Though short and not very exciting to authors who are experienced in sharing their work across many platforms, this was an exciting few minutes with Eric Dye, the host of Enterprise Podcast Network
I could have said much more, but for my first, this was long enough to speak of the abundant life our Father has given us through His Son, our Lord Jesus. I pray that it stirs hearts with a desire to know more about the glorious fellowship we have with Him, His Son, and His Holy Spirit. Praise Him that eternal life with Him is not a life to which we look forward in the future, but here we are born into it, we grow and continue to be transformed and conformed to His image.
What greater life than being His image bearers here on earth.
What happens when the Little I Am (It’s About Me) meets THE GREAT I AM?
Armageddon! — The end of Me!
Imagine a man sitting on a park bench. God approaches and the man looks up at Him.
The effect is devastation.
A pile of dust begins to filter through the slats of the bench.
God is the only One left.
What would He then do? He could by His breath blow the dust away and be done with the simple creature who would never know what happened to him.
***********
Let’s picture a different God and Father who stoops to the ground, scoops a handful of dust, reforms it as a new creature, kisses it and breathes into it His Life, a Life that would never die.
The new creation is His plan for a new world— His eternal family and His kingdom of righteousness and holiness.
The new nature is the nature He reveals through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Our fallen nature that leads us to death is overcome by the power of His Spirit Who leads us and feeds us with His Word of Life forever.
This physical life will end in His timing, but God’s children will not die.
************ Christ abides in us forever. ************* We are kept in Christ and preserved for the inheritance He has prepared and promised to us.
Let us draw near in faith as we grasp this truth, reach out, touch Him —embrace Him as our Life —
********now and forever.********
He waits to be gracious to us.
**************
“He has made all things beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts. Except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.” Ecc. 3:11
If you are unaware of the fellowship between God and His children and want to know more,CONTACT me.
In this life we live on one side or the other. We live a sad life, or we live a glad life.
There is not a balance between the two. We may spend time on both sides, but we are prone and influenced to one.
Can we choose which side? Christians believe they are chosen – in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4-5)
Whether we believe we are chosen or not, we have the choice to read what God’s Word says about this reality, to understand the difference and desire the ‘glad life’ He gives.
We find that those who live on the ‘glad side’ live in a special relationship with God.
The Glad Side is the bright side, the side of a fruitful life.
And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Is. 25:9
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord. Ps. 104:34
Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you— The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month.Joel 2:23
Glad in His Righteousness
The following verses refer to this fellowship we have with God, our Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ (through whom we are made righteous) by the working of the Holy Spirit in us.
The righteous shall beglad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory. Ps. 64:10
But let the righteous beglad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. Ps. 68:3
The hope of the righteous will begladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish. Pro. 10:2
Glad in His mercy
Though I live on the ‘glad side’ I often experience the oppression of this life, and the feelings of sorrow overtake me, but by our Father’s keeping power, I am brought through the trial of the moment back home in praise and thanksgiving, where I know I belong
I will beglad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, Ps. 31:7
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy, That we may rejoice and beglad all our days! Ps. 90:14
Glad in Quietness and Trust
Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. Ps. 107:30
Glad in Times of Persecution
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Mt. 5:12
But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also beglad with exceeding joy. 1 Pt. 4:13
Bringing Others to the Glad Side
Though we do not live on the ‘sad side’ we are sent to give encouragement to those who live there.
And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Roms.10:15
That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance. Ps. 106:5
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. 2 Cor. 12:15
Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Phil. 2:17
The humble shall see this andbeglad; And you who seek God, your hearts shall live. Ps. 69:32
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and beglad. Ps.34:2
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48
Let us beglad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Rev. 19:7
Holy and merciful Father, we praise you for calling us out of darkness into your marvelous light, delivering us out of darkness and ignorance into the kingdom of your dear Son who is the light of our gladness who rejoices in us, and for your Holy Spirit who lives through us to encourage those who live in sadness and sorrow. Through us, your people, give them a taste of your mercy, your love, and your glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
‘As a man thinks in his own heart, so is he.’ Pro. 23:7
To counteract the entrance of millions of illegal immigrants into the US, President Trump signed orders to send 1500 troops to secure the southern border.
