The Idiocy

The Idiocy

The idiocy of our nation is astounding to say the least. We can not expect our neighbors to give, when we as individuals do not give. We can not expect our neighbors to be concerned when we are not concerned. All across this great land, citizens are raising their flags and pounding their chest over the death of Osama Bin Laden. Yet, still the big picture escapes them. The enemy was not Osama Bin Laden; we simply destroyed an image. The enemy is the “thought,” the idea of what he represents and my friends no bullet will ever destroy that. We have our images. They are but distant shadows reminding us of “who” they are. But when we consider “what they are,” their character, we haven’t a clue. But we continue to vote for them, to re-elect them in a moments passion of patriotism and political grand standing. What have they done for our communities, what have they given back? How devoted are they to the good of all? But it is the image we crave, the image we raise and support. Yet, we continue to ask why things are the way they are. The raiding of public coffers for the political expediency and personal favors by our elected officials; The accusatory tone and blame placed on the unfortunates due to their miscarriage of the public trust. These people, our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers of a once great and proud nation will not disappear because we turn a blind eye. They shall forever be seared within our conscience, forever a reminder of where we are, where we were, and acutely disillusioned as to where we are headed.

Please Help! God Bless you!

Indeed, it takes a mighty heart to go against the grain, to stand upon shifting sands and cry out for the other direction, the one that leads to what is right by God. To stand on higher ground supported by divine principle and the Love of Christ. None can claim the Glory of Christ. None can claim His affection and distribute it in a four year campaign. He is greater than that, mightier than a two edge sword. But as a nation, we clamor and shout in adoration and agreement to what is truly empty words from a disparate image carved out of our unconcerned likeness. As someone greater than I have said, his words roused a nation and contribute to the demise of a self seeking and inglorious empire. He basically stated, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” (Edmund Burke) Although this has been attributed to him, it is not correct. What he did say is more profound born of tremendous character and conscience.

“It is not enough in a situation of trust in the commonwealth, that a man means well to his country; it is not enough that in his single person he never did an evil act, but always voted according to his conscience, and even harangued against every design which he apprehended to be prejudicial to the interests of his country. This innoxious and ineffectual character, that seems formed upon a plan of apology and disculpation, falls miserably short of the mark of public duty. That duty demands and requires that what is right should not only be made known, but made prevalent; that what is evil should not only be detected, but defeated. When the public man omits to put himself in a situation of doing his duty with effect it is an omission that frustrates the purposes of his trust almost as much as if he had formally betrayed it. It is surely no very rational account of a man’s life, that he has always acted right but has taken special care to act in such a manner that his endeavours could not possibly be productive of any consequence.”

When we can betray the Truth and the good conscience which God Almighty has given us, we betray each and every one of us.

” Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood.” Hosea 6:8

Where Is the Beef?

Welcome to “It’s Entertainment!” Ananias and Sapphira were basically entertainers of the worst kind. They attempted to impress rather than entertain. Many of us at one time or another get caught up in the same robe of being someone else – someone we’re not. Matthew 6:1-2

Ananias and Sapphira wanted more. They wanted more than acceptance; they wanted acclaim. They wanted the praise of men. Coveting the plaudits of men was evidence enough that they were operating in the realm of the flesh rather than the Spirit. The problem is this: They lied to the Holy Spirit. They tried to deceive God. They were obligated to be honest Acts 5:4.

(Best Known) For lying to Peter about donating money to the church and being struck dead by the Holy Spirit for their deception.

It takes courage to act on what we know; it requires commitment to something. Commitment demands “faith” to follow through; to deliver. Without “faith” we lose Face. Albeit of God not to see through the cover up. To impress can only go but so far – it only matters to the few who are being impressed, so we think. But to put ourselves on the line for what is right, to stand for something; something greater than ‘me’ or ‘you’ is to walk on the path of saints. We can simply be who we are and act out as we are, in truth and in love in the form we were created in to express the fullness of the Glory of God.

