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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

o holy night

last post of the year
lyrics to o holy night

especially love "His law is love" wow
meditate on that for awhile

O holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It 'tis the night of our dear savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'til he appeared and the soul felt it's worth.
A prayer of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night, when christ was born

Truly he taught us to love one another
His law is love and his gospel is peace
Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother
And in his name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise his holy name.

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night, when christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night, when christ was born

Friday, December 25, 2009

romans 1:1-7 Bible study

posting this so i will have a copy saved in "internet land" in case
our computer crashes


The Letter to the Romans Bible Study
Words: Apostle and Grace
Main Resource - “The Epistle to the Romans” by Karl Barth

Romans 1:1-7 “The Author to His Readers”
1. Paul, a bond servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
Paul introduces himself as a ‘slave’ of Christ Jesus. All of this writing that follows is being done by one whose pen touches paper not as a great genius who has searched it all out, but as a servant transmitting to his reader, that which he has been told and shown. The bond servant is a slave by choice, willingly giving up his own will to the the will of another. The call to be an apostle is God’s decision, the call to enter ministry is God’s call. He is a man, like other men but he has been called of God to be an apostle. APOSTLE This word must be pondered. An apostle is a “sent one.” The authority of the one sent relates back to the one who did the sending. Sent by God, called out by God, separated from time and humanity in one aspect of His life, His relationship to God. This call demands a hearing - but because it is a call from God it does not exalt the individual. God’s call is the ground of his authority .
1 Corinthians 4:9-13 For I think, God has exhibited us as apostles last of all as men condemned to death because we have become a spectacle to the world both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor. 11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and our poorly clothed, and are roughly treated and are homeless; 12 and we toil working with our own hands; when we are reviled we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered we try to concillate we have become the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. This first quote regarding apostles is the one that is most overlooked, for obvious reasons. The ‘high cost’ of this call is basically everything.
Ephesians 4:11-16 And He gave some as apostles and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ 14 as a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness and deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the Head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together, by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Apostles are foundational.
Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God’s household 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets Christ Jesus Himself being the corner(stone) 21 in whom the whole building being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Apostles and prophets are the foundation, Christ is the cornerstone, this calling has to be the most humbling calling of all and it caused Paul to call out, (2nd Corin. 2:16 “who is sufficient for these things.”

Back to verse one. Paul is set apart to or for the gospel of God. He does not say he is set apart “from” which would indicate rules and regulations -not much joy. Holiness isn’t what you set yourself apart from but who and what God sets you apart “to” Himself and His gospel. This Gospel of God, is God’s plan, all about Jesus. No one has been accused more of having his own religion, his own gospel as Paul and nothing could be further from the truth. Paul speaks and reveals God’s Gospel. This is very key to the rest of the book. God is utterly distinct from men. Salvation comes to men from God because they are incapable of knowing Him - they have no right, no claim to anything from Him.

Romans 1:2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy scriptures This emphasizes that this is the fulfillment of the ancient religion of the Jews. This is not a new thing. This is the culmination, the pinnacle of what has come before.

Romans 1:3 concerning His Son who was born a descendant of David according to the flesh The humanity of Jesus, fully human. The promised Messiah who had to come from the line of David. The sovereignty of God in preserving that lineage, and making it all work out. Many things could be meditated on in this verse.

Romans 1:4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord. So important to watch the words here, in verse 3 “born” fully human, in verse 4 “declared” because His divine self has always existed as part of the trinity of God. The resurrection from the dead is the statement that confirms the truth that has always been. He is fully God. Jesus Christ the intersection of God and man. The unknown world of the Father, with the known world of His creation, that had fallen our of union with Him. In the O.T. there are resurrections and of course Jesus resurrects some people in the N.T. so what is different about Jesus resurrection? How does it make the declaration ‘Here is the Son of God!’? All other resurrections came back with the same body, the same tendency to sin, the same destination, to die again, the wages of sin. Their resurrections were performed by a power outside of themselves. Jesus’ resurrection is by His own power, to a new spirit/body. 2 Corinthians 13:4 For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we are also weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. This one time event is repeated over and over again when He reveals Himself and is recognized as the Messiah, Victor, King with a kingdom that He comes to establish and live thru us. Thru His presence in our life we are dissolved as men and established in God. There is “the change” that then leads to the growth process, of becoming like Christ.

Romans 1:5 thru whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among the gentiles for His name’s sake,
Grace and apostleship are received. GRACE - the most important part of understanding this word is grasping that we have NO PART in it. Meaning it is given to us freely and completely from God without any merit or earning or ‘because’ from our end. When we do obey, it is a “buying our dad a present with his money” type of thing. His grace and the ‘sent ones’ who come into our lives ‘bring about’ the ‘obedience of faith.’ Grace is only grace when it is recognized as incomprehensible. Only by revelation only by receiving from “above” can we “see.” “the obedience of faith” Our obedience flows from the faith that God gives us and His life flowing thru us because of that faith. It is His work in us and He gets all the glory. All that is done is done “for His name’s sake.” The mission that grace empowers us to fulfill consists of honoring His name with our lives. We do not belong to ourselves or to the world’s corruption. We are saints separated, called to holiness, belonging to Him. The answer to the question, “Why do I exist?” is; that the name of Christ would be exalted. God doesn’t tell sinners “behave” He tells us “believe.” Tremendous frustration enters into the Christian life thru the door of “trying hard.” His life is given for us, not be admired from afar, not to be imitated, but to flow thru us.

Romans 1:6 among whom you are also the called of Jesus Christ. You know something is up when EVERY translation that you can find uses the same word and “called” was used in every version I checked. It can mean invited, or it can mean divinely selected or appointed. This group in Rome was ‘among’ the gentiles that God was bringing to Himself. What an honor, and unspeakable, privilege and blessing… and there was more!!