The American people have suffered in different ways from those of discontent who have come here illegally.
Without upholding the laws set for all people a nation cannot stand.
Such conditions are an analogy for what I call “Invasion of the Mind.”.
This invasion shapes our character and the persons we become.
Our Senses and Our Devices
Our God-given senses are the means whereby we watch and listen to what is available.
In this century, the invasion has become even more detrimental. The media is a common influence coupled with our devices to shove all things into the secret places of our minds and hearts – shaping individuals, families, neighborhoods, cities, states, countries, and the world. We are more connected – nations to nations – than ever before.
Many children are allowed to watch and listen to anything they choose without knowing how they will be affected. And when they come to a point in life where their choices have produced a negative outcome, they are unable to accept correction.
They are happy with their own choices and do not understand why others cannot be happy with them.
For centuries, the world and its atmosphere has been invaded with such images and words that has changed the overall landscape and the appearance of nations that have become more and more divided, from each other, even as within.
Inner Transformation
With the knowledge of what is happening all over the world, we are continually receiving data and adding to the data in our own way to the files of our knowledge base.
Our culture is continually changing by the invasion that continues.
What is the answer to this dilemma that seems unstoppable?
Restoration
We must restore the ramparts that have been torn down.
We must consider how we are personally susceptible to this invasion, agree that we have been experiencing this phenomenon, and admit this as a need to be addressed.
We, as Christians at least, must appeal to our heavenly Father to reveal His Commander-in-Chief to us, our Lord Jesus Christ – to whom He has given all authority and power. In His name, we pray for them to send the Holy Spirit and His Sword – His powerful Word to guard our minds, our senses, our knowledge of Him, His truth, and His plans for us. We must, by His mighty power, take captive our thoughts in obedience before Him. (2 Cor. 10:5)
We must gird up our minds and examine our thoughts in relation to His Word.
This is only an alien country for God’s children. We are blessed to be a citizen while we still have the freedom to know from His Word the protection and promises for the life He has planned for us, but we are here in a holding pattern, in preparation for that eternal country that is promised to us for eternal life.
God’s Words are sentinels, standing guard on the wall of our minds as watchmen against the enemy’s entrance from all borders.
Submitting to His Guarding and Girding our Minds
To know His plans for us, we must admit our need for guarding and girding our minds, submit our minds to Him and commit to the direction of His Spirit and Word.,
He appeals to us by His great mercies to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. (Rom. 12:1-2)
Our bodies are the housing for all He created by which He would reveal Himself – through our faculties He speaks to us by His Word and in the power of His Spirit.
They are effective to do all in us that He wants to do – creating in us the image of His Son who is the express image of our heavenly Father.
Is anything I am saying foreign to you? If so, please take the Bible in your hands and read as if you have never read it. Ask our Father for His Holy Spirit to make His Word your guard for your mind and your life – and your soul that is eternal.
Guard your mind in everything you see and hear, touch and handle.
Ask these questions of every word and image. Good or bad, they will find a place in your heart and take over your life.
Is this precious to our Father, from His mind and heart to mine to draw me closer to Him?
Is this from Him to keep the world’s thinking from entering?
Is this good for me and for those I love?
Will this enable me to love Him and those who love me?
Will this bring unity in my thinking with His and my family?
Will these thoughts be those He wants me to share with others?
Will these thoughts, images, and sounds mold me into His image and prepare me for His eternal glory?
Praise Him that He knows where we are. He knows our thoughts and the power of His Spirit and words that conquer, arrest, and remove those invading thoughts and images and enable us to live joyfully with Him.
Pray for His Spirit of Truth to guide you into all truth, for conviction of sin for how you have opened your mind to illegal thoughts, and His goodness will bring you to repentance, reconciliation, renewal, and blessed fellowship with Him. Through you He will reveal the power of His presence and truth to others.
