Showing posts with label Mortal Strife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mortal Strife. Show all posts

Sunday, March 8, 2020

COUNTING COUP: Counting Costs

The Lord Chose Me
So I Choose The Lord
And
By His Great Grace
I Shall No More Associate With The God-Fraud!

Jesus Christ Made Sacrifices
To Make It Possible For Me ... For Us
To Appear Before The Throne Of Grace
But
Before That Will Benefit Us
We Must Give Up Everything
That Engenders Our Disgrace!

Everybody Loves To Prate About Winning
About Their Counting Coup
But
I Suggest To Us, Dear Brethren
That Counting Costs 
Would Be Better For Me, For You!

Sacrifice Is A Bad, Bad, Word
According To Those Who Know Not Christ
And
These Are The Very Ones Who Reject Introspection 
And
Fall For The Always Charming
Demonic Device!

What Is Counting Coup!?! 

Good Question! 
Counting Coup Is Tallying One's Victories Over A Personal Enemy
At The Risk Of Injury Or Death! 
Problem Is That Many In The Mortal Strife 
Believe That That Works With Satan!
They "Play" His Game 
And 
Don't See Visible Injury Or Suffer Immediate Death 
So They Dare To Think That They Have Won Something! 

Self-Deceived Is The Worst Kind Of Deception! 

Willful Ignorance Leads To The Lasting Curse!

Jesus Christ Had To Die To Save All Mankind
So What Makes Us Think That 
We Wouldn't Have To Definitely Die To Self 
And 
Decidedly Die To Sin
If We Are To Enter The Living Kingdom!?! 

Brethren, 

Jesus Christ 
And 
Personal Sacrifice Are Synonymous! 
We Are Regenerated Christians
And
The Regenerated Christian 
And 
Personal Sacrifice Should Also Be The Same! 

That Is A Hard Saying: Who Can Bear It!?! 

Since You Ask
Jesus Christ Is Blunt About It:




Image result for luke 14:27 kjv


Image result for luke 14:28 kjv



Travelling To Heaven 
Is Not 
Cheap Or Easy! 
Costs Are Incurred 
And 
Expenses Must Be Paid
But 
Not With Man-Generated Currency! 

We Who Faithfully Follow The Lord Christ 
Must Choose To Endure All Things
And
Give Up Everything
If 
We Will Enter The Holy City! 

Everything!?! 

Everything!
Every Single Solitary Thing As In
Possessions, Position, Property
Privileges, Passions, Pursuits
Progenitors ... And Progeny!
It Has All Got To Be Given The Kibosh! 
We've Got To Let It All Go! 

Jesus Christ ... Our Jesus Christ
Gave Up Glory
The Loving Community Of His Father 
And 
The Heartfelt, Constant, Adoration Of The Holy Angels
His Crown
His Throne
And
His Very Life's Blood
To Purchase For Us The Pardon That Leads To Eternal Life
And 
There Will Be No Doubters
No Fence Jockey 
Nor Wafflers In Heaven! 

Beloved,

Turning Back, For Us, Is Not An Option: Heaven Is Home! 
We Have Joys Forevermore To Enjoy 
So Giving Up What Will Burn Is Necessary:
We Can't Have Both! 

We Must Commit Wholly To Christ Jesus 
To Be Eternally Blessed! 
Without This, We Will Not Know Everlasting Peace! 
To Gain The Hereafter
The Fleetings Thing Of The Here And Now Must Be Released!
From Sin And Self, We Must Cease!

Faith, Beloved
Is 
The Victory Which Overcometh The World!
Your Daily Gift Of Daily Faith ... Utilized
Pays The Daily Operating Costs 
For Heaven To Be Realized!
Work Your Faith
And
Your Faith Will Work!
Think About It ... And Decisively Act
And
Don't Look Back!





Tuesday, November 12, 2019

B.C.W.: The Packaged Deal

Eat The Bread!
Make The Connection
And
Witness To The World!
This, Brethren
Is 
Your Employment
When You Choose To Walk With The Lord!

The Bread ...

The Bread Is The Word Of God
Pure, Clean And True!
It Satisfies The Hungering Soul
And
Always Blesses You!
That's Bible Truth!

The Connection ...