Romans 1:7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. “beloved” of God. That being loved by God is the call of the saint. That love flows to us and causes in us the “change” that starts the process of letting that love flow out of us to others. We are given all that we need to live the Christian life, ‘grace and peace.’ The grace for you to make it thru every situation in life is ‘there.’ Also in this verse is all the proof you ever need of the divinity of Jesus Christ. The ‘grace and peace’ come from ‘God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ By connecting them with ‘and’ and identifying them as the source of the ‘grace and peace’ they are being placed on a equal level, side by side. No man, no created being, is ever put in that place. Jesus is Lord, Jesus is God, period. Our trust and prayer fix on God, as He is the Father of Christ; and on Christ, as He presents us to the Father.
All this truth and life flows to us thru the Holy Spirit. The trinity uphold and enables us to live the Life.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

the line of Jesus

Leah the unwanted, weary, "weak-eyed" one was the one
CHOSEN by God to be in the line of Jesus.

He still chooses those ones today.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

blessed morning and prayer request

What a blessed morning
I read in Numbers, for the first time, (inspite of the fact that i have read it 15 times) that the table of the temple was carried set and with bread on it, when they moved it they set it and left the bread on it covered it and took it with them always set, always with bread on it. Isn't scripture wonderful? Isn't God wonderful?
I read in Ezekiel that God said. "All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will perform it." Ezekiel 17:24 Sovereign God we worhsip you!
For those who have been reading Ezekiel you knew that He was about to say "I am the LORD", before He said it, because it is one of the themes of the book, that is filled with the righteous judgment of the Lord on a disobedient nation.
Judgment is good news to the righteous and bad news to the disobedient.
I read in Karl Barth's "the epistle to the Romans" that "God is for us" and it hit me in a way that it never has. Thank you God.


the prayer request is for wisdom for two parents who have a hugely difficult decision coming up
their desire is to do whatever the Holy Spirit of God directs them to do. Whichever way the decision goes great courage and great faith will be required to walk it out. "Who is sufficient for these things!!" Paul would cry this out when thinking of his calling and what God had placed before him, and I believe every parent who has been pressed to the place of death by the sin-filled actions of their child can join in that cry.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

clarity or trust

When God doesn't give you clarity
He will give you trust.
lessons in bearing your cross
from Mother Teresa thru Jason upton

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

one life

There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.
oswald chambers november 30th

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

worship

i'm growing up
instead of ranting about what i don't like
i am emphasizing what i do like
this song for instance


enjoy

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Barth Romans 8:17

"Participation in suffering means to suffer with Christ, to encounter God, as Jeremiah and Job encountered Him; to see Him in the tempest, to apprehend Him as Light in the darkness, to love Him when we are aware only of the roughness of His hand."

Thursday, November 19, 2009

silence and waiting

"Silence is death to the senses...
Waiting is a form of dying,
Failure, humiliation and what men might think, will keep us fearful.
We are afraid to take risks lest we fail. Failure is death, humiliation
is death, but in the kingdom of God, it is the way of life."
Art Katz "True Fellowship"

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

sweet or bitter

If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace; or even if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him. oswald chambers

Sunday, November 8, 2009

love your enemies

the true church is a "living indictment" of the self[centered world, and yet the "high call" of the true church is to love their enemies.
"while we were yet sinners" is the example of love that we are given.
we respond in love to hatred, and for that "the enemy"
has no answer, God sets the stage for us to respond in love.
Let us be authentic and "in HIM" and we will love, NO MATTER WHAT!

loosely from art katz

Friday, November 6, 2009

the Christ Life

Is there any aspect of the life to which we are called in which we are sufficient in ourselves?
No, we need to die to self and trust the life of Christ in us. Death and resurrection. Every issue before the believer is a choice between human sufficiency and the life of Christ. Art Katz

Do we get the ways of God? "And it was evening and it was morning of the first day." Gen 1:5
Evening first, darkness first, rest first, then day, then light, then work. So obvious, so simple, so overlooked.
We think our day starts with morning and it is an indicator of how "wrong" we are at our very depth.

wisdom from oswald

"Do you believe this?" Are you facing an area of doubt in your life? Have you come, like Martha, to a crossroads of overwhelming circumstances where your theology is about to become a very personal belief? This happens only when a personal problem brings the awareness of our personal need.
Oswald Chambers Nov. 6th

God we thank you for the times when you "ruin our image" and break us down, and bring/allow/reveal a personal problem that causes us to cry out to you. WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN TO RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HIS SUFFERING!! the moravians

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

love in action

"There is so much suffering, so much hatred, so much misery, and we with our prayer, with our sacrifice are beginning at home. Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do. It is to God Almighty - how much we do it does not matter, because He is infinite, but how much love we put in that action. How much we do to Him in the person that we are serving." Mother teresa

enemy strategy

this cut and paste from an article on the defeat of "gay marriage" by the people of Maine
caught my eye...

Richard Socarides, who was an adviser on gay-rights issues in the Clinton administration, said the loss in Maine should prompt gay-rights leaders to reconsider their state-by-state strategy on marriage and shift instead to lobbying for changes on the federal level that expand recognition of same-sex couples.

So what this guy is saying is, every time we bring this issue, (this abomination), up to the people we lose, so what we need to do is bypass these "stupid people" and go to the "all-wise" leaders and have them change the laws anyway... and this is the strategy of satan... push the people aside and get the "leaders" who have been bought and paid for to change the laws.

jason upton says it better

at this you tube location
Jason speaks of being "deceived into your destiny" that part starts at around 7 minutes.

