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:…
Category: <span>Personal God</span>
Steven Wright said, “ I plan to live forever, so far, so good.” Funny but true; we are stuck with the perception of life viewed through time. God loved Israel with an everlasting love and as far as we know, He’s keeping the promise. The Bible helps here because it refers to time yet future; it fast-forwards us at least 1000 years, and then jumps off of times’ diving board into eternity. Love and eternity go hand in hand, for God is Love. Let’s begin with the rule; From Ecclesiastes 3:14 and Deuteronomy 33:27, God exists Love, both what He does and who He is are forever. This helps to explain how perfect love casts out fear, in John’s epistle. What could “perfect love” be referring to? God’s love, yes, but the verse says that love is made perfect. That’s referring to us, me and you. If “perfect” means “mature,”…
A fervent prayer rose up to heaven, a fragile soul was losing groundSorting through the earthly babble, heaven heard The sound.This was a life of no distinction, no successes, only trysBut gazing down on this unlovely one, there was love… in heaven’s eyes. The orphan child, the wayward father, the homeless traveler in the rain,when life goes by and no one bothers, heaven feels the pain.But looking down, God sees each heartache; He knows each sorrow, and hears each cry,And gazing up, we see compassion’s’ fire, ablaze… In heaven’s eyes In heavens eyes there are no losers, in heavens eyes, there can be no hopeless causeOnly people like you with feelings like me, amazed by the grace we can find,In heaven’s eyes Compassion’s fire is ablaze…in heaven’s eyes. Wow! “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the…
1 Corinthians 6:7 Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? Living Bible Luke 6:29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. Why not let yourself be cheated? When slammed up-side the head, offer also the other cheek; chase down the cloak thief and give him your coat also. What religion is this? Ours. Friends, “be gentle with all men, apt to teach; in meekness instruct those who oppose themselves.” Perhaps God will grant them repentance. Really? Those who oppose you, actually, oppose themselves. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. And Proverbs 25:15 says; By long forbearing is a prince persuaded,…
God seems a mere fancy to me — spooky, hiding in the shadows, not really concerned. If love and anger are two feelings which are in people, I guess God don’t have these. In one story about Him He is a big Hand in the sky — of His Son, Jesus; a tough “figure out” for me. “What does He want?” I wonder! – the answer could fill a big void with the other “what you have to do’s.” At church and grade-school we think about God. Statues of Jesus help at some picture making. In our church’s statues He seems a shepherd type, but I have never seen a real shepherd. These stir up notions more than real bytes. None of my senses make God out to be really real. He is not laughing nor crying; has no facial air. He speaks another language; Latin. I don’t know what…
“So My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call them to the One on high, none at all exalts Him. How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled. I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in wrath.” Hosea 11:7-9 Here in Hosea, bent to backsliding, God’s people still refuse to exalt Him, though often exhorted. God reveals His heart. “How can I give you up?” How can I treat you like the dirt or like a herd of gazelles? My heart is turning within, and My desire to console is…
Will God wait for me? I am very slow to change; so slow that I doubt His patience will last. I’m stuck in myself and though I try, I cannot find release. My heart deceives me, time and time again. I will not try much anymore. Does God love the weak and frail? Does God love the poor and lame? Does He love the self-deceived? God waited for Gomer. She was finally done, worn out, hoping to die, of little worth. All of her “lovers” abandoned her for lack of use; they were in it for themselves. Then God said, “She is valuable to me, go and purchase her.” He spoke comfortably with her. Nobody wondered about her sincerity. There were no promises from her. “Sincerity” was one lover who ran away. Elijah had had enough. He ran from Jezebel’s threat, and wanted to die. The shame of simply quitting…
Pennsylvania Scenery 1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 1 Corinthians 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. The Delphic Oracle was quite popular with the Corinthian people. This group of Maxims was part of what Paul criticized above in his first epistle. Supposedly given by the god Apollo, some of these principles raise the eyebrows. Others sound very familiar, to our chagrin. “Know thyself,” came from the Maxims, also “Be yourself.” “Pray for happiness” and “Benefit yourself,” “Gratify without harming.” That’s some sweet wisdom if your life is beaten up; sarcastically speaking. Too bad it was…
“Like as a father pitieth* his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psalm 103:13-14 (*to love, love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection, have compassion.) God pities us. Do you know Him that way? If so, it might change a lot of things. Mom and dad taught us “don’t be a complainer, don’t whine about everything.” I understand why. God differently says, “come to me, you will find pity.” Father knows we are made of dust. Have you failed a lot lately? Be honest with Him. Is it because your circumstances are unbearable? Don’t make excuses for sin, but please tell Him all about everything. We must endure much on this earth, but sometimes our rear ends are getting kicked and we are not making it. Tell your Father in Heaven; He pities you…
The awareness of shame is a reckoning with lost innocence, the realization that one now has the potential to hurt another and be hurt, to honor God and to dishonor Him. Shame is the pervasive effect and affect of sin.Shame is the raincoat of the soul, repelling the living water that would otherwise establish us as the beloved of God. We believe falsely that our sin disqualifies us from receiving His love. Andrew Comisky Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle. Psalm 109:29 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones. Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually. Psalm 109:18-19 The business of putting on a…