  Should we not seek to know him, even as he knows us?  Seek to search his heart, know his thoughts, acquaint yourself with his ways, and learn every word of his tongue.  To know his moving, his resting, his form even--what higher knowledge could a man attain?  None, absolutely none!  What can we give to the Lord for his great goodness?  We give him our life, our heart, our love, and our praise.  May he continue to lead us in the way everlasting.  So be it.

THE WORD MADE FLESH

Ps 40:7-8

Here I am, I have come--it is written about me in the scroll.  I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

    Jesus was the word in the flesh.  Jesus believed the word of God.  Jesus believed the story of Jonah and the whale.  He said so.  In fact, Jesus was right there with Jonah inside the whale.  He believed the Genesis account of a six-day creation, of Adam and Eve, and of the Garden of Eden.  He said so.  In fact, Jesus was the one who made the world, and Adam and Eve, and the garden.  Jesus believed in Heaven and hell.  He believed in eternal judgment and justice.  He even believed in God's power to raise the dead.  In fact, Jesus followed his faith in God's word all the way to Mount Calvary.
    Since the beginning, God has been seeking for someone, anyone who will trust him.  Nothing is impossible with God, and all things are possible for those who believe, so for the man or woman who trusts in God, nothing shall be impossible.  It should not matter how we feel or what we think, for we are to live by faith in God alone, not by our thoughts or feelings.  We can assume Jesus didn't feel like being crucified, which is why he requested that the cup of suffering be removed from him.  He was probably thinking that there had to be an easier way, but he didn't want his way, he wanted God's way.  Jesus didn't go by his ideas or his feelings; he went by what he believed God wanted him to do.
    Regardless of what anyone thinks, or how anyone feels about it, God's word will go forth and conquer.  By every means available to man, his word shall go forth.  It is our job to see that it goes forth.  Then, as the word goes forth, faith will arise in hearts and they will grow strong, and God will work his wonderful work, his marvelous work, and he will be magnified in the earth.  There is no God besides the God who has revealed himself to mankind in his word, and this is why nothing can stop his word from coming to pass.  God is God because he is the only God, and if he wasn't the only God he wouldn't be God, now would he?
    The Lord Jesus is not only the word made flesh, he is everything of which the word speaks.  He is the Kingdom of God.  He is the seed of David's throne.  He is the City of Zion.  He is the everlasting light of the city.  He is the river of life, the tree of life, and the street of gold.  For by him were all things made that are made.  Heaven and earth are his wisdom and his love on display for all to see.  All is him and he is all.  The glorious Kingdom which we shall inherit forever, all its' beauty, all its' glory, and all its' joy, is the reflection of his heart.  The Father created his very best just for us, and when he sent his Son, he sent his very best.  God is who and what Jesus is, because Jesus is the Godhead in bodily form.  There is no one who compares to our God.  He will spread the glory of his own person over us like a tent, and we shall dwell in him and he in us, for John saw his glory and said, "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." (Rev 21:22).
    It is true, even now we are in him and he is in us, but we have this treasure in earthen vessels which prevent us from seeing his full glory.  The Lamb is the light of the city, but he shines in human hearts.  His light radiates within us.  He is the gate of pearl leading into the City of Zion; the pearl of great price for which a man would give everything to possess.  He is the gate whereby we go in and are saved.  He is the shepherd who will guide us into green pastures.  We shall reflect his glory and shine as the stars forever.  All things proceeded from him, and he inhabits a paradise where forever we shall reside with him.  What incomprehensible love his heart holds for his children!  What unfathomable benevolence the heavenly Father has bestowed upon us!