The Connection Is Your Communication
Your Prayers To The Lord
Honest, Heartfelt, Willing!
They Take You Up To The Lord Of Life
And
Your Urge To Sin They Are Killing!

The Witness ...

The Witness ... Your Witness To The World
Tells The Good News To Friends And Others!
It Tells Of What The Lord Has Done For You!
It Encourages Them To Take That Holy Hand
So That They Will Be Blessed Also
And
It Also Helps You In Your Walk Of Faith To Grow!

When We Eat Bread Of Life
We Taste And Chew And Savor!
What We Savor, We Swallow!
What We Swallow, We Digest!
What We Digest, We Are Nurtured Thereby

And

Because The Word Speaks Of Confession And Repentance
We Must Do Our Due Diligence
And
Dig Up And Cast Out The Dead Works
And
Fill Up On More Of What Gives Real Life
So That We, Fortified, May Win 
Aka Emerge Victorious
In The Mortal Strife!

When We Pray
We Acknowledge Jesus Christ As Lord And King
Creator, Redeemer, Hope, Help
Savior ... Everything
And
Trusting The Love That Will Not Let Us Go
We Bind Ourselves To Him Who Paid Our Price
And
In So Doing
We Give Short Shrift To Him Of The Demonic Device!

When We Witness To The World
We Cement Our Own Faith
And
We Give Strength To The Word That
The Lord Of Life Took Our Disgrace
And
Blessed Us And Cleaned Us
And
Clothed Us Anew
And
Has Taken Us Into His Dwelling
Where All Enduring Residents 
Are Grace-Filled, Heart-Holy 
Loving, Kind And Ever True!

Full Disclosure
Is The Way Of The Lord ...






Real Christians Will Really Suffer: Expect Suffering!
The Light Afflictions That We Suffer Are Appointed By The Lord 
And 
Are For Our Eternal Good 
And 
For His Glory
And 
Should Be Patiently Borne 
Because
The Lord Glorious
Has Promised To Never Leave Us Nor Forsake Us
And
He Has Given Unto Us The Holy Spirit Of Truth 
For Our Personal, Physical, And Spiritual Comfort! 
We Will Grow In Grace
So That We Shall, In Peace, See His Lovely Face!

The Same Cannot Be Said For Those Given Over To Evil 
Who Shall See Themselves In Desolation
Ruined ... Alone
Bereft Of Any Comfort For Their Wayward Souls!
They Shall Never Know 
The Peace That Pervades The Heavenly Home!

Understand And Accept This ...

Afflictions Point Us To The Word 
And 
Keep Us From Straying! 
Trust The Lord ... Wholly!
Take His Holy Hand ... Solely! 
Glory Awaits The Faithful ... Surely! 

In Jesus Christ
Is
Our Perfect Peace!







Friday, October 11, 2019

HAPPY SABBATH + THE LITTLE TIME OF TROUBLE: The Anchor For The Believer's Soul!




In The Life Of Man
The Anticipation Of Trouble
Is 
Often Worse Than The Experience
But
In The Coming Little Time Of Jacob's Trouble
The Experience 
Is 
Worse Than Anything A Man Would Have Marked As 
His Thing-Most-To-Be-Avoided-At-All-Costs Goal!

Let Us Look At The Grudging Repentance
- Displaying Sorrow For Their Personal Pain
But Not Their Sorrow For Doing Wrong -
Of Esau, Prophet Balaam
King Saul And Disciple Judas Iscariot
And
Then Let Us Look At The Abject Sorrow 
For Their Known Sin As Displayed 
In The Genuinely, Heartfelt, Repentance Of 
Jacob-Israel And King David!
Therein In These Examples
Is Our Real Story Told!

All Who Will Stand Enduringly Faithful
In The Little Time Of Trouble
Will Have Made A Practice Of Leaning On
Believing In
And
Trusting In The Living God
And
Will Have Confessed All Their Known Sin
And
Repented
By Turning Away From Doing Sin
Acknowledging
The Filthiness Of Sin
Almighty God's Abhorrence For Sin
And
Our Father's Great Willingness 
To Forgive Repented-Of Known Sin! 

Beloved, Be Warned ...