What is truly amazing is not that God struck down Ananias and Sapphira immediately. Rather, it is amazing that the pages of Scripture are not covered with the “blood of sinners”. It is amazing that you and I are still standing, having been given time to repent and receive the free gift of God which is eternal life (Romans 6:23). The pages of the New Testament are not covered with the blood of sinners because they are “covered with the Blood of Jesus” who died so we don’t have to. Praise God!

So hold back the curtains, than step out out on the stage of life as nobody anyone would think of; so that you will become somebody thought of in faith to rely on.

† Christ Within Us †

No One Can Take Your Joy!

Stand confirmed in His word. He did not speak lightly that we should faint…

He did not speak in a whisper that we should yearn for greater meaning…

He spoke clearly and with purpose to endow us with eternal Hope.

The Vine.
The Life Giver.
The Great ” I am”.

Jesus In You

WE are the branches on the vine. WE are the “Renewed People”. This is our intimacy with Jesus whereby we become intimate with the Father – the intimate union of Believers.

” Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” John 16:22

† Christ Within Us †

Free Your Conscious

Truth is born of its own accord, not by the fashioning of any kind. It can be manipulated, organized, compartmentalized; shunned, distorted and abused for any method devised. But, it can not and will not be destroyed. It belies the imaginings of even the wisest of fools.

Truth will be televised.

Luke 16:10 – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

1 Timothy 1:19 – “Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.”

Proverbs 12:5 – “The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.”

† Christ Within Us †

Sarah Come Out…Esther Live!

Somewhere beneath the fabric of woman hood breathes the essence of a Sarah, and with her the quiet resolve and courage of Esther.   Sarah was the strength of Abraham.   Esther the saving grace of her people.   Sarah and Esther, together as one, exemplify the true power and strength of woman hood.

It is our responsibility as men to reach, to dig deep with the love of Christ to reach the soul of the women we say we love. It is our responsibility to ensure that they can meet up with the meaning of their way in life; that they can have the greatest fulfillment in contributing to the well-being of their family, the well-being of the man in their life.   Doing the work of servant to husband, children, parents; Doing the work that is self- fulfilling outside of the home is still relevant for it provides a different type of growth, a different type of encouragement; it provides the identity of self, and it provides the knowledge to confront the terrible and the impossible. It raises the excellence of virtue, grandeur and eloquence of spirit.

I know of such a Sarah. But there was much work still to be done in Her as well as in me.   We have all been beaten down. Beaten by family, and our friends, and the culture that breeds us; some to rise up in defiance of their own will carrying scars and leaving wreckage behind them, while others rise in courage and fortitude to be all that God had planned for them to be; forgiving, kind and loving.   There is much truth to the saying, “Behind every great man, there is an outstanding, wonderful woman.”   Whatever it takes, self-sacrifice is the usual; the above and beyond from every man to protect, to inspire, to bring to life the Sarah and Esther that lies beneath.  Build her up, fortify her.   She is more than just a rose, more than just a Queen; she IS the breath, and soul of your very existence.

Emptiness, the lack of self fulfillment can destroy anyone, but it seems it is the working hand of the enemy that pressures a woman the greatest in times of trials and un-manageable troubles.   The human equation will always exist an attempting to control what we cannot; attempting to manipulated circumstances that are beyond our reach.   Yet it is only through Christ, the authority we have been empowered with, that true transformation and legitimate change occurs.   The strength and faith of a Sarah is what it takes to undermine the forces from without; it is the quiet resolve and the conscious effort to do what is right by God is required to battle the forces against you and your beloved.   God stands confirmed on His word, “Let no man destroy what God has made.”

By faith, we overcome, by perseverance we endure, by the Love of God we have eternal Victory.

Sarah Come Out…Esther Live and be born again.

† Christ Within Us †

Can You Wait On God?

Can You Wait On God?

We wait on the sun to rise.
We wait for a moon to crescent or blossom in it’s fullness.
We wait on our children to come home.
We wait on our spouse for a family dinner – ?
We wait on approval from friends, even acquaintances.