He is speaking of Jacob and God's choice of Leah, "the not so pretty"

"the not so perfect in outward appearance" to be the Lineage of Jesus,
Joseph is Jacob's favorite and takes up a large part of Genesis, Rachel is Jacob's
favorite wife, the lovely one, BUT GOD, chooses Judah to come thru Leah, and
to come thru her when she has totally given up on ever receiving love from
Jacob, and her focus is totally on God, "Praise God" she says when all her previous
name choices had to do with "impressing Jacob"
So what do we learn,
Don't look at outward appearance and image, follow God.
Don't run your life to impress anyone, receive the love of God and return it to HIM!!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

art katz true fellowship

page 35
"The root of our ills, stife, divisions, fears, jealousies, ambitions and everything that leads to the rupture and fragmentation of marriages and fellowships is due to our failure to radically apprehend God as He is."

Monday, October 12, 2009

keep an eye

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1505787.php/Report-Libyan-leader-Gaddafi-wants-official-post-for-his-son

i intend to keep an eye on this guy
whose name means "sword of islam", but who is
very "peaceful, reconciling"...

Saturday, October 3, 2009

earthquake

these are the end times
here is a web-site for all earthquakes
in the past 2weeks

observe

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

the kneeling heart

wow
this gave me alot of food for thought
and i know it will you
only the Bible is perfect, so it isn't perfect
but this person has alot to offer
and has gone deep with God

www.thekneelingheart.com

sept 9, 2009 entry

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Right

RIGHT
A person whose way of thinking and feeling and acting is wholly conformed to the will of God. Ultimately, "right" is simply the will of God lived out. "Might makes right" is actually a true saying, because God is ultimate "might" and He alone determines what is ultimately "Right." When a society, or group of people argue that their point of view, in oppposition to God is "right," they are ultimately wrong. Excuses and scientific discoveries and theories all must collapse in a meaningless puddle of nothingness.
God alone establishes what is right.
To think on things athat are right requires a love for the Word of Him thru the Bible. Then our minds will be thinking "right." Then there is hope that our actions will be "right." Not because we now hae a formula, but because we will be seeing as God sees. His ways are right because He is right. Wa are right when we are in line with His will for the moment we are living in. Our "mother and brothers" may be at the door telling us they know what is right, but we must follow what God is leading us to do, He alone knows what is right for us.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Self-control Peace

SELF-CONTROL
Amazing, beautiful irony. Can you wap your mind around this? Self-control is a FRUIT of the Spirit. Not so fast, think about that, let it sink in. Self-control has as its root and power and fulfillment, the Spirit of God. Once again even in the area of self-control there is no room for boasting. People with a natural ability to control their actions, have to be completely broken of all "trust" in their will-power or stamina. The broken and contrite are the ones who can truly receive and walk in this fruit. They have surrendered any idea of being a 'self-made man.' They will never claim to have picked themselves up by the bootstrap.' They are and ever will be counter-cultural. They, with Paul, proclaim their weakness, and then and only then find strength. Praise God for the jagged path that breaks us of self-reliance and brings us into the realization that "self-control" is a fruit of the Spirit, and has nothing to do with self. It rises out of the ashes of our pride, with shouts of "Grace, Grace to it!"

PEACE
This fruit is most dramatically displayed in situations that would normally cause despair. Like joy, it is not based on circumstances or events. The foundation of peace is found in the deep trust that develops between a disciple and his Master. Trust that grows as God displays His faithfulness in all the areas of our life where we choose to rest in Him. Peace is tied to the scripture, "We walk by faith and not by sight." How often does the 'liar' whisper, "This isn't the way it should be. He is nowhere. He will not carry you this time." God will faithfully give you a word that speaks of His goodness. There is a danger in "picking" a scripture that speaks of a specific outcome, peace is not based on that, it is based on His goodenss, His wisdom, His knowledge of all thing. HIM. What joy it brings to His heart to see one of His beloved resting in the keel of a storm-tossed boat. Peace was in the heart of Jesus long before He spoke to the wind and the waves. God gives us this peace.

Friday, September 25, 2009

good and truth

GOOD
We are commanded to set our minds on things that are good. Good things flow from God. Good is a word that Jesus did not let people abuse, challenging the rich young ruler, that "no one is good, but God alone." When we pursue " good" we must end up at God, the source of everything good. The encouragement from God is focus, pursue, be drawn toward what is good. As always His love for us is the motivation for telling us that this is the way of life. Untold troble, pain, and sorrow could be avoided if we pursued "Good" and not evil. It is a swimming against the current of this day, but the Holy Spirit inside of us is faithful to "check" when we are drifting toward evil. Our part is to pick up the grace to allow that "check" to be enough to turn us 180 degrees away from evil and toward good, to the praise of His Name.

TRUTH
Focus on things that are true. Truth identifies and strengthens our love for God. True things withstand scrutiny. True things withstand storms. Truth is so much a part of who God is that Jesus identifies Himself as the Truth. Steadfastness and perseverance proceed from a life that is rooted and grounded in truth. Truth is the hard, narrow way. Lies are told to make things easy, to get around the rules, to supplant God's purposes. Lies are told by people who do not trust God to "have their back." God is true, His words to us are true. Filling our minds with what is true, combats the incursio of the world, the flesh and the devil. Choose to focus on what is true and you will be able to laugh at the lie.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

faithfulness gentleness

FAITHFULNESS
"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay." Hab. 2:3 Disillusionment is the ax that satan has designed to cut down the tree of faithfulness. "Though it tarries," is the way that God purifies our faithfulness, making sure that it is a faithfulness to HIM, not the "outcome."