HIS SOOTHING VOICE

    "The Lord's voice sooths our troubled nerves.  When doubts trouble our heart, calmly remember that he has promised us a mansion.  These mansions are already prepared and waiting for us in Heaven, so take comfort in his loving promise.  He will work everything out in our lives, as we patiently trust in him.  Believe him when he says he is with us always.  His presence is our comfort in all our tribulations, in the most trying of times.  Look at Job as an example of suffering and of patience.  We do not always know the ways of the Lord, but we know that he is for us and he doesn't switch sides.  He is always on our side, so trust, love, and praise him.  For everything we suffer and for all we must endure, we will receive a great reward.  He will make it up to us.  He suffered and we shall suffer, too.  He endured and was richly rewarded, and we shall be richly rewarded, too.  What good is it to gain the whole world and lose our own soul?  By following him, taking up the cross, and losing our life, we shall save our soul.
    He is among us, watching, seeing, listening, waiting to perform great and marvelous deeds.  We shall see his salvation.  We are protected by his mighty hand, underneath his shadow, abiding in the cleft of the rock.  We dwell in peace and are at rest there.  He is our defense on all sides, leading and guarding us.  He is a wall of fire round about us.  Our sword will not help us.  Flesh is a weak and dangerous support.  Leaning on him, we shall have perfect peace.  We have a high regard for the Lord.  We reverence his power and have no fear of man.  Who will harm us, if we follow him and walk in his paths?  We are the apple of his eye, his chosen, his beloved, and he knows us by name.  We rejoice in his love and his salvation, and fear nothing but the Lord our Maker, the Creator of time, the God of all that is.
    We magnify him and his word.  We find rest, believing in what is written.  We trust in his wisdom and not in our own wisdom.  We trust, and are comforted by his strength.  We walk in his ways and he guides us continually.  We love him, because we know he will do all he has promised to do.  We love souls, for he loved us first.  The dying find life in his word.  The world needs his word.  We seek to be a help.  We are his sheep, and we will feed the sheep.  We will feed the flock.  We give, and to us is given in good measure, shaken together, and running over.  We will always look to Jesus, for our help and trust is in him, and never shall we be afraid."

CHIEF FUNCTION

CHIEF FUNCTION
Man's chief function on this earth,
is to enjoy God in Christ's new birth.
There is no greater, peaceful life,
than one completely void of strife.
All these are joys which come from above.
So we sing to our Redeemer this song of love.
Bless the name which sets souls free.
Bless him everyone, even you and me.
Bless him because of what he does.
Bless him because of who he is.
His love is deeper than the deepest sea,
and will extend throughout eternity.
Nothing is too hard for God to make right.
He can make the darkness turn bright.
Praise him, ye angels of heavenly light,
doing the will of God just out of sight.
Glorify the Lord of all knowledge, all knowing,
whose power is unending and love overflowing.
Magnify the Lord who controls history,
whose word can tell us what will be.
Thank him that his way he is showing,
to let us know where we are going.
Love him who us, out of darkness has brought,
and in mercy, his marvelous salvation he wrought.
Sing to him whose power and wisdom,
gives to us an everlasting Kingdom.
 
CRAZY ABOUT JESUS
I used to be crazy
about a whole lot of stuff.
I spent a lot of money,
I acted real tough.
Now I'm crazy about Jesus,
I'm not ashamed to say.
His love has made me free,
for Jesus is crazy about me.
I'm crazy, I'm crazy,
"He's crazy," they say.
But they won't say I'm crazy
on the Judgment Day.
Traditionally, can't you see,
in church you must act acceptably.
You must not clap your hands,
or behave too emotionally.
They don't do that in civilized lands.
But I'm joyfully uncivilized,
Revived and Spirit-baptized.
I just love to clap my hands,
and raise my voice.
How else will the world
know I'm his fan?
I'm crazy, I'm crazy,
"He's crazy," they say.
But they won't say I'm crazy
on the Judgment Day.
Jesus is my quarterback.
He'll win the game for me.
His side I choose.
He'll never lose.
So get crazy about Jesus,
For he loves me and you.
Isn't that enough to make you crazy, too?
When you think about eternity,
and all the time we'll have to be happy,
doesn't the thought set you free,
to be just a little crazy?
I'm crazy, I'm crazy,
"He's crazy," they say.
But they won't say I'm crazy
on the Judgment Day.

A BETTER IDEA

Job 36:23-26

Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, "You have done wrong"?  Remember to extol his work, which men have praised in song.  All mankind has seen it; men gaze on it from afar.  How great is God--beyond our understanding!

