PRAYER:: Help Us, Lord, To Love Others Even As We Love Ourselves!

 

Charity 

Is 

Love ... Pure And Simple

Undefiled 

By Me, Myself And I! 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, 

We Give You Heartfelt Thanks

And

Unfeigned Praise

For Your Love

Holy, Sacrificial, Kind

Faithful, Blessing

And

Ever True! 

We Thank You For Knowing Us 

While We Are Sinners 

In The Wilderness Of Sin 

And

Bless You In Jesus Christ's Holy Name 

For Calling Us To Your Side

And

To Reside In The House Of Love

The Home Of The Forever Blessed!

Forgive Us Our Sin

And

Cleanse Us From All Unrighteousness!

We Sincerely Repent! 

Please, Lord

We Beseech You

To Grant Us The Grace 

To Accept The Commission

To Love Others 

Even As We Love Ourselves 

And

To Do Unto Others

As We Desire Them

To Do To And For Us! 

Please Remember, Dear Lord

The Physically, Mentally, Emotionally

And

Spiritually Ill Amongst Us 

And

Help Them To Experience Your Peace

In All Its Fullness

According To Your Will

And

In Your Holy Way! 

Please Also Remember Those Amongst Us

Who Are In The House Of Mourning

And

Those Who Anticipate A Mourning To Come!

Please Comfort Them With Your Sweet Spirit! 

Father, 

On Our Own, We Are Weak

And

In Acknowledging Our Weakness

Our Need To Be Strengthened

We Approach Your Great Throne Of Grace 

With Holy Boldness 

And

Plead For The Blessings

That We So Desperately Need! 

Please Pity Us For We Will Not Survive 

Without Your Holy Hand

Of

Help And Healing

Provision And Protection

Sustenance And Salvation! 

Have Mercy And Lift Us Up 

So That We May Lift You Up! 

Be Gracious And Guide Us! 

Be Our Comfort And Carry Us! 

Bless Us And With Us Abide! 

In Your Eternal Wisdom

Please Turn Our Messes Into Messages 

Telling The Dying World

Of

Your Goodness, Grace 

And

Soon Return

For Your People Prepared To Meet You

In Perfect Peace

In Jesus Christ's Matchless Name We Pray 

And

Humbly Plead! 

Please Come For Us Soon!

AMEN! 

HAPPY SABBATH +CHARITY: Love And Truth Intertwined!

Talk Is Cheap When You Don't Have To Pay Taxes On Your Words

But

Cheap Talk Will Prove To Be Very Expensive

When ... Before The Judge Of All Flesh

We Must Give A Detailed Accounting For

All Our Useless Words! 

I May Say That I Love You! 

I May Give You A Charitable Donation

But

I Am Only Doing It To Get The Tax Deduction
The Press Coverage 
And
Man's Applause

Which ... Combined

Is

A Totally Wasted, Therefore Useless, Transaction

In The Holy God's All-Seeing 

All-Knowing, Ever-Present Holy Eyes! 

My "Love" Doesn't Bear Load 
And
It Doesn't Excrete Sweat:
It Doesn't Cost Me Anything!

Think On This Thing ... 

Charity Is Love
And
Love Speaks Truth! 

Love And Truth Are Intertwined

- Irretrievably Wrapped Up In Each Other - 

And 

Walk Amongst Men As One! 

Sadly, Many Of Us Act As Though 

Love And Truth Are To Be Prostituted For Pleasure

Sacrificed For Societal Elevation

And

Extended And Withdrawn 

As And How The Winds Of Change Do Blow!

Beloved, 

Love ... Heavenly, Abiding, Love

Is 

On The Job

Has One Job

And 

Performs That Job Always And Unfailingly!
Jesus Christ's Love For Us Produced Blood And Water:
He Gave His All For The Love Of Us All! 

The Word Works ... 

We Represent Heavenly Love
Salt
And 
Light On This Earth 
And 

We Are To Love Others Even As Jesus Loves Us:
Jesus Didn't ... Doesn't ... Give Us Any Short Rations! 

Let Us All In Christian Charity

- In Love And With Love For Our Lord Christ - 

Pray For The Holy Spirit's Outpouring 
And
Indwelling 

To Be On And In Us 

Empowering Us To Love All Our Brethren

Even The Unlovely

The Unlovable

The Unkind 

And 

The Ungrateful 

- As We Once Were - 

And 

Bless Us To Look Beyond Their Faults 

And 

Recognize Their Unvoiced Need 

And

Fill It ... As The Sweet Spirit Of Truth Impresses
Without The Theatrical Presentations
The Media Coverage
The Quid Pro Quo Aka Something For Something Show! 

We Are Christians

- Christ's Followers-  
With A Published Work To Do

So Let's Set Aside Self 

And 

Fervently Pray

And 

Do A Work Of Love ... Today! 

Let's Please The Lord Christ ... Today! 
Let's Love In Truth ... Today!