Gracious Father, we are desperate children, captive to the world’s thinking, its devices, its ideologies. We need your resources, your power, your orders for our protection from those who would remove your grace and truth that protect us. Restore your walls, your Words, your standards, and bring to fruition the life you planned for us through Christ our Lord. Reveal Christ, your Son, as the means for our liberty from those who enter to spy out and destroy the freedom you have given us in Him. Bring the power of your church – the body of Christ — to unity in Him to set the standards you have placed upon us, and through us to the world. This is our only means to experience the love, joy, and peace you give us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Recently I have added the name of a young man to my Prayer Roster. Joseph is a brilliant artist; one I hope the Lord will use in the ministry of His Kingdom.
He needs the power of the Lord’s Spirit within him to order and manage his life.
I relate well to this msn. My prayers for him include prayers for myself, especially in this latter stage of my life.
He, in his 30’s, and I in my 80’s, have much in common.
We have been given gifts from our heavenly Father, and we are both struggling to move forward with these gifts.
Beyond the fact that we see ourselves in a stronghold of the flesh, our procrastination keeps us bound to ourselves and limits the talents we are given – kept from God and hidden from others.
In Our Flesh
Our means of deliverance begins with understanding where we are in the flesh.
The apostle Paul speaks of man as ‘spirit, soul, and body.’ (1 Thess. 5:23)
The purpose of this post is not to start another book (which I might never finish) but to speak briefly about the work God calls us to and the work that He does in and through us.
Tendency to our Feelings
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
These words from Simon Peter to the believers of his day are as true today as when he wrote them. He compares two natures in the beginning of his letter. Anyone who meditates on these words will come away with a new perspective of where we are, who we are, and why we are here in this present world.
Oppression, Suppression, and Depression
Born into this world of ‘corruption’ we are always under a state of oppression.
Without understanding this, and turning to God’s Word for the knowledge of ‘life and godliness’ (our only means for a fruitful life in this state) we suppress the truth that He gives us in HIs Word.
Without the truth revealed by God in His Word, we have nothing to hope in, stand on, or live for in this world.
We search, reach for, and hold on to whatever is close and, in the end, have nothing substantial or relative to true life – nothing of godliness, which is the life God produces within us.
Depression manifests itself in different forms seen from one level to another in different stages.
Depression becomes the stronghold of our spirit, soul, and body, keeping us immobile.
Depression keeps us down, captivated by self, to obey the flesh in its weakness in all areas of life.
Depression leaves us deflated with no room for what is good or godly.
Where is our Hope?
As ‘spirit, soul, and body’ I must relinquish all that I am to God, our heavenly Father, who, with His Son and Spirit gave me life through the first man “Adam” through all generations.
I must see and know the One whose ‘divine power’ gives us ‘all things pertaining to life and godliness.’
I must admit my weakness and my need for His wisdom and strength.
I must submit all I am to Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, who has brought us to our Father through His death and resurrection to receive the power of His life in us.
I must commit to His direction by His Holy Spirt through His Word.
From the stronghold of oppression, suppression, depression, and procrastination, He, by the penetration of His Word, permeates our minds with His truth, and perpetuates His love and the life of Christ in us and through us.
As ‘partakers of His divine nature’ He fills us, lifts us, moves us, keeps us on the right path. In our struggles, He reminds us of His ‘exceedingly great and precious promises.’
He inhabits our praises, so that we speak to Him of His truth, never losing sight of Him and knowing the power of His presence with us. He, with the gifts He has given us, works in and through us to accomplish all He wants to do — for His glory and our joy in Him.
.Gracious and loving Father, We praise you that you have made us your children, not by anything we could do, but by your planning and covenant made with your Son before the creation of anything. How blessed we are to know you and to live in fellowship with you and your eternal family. I praise you that you have called us and given us the gift of eternal life and individual gifts through which you are working to reveal the power of your presence in the world today. In Jesus’ name I pray, I thank you, and praise you. Amen
Life and death are the great forces in this world.
We may ask the question, then: Which of these two is the greatest?
It may seem, if we consider that all physical life ends in death, that death is the great force over all.
This may be true for the majority of those who are alive, physically.
And even though a minority of men and women would witness to the same, they are living as if there is no end.
