“We stumbled on in the darkness, over big stones and through large puddles, along the one road leading from the camp. The accompanying guards kept shouting at us and driving us with the butts of their rifles. Anyone with very sore feet supported himself on his neighbor’s arm. Hardly a word was spoken; the icy wind did not encourage talk. Hiding his mouth behind his upturned collar, the man marching next to me whispered suddenly: “If our wives could see us now! I do hope they are better off in their camps and don’t know what is happening to us.” “That brought thoughts of my own wife to mind. And as we stumbled on for miles, slipping on icy spots, supporting each other time and again, dragging one another up and onward, nothing was said, but we both knew: each of us was thinking of his wife. Occasionally I looked…
Category: <span>Personal God</span>
We must review what Job said toward the end of his quandary and inner alteration. In Job 42:5, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye sees thee.” Also in Job 42:6, “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job’s faculty for discerning God shifted from ear to eye. …but wait, this new “sharpening of insight,” caused Job to hate himself? Apparently the shift of insight made him see drastically clearer, awakening a new awe of God, but deepening shame-awareness? But, what new thing did Job see in God? To explain, here is a quote from our founder, Pastor Stevens; “God is ontological. Very simply, this means that God has always been everything He is and ever will be. Even before He created the angels and the human race, God was who He is now and who…
You are the object of His concern. Cast all distracting, parting, disuniting, differing and soliciting care on Him. Cast out fear, with perfect love. Cast off the unfruitful works of darkness, put on the armor of light. Cast out the bondwoman. Cast down imaginations and high things for these exalt themselves against His person. Don’t cast away your confidence; …it has great recompense of reward. With patience the promise will come. A man must inventory his soul. He must shepherd his spirit. He must identify things such as emotions, fears, anxiety, and distractions, which carry him away captive. Then, bring it all back to Christ alone, “The Finisher of all works of peace — (liberty, unity, brotherly love and faith rest). But you say,”I can’t! What’s happening? I’ve lost my authority,” Cast those thoughts down! “It doesn’t seem to work.” — Cast that thought down! “I’m overwhelmed by…
Martha received him into her house. Sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. Martha was dragged about with much serving. Martha said, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.” Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and disturbed about many things (needy). But one thing will supply the need: Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:37- Sisters fighting? No, pictured are 2 kingdoms at war. A highly motivated agenda vs. A highly relaxed “it is finished” positioning. Anxiety-fueled unsettledness vs. rest-filled right-mindedness. Disturbed resentment vs prioritized excellence. slavish pose vs friendly exchange superficial honoring vs. heart honor Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,…
“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4 I’ve noticed three different kinds of trials which could describe the work of perfecting Inconvenience: The broke down car-it eventually gets fixed. Disappointment: The car that just doesn’t repair — never gets fixed. Disillusionment: the car accident that is from hell.-I never want to drive again. All trials challenge every ounce of faith. They destroy natural faith. “Let patience have her perfect work.” “Let your patience endure that you may be stable, mature, and complete when I speak to you, with no defects in your capacity to listen.”Dr. Carl Stevens “Our patience, as it endures, will always bring forth a vision.” Stevens Isaiah 35:7 is an illustration of what God will do for us in the valley: “I will take the parched ground and make it a pool.” Dr.Carl…
On this day 12 years ago our son Joshua went to heaven. Now, what do we want? To see him again soon. You lit up our lives for a short 25 years and we miss you today, Josh, and the wait seems long; but eternity is longer. Can’t wait! St. Augustine says: He that loveth little, prayeth little; he that loveth much, prayeth much. What do you want? Surprisingly we rarely visit this thought. What do I need, what can I eat, what do I need to do and what does God want, are questions more common. Christians say, “I lost my vision when things didn’t work out and now I am just meandering.” “What do you want?” When I dutifully focus on my Savior. He says “what do you want?” Some folks in the Bible got healed because when Jesus asked them “what do you want?” —they had an answer.…
“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace.” Hebrews 13:9 Windy surmisings must not bear us away. Ephesians 4:14 1) “…they lie in wait to deceive.” —— Who does this? n Some men who take a “stab” at life; n They throw the dice. n They take a chance at truth. n They go risky ——– Deceive Who? 2) “…children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine…” ——- How? 3) “… sleight of men, and cunning craftiness.” “To be “free” and self-determined is the temptation to man.” Folks lust to “find” themselves (in themselves) and put off incoming restraints. Psalm 12 “Emancipation” from Christ and conscience however, puts a man in a scary place because Laws, social mores, and influences of religion die. In leaving the old, new precepts will take over.…
Nothing gives more pleasure than disappointment turned to hope. It’s like the budding of a flower, petals which were shrunken in withdrawal, unraveling and stretching in beaming beatification. There is no blush — Just a brave display of approval by Him; the face-lightener, joy bringer, chin-lifting Christ. The Prize seen, we mirror Him –- reflection as in still water. Jacob looks upon his once dead son; he is alive, he is alive! Peter looks upon the once dead Christ; He too is alive. The countenance of the two is shining, a fire is lit. A narrow. Many yearn, they’re disenchanted. Others set their hearts on things, to Disparagement. The world is cruel toward certain dreams. Why? There is no furtherance, no continuance, no story-end. But, there is more to come, my friends; it is too early to quit. Here is the mistake, the hardening center, the darkening of mind. Here is…
“The battle is the Lord’s.” It is alsoHis life, His righteousness, His joy which is our strength. We are kept by His power for it is His salvation. He neither slumbers nor sleeps. Heis our ever present help in times of trouble, born for adversity, He loves at all times. He ministers to us on our bed of languishing. By Himself He purged our sins and is wisdom, sanctification and redemption. There’s much more, but we get the point. Which is? We live in the sphere of God, period. Other spheres are false domains which are invented, yet remain reluctantly in the orb of Christ. Man can imagine another existence, concoct it in his mind’s eye, blueprint it’s issue, expand it’s characteristics. One such world-view goes this way: “I come to the aide of the defenseless, I cannot cold-bloodedly pass by all the horror…and not say a word.” “From…
Immanuel awakens a listening ear. “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” “O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.” “Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.” There are at least five different “foxes” which counteract Immanuel’s lovely appearing. There might be more but when “God with us” happened Christmas day, A.D. zero, several already-existing mindsets combined to downplay “Immanuel” as not nearly enough. Unfortunately, these five proceed from the inner workings of every child of “Adam’s image,” stricken of a genitival fatality, which barbarism conceals itself from discovery. For some, the five include:…