We Cannot Fight The Adversary ... Our Adversary
- Who Has Nothing To Lose -
In Our Own Strength!

Remember,
The Word Plainly Says:

Satan Has But A Short Time
And Is As A Roaring Lion
Walking About ... Seeking
Whom He May Devour!

Time To Get Real ...

We Need The Savior
The Lover Of Our Souls
The Redeemer Of The Saints
The King Of Glory
Our Creator
And
Our One True Friend
To Render Assistance, Comfort, Aid
And
Keep Us In Hope
And
To Provide Help!

We Are Blessed ...

Our Hope In Christ Jesus
Is
Not A Burnable Flaxen Cord
But
Is A Solid Red Rope
Made Of Innocent Blood
Alive
Able
From The Life Of Fallen Man
Sin ... Cold
Hotly To Drive!

Let's Bless The Giver Of All Good
All Perfect Gifts
And
Strive Valiantly
In The Faith Of Belief
To Arrive Safely In Hill Zion
When Ends The Mortal Strife!

Jesus Christ ... For Us Believers
Is
Eternal Life:
Hold On To This Blessed Hope!







Thursday, June 20, 2019

THE EARTHLY PILGRIMAGE: I Cry!

I Believe The Living Word Of The Holy God
And
In My Sojourn In The Vale Of Tears
And
In The Distress Of My Soul
I Cry:

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills
And
I Shall Ask The Question:

From Whence Does My Help Come!?!

And

In The Surety Of Oft' Answered Prayer
I Shall Answer My Own Question And Say:

2 My Help Cometh From The LORD, which made heaven and earth.

The Lord Is My Shepherd!

I Can Say Without Fear Of Contradiction
To Anyone Who Chooses To Believe That:

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved

And 
Assure You That
He Who keeps You Will Not slumber!

Behold, Brethren

I Am Telling You That

4 He that Keepeth Israel [The Israel Of God]
shall neither slumber nor sleep.

He Has No Pajamas, No Alarm Clock
And
He Can Never Be Caught Off-Side!

Understand This:

5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

And 
With Alacrity Accept That
He Will Not Let

6 The sun smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

He's Got Us Covered!
We've Got The Comforter, The Holy Spirit Of Truth
And
We've Got Angelic Protection!

We Have On Offer The Great Salvation:
Please Do Not The Good Gift Refuse!
With Our Lives Entwined In Christ's
We Have Absolutely Nothing To Lose!

Friend, 

Please Take Hold Of The Promise
And 
Realize That

7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil!
He shall preserve Your soul.

Look, I Don't Mean To Be Rude
But
Buy A Free Clue:

8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and 
thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

I Encourage Us All
To Get With The Lord's Everlasting Life Plan
And
Become A Redeemed Human
And
In Your Lot ... In Highest Heaven
In Glory Land
Victoriously Stand!
Take The Extended-To-You-In-Mercy Hand!

What The Lord Jesus Christ
 Personally Has For You
Is Yours And Yours Alone:
Let No One Steal Your Joy In Jesus
Nor
Your Golden Crown Of Eternal Life!
Trust The Lord
And
Successfully Survive
The Mortal Strife!



Friday, April 5, 2019

HAPPY SABBATH + So, What: Lover Of Sin!?!





Don't Understand
Don't See
Don't Care
And
So What
Are Discussing The Issue Of Sin
And
They Were Each Taking The Popular Positions
Beloved Of The Sin-Loving
Discipline-Despising
Christian Character-Minimizing
Self-Aggrandizing Populace
Who Are All Professionally Diagnosed With "I" Problems!

They Had Just Told Off It's A Lost Cause
Who Had Adamantly Declared That
Being A Lover Of Sin Was A Lost Cause
Because
The Lover Of Sin Would Be Lost To The Lord Christ 
Because 
His Cherished Cause Will Never Be Found
Ever. Again.
In The Heavenly Realm!

For The Record ...

These Are The Positions Held 
And
Boisterously Stated:

Don't Understand Doesn't Understand Why Sin Is A Problem!
Don't See Doesn't See Sin As A Problem!
Don't Care Doesn't Care Who Has A Sin Problem!
And
So What, Unphased By The Displays Of Emotion, Said:

So, What!?! We're All Gonna Die Anyway!