   

In a flash, the world was created out of nothing.  It came straight out of the mind of God, and appeared in obedience to the words of his lips.  As soon as he spoke, there it was.  His are the trees, the valleys, the hills, and glens.  From his hand came the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field.  Lift up your voice and give him the credit to whom all credit is due.  He formed the mountains and carved out the canyons.  He made the oceans, lakes, streams, and rivers.  On the earth he dug wells, and placed fountains of water.  On the land he multiplied crops, giving us bread, fruit, and meat.  The sun is his, wonderful in its' working, bringing life to all the earth.  The moon is his, mysterious and beautiful, comforting the beasts at night who search for their prey.  The infinitely-smallest particle of matter is God's, and cannot be seen except by his eye.  The ends of the universe, though unknowable to man, are hung as a curtain by his hand.
    Wherever the smallest particle of matter is found, beyond that is God.  Where the ends of the universe meet, beyond that is God.  There is no God like our God.  Great in power, but meek in Spirit.  He humbles himself to look upon us in our smallness, and he counts the hairs on our head.  He knows each breath we take, and counts every beat of our heart.  It is by him we breathe, and it is from him we have life.  Any gift, any talent, any ability, any strength, any goodness we possess, is all from him.  Blessed be his name, the merciful, compassionate, forgiving, Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  So shall it be.
    It is through wisdom the Lord has done all these things according to the plan which he purposed in his heart before the world began.  He had determined beforehand to bring to nothing the wisdom of men, by the power of his Son and the power of his word.  None of the devices of satan, demons, or men have thwarted his plan.  God endowed mankind with wisdom, but the vain thinking of rebellious, godless men has warped the world.  There is no device, no wisdom, no knowledge, no power, no conspiracy, no might, nor any person who can stop the plan of God from its' fulfillment.  God's wisdom will always shine brighter than man's wisdom, even when God's wisdom is treated with contempt by man.  Soon the majestic wisdom of God shall be revealed in crystal clarity to mankind.
    Every attempt of men and devils to destroy God's family, God's word, and God's Kingdom has failed and will fail.  Every device and invention made by man has been working toward the completion of God's will, or these devices would never have been invented.  It is true that men have used many inventions for their own selfish purposes, but inevitably God will turn all things around for the glory of his Kingdom.  The great discoveries of the ages, the great empires of the ages, and the great acts of men throughout the centuries have only occurred as God allowed them to occur, in keeping with his plan for the ultimate triumph of his Kingdom, which is this world's final destiny.  In the end, God's wisdom will frustrate and defeat men's selfish plans.
    Our own nation was founded at exactly the right time in history.  This land was given to those whom God wished it to be given.  We have our own part to play in his story.  The technological, industrial, and scientific advances of the past century are demonstrations of the quickening of the arrival of the culmination of the ages.  Even the great wars and military weaponry have a part to play in the grand fiasco of mankind's frail attempts to establish their own kingdoms, for those who set themselves up in opposition to the Kingdom of Heaven are decreed to be slaughtered at the end, that all the wicked may be destroyed in one final conflagration, cleansing the earth of evil.
    Once a great king ruled the world by his might, and he refused to acknowledge that it was God who had given him his throne.  This king became proud and exalted in his own imagination.  God turned his heart into the heart of a beast and he lived in the fields like an animal, until finally this king was able to lift up his eyes to heaven and concede that God ruled over all the kings of the earth.  Wise decision.
    Decisions, decisions, we all have to make decisions.  On one side is the world and their version of reality.  On the other side is God's word and his version of the truth.  God is calling us to believe him, for he will not be made light of, or set aside as if he had no part to play in the events of this world.  God will allow no wisdom to overcome his wisdom, for God's ideas are better by far than all the paltry knowledge of mankind combined.  The faster men run from God, the swifter will be their destruction, so let us all beware, lest we become proud in our own thinking and deceive ourselves, and forget the Lord our Maker who gives us the ability to reason and judge rightly.  The folly of men's wisdom will be evident to all on the final day, so let us guard our heart and mind, lest we be deceived by the world's smooth speech and cunning deceptions.  Anyone who believes the world's interpretation of reality, is just a dead man walking.  The believers will be the last man standing in this battle for the minds and souls of men.  God's wisdom is given to those who obey him and trust him.  God's elect will be the only ones remaining, while everyone and everything else crumbles to pieces.  The wicked want to burn our Bibles, but God has a better idea.  He wants to burn the wicked by the breath of his lips.  After that, the survivors will gather on Mount Zion to the great victory feast and our Lord shall be glorified throughout infinity.