"And He said, 'Come!' and Pete got out of the boat, and walked on the water and come toward Jesus." Matt. 14:29 Faithfulness is to the word that the Master speaks. That word, empowered by His grace at that moment, is all that we have to go on. Reason, worldly wisdom, common sense, are not what we are faithful to. Our faithfulness flows from our belief in the power and love of God. This is fruit, not a work that we strive for, but a life-filled outflow from deep roots. God is good. Simplicity, child-like trust is our ultimate call. Resurrection, when all is totally dark, remember. God's faithfulness does not end in death, resurrection is His 'trump card.'


GENTLENESS

This word is used almost exclusively as the attitude we should have when restoring someone. Jesus describes Himself as gentle. Israel's coming King is described in Psalms as gentle, preferring to enter His kingdom on a donkey instead of a stallion. This fruit is desperately needed, and like the awful smelling manure that drenches the most productive fields, the growth for this frui has taken place in dark, terrible times that the Lord has redeemed. Those with a spirit of gentleness have been "great sinners," who have felt the loving hand of restoration extended to them. People who have no hope of ever 'coming back' are drawn to those with a gentle spirit. "I know the pit You got me out of and so no pit is too dark and deep for me to reach into." This reaching "Believes all things," trusting the God who restored them will also restore this one. This reaching is not so mich a reaching down, as a reaching across, because the reality of the grace that has been shown to me is never far from my consciousness and it shows in my gentleness with other's sins.
God, may this fruit grow in abundance in my life, in Your church.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

love and joy

LOVE
The cornerstone, the loadstone, the thing without which nothing else matters, its' importance cannot be over-emphaszied. The requirement for this fruit to grow is the submission to the loving, pruning hand of the Master-gardener. His goal will be the death-to-self, the voluntary "deny himself," that truly sets us free to love. Love truly is freedom, freedom from the worst kind of bondage - bondage to our own lusts.
Grace has lovingly reached out to our lives. Our reception of that love is the trigger to release its' outflow in our lives. The only hope of giving love is abiding IN the love that God gives us. Humiity is a requirement. You only get what you admit you need and ask for. A lack of love can be traced to a lack of humility. Pride blocks love. Pride tries to look like love at times, being "generous, kind and sacrificial," but God is not mocked. The white-washed tomb has never fooled Him. Scripture tells us exactly what love is, as we admit our lack, the Father will fill us.

JOY
Joy is a fruit that grows abundantly on a tree that is content to know the will of God and do it. It cares not about the "success" of the work, the appearance or image that is presented. If ia am about my Father's business, it is enough. In that is my joy. Joy is deeper than happiness. It is so deep that it is untouchable by the circumstances that pummel huppiness inot oblivion. Joy speaks of an inner knowing that we are "known" by God. "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine." That is the ultimate statement of joy. It flows from an intimacy with the God who "dances" over us. We can find joy only in union with God. This treasure becomes more and more unshakeable as we rest in the will of God for our lives. It leaves when we are trying to be what anyone other than God wants us to be.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Patience

Patience
"Passing through the valley of Baca (weeping) they make it a spring," Psalm 84:6a Patience has a deep tap root in the goodness of God. Everything around us can be screaming, "Hurry up, this is urgent!" and we can be in a place of rest. Endurance is often tied to patience. "Patient endurance," is a phrase often found in the Bible. Eugene Peterson wrote a book entitled, "A Long Obedience." The godly throughout the centuries have been most easily marked as those who are not looking for a quick fix, a quick answer. It is truly counter-cultural, but it is the most pleasing way to God. This is a marathon, not a sprint. "He who endures to the end..." A great emphasis is placed on continuing to do the right thing until... don't put a limit on it! It is until God says so.

kindness

little devotionals i wrote for a women's conference

Kindness
This fruit grows from a tree that knows the depth and the breadth of the kindness that it has been shown. When you truly know that you were deserving of wrath, the fact that you were shown mercy becomes more and more amazing every day. This realization drives you to forgive. You see beyond the hurt to the healing that the other person needs. You are slow to speak because "quick words" are typically cruel and without grace. Kindness risks rejection and embarrassment by pushing open a door that is partially clased so that light and life can come in. This fruit approaches others with the grace of God in a way that they can receive it. There is no formula, only a constant leaning on the God who knows best how to transmit His love and care to a lost and hurting world. The roots of kindness are noursished by events of cruelty and neglect that have been redeemed by the love of the Father. The pain is transformed in a dogged determination to be a vessel of His "Healing Balm."

Monday, August 24, 2009

1-1-1

neat idea that our pastor got at a conference
1 - 1 - 1
Pray for 1 person at 1 o'clock for 1 month

Asked God to give me a name and He did
and now we are starting on "the way"

Saturday, August 15, 2009

words release power

Unfortunately both good and evil power.
While going thru an intense time with one of our children the other day.
I walked down to confront the situation and on the way, God had me stop and
go around church in our town. God made very clear to me that part of what
we, as parents, were battling in this situation was "evil powers" released by the
words of other Christians. Words spoken in anger, or envy, or malice that REALLY and TRULY
released an attack of evil spirits on our son.
I could not think of others at that point, as I was convicted in my heart of words and thoughts directed against others. I repented in tears for the "idle words" that were bringing death and I prayed to pick up the grace that is available to speak words of life and grace to and about others.