The Bases Are LOAAAADED!!

Converted Christian Is Pitching: 

  • Sin Is The Transgression Of God's Law
  • Sinners Need Salvation
  • Jesus Christ Saves
  • Almighty God's Mercy Is Free
  • Confession Of Sin Relieves The Heavy Load
  • Repentance Is Good For The Riven Soul

So What Is Royally Ticked Off
By The "Sermonette"
And
Tries To Dig Out Converted Christian's Cleansed Eyes!

Converted Christian
Shielded By Grace
Enclosed By Faith
And
Made Prosperous By Mercy, Responded:

True Prosperity Depends On Piety!

Suddenly,
Marvellous Grace Entered The Fray
And
Like A Thunder-Bolt, Proclaimed:

Our God Is A Consuming Fire

And No Sinner Unrepentant

Can Survive In His Holy Presence!



Repent Of Your Sin

And You Shall Be Bountifully Blessed!


Don't Understand, Trembling In Fear
At The Can't-Be-Ignored Statement, Squeaked:

I Don't Understand!
Is My Mind Weak!?!

Faith For Today Chimed In:

Those Who Cast Off The Government Of God
- That Is The Laws And Precepts Of God -
Are Those Who First Cast Aside Man's Gift Of Understanding!

Pretended Ignorance Is An Insult To Our Creator
Who Gave Every Man Certain Gifts
Amongst Them
The Ability To Understand Right From Wrong!

Being Self-Willed And Own-Way Are Not Spiritual Blessings!
They Are Pillars
- Even Foundation Stones -
Whereon The Sin Life Is Built!

Don't Understand Replied: 

Dear Lord, Have Mercy On Me!
I See My Need
And I Here And Now Acknowledge That
I Am Carnal-Minded And Sold Out To Sin!

To Which Truth, Holding Mercy's Extended Hand, Replied:


Behold The Lamb Of God
Who Takes Away The Sin Of The World!


Following This Declaration
And
For The Record
This Is The Charge That Don't Understand Then Received:



Be Instant
Be Constant In Prayer!
Do Not Let The World Bend You To Its Will!
Do Not Live In Fear!


The Lord Says:
Come Boldly To The Throne Of Grace!
For You, I Have Made The Way!
Stand Up And Be Counted For The Kingdom!
I Shall Not Turn You Away!


Ask ... When You Believe!
Seek ... Do Not Steal!
Knock: Heaven's Storehouses Are Open

And
You Will Your Request By Faith Receive!


The Devil
Old Satan Is The Liar!
His Soon Rest Is In The Lake Of Fire!
Do Not Follow Him Like A Tame Dog
He Cannot Save You Nor Himself
So
Go Straight To The Lord Of Life
And
The Lord Always Willing
You Will Survive The Mortal Strife
And
From The Hand Of The Lord Christ
You Will Receive Eternal Life!


Remember! Remember!
Don't Ever Forget:
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear!
This Is The Sure Word!
It Is Not A Whim Nor A Dare!
Trust The Word Of The Promise Giver
Who Is Also The Promise Keeper
Whether You Live Long
Or Become A Long-Home Sleeper!


Trust The Creator!
Trust The Lord Kind!
Trust The Shepherd Of Your Rest
Because
He Won't Cast You Aside
Or
Leave His Faithful Child Behind!
Don't Doubt The Lord: It Is A Sin
A Known Crime!





Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Horizontal Missionaries Don't Rise!

So What Was The Big Deal?!

Do You Really Have The Gall
To Ask Such A Question!?!

Yes, I Do!
Now, Answer The Question!

Very Well!
She Was In Here Using Some Language
That No One Wanted To Hear!

Does That "No One" Include You!?!

Well, Yes, Sorta, Kinda ...!

Please Explain!

We Were Talking About Working For The Lord
And Telling The World The Good News
And I Guess We Got Carried Away
Romanticizing The Journey
And Minimizing The Effort Required
To Do A Good Work To Hasten The Great Day
When She, She, She Just Exploded!

She Started Talking About
Self-Denial
Self-Sacrifice
Self-Crucification
And All That Hurtful, Painful Stuff!

