So Often.............

.............he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. Prov. 15:18b
So often I allow my anger to control my life. So often my self-control, which as a child of God should be abounding, is cut short due to my pride. But what comes after pride? Destruction. Prov.16:18
So often I would rather bring up another man's sin then reveal my own.But if I desire love, I would also desire to cover that man's transgression. For if I repeat a matter concerning his sin, I seperate the very friendship I should desire to keep. Prov. 17:9
Oh to the wickedness of my heart. For I lay not aside my anger, and I run not to self-control. But rather in my pride and self will, I desire even at the expence of friendship, to win an arguement. But what is love? Is it something to show only to those who have already shown it to me? I despise that thought!For as a child of God, I must have love even for my enemies. How much more I should have it for those who are God's children. For if I say I love the Father, yet I love not who He loves, my love for Him is of no effect. For as I love the Father with heart, soul and mind, I ought to love those around me as myself. Doing to others as I would have done to me, that by that action of love, the world might see the Father and know I am His child.

I Have A Problem

I have a problem..................Thin paper, red ink, bonded leather and a silver imprint of my name, is sadly what my mind will picture as God's "only" words. Thin paper, red ink, leather and silver imprint is nothing closer to explaining God and His ways than tuna and bread. It is the word and the meaning that make it all come alive. God is not held back by pen and paper, for pen and paper could never explain to man, the fullness of God. All ink can do is bring us to a point of amazement, and unless that amazement stays, we will never be ready for the fulfilment of God. For example, a deer, whether it knows a car is coming or not, will get hit if it is in the middle of the road. Likewise, as humans we can read what pen and paper tell us, but it could never fully prepare us for the fullness of God's glory. For even Paul says he was caught up into the third heaven and saw things that could not be explained. How much more will it be like when we stand before the Lord in all of His glory as He judges our deeds? Surely God's word is not only mere words that one reads, but is in fact that which lives in our hearts, burning as a fire and cleaning out that which corrupts us. Jesus Christ our Lord! He is a consuming fire that constantly renews us in our walk. He it is that prepares us for the presence of God, though it will still shock us whether we're ready or not. Not only is the word of God something we read or hear, it is also something that lives, both in the heavens above and the earth below and here is what amazes me the most.........the word lives in the heart of man. The word which brought forth the mountains to rise, the thunder to sound, the waves to crash, this word didn't stay as something we only hear and read, but something we can see and feel.In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14"And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten Father", and yet some how this glorius Word has some how, beyond my understanding, fit Himself into a human shell, laid aside His glory and become humble and meek, to take our cross and our shame. So that He might once again amaze me, by fitting Himself into my heart. For no longer is the word of God only on paper, it is written on our hearts, if we allow Him to write His way in, and believe me, He has alot to write in us. Does that not amaze you? That God in all of His glory and magesty, would set that all aside, come down to His creation, which man ruined, and pay the price so that He might live in us. According to mans view of things, this doesn't make sense at all. It is easy, in our feeble minds, to only read from the words in a book, then meditate on the living Word. But don't take me wrong, those words in that book, with the thin paper, red ink, bonded leather and silver imprint, those are God's words, and He has lovingly given them to us, as a gift. But many there are, who have taken the gift and closed God out, acting like He has nothing else to say. Believe me, God has plenty to say, now lets hear Him speak.Thin paper, red ink, bonded leather, and my name imprinted with silver, may hold God's word for me to read and hear, but I need to be ready to see and feel the Word of God, who both died and rose again, that I might be saved and spend eternity with Him forever.

If Trees Could Talk

If Trees Could Talk
If the trees could talk and the mountains sing, what would they say? Perhaps they would tell of a creator or perhaps they would once and for all set straight the mess man has made of creations beginning. Wouldn't it be amazing if they would recount such stories as the flood, or maybe even the life of Christ?What if trees could talk and mountains sing? Well in all of my short life, I have never heard of a tree talking nor a mountain singing, except in fables and fairy tales. So if the mountains can't sing and the trees have no ability to talk, who can and who should be both talking and singing? What has happened to the bride? What has happened to the body? What has happened to the mouths that were filled? Should it be said that the mouths of purity have traded their birth right for a bowl of soup? Should the mouths of the body (for this body has many) be caught on that day, when the sky will part and the Creator returns, should they be found with words that have not left their lips and songs that have not filled the empty heart of the lost? There is a cry from heaven, and rumbling in the ground, let the mouths be filled and let words roll off the lips of the children. Let the proud be humbled, let the mighty become weak. Let the living become dead so that they might GO with life not of themselves, so that they might speak words not thought up of themselves. Let the ground tremble where they walk, for the one that leads them is the same who put the dust under their feet and the sky above their heads. So leave the trees to sway in the wind, let the mountains remain unheard, but in all and with all, be crucified that you might live, be broken that you may be strong, and pour out the words of purity and truth which have been placed in your very mouth. Let the love that has filled your heart, not rot in there, for that love is be be over flowed and poured out on a land of dryness. Let the deaf hear, and the dumb sing, let the heavens declare that they who said yes to the Lord also fulfilled their promise.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness?

Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness? Such a popular saying is that very line. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, is such a known saying, but is it true? Well taking a shower will not make you any closer to God, it will not clean your heart, just brushing your teeth. But when it comes to cleanliness, it is true, if we are clean, we will be closer to the Lord. Just because you may wash behind your ears, doesn't mean your washed from all your sins. Jesus condemned the pharisees for their outward appearance, that they thought was going to save them.Woe unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Matt. 23:25In the old testament, the Lord God had His people Israel clean themselves at the bottom of Mount Sinai, for He was going to present Himself to them.He had them clean their clothes, and the men could not sleep with their wives. God wanted them clean and ready for His appearance before them. In order for them to stand before Him, when He appeared, they had to prepare themselves, and be washed.Hebrews says,Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb. 10:22So to take the picture of what the Israelites had to do to prepare for the Lord, Hebrews tells us as well, to be washed with pure water. Throughout scripture we are commanded to be cleansed by the blood of Christ, which only His blood can do, if we are going to be near to the Lord. The word holy in the dictionary means,Dedicated or consecrated to God.Morally and spiritually excellent.Interesting that the word "holy" means and tells us to be consecrated to God. Scripture tells us,According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. Eph. 1:4So in one way or another, cleanliness of the soul means a closer relationship with God, but a clean house or a nice clean smelling perfume, or having a scented tree hanging from your rear veiw miror in your car, doesn't make you any godlier. For scripture says,For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God;Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:9For it is through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we are cleansed and washed, prepared for the marriage supper. What a day that will be!