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE: One Opportunity ...!

The Family Of The Living God 

Is 

A Loving Community
Made Up Of All The Various Nations' People
So That There Is Complete Diversity
And
All Who Will To Be Forever Therein
Must Learn To Live Together ... Now
With Unyielding Felicity!

You Are Unique!
You Have God-Given Individuality
So Do Not With The World Be In Conformity!
Do Not With The Worldly Indulge Adaptability
Because
For Soul's Salvation
You Only Have One Life
That Is, One Opportunity!

Practice Purity ... Not Vanity
And
In Your Study Of The Living Word
Do Not Indulge Laxity!
Practice Christian Charity
And
Let Your Words Be Few: Speak With Brevity!

If Daily Against Satan You Practice Hostility
And
Make The Lord Christ Your Soul's Priority
You Will Have Eternal Prosperity
And
Shall Inherit Incorruptibility
And
Immortality!

Practice Hospitality!
Become Known For Reliability!
Live Your Belief That Standing With 

And 

Living For Christ
Is Not

A Liability
And
You Shall Know Of A Surety
That The Eternal God's Mercy And Grace To You

Most Assuredly Holds Elasticity!

Deal With Your Brethren With Amity!
Treat Not The Downtrodden With Severity!
Do Not Crave Worldly Publicity!
Speak Truth Always With Verity
And
Set Aside Sin And Self 

If 

It Is Your Desire
To Enter The Eternal City!

Trust The Living God In Your Necessity!
Bless The Giving God In Your Prosperity!
Faithfully Approach The Holy God Thankfully

And

With Unfeigned Humility
And
With The Adversary, Satan

You Shall Never Know Unity!

The Holy City

Is

Our Eternal Home!

VESPERS AT THE END OF THE SABBATH: FALSE ACCUSATIONS : Overcoming

In The Face Of Accusation
It Is Normal
Even Expected
That The Human Heart Should Fear
BUT
A Christian
Accused Wrongly For Right-Doing
Should
- In Gladness -
Cheer!

Was Not Jesus The Christ
Falsely Accused?

Yes, He Was! So We Are In Good Company!

The Day Is Here
When Wrong Is Right
When Evil Is Good
When Darkness Is Light
When In The Streets
Truth
Is Cruelly Cast Down
AND
Evil Surmising's Patina
Is On Fleek!

Lord, Have Mercy On Your Children Meek!

Dear Child Of The Father
Listen Unto Me!
Be Not Dismayed
At What Your Blind Eyes Doth See!
Your Body May Feel Real Pain
Your Heart May Hurt
But, Be Assured
Because
In The Eyes Of The Heavenly Father
You Are Smelling Daisies
Not Covered
Buried
In Sin's Light-Quenching Dirt!

So ...

Let Us Trust In Our Father's Provision!
Let Us Bask Beautifully In The Father's Care!
Let Us Rest Assured Of The Great Rejoicing
When 
With New Name In Hand
We Shall Celebrate In The Father's House!
In Anticipation, Let's All Say:

Hip! Hip! Hooray!

The Devil Is The Liar!
Evil Men Do His Dirty Work
BUT
Believing Ones Who
In God's Grace - By Mercy -
Do Firm Stand
Shall
In The Glad Day
With The Eternal Jesus Present
Glorify God
AND
To Heights Unknown Rise
Passing Over What We Now Call Skies!

Earth's Treats Are Sin-Battered Bitter
BUT
The Eternal God's Heavenly Treats
Are
Truly Beautifully
Salvation Sweet!

With God's Grace
Shining On Your Face
There Is Nothing
That The Devil Can Do
From God's Love
You To Displace!

Child Of God
Take Your Torments
Accept Your Lumps
AND

Bear Your Cross

In The Name Of Jesus
AND
With His Faith
You -  As An Overcomer -
Shall Bow Your Head
To Accept
Salvation's Gold Crown!

Charity Suffereth Long
AND

Is Kind!

Be Calm And Considerate

For

Your God Is Divine!
Misrepresentations Of The Faithful
Are His To Unravel
AND

False Accusers

- Always Guilty -
Will Feel
The Reverberation Of His
"You Are Guilty!"
Banging Gavel!

Rabid Sinners Gain All Now

To Lose All Later!

Obedient Saints Lose All Now

To Gain All Later!

Jesus Christ Saves

Fed-Up-With-Sin Sinners

Not

Self-Satisfied

Pretending-To-Be-Saints Saints!

THANKS GIVING: How Would You Feel...?!

Dear Ones,

The Reason That There Are So MANY VERSES In The Bible 
Regarding Asking For Gifts 
AND 
Thanksgiving For Benefits Received
Is
To Remind Us 
To Remember 
Our Manners!

Think For Yourself:

How Would You Feel About A Child 
Whose Voice Only Extended To Cover Two Things :

"Give Me ...!"