JESUS HAS THE KEY

Rev 1:18

I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!  And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

    Jesus has the key which unlocks every door needing to be opened, and which closes those which need closing.  He has the keys of the Kingdom.  He shares them with us.  These keys are our faith in him and his word, and our love for him and others.  These are the keys against which all hell cannot prevail.  He has the keys of hell and death.  The key of hell is used to bind the power of darkness.  The key of death is used to set free the captives who are held in bondage by the fear of death.  Jesus has loosed our chains, and given us life eternal.  He opened the prison doors, and brought us out of the kingdom of darkness, and into the Kingdom of his marvelous light.  He opened wide the gates of Heaven.  He has also given us the key of his name.  His name represents all that he is, all that he will ever be, all that he has done, and all that he will ever do.  His presence and power dwell within his name, when his name is wielded by a believer in whom he dwells.  His name is a powerful key.
    He gave the keys to us.  Jesus doesn't need the keys any more.  He's up in Heaven, waiting to come back.  After he took the keys, he gave them to us.  He wants us to use them to continue the work of God's Kingdom.  A key is no good unless it is used.  A key normally exists, because there is something which needs to be opened or closed.  So as we go on our way throughout our life, we need to loose and bind in the name of Jesus and walk in faith and love, seizing every opportunity we have to advance his Kingdom.  We are his ambassadors, his representatives on the earth.  He expects us to take what he has given us, and use it to do his work.
Mark 11:22-23
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.  "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him."
    Satan never rests from doing evil.  He is the one who steals the seed of the word of God out of men's hearts, and he is the one who blinds them to the truth of the good news.  Let us never give satan any rest.  We have the keys which can undo and destroy his work.  Let us put on the whole armor of God; the word, the Spirit, prayer, the message of salvation, the name of Jesus, and work to destroy and overthrow the kingdom of darkness.  If we use the keys God has given to us, nothing shall be impossible unto us!  Have faith in the infinite power of God, and speak his word with authority and faith, and creative power shall be loosed.  When the worlds were made, God spoke and it was done.  Now he has spoken this promise to us, showing us that if we speak, it shall be done.  What are we waiting for?  Speak to the mountain.  Tell it to go.  Speak against the fear, doubt, disease, weakness, and lack in your life, and watch them disappear.  Words filled with faith are the keys to the future.  Doors will open, doors will close, and in the end we shall receive whatever we say and believe.  So shall satan be put to shame, and our God shall be exalted.  Glory to his name forever!