Father, forgive us, and heal us.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

it's simple

love

God teach us how to love
Fill us with Your love and let Your love touch others thru us
Use us for Your glory

it's simple

love

Thursday, July 30, 2009

2nd corinthians and hypocrisy and persecution

2nd Corinthians has so much to say about those who are truly called into ministry, that i refuse to pick out a verse or series of verses. Read the whole thing, it can be done in one sitting and read it as seeing what Paul has to say about the qualifications and preparations to be a minister of God.

last nights Bible study on hypocrisy in giving Matt. 6:1-4 (the emphasis is completely on YOU beware of Your own hypocrisy, not try to figure out if anyone else is)
My random thought was if hypocrisy is the contagious disease, what is the CURE that God allows fo flow in from the outside....
My wife "got it"... Persecution --- there are no "mega-churches" in China, or any other country where persecution is a daily occurence, house-churches gather and true love and brokeness prevail. So here is a question; are there really, i mean REALLY any "mega-churches" anywhere?...
my answer is, no, only what "looks like" a mega-church in the absence of persecution.

So AMEN Come Lord Jesus, purify Your church!!
8 minute video from David Wilkerson on "travail"

Thursday, July 16, 2009

perfect trust/ perfect rest

Jesus said there are times when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but you should trust Him. At times God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the thought that the mind of God is behind all things strong and growing. Not even the smallest detail of life happens unless God’s will is behind it. Therefore, you can rest in perfect confidence in Him

Oswad Chambers (nothing to add)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

our lack

It seems to me that most of our problems/worries/interpersonal difficulties are simply a lack of understanding/appropriating/appreciating/knowing the amazing sacrificial love or our God.

We love, because He first loved us ...(and by the way we were quite unlovable at the time)

Once again John, led by the Holy Spirit, had more truth in one sentence than a whole year
of Philosophy 101

Monday, July 13, 2009

disarm the enemy

Pastor Larry showed a video "Lead Me to the Cross - Passion of the Christ"
yesterday in church and while watching it God dropped this truth in my
head

It's sacrificial love that disarms the enemy.

Amen, So Lord love thru us, give us Your love, love - sacrificially - thru us.

Friday, July 10, 2009

ouch

God's word to me yesterday
very clear
very true

"You are not to respond to him in a hostile way"

Spoken directly to my heart, about the way that i
respond to the challenges/statements of one of our sons.

Thank you, God for Your faithful love and guidance.

Now You, O Lord, must do the work thru me.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

questions from kids

Kids ask questions that sometimes make you think. Like after being bitten by a mosquito, "Daddy why did God make mosquito's?"
While still thinking about it, I opened my mouth and said, well before sin, they would have been harmless, but that didn't get much response, so i let it sit for awhile, and this week while in church, this thought came to me...The purpose of mosquito's is to show us the evil of sin and to make us long for heaven all the more.

Also in teaching the 2-4 year olds about being thankful, i could not get any of them to thank God for ants...it is a sign of immaturity in Christ when we can't be thankful in all things, not for the "all things" themselves but for the sovereign God behind them...

I want to get a hebrew word for " Who makes it all work out" so that i can make a compound name for God like "Jehovah-Jireh" "Jehovah-Shalom" so it will be "Jehovah-Who makes it all work out"

Also some deep thoughts on the judgment of God and "beginning to see" that alot of what goes on in the world that is horrible and beyond our ability to comprehend is the judgment of God and we need to be in prayer and confession, like Daniel did for Israel in Daniel chapter 9

Friday, June 5, 2009

the end is the beginning

the end of your life is the beginning of His life in you
the end of your checking account is the beginning of
faith in the God who provides
the end of your plans is the beginning of a life of
waiting and watching for His leading
the end of the government system you trusted in for
protection and security is the beginning of being fully abandoned
to the Shepherd
the end is the beginning
Bless the Lord Oh My Soul

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

the spirit of prophecy

Rev 19:10And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony ofJesus is the spirit of prophecy.
so just a thought to ponder, the testimoy of Jesus life, death leads to life...suffering leads to glory... willing sacrifice brings life...
prophecy .... those who walk in this gift or far far more rarely this call ...  are called to live a life such as this..  it gives creedence
to the message of their words
i think this thought was inspired by a Jason Upton song

Friday, May 8, 2009

faith

Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. And even though you cannot see Him right now and cannot understand what He is doing, you know Him. Disaster occurs in your life when you lack the mental composure that comes from establishing yourself on the eternal truth that God is holy love. Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.
Oswald Chambers May 8th "my utmost"

Thursday, May 7, 2009

fear and love

wrestling with the "process" of how a person gets to 
goes thru
a deep conversion
 a heart change
Robert Murray McCheyne has some insight
"you must be drawn out by fear and drawn in by love"
he gives the example of Saul's conversion to Paul
the jailer of Paul and Silas
and the thousands that Peter spoke to on Pentecost
as to how first there is "fear" and this leads us to "love"

Oh God help us to preach the whole gospel and to see
true and deep conversions to YOU.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

it ain't easy

"It Ain't Easy" is an amazing song by Jason Upton
and in the middle of it is this truth

"....and this is how we really turn the tables, ..
to give it all ... to get nothing back"

God's truth
Real love
is a radical thing far different from what we
are being shown and taught
far different
far far different

Saturday, March 28, 2009

the biggest thing

SIN do we truly get it
SIN is the biggest problem, the most horrible problem
God has dealt with the most horrible problem
by showing the most AMAZING MERCY, by shedding
the blood of HIS SON on the CROSS

He handled the biggest thing
so can't we just rejoice in His Mercy and trust Him to
handle all the other things