All the while we fail to notice our behavior in waiting on things of personal gratification and satisfaction – now get this; We tend to look up.  But, God is not disheartened.  He desires that eventually we will come to know the big picture, that in all of His wondrous work and glory we come to see that in heart we are actually  “‘ waiting on Him “.  If we can but see through the mirror of our spiritual ancestors the reflection of our waiting, we would deeply know to a greater understanding, that our waiting is our strength from God; that our waiting is the acknowledgement that God will come through. [ Joshua 23:9, 14]

Don’t grit your teeth and clench your fists and say, “‘ I Will! I Will!’  Relax.  Take hands off.  Submit yourselves to God…let life be willed through you.”

Stop saying, “I will let go, I will, I will.” Instead, having done all we can, we allow God to work directly on the more secret and deeply ingrained attachments we have to self.  We allow God to release us through the experiences, encounters, and events that come to us, or that we have already been through.

† Christ Within Us †

We Are Rising In Glory

We are rising in the glory of God, because His light is rising within us.  We acknowledge that which is infinitely greater than ourselves.  We see the hidden presence of God. Our culture finds this moment not only difficult but puzzling. Difficult, because it is a culture of independent individualism.  Puzzling, because they see nothing different.  Two people can look at it and not see the same picture.  To some, it is the familiar world of striving and getting and spending and worrying.  To others it is the world as before but with the world-changing addition of the presence of God.   God shines through the present moment, with the quiet reassurance that we are known and loved.

Why do some see and others not? Because, we are free to believe or not – they love this statement; it appears to be the only truth that matters to squelch all truth. It is the cynical nature of the culture surrounding us, which mocks faith even as it secretly longs for its security.

The Bright Morning Star scatters all darkness:

† The dangers and pain of this present world terrorizes our heart. It won’t last forever. Our Morning Star is Rising.

† Satan schemes to trip us into traps of more sin, tormenting us with shame and guilt. But his temptations won’t last forever. Our Morning Star is Rising.

† Dark thoughts and deeds haunt our consciences with guilt, but the shadows of sin won’t last forever. Our Morning Star is Rising.

Yes.  It was the darkness which conspired to destroy the light of the world…we were/are apart of that darkness through sin and disobedience [Luke 22:53; John 3:19].  We don’t like to think of that, but it is true.  Through our words and actions and the dark visqueen over our hearts – We have.  But the Light came; He healed, He transformed, He lifted and broke the chains of darkness to live in us forever – if we want him to. Luke 1:78-79

The Bright Morning Star shines into an endless day of peace, reigning resplendent in glory and power.  Just as we are his, enfolded in His light and love, so He will be ours forever.  The Magi’s saw the star from afar and looked to heaven, “they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” [Matt 2:10].

† No matter what our challenges, they cannot keep the Star, the Light from shining.

† No matter how deep the guilt of our sin, it cannot extinguish the light of Christ’s compassion and forgiveness.

† No matter how dark the future seems, our Morning Star has Risen; He Rises within us. It is His gift – Live in the Joy!

Revelation 2:26,28

God who will always be infinitely greater than ourselves – yet who reaches out to us in love, and draws us into his life as he comes to us in Christ.

† Christ Within Us †

Where Do You Go to Get Some Peace?

Jesus made peace by ” the blood of his cross “ [Colossians 1:20].  The underlying root of our restlessness, our “dis-ease; it says that all human beings were “once…alienated from God and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds” (v. 21).  But, enthroned on the cross, in love for us, ” God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.”  2 Corinthians 5:19

This reconciliation, this rejoining of the flesh of men to the spirit of God establishes the peace we yearn and cry out for. Reconciled in his body of flesh by his death; presenting us blameless, and above reproach before Him; that the walls of protection that God himself places around those who love and honor Him, may have abundant peace through Christ [Zech 5:5] :

no longer alienated, (Colossians 1:21-22)
no longer orphans,
no longer casted out.

Such relief, this peace which flows from the throne of God! It’s His gift to you, wrapped within the simplicity of heavens garments lying in a simple manger.

The Lion of Judah, the Root of David has conquered evil  [Revelation 5:5].
He is our Refuge,
He is our Stronghold;
He is our Peace.