IN IMITATION OF JESUS

Heb 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

    Jesus is the rock when your life is shaky.  He is the peaceful harbor when you are at your wit's end.  He is your righteousness when the accuser hurls accusations at you.  He is your mother when no one else cares for you.  He is your father when you are destitute and helpless.  He is your brother when no one else understands you.  He is your sister when you have no one else to talk to.  He is your friend when all others have forsaken you.  He is your banker when you are down to your last dime.  He is your motivator when you are tired of trying.  He is your ambition when you see nothing worth striving for.  He is your life when you don't feel like living.  He is your strength when you can't even lift up your head.  He is your joy in the midst of pain and agony.  He is your protector when enemies surround you like a pack of wolves.  He is your one and only hope in the face of disaster.  He is your last chance when it looks like you don't have a chance.  He is your priceless treasure when all else is gone.  He is your deliverer in the midst of bondage.  He is your bondsman when the prison doors slam in your face.  He is your guide when you have lost your way.  He is your peace when death comes to fasten itself upon your body.  He is your healer when disease has paralyzed you in its' sickening grip.  He is your bright light when the darkness of depression threatens to overwhelm you.  He is the pill for all your hurts and wounds.  He is the wine that makes you see a happy new reality.  He is the drug that makes you love everybody.  He is the high your mind and flesh have always sought for.  He is the love your heart has always longed for.  He is the supplier of everything you lack.  He is your provider when poverty strikes the land.  He is on your side even when you fight against his best for you.  He is your sanity when fear grips your heart.  He is the keeper of your soul when your faith is weak.  He is good to you when you don't know what's good for you.  He is your comfort when you're feeling trapped in your mortal body, and you feel constrained by space and time, and you can't seem to escape your own hopeless condition.  He's your everything.
    When your soul is overwhelmed and you've reached the end of your rope, then let go and his hands will catch you.  Right when you think it's all over, with no help in sight, around the corner here comes Jesus.  When it seems nothing is going right, he shows you a sign of his mercy.  When you feel you can't wait any more for things to change, he makes the wait worthwhile.  If there is any need known to man that he could not supply, then he would not be the God you have known him to be.  Even when you see that all you need to do is lay your life at his feet, but you cannot seem to find the faith you need to trust him, that's when his grace is sufficient for you and he carries you on his shoulders until you find the faith you need.  What?  You worry?  Not when he's promised to never leave or forsake you.
    He'll come into your world.  When you seem to be going in circles, Jesus will straighten you out.  Sometimes you need a real Jesus, a living Jesus, a Jesus who can be in your world.  If Jesus can't make it in your everyday world, what good is he?  You can't live life with just a Sunday morning Jesus.  You can't function in a crisis with just an emergency Jesus.  You can't wait a lifetime just to find a deathbed Jesus.  You need him now, and you need him all the time.
    He'll come into your world.  Sometimes the world drives you crazy.  It's then you need Jesus in your world most of all.  It's then you need more than a set of rules, or a bunch of beliefs written in a book somewhere.  You need a God.  You know, a real God.  A God who's bigger than the world.  A God who's more powerful than any force on earth.  A God who's not intimidated by the forces of nature, the acts of men, or the powers of darkness.  A God who is more than enough for each and every situation.  That's who you need.  Instead of pulling out your hair, ask Jesus to come and help you.  What a relief it is to know he walks beside you!  When you ask, he answers.  You talk to him, he talks to you.  You have a need, he provides it.  You have a problem, he tells you how to solve it or he solves it for you.  So here you are, still crazy after all these years.  But you're crazy about Jesus.
    You've seen him in your world.  You wouldn't even be here, if it wasn't for Jesus being in your world.  That's how you know Jesus is real.  You've seen him bring you through the tests, the trials, the sins, the mistakes, the ups, the downs, the ins and the outs.  And because Jesus is in your world, your world is a much better place today than it was yesterday.  Tomorrow is going to be even better, because then you'll be twenty-four hours closer to being with Jesus in his world.  Then Jesus is all you'll ever see in your world!

Heb 13:7
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.  Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