Thursday, March 26, 2009

a true and deep heart change

repentance, a true 'seeing' of the need for God's mercy and a true and deep 'seeing' of the provision of God's mercy on the cross
this is my prayer as our family walks thru a difficult time
this is my prayer for my friends in church and their families
this is the crying need of our church and nation.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

beyond me

art katz has an anointed series on Cain and Abel
in it he speaks of ultimate righteousness
the righteousness that prompted Abel to "go out into
the field" to his 'death', in order that
in order that
in order that
maybe, just maybe, the darkened heart of his brother
Cain might be touched and saved and turned back to
God
so ultimate righteousness involves the laying down of
our lives
moment by moment
in order that
maybe just maybe
the darkened heart of your brother might be turned to God

it is beyond me
but it is truth
God make it true to our hearts open our eyes

Saturday, March 14, 2009

bruised reed smoking flax

Conviction from God is a good thing
When those in my family are demonstrating that they are bruised reeds, (hurt from the inside) or smoking flax (lacking oil or nourishment from the outside) i typically increase my expectations of them, express my disappointment in them, stand off from them, ignore their pain and just want them to get over it, refer to the things they care about as "silly" , just basically major in the minors, and so when it truly comes to the "majors" i have lost their attention because i have made too much of or handled wrongly the minors....
Conviction from God is a good thing.

Lord I repent, give me Your Holy Spirit that lived Isaiah 42:1-3

Isa 42:1
"Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one {in whom} My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.
Isa 42:2
"He will not cry out or raise {His voice,} Nor make His voice heard in the street.
Isa 42:3
"A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.

Thank you for Your mercy and Your conviction. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

the horizon

a beautiful book by amy carmichael "his thoughts said...His father said" has come back into my life and due to life experiences i am getting more out of it this time
she has tons of wisdom
the main encouragement i got today, as Laura and I strive to "hold the line" on some very important discipline issues, is to look out at the horizon, as we continue on this journey, not to get caught up in the rocks and "roughness" of the terrain of the next few steps but to see the reward of today's and tomorrow's faithfulness played out over time
thanks

Sunday, February 1, 2009

love is

"Love is the fulfillment of the law"
Choosing moment by moment not my way,
but to let the life of Christ flow thru me, and
the love of Christ to flow out of me, His Love
fulfills the law
I am free
I am at peace
I am a vessel of patience, kindness, joy
What a beautiful life
when we are dead
and our life is hidden with Christ in God!!!

Thursday, January 29, 2009

part 4 the finale' end times thoughts

So you don’t believe in pre-trib, what do you think the Bible teaches??
On the same day Noah went into the ark and was saved many perished.
On the same day Lot left Sodom and Gomorrah the fire fell and consumed.
On the same day the church is raptured the judgment of God will fall.
2nd Thes. 1:7,8 This section refers to one day when God’s judgment falls, judgment that means trouble for the unbelievers and relief from trouble for the believers who have persevered.
The church will be in the earth and aware of the signs of His coming.
The SAINTS will KNOW when the time is near. Jesus is NOT coming until we see the Antichrist sitting in the Temple of God (in Jerusalem) claiming to BE God! (1 Th 5:4 KJV) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. (read 4:15 - 5:4)
Please note, that Jesus can NOT come at any moment as pre-tribers teach. Paul warned the Thessalonian church, that they will NOT be raptured until these two events take place:
1. Many Christians have fallen away from the faith
2. The man of sin is revealed, sitting in the temple of God, showing himself to be God!
(2 Thes. 2:1-3)
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him (rapture), Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

A remnant of unbelievers (I personally believe these are children) survive to parent future nations whom Satan will deceive in the future at the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ on the earth. (Zech. 14:16-19, Rev. 20:6-9)
Zech. 14:12, 16-19
And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. [17] And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. [18] And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. [19] This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
This remnant of people who survive the coming of Christ, are the nations over whom the FIRST resurrection saints will reign.
All of the following scholars are in agreement that Rev. 14:14-16 and Matthew 24:31 is the rapture of the church!
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible 1798-1870
Dr. John Gill's Exposition of the entire Bible 1690-1771
Jamieson, Faussett and Brown Commentary
The People's New Testament (1891) by B. W. Johnson
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
John Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible
Rev. 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
If you read Rev. 6:9-11 and 20:4, you will note that these are the saints that were killed during the great tribulation .
What about the doctrine of imminence, the “Jesus could return at any moment” theory?
Daniel prophesied that the anti-Christ would make a covenant with Israel and then break it. Israel did not exist to make a covenant with until 1948, so there is no doctrine of imminence. Prophecy’s must be fulfilled.
God help us can't we see that the whole tenor of the New Testament, the Theme, the major issue is Love, love that is willing for its very life to be 'given up' in order to see others come to know the God who is love, so shouldn't the church be willing, expecting, preparing, to be the same type of suffering servant that the Lord of the church demonstrated by His Life on this earth...A pure, spotless bride. Show me any other thing that will change the current church into a pure spotless bride??? beeeepppp time's up, the only answer is tribulation,
Daniel 11:31 describes the anti-christ desecrating the sanctuary see also matt 24:15 and then comes this verseDaniel 11:32 "By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. 11:33 Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many : yet they will fall by sword and by flame , by captivity and by plunder for many days." This is the church alive and well, being a strong witness to the power of God, and yet being willing to "lay down their lives", in the second half of the tribulation... and really seriously, where else would you want the church to be, when the world will be in such a time of upheaval and terror. The church was created to be a witness "for such a time as this", not to be raptured out and placed on the sidelines, leaving the "work" to a bunch of 3 year old believers, who came to the Lord after the rapture.This started out at 14 pages, I have trimmed it as much as I can, sorry for the length, thanks for reading it.
Excellent resource, “Rapture? Sure…but when?” William E. Anderson