John 14:27

† Christ Within Us †

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• Live Deep – Where His Peace Lies (inlovewiththelord.wordpress.com)

Banners Held High!

Each day for 40 years as the nation set out towards its new home, the tribe of  Judah raised its banner and marched out first, by the explicit command of God.  [Numbers 2:2-9; 10:11, 16]  The Lion of  Judah led the way into each New Day.

We can face our future, day-by-day, with the same confidence, No Matter What It Holds. That is exactly the blessing the Lord wants for you.  The life of Israel had bumps in the road.  The people had to battle their way into the inheritance God had promised them. Their bumps, potholes and enemies are very similar to ours.  Yet the Lion of Judah never left their side.

Whether Feeling alone or abandoned; we shouldn’t.  The mighty Lion of  Judah never leaves your sie! He has gone ahead of you to prepare the way.  He even passed through the doorway of death itself to make it safe for you! Because Christ’s cross and open tomb, we need never battle by ourselves in fear and frustration.

The Lord roars from Zion,
and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
and the heavens and the earth quake.  –  Joel 3:16

…And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold the dwelling place of God is with man…” – Revelation 21:2

No! We can rely fully on our Conquering, Lion-hearted, Resurrected Lord.

† Christ Within Us †

“He Stooped Down to Make Me Great”

The fully unveiled, Christian life is a gloriously, quite often uncomfortably honest life. The good news is that this doesn’t have anything to do with what’s on the outside, but everything to do with what’s on the inside. What made Jesus special wasn’t so much what he looked like, but who he was. He drew people to him not because of his appearance, but because of his love, his grace, his compassion, his authority and so much more.

To look like Christ we need more of his character and his qualities shinning through in all we do. We don’t need plastic surgery, home gyms, personal trainers or a psych’s couch; we just need to spend some quality time with him in his word and in prayer.

Surely this must be…the Son of God!

There is a “gentle tugging of hearts” going on right now by the power of the Holy Spirit in order to prepare us for this season of ” Approval.” God is about to exalt those who have been through lowly places. God is about to open rivers on the bare heights.

“As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.

For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.

He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You give me your shield of victory;
you stoop down to make me great.

You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.

II Samuel 22:31-37

† Christ Within Us †

Unveiled Faces

Unveiled Faces

God has promised to put, “his Spirit in our hearts as guarantee [of what is to come]” 2 Corinthians 1:22. Slowly, but surely, we will begin to think as he thinks; we begin to see what he sees,; we begin to feel the way he feels.

My son asked me yesterday, “Do you believe people who are not religious are good people?” There’s that word again, “religious”. That word is simply not adequate to describe the working of God’s spirit within us; it does not adequately describe the “Love” of God or His love to us. The answer to his question based on my revelation through Christ is that, “people (man) is not inherently good.” Every good thing in man comes from God even when we refuse to recognize it.

You see this question appears over and ove again when non believers question the evil in the world. Why, why, why? Genocide, reckless destruction of life, diseases, etc… We can not change on are own; God must change us when we ask Him to. When we are all on the same page with a repentant heart; we ask for the most wonderful transformation in our hearts, to accept Christ as our savior, our defender, to complete the work within us. then and only then: no more genocide, no more power grabbing, no more reckless destruction of life, poverty, hunger, disease; when we accept God’s will in our life to do the divine good he has planned for us – All will change. Not by our will, not by our hand, not by selfish motives but by the full grace of God.

Unveiled Faces

The unveiled life becomes gloriously reflective. The Apostle Paul says the unveiled life reflects the LORD’s glory simply because the unveiled life can’t take its eyes away from God’s glory. We with unveiled faces reflect the LORD’s glory. If we aren’t reflecting His glory; we’re just aren’t fixated on His glory. We’re just not looking at Him.

Slowly, but surely, our decisions and actions reflect those of our Lord more than those of our society. ” When one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed…there is freedom…and we all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed…from one degree of glory to another.” 2 Corinthians 3:14-18

” Change happens in the mind and heart, and then incarnates into life.” Rom. 12:2

There is NO other way!
Psalm 29:11

† Christ Within Us †