    What better leader could we imitate than Jesus?  What better outcome of life and faith could we imitate than he who never met a devil he couldn't cast out, who never met a sinner he couldn't love, who never met a challenge he couldn't face, who never met an illness he couldn't heal, and who never met a power he couldn't overcome, even the power of death, and whose way of life and faith was the same Monday through Sunday?  If he was happy on Monday, he was happy on Tuesday.  If he was healing on Friday, he was healing on Saturday.  If he was saving a tax collector on Wednesday, he was saving a thief on Thursday.  And he'll be doing the same things forever, until every soul is saved who can be saved, every sick person is healed who can be healed, and every bound person is delivered who can be delivered.  And the only ones he can't save, heal, and deliver are those who don't want him to save, heal, and deliver them.
    So live by faith, not your feelings.  Reign in life as a king, for you are already seated in heavenly places with Christ.  Look not at the material world, but look at the spiritual world.  That's where you'll find your real place in life and the joy which never ends.  You have no excuse for not rejoicing.  You should be the happiest person on earth.  Jesus loves you and made you in his image.  He knew who you were, before the world was created.  You were in his heart.  So rejoice, as one so precious to him that he died for you, rose again for you, and ever lives to intercede for you, as your advocate before the Father.
    For your Maker is your spouse, and he will give you a name better than any name a son or daughter could give you.  He will make you joyful in his house of praise, and you shall go out with joy and be led forth in peace.  For more are the children of the desolate, than of those who are married.  The children of this world are married to this world, though they realize it not, and they and all their offspring shall be removed from the Kingdom, and shall never be remembered any more.  But those of us who are his desolate Bride, who have been forsaken by the world and have forsaken the world, shall forever inherit the land, along with those we have helped win for his Kingdom.  His righteousness is near and ready to be revealed, for his word shall not return void.  He will fill the barren heart with gladness, and satisfy the broken in heart with his goodness.  That's why it's so great to know Jesus.
    What would life be like without Jesus?  We'd be selfish slaves of our own lust, hate, wickedness, and perversion.  We'd be on a self-destructive path to hell.  We'd have no life, no love, no joy inside at all.  How do the people of this world make it day by day without Jesus in their lives?  By living like they're on their way to hell, that's how.  The only way to really make it, is to trust in Jesus.  Satan can't touch us now.  We defeated satan; for in Christ it was we who crushed the evil principalities and powers of darkness, and in view of the whole creation, we triumphed over them, because we were in Christ when he did it.  We were there.  We were chosen in Christ before the world began.  We were a part of him, when he defeated the devil.  He had us planned in his mind, and his victory was our victory.  His triumphant resurrection was our resurrection.  When he sat down by the Father's side on a heavenly throne, we sat down with him.  Don't try to understand this; just believe it because nothing is impossible with God.  Believe it because this is what's written in God's holy book, and you'll get happy just thinking about how much he loves you.
    Who can harm you?  Who can touch you?  What could alarm you?  Aren't you glad you have all power and authority over satan?  You can be used of God to destroy the works of the devil and his kingdom, not by your own might or power, but by the Spirit of God inside you, and the devil knows this too, and he's scared out of his wits.  All those mountains the devil puts in your way, have to move and be removed.  The devil runs when he sees you coming.  He is on the run.  His tail is between his legs, his skull is crushed, and he's running blind, shocked, scared, and helpless.
    What God will do in the next few years will shock the world!  For behold, he set in Zion a cornerstone, and he will work a wonderful work, a marvelous work, which you would not believe, even if it were told you.  God can turn things around overnight, so you must get busy right now and tell the world what Jesus has done, before it's too late.  Why do you doubt what he has done for you, and what he can accomplish through you?  Samson was like no other figure in history.  He was unique, because God had a specific job for him to do, precisely at that moment in history.  Yes, an angel came and told his parents that he would be a special child, and indeed he was.  But because an angel failed to announce your birth, doesn't mean you are any less special in God's sight.  God gave Samson the gift of supernatural physical strength.  Samson was no stronger by himself than any normal person.  It was because God helped Samson that he was so strong.  So what is your special calling?  What can't you do by yourself, that God wants to do through you anyway?  Don't ever limit the Holy One of Israel.  If you do, you'll come up short of what he has for your life.  Jesus can make you strong enough to do whatever he needs you to do.