AND

"I Want ...!"

How Would You Feel About A Child 
Who Ignores Your Rules 
AND
Directions 
But
ALWAYS 
Has A Hand In Your Wallet Or Pocket!

How Would You Feel About A Child 
Who Never 
Humbly Asked 
For Anything 
BUT
Always Aggressively 
Presumptuously 
DEMANDS
That You Provide For Him Her
BUT
Is NEVER Willing 
To Go On Even The Smallest Errand For You!

How Would You Feel About 
Your Child 
Who Never Blesses Your Faithful Giving 
BUT
Who Curses You 
For Not Giving Into Their Very Often 
Foolish 
AND
Dangerous
Wants?

How Would You Really Feel About 
The God Who Gives His Children
Only 
Party Food And Favors 
BUT
Never Life-Sustaining Food?

How Would You Honestly Feel About 
The God Who Would Give 
A Growing Child 
A Homestead In Candy Land 
With The Stipulation That 
That Child Never Go To 
Vegetable Village
Nor To 
Wise Water-Ways
Nor To 
Heaven-Sent Glades?

Think On This:

The Very God Who Desires
To Hear Our Humble Prayers 
AND 
Petitions
IS
The Very Same God
Who Desires To Hear
Our Glorious Praise 
AND
Joyful Words Of Thanksgiving 
Before
When 
AND
After 
He Blesses Us
With The Desires Of Our Hearts!

Almighty God
Is Also
The Same God
Who Desires To Hear Us Say:

"Thank You, Father!"

For His Saving Grace
Protecting Us
From Making The Biggest Mistakes
Of Our Lives
By His Withholding
That Which Was Not
To Our Blessing!

When We Request A Favor
From A Friend
Do We Not Say:

"Thanks ... In Advance!"

Is Not The Living God

Worth Much More

Than This!

Lest We Forget ...

In Highest Gratitude
We Should Also "Throw In!" 
A Little Something Extra Each
For The Blessings Of:

• Food
• Shelter
• Clothing
• Life
• Love
• Health
• Wealth
• Friends
• Family
• Trees
• Grass
• Air
• Sunshine
• Rain
• Exercise
• Peace
• Rest
• Belief
• Blessing
• Faith
• Living Hope
• Hope For Glory
• Etc., etc..

Saying "Thank You!" 
To Our Holy God 

AND

Praising Him 
For His Blessings Toward Us 

CANNOT 

Diminish Us 
In Neither 

Our Eyes Nor His! 

Praise Costs Us Nothing 

AND

Blesses Us Mightily 

In The Realm Of The Great Unknown!

Heaven's 
Unspeakable Glories 
Await!

Let Us Practice 
Our Praising
The Almighty God
For His Glorious Bounties
To Us

From 
All Like NOW!!

Missionary Volunteers

Greetings, Dear Ones!

HAPPY SABBATH!

How is the weather in your neck of the woods?

Have your feet been hiding out in socks and under blankets like mine have been these last few days? Fall weather has arrived and it is surely making its presence felt!

Today I want to talk about doing mission work - the purpose of this blog - and missionaries ... for Jesus. Isn't that what we are called to be? (Go ye into all the world ...! Mark 16:15)

Many of us, myself included, wanted to be missionaries when we heard the mission stories from exotic and far-flung destinations; when we heard about the Lord's mighty hand moving amongst native tribes in these various destinations, and the many miracles experienced by those in the mission field. That was the life!

Then we grew up, life interrupted, and we forgot the dream until one day we, you, me, felt, saw, heard, or smelt something ... .

Our offering today is about the pull  one feels when  "I Want to be a Missionary!"

Enjoy, and don't forget to share!

Be well, and be gloriously blessed,

BJ

I Want to be A Missionary

I want to be a missionary

But … I don't want to have to go abroad

Because … I have neighbors and even family

Who don't know – or believe – in God!

I want to be a missionary

But … I don't want to pack a bag

Or get a shot, or even a passport

I know that my parents will be glad!

My mission field … will be in my township

My passport … will be the Holy Word

My shot … is the Spirit of the Lord, and

My bag … is showing care, and fellowship!

Don't worry … about traveling abroad, Friend

Charity … begins at home!

Just grow … where you have been planted

And God … you He will defend! **BJC**

New Page "Prayer for a Terminally-ill Friend" added

Greetings, Dear Ones!

     I hope that you are all well, and that you had an opportunity to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather we had today!

     On a somber note, I know that many of us, myself included, have had family and friends cut down in the prime of life due to the ravages of cancer, and for this reason, I have added a new page with a prayer entitled Prayer for a Terminally-ill Friend.

    It is not easy watching loved ones slip away, and I pray that this prayer will benefit someone.

    Let us bless the Lord all times, especially during the trying times where terminal illness is involved, and keep "pressing on the upward way!"

Be well, and be gloriously blessed,


BJ