Monday, January 26, 2009

part 3 end times thoughts

more from my "too long" but i really couldn't make it any shorter stuff

Old Testament “Rising” The “rising” of the old testament saints happens following a time of great trouble Isaiah 26:16-21
Isa 26:16
O LORD, they sought You in distress; They could only whisper a prayer, Your chastening was upon them. Isa 26:17 As the pregnant woman approaches {the time} to give birth, She writhes {and} cries out in her labor pains, Thus were we before You, O LORD. Isa 26:18 We were pregnant, we writhed {in labor,} We gave birth, as it seems, {only} to wind. We could not accomplish deliverance for the earth, Nor were inhabitants of the world born. Isa 26:19 Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew {is as} the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits. Isa 26:20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms And close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while Until indignation runs {its} course. Isa 26:21 For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; And the earth will reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain
Daniel 12:1-3Dan 12:1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands {guard} over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Dan 12:2 "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace {and} everlasting contempt. Dan 12:3 "Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever

1Cr 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 1Cr 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, 1Cr 15:24 then {comes} the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.
So Christ comes back, and all those who are His are raised, and then the end comes.
Revelation 4:1
Rev 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door {standing} open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like {the sound} of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."
This verse doesn’t have anything to do with the rapture. Since when does John, one apostle in a vision represent the entire church? Also in Revelation 4:1 John is beckoned to come up, Jesus does not come down, so the imagery is all wrong. But , some say, since the word “ekklesia” is not seen anymore in Revelation after this that means that the “church” ekklesia, must be gone. But ekklesia is not seen in heaven either after this so the fact that that word is missing doesn’t prove anything. It is also missing from 2nd Timothy, Titus, 2nd Peter, and 1 John and 2 John, and Jude. But the words “saints” “the servants of our God” the redeemed” “ those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” “my people” and , those who “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” are used. All of these terms occur later in Revelation, all of these terms and phrases are words that are applicable to the church.
The “elect”, the “saints” and the “church” are one and the same entity! The word church is defined as the gathering together of the elect which is also defined as the saints! Here ‘elect’ is used regarding the church. Col. 1:2 - 3:12 - 4:15 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
As Paul wrote this letter to the church of Colosse, he called them saints, and the elect of God!
Thayer's Greek Definitions
“elect” G1588 eklektos
1) picked out, chosen
1a) chosen by God
1a1) to obtain salvation through Christ
1a1a) Christians are called “chosen or elect” of God

Revelation 5:8
Rev 5:8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Here the Pre-trib argument is that the 24 elders are representative of the church already in heaven praising God. But they sing a song in the third person speaking of what God has done for “them”
Rev 5:9 And they *sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood {men} from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. Rev 5:10 have made them {to be} a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."
Not “us” as you would expect if the “church” was singing about the church, but “them” indicating these elders are not the church. Also, since the prayers they are holding are the prayers of the saints, so if they were the church, that would be their own prayers and it wouldn’t be phrased that way.
Revelation 3:10
Rev 3:10 'Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that {hour} which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth
We need to examine “keep you from” and when we do we find that John uses this same language in John 17:15Jhn 17:15 "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil {one.}” So “keep you from” is not the idea of a physical removal but a “carrying thru”, a deliverance through trouble. And if this takes the church out of the picture, why have another letter addressed to another church that also has overcomers in it?

Sunday, January 25, 2009

end times thoughts part 2

the continuation of my 8 pages


A look at some key verses
1 Thessalonians 4:17
This verse is used by many to prove the rapture of the church before the tribulation and that “proof” hinges on the word translated "meet" in the new testament.That word ‘meet’ occurs only 4 times. (529 is the Strong’s concordance number.)Mat 25:1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet 529 the bridegroom .Mat 25:6And at midnight there was a cry made , Behold , the bridegroom cometh ; go ye out to meet 529 him .Act 28:15 And the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet 529 us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.
1Th 4:17Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet 529 the Lord in the air : and so shall we ever be with the Lord .In each occurrence it is people coming out from a place; a wedding feast, Rome, the earth, meeting the person and then returning with that person to where they were. So keeping the word "meet" with its true and only meaning all the other times it is usedwe meet Christ in the air and then return to earth to watch him win the battle of Armageddon and start the millennial reign. This would be in keeping with the one and only second coming of Christ. This would mean there is no "secret" "approaching," 1/2 way down, for a rapture, sometime, before the start of the tribulation.
The verses around 1 Thes. 4:17 1Th 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 1Th 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of {the} archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 1Th 4:17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 1Th 4:18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
If Paul had meant this section to teach Pre-trib rapture, why would he have gone on in Chapter 5 to tell the church to be sober and prepare for the day of the Lord, the final day of God’s final judgment. All three things in 1 th 4:16, the shout the voice of the archangel and the trumpet all speak of the end of the tribulation, the shout is a war cry for Jesus to come down and be victorious in Armageddon, the trumpet of God is the final trumpet, Jesus doesn’t come down with any of the other trumpets
1 Corinthians 15:51-55
1Cr 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 1Cr 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 1Cr 15:53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1Cr 15:54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 1Cr 15:55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"
Verse 52 states this event happens at the last trumpet, what does the word “last” mean??
This event is happening at the end of the tribulation. Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken
If it happens sometime before the tribulation ‘death’ is certainly not swallowed up, in fact “death’ still has millions of people to kill at that time.

Monday, January 19, 2009

end times thoughts finally done

I will post this more than 8 pages of thoughts, about 2 pages at a time in the coming days, I worked long and hard on it, because i think it is very important.