    No one was like Jesus either, and no one ever will be.  Why?  Because he was the Son of God.  There is only one Man who was God, is God, and always shall be God, and that's Jesus.  Samson had supernatural strength.  Jesus had supernatural strength against sin; he never sinned.  Samson killed a lion with his bare hands.  Jesus defeated satan in hand to hand combat.  Samson slew a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey.  Jesus has defeated the devil in the lives of millions by the words of his mouth.  Samson tore down the gate of a city, and carried it on his back.  Jesus tore down the gates of hell, and carried the sins of the whole world on his back.  Samson brought down the temple of the idols, and killed all the leaders of the enemy's army.  Jesus brought down the power of satan's kingdom, and rose triumphant over all the armies of darkness.
    Guess what?  Jesus didn't do all that as God.  No sir.  The Bible says he was made flesh, like us.  He didn't walk and talk on the earth in his divine form.  He didn't suddenly appear one day out of nowhere.  He was born of a virgin, raised by a carpenter, and baptized by John in the Jordan River.  Then the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form of a dove, and immediately after that Jesus started performing miracles and raising the dead.  How'd he do it?  By the same power living inside every believer who accepts Christ as Lord.  By the same power empowering people like you to live as children of God.  Jesus had the Spirit without measure, because his Spirit was the same Spirit of the divine God he had always been, and his Spirit was pure, holy, and without sin.  He was a vessel of flesh filled entirely with God, for in him the Godhead dwelled bodily.
    So if Jesus, as the Son of Man could do all this, then why can't you find your place in God's Kingdom and do what no one else has ever done?  Jesus himself said you would do greater works than he had done.  This means he intends to equip you sufficiently with his Spirit to do his will.  You have a better covenant than Samson had, and you have the Spirit of God living inside; the same Spirit who dwelt in Christ.  What gift has God given you?  What unique plan and design has he for your life?  What can you do which no other person in history has ever done?
    Samson had a foolish weapon to use against the enemy; the jawbone of a donkey.  God has chosen foolish things to defeat the wisdom of men.  The preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who believe, it is the power of God unto salvation.  No matter how foolish or unimportant you might think your gift is, it can be used in God's hands to destroy the works of hell.  The Lord Jesus has already brought down the pillars of death and hell, and he is your invincible leader who goes forth with you against the enemy.  By his Spirit within you, take the battle to the enemy and go forth as a conqueror in the name of Jesus, doing the works he has sent you to do.  With your faith in Jesus, nothing will be able to stop you.
    Do not fear and doubt.  Fear is a lie you believe, and it will hold you back.  Doubt is a lie you believe, and it will get you nowhere.  Do not whine and complain.  You only whine and complain, because you hold onto some lame conception of the way you think life should be.  Is it wise to go grumbling through life, because you think God ought to do things your way?  Is that a smart way to live?  Do not be downcast and depressed.  God has wonderful things in store for you.  The best is yet to come.  Rather, be filled with the Spirit and give thanks.  Be thankful, instead of complaining.  Begin speaking to yourself.  Think of a song to sing.  Remember the words of a favorite hymn.  Read a psalm out loud, so your ears can hear the good news.  It shouldn't be difficult to be thankful, if you do these little things.  It might get your mind off yourself.  Then you will be glad, and the Spirit will fill the air around you, and you will know that the Lord is your refuge, and in him you will trust, and his presence will be with you continually.
    Those who walked with Jesus while he was on earth, knew him personally, and he desires all his children to know him personally, even as a best friend.  He wants to talk and walk with you, just as he did with his disciples.  Together, they sang praises to the Father.  Even on the night of his betrayal, Jesus led them in a hymn of praise.  He kept his joy, his praise, and his peace unto the very end.  Jesus realized that all he had, came forth and proceeded from the Father, and he knew that with the sacrifice of praise his Father was well pleased.  So imitate Jesus.  His yoke is easy and his burden is light.  You'll find it's easier to be happy, than to be grumbling.  Your soul will feel much lighter when you think on the good things, and push aside the negative thoughts.
    God inhabits the praises of his people, because praise is equivalent to trust.  God's Spirit is drawn to those who trust in him.  God's Spirit fills those who are hungry to be close to him.  Be humble in your own estimation.  Simply trust and follow the words of the Lord.  You'll never figure everything out, so stop trying.  Learn to listen to the guidance of your inner man, where God dwells.  He inhabits the temple of your spirit.  So be tranquil, calm, peaceful, rested, strong, glad, joyful, rejoicing in high spirits, and full of praise, knowing he will deliver you, no matter what the circumstances.  Have faith in God and keep giving thanks, even as Abraham gave praise to God and was strong in faith.  This is how to walk in God's presence continually.  This is how to imitate the life and faith of Jesus.  Consider the outcome of such a life.  Think about it.  Imitate Jesus, and you too shall reap everlasting rewards.

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!