The Fickle Finger of Accusation.

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What does it take for Christians to live in peace with one another?  Look at the divisions among us, each believes this, and each believes that.  What utter foolishness.  Men have divided scripture until there is little place left where a man might know he has found the body of Christ.

Ok.  I’m not so stupid as to advocate a reuniting of the branches of the family of Christ.  I won’t live long enough to argue with the present believers, let alone those children who will come of age and believe what they were taught.

But there are certain solid and indisputable items of The Faith which can be agreed.  And there are fringe differences which might be argued to the profitability of all.  And it is those fringe differences which bring us all the closer as we argue them between us.

Only, let us be careful to keep such bantering behind closed doors.  Those who hate us will surely point to the subtle differences and proclaim, “They can’t agree between themselves!  How can we trust that they have anything worth examining?”

We who are not afraid to encounter a subtle difference in belief find great strength appears after defending our position.  Both walk away satisfied that they have been heard.  And such issues have no lasting impact on the love we have for one another.  But in the hands of those who hate the Lord, such things become a fire and restraint for those who are trying to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

What am I saying here?  Why did I post this?  I posted this to point to one element of humanity that has caused untold sorrow and death.  The pride of man has crept into the Church from the beginning.  And each generation raises up its own brand of pride.  Drop it!  Ask yourself if you would be willing to stand before the Holy Throne of the Most High God and point at your brother with an accusing finger.  Then if you’re still willing to do that for a subtle difference in belief, are you willing to receive the judgment of God for accusing your brother?

Just thinkin this through.  I’m done now.  I think I’ll go get another coffee.  Man!  I think I might have sprained a finger typing this too fast……………

“It’s Time to Get Up.”

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Parents know how hard it is to wake a son or daughter to do the things necessary.  How many times do we try.  How many variations of alarm to we imagine and “give it a whirl”.

An adult knows to set the alarm.  The one who knows that it is his hand that will either feed him at night or fold a while longer in slumber; missing an oportunity to provide.

And once awake, both the child and the adult knows a different place of service.  No longer is that one serving himself in slumber.  Now we learn to serve others by waking.

It is the same with the Lord.  How the child of God likes to sleep in sin.  How neglect of the Holy covers him like a warm blanket.  But what is accomplished?  He speaks to us as we sleep.  “Wake.  It is time to work.”  Again he comes to us to find us sleeping.  Again and again He approaches us unnoticed.  Yet, there is a place where He rightfully demands that we wake.  We are His children.  Perhaps a punishment will rouse the eyelids, arms, and legs to do what needs to be done.

But the mature in Christ know to wake early, pray in the darkness before the dawn explodes with demands.  The alarm is within us now.   And we rise with a willingness.  We wake with joy to serve the One who loved us enough to wake us.

The Man of Her Dreams.

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A young woman dreams of the man she imagines.

With delicate care he considers her needs.

Though she knows her desire, wants, needs, and cares,

She envisions a man who understands.

And if the Lord blesses, and the two hear His voice,

Then the union will be strands of gold.

The man of her dreams will watch with intent,

Every movement, every habit, every notion his love presents.

What joy to be united in such a delicate embrace of care.

And sadly to few arrive.

The man of her dreams will go to extent.

Provision will surely arrive.

__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Are we not the Bride of Christ?

Will the Ocean Be Saved?

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You have said to the sea,

“Thus far you shall come and no more.”

You have said to man’s greed,

“Thus far you shall come and no more.”

You have made a people for Yourself.

You spoke them to life and said,

“Thus far you have come……..

And I will call you farther.”

Praise to the Lord of Life!

For He has not restrained His people.

He has set them free to live!

He has touched them with His Holy Hand.

And to them He has said,

“I will come to you and take you to be with me.

This far you WILL come and it will be complete.

For where I am you will be also.”

The restraint of the sea does not belong to man.

The restraint against sin does not belong to God’s people.

Just as the hope in Christ is not offered to the ocean.

Amen.

“I Did It!”

Do you have a prayer to pray?  Is there a task needing done that is too much for you?  Are you overcome with the requirements of life?  Then take heart, you’re not alone.

Does the carpet need vacuuming?  And you find that you can’t find the strength or will to go do it?  Then do this small task:  Get up from where you are.  Walk over to the place where the

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vacuum is stored.  In this small task (something easily done) you have approached the cleaning of the carpet.  What was too much for you a moment ago is nearing completion.  And, let’s be frank here, since you’ve come this far why not reach out and take hold of the machine.  Draw it to you and out of storage.  Push or carry it to the carpet needing cleaned.  Now reach out your hand and grasp the cord.  Remove it from its place.  Walk over to………. oh I know you understand what I’m saying here.

Let’s approach the life Jesus has called us to in the same manner.  There is no need to say anything more on this.

Switch Off the Darkness.

Gods' Creation (Photo credit: Kamoteus (A New Beginning))

I walk through the house in the dark, feeling my way through the halls.  Obviously, when the light is on I walk differently because my eyes receive what they need to help me walk without hesitation.  I drive my truck through the night by turning on the headlights.  I look down at the instruments and am able to read them because they are lit.  The moment I turn off the lights I am bound to have trouble.

It comes to mind that God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all.  Therefore He never stumbles.  What is this light of God?  The light of God is righteousness.  We who serve Him have heard of this.  But I see how we often desire the darkness.  I see how we seek out a shadow so we can ponder a return to the land of Egypt.  We are fooled by remembering how sweet the food was there.  But we forget how destructive was the slavery.  We forget how they forced us to kill our children; all the males of the Israelites were to be killed.

Encourage yourself, as even now I remember these things.  Encourage one another, as even now I do to you.  Let us allow the light to enter in.  Let us turn off the darkness.  Let us not look behind and yearn for what was surely to destroy us.  But let us learn to desire the Life of God, that it might appear stronger within us than the darkness that had covered us.  Recall the following scripture and strive to apply it to our every second of time that will be granted to us in this place of testing.

¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ²and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

³ But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴ Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵ For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷ Therefore do not be partners with them.  (Ephesians 5)

Father in Heaven, please grant that I should learn what my heart has known.  It is my fingers which placed these letters in that specific order.  I have understood this.  May You grant that I may know it to the doing.  Amen.