Thoughts on the end times
Prelude
I feel to put down in writing my thoughts on the “end times.” They are my thoughts and though I have striven to present them in a convincing fashion, I acknowledge that there is too much about this subject for anyone to “know it all.” There will be those who, after reading this, will still hold to beliefs that are the opposite of what I present. Though I believe this subject is important it is not by any means a reason to break fellowship. Love and the Unity of the Body of Christ leave no room for making this a bigger issue than it is. That being said, I submit this ‘paper’ and pray that it “gets us thinking.”
I lead off with this section from John 17, because a lot depends on our use of, and understanding of, words. When Jesus prays in verse 15 that God would keep his disciples (both the ones there and those that would read these words) from the evil one, how was that prayer answered? 11 of the 12 apostles died as martyrs. So the answer to that prayer was not physical protection from an untimely cruel death. The answer to the prayer for them and for us, is that all would “persevere to the end.” How that end occurs is not the point. Being “kept from the evil one” is accomplished when one is faithful to the end.
Jhn 17:11 "I am no longer in the world; and {yet} they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, {the name} which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We {are.} Jhn 17:12 "While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. Jhn 17:13 "But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. Jhn 17:14 "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Jhn 17:15 "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil {one.} Jhn 17:16 "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Jhn 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. Jhn 17:18 "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. Jhn 17:19 "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. Jhn 17:20 "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; Jhn 17:21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, {are} in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
Jhn 17:15 "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil {one.} The pre-trib rapture position maintains that it is Jesus’ will, to take ‘the church’ out of the world, but this verse states just the opposite. But some would say the position of the pre-trib rapture isn’t to take us out of the world, but out of the “wrath of God.” This is referencing 1 Thes. 5:9, but in the context the “wrath” is being contrasted with the Salvation that Jesus paid for, so the wrath that is being spoken of in this verse is eternal separation from God, as contrasted with eternal salvation.
Rev 12:11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”This verse emphasizes the principle, that God chooses to have a faithful witness to His love thru-out the tribulation time. They are counted as overcoming Satan, who remain steadfast to the end. Satan’s ‘victory’ over their ‘earthly life’, just like his victory over the life of the ‘Lamb’ on the cross, is in REALITY a irreversible, complete defeat.
Suffering in this life is connected over and over with glory in the next. Far from being a sign that God doesn’t care for you, it is actually a sign that He trusts you with a ‘great mystery.’ He trusts that you will echo Job and say the amazing, Satan-defeating words, Job 13:15 "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.” I left the second half of that verse in there because the truth is when everything we see is contradicting what we thought we knew about Gods’ love it is natural for us to want to argue ‘before Him.’
Luk 24:25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Luk 24:26 "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" Luk 24:27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. (This is from a commentary on verse 26.)
26. Ought not Christ--"the Christ," "the Messiah." to suffer . . . and enter--that is, through the gate of suffering (and suffering "these things," or such a death) to enter into His glory. "Ye believe in the glory; but these very sufferings are the predicted gate of entrance into it."
I close this ‘prelude’ with another section of scripture that emphasizes that disciples of Jesus Christ are not taught to expect ‘safety’ for their physical body, but they are taught to expect that their eternal soul will be preserved as they ‘endure to the end.’
Mat 10:22 "You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. Mat 10:23 "But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish {going through} the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. Mat 10:24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. Mat 10:25 "It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more {will they malign} the members of his household! Mat 10:26 "Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Mat 10:27 "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear {whispered} in {your} ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Mat 10:28 "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Mat 10:29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And {yet} not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. Mat 10:30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Mat 10:31 "So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Mat 10:32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. Mat 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. Mat 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

The best illustration I can give to explain my passion for the proper understanding of the end times is this: A church that believes the pre-trib rapture will be like actors who are training to play the role of a soldier in a movie. They know no one is going to get hurt and the war isn't real. Now compared to them how do you think a real Navy Seal, or Marine, or Green Beret, trains. No comparison. The church who expects to walk thru the horrific challenges of a world where all believer's in God are hounded, persecuted, or killed, will be “training” in a much more sober-minded manner. They will not be “shaken” when persecution and trials come on an unprecedented scale. Isaiah 50:10 Who is among you that fears the LORD, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. People get ready!!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

communion

with much gratitude to the grace courses at blbi.org

the blood of the Lamb applied to the outside of the door = fading glory
communion - taking the blood of Jesus - internally, so that His Life
can flow thru us from the inside to the outside = ever increasing glory

commandments written on stone = fading glory
by faith, the life of Jesus, in me, written on my heart = ever increasing glory

Hearing a good sermon and being convicted and deciding that i will try, try,
try, to do better, pray more, read more, etc. = fading glory
Hearing a good sermon and knowing that i am weak and crying out for
the Life of Jesus to be more and more manifested thru me, putting off
the old man, and allowing the Life of Jesus to flow thru me = ever increasing glory

I need His moment by moment life flowing thru me, NOTHING else will do.

Friday, January 16, 2009

grace to be replaced

two further thoughts on grace and faith

when in a difficult situation that I cannot handle, the Lord
prompted me to be "replaced" , so in my mind and heart
I chose to "leave" the situation and put Jesus there in my
place..... aaaahhhhh much better

also, being a guy, I feel like I have to fix things, so when things
are not "picture perfect" in the family, I begin going over ways
that I will have to change, or things that I will have to do to make
it "all better" and I am done with that also
now I am seeking to enter the rest of God, seeking to have Him
take over my burdens, so when things are "out of whack" i
push myself away from the "fix-it" bench and call on Jesus
to come and make a way where there is no way
.... aaahhhh much better

Saturday, January 3, 2009

grace for grace

the fact that the grace is there to live in humility and moment-by-moment
dependence on the Life of Christ in you, seems to me to be the ONLY
fact right now, so help us God, to truly Live by faith and to lay down the
awful burden and yoke of trying to live the life by striving and not by
faith and grace