As one of this minority, I have the witness within me of life beyond this physical existence. I wake in the morning with the assurance of life beyond this realm — spiritual life that knows no bounds.
Death has no hold on me. It is not something I have imagined and created on my own. It is no mere ideology – none of any man’s design.
Every person is born with the gift of life in this world. This heavenly life is an eternal gift – a gift of eternal life from the Creator of the heavens and the earth — a second birth.
The Heavens and the Earth
The force of death for mankind originated here on earth; the force of life in heaven.
Heaven is where God, our Creator, the Living God, lives and has power over all.
“His throne is set in the heavens and His kingdom rules over all.” – His kingdom of eternal Life. Ps. 103:19
It was there that He made an everlasting covenant with His Son, for us.
In Jesus’ prayer before Judas’ betrayal and His crucifixion, Jesus prayed these words,
“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that your Son also may glorify you; as You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to as many as You have given me.” Jn. 17:1-2 (The time had come for Him to give His life that we who believe would have eternal life in Him.
“And now, O Father, glorify me together with Yourself with the glory I had with you before the world was.” Jn. 17:5
“…Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom you have given me that they may be one as we are.” 17:11
Jesus revealed in His prayer that before anything was created, God, the Father, and the Son were eternally One, and that through the Son, the world was created for the purpose of eternal life in His creatures. The prayer is a gift to us who believe God’s Word. In it we learn of these two forces and how Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of all the living, proves the greater power of life over death.
He has prepared the glory that the Father and the Son shared before Creation – the promised Messiah – who came to deliver us from the power of death. He is the Word of Life, who came from the Father with eternal life to all who believe, love, and follow Him.
The first man, Adam, was deceived, believed a lie, and received the penalty of death because of His disobedience to God’s Word. Through him we all became subject to this force of death as long as we are on this earth in this body of flesh.
“As You have given Me authority over all flesh” were the words Jesus spoke in His prayer to the Father. He was given all power over life and death on earth and in heaven.
We are created through Him — and we either live with the gift of eternal life, in repentance of our rebellion against Him, submitting our spirit, soul, and body to Him and obedience to His Word — or we are dead (to the Living God) even as we are in this body. We are only existing until the end of this life when we have no choice but to succumb to the power of death.
Death is a force given to God’s enemy and ours when he was ejected from his duty as God’s servant in heaven. He was rebellious then and leads the world in rebellion. He is the god of this world and rules with the force of death and darkness. (1Jn. 5:19)
God, our Father, began with one man and woman who obeyed the voice of the enemy – who brought them under his power of death.
God, our Father has given new life – eternal Life – to those who are drawn to His Son – who admit their sin and disobedience to His Word, submit to Him, and commit to His Word, the Life of His Spirit and His leading through the remainder of this physical life.
He came to “release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (See Hebrews 2:1-18)
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 Jn. 3:8 (the works of the devil that brought man to disobey God and to our death.)
Jesus said to His disciples, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will never enter heaven.” Matt. 18:3 We are His children as we are born of His Spirit.
He will end life on this earth differently for us who give all that we are to Him. We will not fear whatever we encounter on this earth – no fear of man or circumstances because we have within us the life of Christ given through Him to us from our Father in heaven. It is a supernatural work – Christ’s life given by His Holy Spirit.
He loved us “before the world was.” He loves us now and forever. He sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins so that the first man’s death warrant is removed. Christ who is our life, lives in us and we live in Him now and forever – seeking His kingdom and His righteousness which His Spirit works in us, looking forward to a world of righteousness.
Saved Eternally in Christ
He promises to bring all things to an end in One Man, His Son, Jesus Christ, “that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” Eph. 1:10
If Christ is in us – “Christ in me – the hope of glory” “our lives hidden in Christ,” we can live here on earth with assurance in the day we take our last breath that we will be with Him forever. Col. 1:27“For you died, (in submission and baptism) and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Col. 3:3-4 (The remainder of Chapter 3 describes the fruit of our lives by His eternal life in us here on earth.)
Dead leaves are proof of an ending of the old and the anticipation of a new season of Nature.
If we consider where we have been as a nation recently, we must believe that our God and Father has given us a reprieve.
“Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence—
To make Your name known to Your adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Your presence! Isa. 64:1-2
He has answered prayers for our concerns about the season we have been experiencing –
With His judgment looming over us, He has truly shown us His mercy in not cosuming us.
As our pastor has reminded us: we cannot sit back and boast of anything good any man has done.
We cannot rest on our laurels, any greatness of any nation or of any man. Any good in this country, from the beginning, has been by the mighty hand of God, our Father and Creator.
“His greatness is unsearchable.” Ps. 145:3
Now we have the opportunity to return to our roots, for us to stand in the light of His grace, and move forward with the truth while we still have the freedom to proclaim His name among the nations.
Four years is a short time, with no guarantee. Except for our diligence to obedience and His presence with us, the enemy will steal His blessings from us.
Our hope is based on His promises as we trust Him, repent from our individual seasons of rebellion to His Word, live in praise, prayer, and proclamation of His truth with each other and those outside the church.
We must gather as His people during these uncertain times to multiply our ranks, to pray for unity through the sound preaching and attendance of God’s Word and worship.
We must be restored by His Spirit to reverence and awe – as His children to live in humility and wonder of our God and Father. .
He makes the nations tremble – But, In His loving kindness and tender mercies, He opens His heart and love to us.
If you understand what He has been doing in recent events, return as His child to the body of Christ –to the Church where He dwells with His people – in individual hearts and as His family.
We must live in the fellowship and joy of our Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit as one people, to prove to the world the power of his presence among us.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, in Christ, Has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.” Eph. 1:3
When this blessed season is done and we face another onslaught from the enemy, we will be prepared, equipped, ready, and victorious, rejoicing with Him our victor, our Lord and King — His triumph in and through us. — now and forever.
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;{ 1 Pet. 2:9
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Eph. 5:15-16
In Praise to our Father, His Son our Lord, and His Holy Spirit. Love and blessings. Fran
The complexities of this world are more than any one person, or any combination of minds can discern. The perplexities are beyond what human nature can comprehend.
We have yet to be unified in our understanding of how life began and how people breathe and move about in the vast space that we call the universe.
Adults with all their education — feeding on information that men from one generation to another have compiled — continue to add more and more to the uncertainty of life here in this present world. Their technologies only generate more power for delusion and destruction.
NEW WORDS, NEW LIFE
Jesus told His disciples, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” What did He mean? If we study this man, His life, and His words, we learn that He was teaching a new thing not known before He began His ministry.
“The kingdom of heaven” – Greek — ouranos, meaning, the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings” Heaven is another world beyond this one — a spiritual world that requires conversion — otherwise, we are incompatabile.
Jesus’ life and His words are recorded in the Holy Bible, in the second section, known as The New Testament.
The first part, The Old Testament, is a record of life, written by men of the Jewish faith, From creation through the history of the nation of Israel, we learn of God, the Creator, who was with His people through generations of hardships and promises for a better life beyond this world.
FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE
Jesus was the fulfillment of this promise, who at the age of 30 gathered 12 men and taught them about the God of the Old Testament.
He showed them a completely different way – by a totally radical mindset.
By His actions in response to every person, every word, every action, every need, He presented a new means for men to see, think, speak, and relate to others.
He portrayed a life of purpose and meaning no man had ever shown or taught.
HIS WORDS — HIS POWER
His words not only brought meaning to this life, but the power in His words for eternal life.
Those who have believed Him and followed in His teachings have been transformed and seek to live as He lived.
This world is no longer complex, nor are His followers perplexed, but they understand this world – its chaos and confusion – how to relate and respond differently.
Jesus taught that we must begin again – to start over – to be ‘born again’ – spiritually.
A FATHER WE HAVE NEVER KNOWN
As ‘little children’ – infants—we experience what it means to have a new ‘Father’ — a Father who never leaves us, but abides in us — His Spirit through our spirit, forever.
Jesus’ life, and identifying Himself as the Son of God, shed new light on the meaning of our creation.
His teachings bring us to understand God differently than the world sees Him.