Oh, You Mean She Got Beyond
The Televangelist Fluff Of
Fully Equipped Television Studio
Smooth Riding Elite-Class Private Jet
Armed Body-Guards
Fawning Followers
Quarterly Vacations
Lavishly Appointed Primary, Secondary
And Tertiary Homes
Servants Innumerable
Vicuna Wool
Silk Sheets
Diamond Watches
Custom-Made Fragrances
Personal Chefs
Personal Trainers And ...!

... How ... How Did You Know!?!

Been There, Done That!
The Devil 
Is 
The Liar Baiting The Servants Of The Lord
Telling Them That
If
They Do Things His Way
Great ... Will Be Their Reward
And
Many Of Us Are Falling Into The Trap!

But, Why!?!

Just As Man Recoils From 
The Thought And Sight Of Death
Man Recoils From Perceived Pain
And
Assumed Deprivation!

We Have Gotten Away From The Source Of
Our Strength
Our Hope
Our Help
Our Salvation
And
We Have Forgotten
Or Have Willfully Chosen To Ignore The Fact That
He Whom We Serve Pointed 
The Way
And
It Was Dusty And Dirty
Filled With Self-Denial
Replete With Abuse
Absent Comforts And Ease
Built On Prayer 
And 
Constant Communication With Father
And
No Comfy Chair! 

Simply Put ...

Obedience To The Will Of The Father
Was The Savior's Air!
He Did Not Put On Airs And Indulge Graces!
He Did Not Have An Inside Track With The Leaders Of His Day!
He Was Not In A Back-Pat Relationship
With The Local Bank President
And
He Did Not Have Five Changes Of Clothing Per Day!
He Slept In The Open Air! 

He Was Despised And Rejected
But
His Prayers Were Never Neglected!
He Did Not Choose The Easy Road
And
He Submitted His Will To His Father
- The Ancient Of Days -
And
He Was Crucified
And
He Was Laid In A Borrowed Grave!

That Borrowed Grave Alone
Should Tell You Everything You Need To Know About
Doing A Self-Denying, Self-Sacrificing Work
While Serving A Self-Sacrificing Holy God!

I Don't Understand!
What Do You Mean!?!

Was Jesus Wealthy!?!
No!

Did Jesus Advance-Purchase A Grave!?!
No!

Can You Really Borrow A Grave!?!
No!

Don't You, Yourself, Pay Back What You Borrow!?!
Yes!

Can A Dead Man Do Anything!?!
Of Couse Not!

Is Jesus Christ Still In The Borrowed Grave!?!
Of Course Not!
He's In Heaven
- In The Most Holy Place Of The Heavenly Sanctuary -
Interceding For Us!

Do You Believe In And Trust Jesus!?!
Of Course, I Do!

So, My Young Friend
What, Now, Are You Understanding!?!

It's Not An Easy Road
But With Jesus Christ For Me
With Jesus Christ Beside Me
With Jesus Christ Directing My Traffic
I Will Rise Up To Live With Him
Even If I Get Placed In A Borrowed Grave!

The Grave Cannot Hold Me: I'm His
And The Work Isn't About Me
Or My Comfort
Or My Status In The Eyes Of The Blind World! 

I Am Here To Work
For The Love Of My Master
And I Must ...!

... Must! 
Good Word! I Like It!

I Must Look Up To Live
Because Looking In Will Mean My Death!

I, Now, Really, Truly, Understand!
In And Down!
Out And Up!
If I Look Inward ... I Fall Downward!
When I Look Outward ... I Rise Upward!

I Accept That Striving On And For 
A Horizontal Plain-Prize
Will Not Cause Me To Have Strong Spiritual Muscles!
Even If I Win ... I Lose!

Well Said!
Please Take This To Heart
And
Always Remember That
A Butterfly Struggles Mightily To Get Out Of His Cocoon
Easy Does Not Mean Good
Comfort Does Not Equate With Blessing
Hard Work Does Not Kill
And
A Vertical Climber Rises In Spite Of Himself! 

Pure Gold Emerges From Smelting ...!

... And The Saints Of God And Christ
Emerge Purified
After
Testing, Trial And Perfection
In The Crucible Of The Mortal Strife!

I Get It!
We Must Go Through To Come Through!