His Holy Spirit ‘makes us alive’ as He teaches us the truth – truth that we cannot receive in our ‘old man’ – the only self we know and through which we formerly lived.
As with His teachings and the power of His Spirit, we learn to live supernaturally in this natural world.
His Spirit, by which God gave life at His Creation, in us, was subdued and taken captive.
Until and unless we are converted and become as little children, we live under the power of an enemy, in a hostile world that lives in sin against God, the Creator.
We are ignorant of our personal rebellion against a Father who gives us the very air we breathe and the power to move and have our being.
Only His Spirit can do this work in us. Just as we have no power to birth ourselves naturally into this world so only He can give us the power for an eternal life with Him.
We are reconciled and renewed and brought into fellowship with our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we are bought, sought, brought, and taught.
CHILDREN WHO LOVE, REJOICE, AND OBEY
The remainder of our natural life is sanctified by the working of His Holy Spirit of truth guiding us into all truth and living through us – to His Glory and our joy in Him. As His children, we enjoy the life of Christ within us to love, enjoy HIs presence, and obey – for His glory and our joy with Him and all His children.
This life begins here but never ends.
Our Father, abiding in us forever, closes our eyes and returns His Spirit and our souls to Him in His timing.
“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” The Shorter Catechism
Out Father in heaven, by the power of your Holy Spirit abiding in us, make us to know you and your Son, Jesus, whom you sent to die for our sins and bring us to you. We need to know you as our Father and the eternal life you give us now. Turn our hearts to you and grow us in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and conform us to His image — in whose name we pray. Amen.
In the last four years, I have been more vulnerable than ever, and prey to what has come across my radar. Mixed with a lot of good, there has been much in a quagmire of offers as I have hoped for ways to exit the grave of mourning. When death still seems to loom as the mode of everyday existence, anything can appear as a solution, some with astounding promises, and almost impossible to refuse.
Such has been my spiritual warfare and training ground as I have been taken captive a few times (amazed at other times that I was enabled to turn and take our Father’s hand). It is the harder way but the way He promises to love, care, direct, and keep us in the path of Life as He has planned it.
As I started this post, I was reminded of a 2016 post, The Idolatry of Technology. The technology of our present day is precisely used for good and for evil, depending on who is leading the way for each of us. I am personally obligated to live in compliance with our Father who created all things. My human nature carves for any and all things of this world that appeal to my fleshly desires and feelings. Many techniques can be used to gain the information and the help I am looking for.
LOSING MY ANCHOR
During fifty-nine years together, Jerry became my anchor — we were “one flesh” — learning to depend on each other. He was my physical leader; I was his helpmate, according to God’s design. Our Father brought me to Christ many years before He gave Jerry a new heart. His gain of true life in Christ came after the loss of his leg. Through this natural experience, we both learned the need for more than physical life and to see beyond our needs to understand the needs of others.
We were united together in heart, mind, soul, and strength in Christ nine years before he was taken home and I was left alone. Those years and the last four for me were the time for our Father’s working — especially these last four — no technique but His supernatural power could accomplish His holy, eternal, will for His own glory. Such has been His means to glorify Himself and to prove the love and joy that is mine in Him.
No method man will devise can hallow His name, set up His kingdom in our hearts, and establish His will in our lives — as His name, kingdom and will are operative in heaven. He has no method but His will and power to accomplish what He established in HIs everlasting covenant with each of His children before Creation. In His timing, He continues to redeem a people for Himself through whom He is revealing his presence and power in the world of darkness.
Strategies are unnecessary for God our Father to bring His children to Himself and to accomplish in them all He desires of us. By His Holy Spirit alone, He draws us to Christ, His Son, through whom we come to Him for that “eternal life that was with the Father and manifested to” mere men while He was on earth. Jesus was the Word of Life that continues forever in the hearts and lives of His children. He still speaks to us today through His written Word. By His Spirit and His Word, we have the power of His presence within us for all we need. We have abundant life in and through Him — from death to Life, we are His and His alone, forever. No intelligence accumulated by men has the wisdom and knowledge of God revealed only through His Son, to us and our children. Deut. 29:29
I praise Him for bringing me through this stage — from a dark mourning to a new bright morning. By His Holy Light and Life given to us by His Holy Spirit, He will continue to show me “the path of life.” Anything without the Spirit of Christ living in us is deception and darkness.
“You will show me the path of life. In Your presence is fulness of joy. In Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Ps. 16:11
Gracious Father, we praise you for revealing Yourself to us — to lost children, who need a Father. As little children, in our new birth with a new heart and a new spirit, we ask your forgiveness for seeking other ways and ask that you continue to strengthen us, help us, hold us by our right hand, uphold us by your righteous right hand, and guide us with your Spirit of truth, and your counsel, that afterward you may receive us into your glory. Reveal through the power of your presence to others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen Fran
“Coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.”
Wrapped in the gift of life are many other gifts that we ordinarily take for granted. If we think only of what we can hold in our hands we miss the best gifts.
Blessings of the Father came this morning with the realization that I can still breathe, hear, and see, taste and smell, reach out and touch, and experience a touch from something and someone else.
These are good gifts in themselves, needed for this life. Every gift is from God our creator. They all come as a package. With these gifts come other gifts that He has prepared for those who love Him; and these are the perfect gifts, needed for another life, a life that is eternal.
The gifts the heavenly Father gives to His children are irrevocable and non-returnable. They come within a covenant that describes the gifts and with instructions for how to use them. These are the precious and perfect gifts that are treasured now and always. We live in awe of His giving such gifts to the children of men; and to us personally.
In his book Heaven Opened ~ The Riches of God’s Covenant, Richard Alleine speaks of a covenant of grace beyond what man can imagine, one that only God, the Father, can reveal. These include God’s giving us Himself, Christ, His Holy Spirit. His kingdom, the earth, the angels of light, with all the means of salvation and much more.
The Father who knew us before the foundation of the world, created us to be noble vessels, earthen vessels that would receive His gifts graciously, reverently, spontaneously, and thankfully; and use them accordingly.
The Greatest Gift The greatest gift to all mankind is love. This is the gift we desire from others, also. Everybody loves something. In order to know what and how to love we need other gifts, especially the gift of wisdom that James speaks of in the first chapter of his letter. God gave the ordinary good gifts to be used in experiencing a relationship with Him and others. With the gift of His wisdom our senses are trained, as He wants them to be used.
Solomon in Proverbs 1:7 said that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of God is also a perfect gift from above, coming down from the Father of lights. Light is a gift. It was the first gift, spoken by God at the beginning of creation. He is the father of all light, both physical and spiritual. Revelation of Himself comes with this light, so that in awe and fear we hear His voice, see Him, and know Him as God Almighty, the creator and sustainer of the universe. In our encounter with this spiritual light there is a judgment of our condition as a sinner before Him. This light is revealed as Jesus Christ, His Son, and by the gift of His Holy Spirit we are drawn to Him. In this instance we are given the gifts of a new heart and a new spirit. These are His means of communicating this new life with the fear and wisdom that we need.
By the gift of His grace, and in His kindness and goodness, He instills the gift of faith in the new heart and brings us in repentance to receive the gifts of justification, righteousness, forgiveness, redemption, with all the atoning factors of a Father’s love. In our adoption, all other gifts that are ours in Christ are revealed and distributed, as He wants to give. There is nothing lacking for a child of His.
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all,
how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
Romans 8:32
The Storehouse of All Gifts
In Jesus Christ, the Son, is the storehouse of all His gifts. He has made Him to be to us and for us all things, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. He is the gift of eternal life to all who receive Him.
“That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love,
to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding
and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3
Throughout this life we have the continual blessing of the gifts that are waiting for us to discover. Every day is a new revelation of His gifts to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord. There is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, temperance, His holiness, His righteousness, His truth, His humility, His fullness, the fullness of His Spirit, the fullness of Christ, who, in us is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27) and all the heavenly gifts that are prepared for us there.
Dear Father, take these good gifts, the gifts that you have given us, that we may see, hear, and receive the greatest gift of your love in Jesus Christ, your Son, with all the other gifts wrapped in Him. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
