Heart, Soul, and Strength

 Let me run with endurance the race that is before me.  The author and minister of my faith is Jesus.  For the JOY--His deserved reward of the throne sitting at the right hand of the Father.  Jesus Christ endured the cross.  He, like any man dressed in flesh, despised the shame.  He endured the hostility of us sinners so how could i ever be weary and discouraged? And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. -- [1 John 4:14] See.  The Bible says so.  The final Word is not only the Bible, but the final Word is Jesus while the demons are sitting on our shoulders and whispering in our ears telling us that the Bible is a book of Jewish fairy tales. And the Word became flesh and swelt among us, and we beheld His glory, then glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of graces and truth. -- [John 1:14] The odds have been against me for quite some time now, and theyrre going to get worse before the...

  "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me" --[John 5:39] Jesus, what does Christmas mean to You?  Why would anyone make up a story like that?  Why is it so inconceivable?  All the supernatural things we see and are fascinated by on TV we open our mouth wide in awe; and yet, nobody's willing to listen to the story of our Savior, our God becoming man who came to earth and put on the same flesh we wear, so that He can free us from sin.  These days we don't have a concept of sin or evil, other than people murdering other people or children shooting each other.  To us it's just killing and killing isn't right, especially when it happens to us or to those we love.   i am healed in the name of Jesus Christ because His stripes healed me.  God's indescribable gift, Jesus Christ, heals me; more so than any pharmaceutical prescribed by the best cardiologist in the world.  i kn...

 When i have You, Lord, in my life then i have no need for doubts.  i am no longer a wave of the sea tossed about like the wind.  i have His grace to endure.  And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure..."My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. -- [2 Corinthians 12: 7,9] You are the God who heals who always has my interests at heart.  You are so patient with me going on and on about those fools, those who breed contempt and corruption.  i seek no glory when that crown is place upon my head.  Just to be with You is all the glory i need.  You provide the glory which anybody could ever need.  i humble myself before You, the One who died that brutal, c...

 Lord Jesus, i feel You today residing in my heart.  i know You were with me during the wee hours this morning when my mind wandered off, unaligned with what You have planned for me.  This day with Your beautiful, warm sun shining through the sliding glass door i feel no resistance and i feel a resolve to begin my New Year's resolution early--to not be bothered with the darkness of others.  If they indeed plan for me a set up, then so what?  My focus is on You, and i place myself under the protection and shadows of Your wings. Bless and make healthy Debbie and Madeline and Michael.  Thank You for providing such a wonderful and peaceful visit for Christmas Day yesterday.  May i keep within me keep my arms open with forgiveness, wide, forgiving, loving open arms. May i never leave You out of my life.  You came, were born with the humblest of beginnings and You left us after saving us and giving us the ticket to salvation, with Your most perfect invi...

 As He taught them a shadow of the cross fell across the old testament and their "eyes were opened."  He was that ram at Abraham's alter.  He was that spotless Passover Lamb whose blood was shed to bring freedom from slavery and deliverance from death.  He was that scarlet thread that hung out Rahab's window.  The Shepherd King:  David spoke so much about Him in the Psalter.  He was Isaiah's suffering servant, the fourth man in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshash, and Abed-Nego.  And yet He will never vanish from my sight unless i allow it.  Jesus' purpose isn't to push Himself onto anyone.  As humans, as mortals, He wants us to come to Him.  That's probably the only Hunger He ever has!  Is for us to come to Him.  i was the other disciple walking along the road to Emmaus.  i've gone from the road to Damascus to the road to Emmaus.  i've been writing about what Christ has done for me. Praise goes to the Lord! ...

 On the road to West Boylston which is seven miles from Worcester, Jesus Himself walked with me.  My eyes have had His Second Touch so i knew who He was.  i didn't have to ask anything of Him and He didn't have anything to say to me either.  We just enjoyed walking along the sidewalk together.  i already knew of His works and miracles, and He let that be.  He didn't need to boast because He knew i was very much in awe of Him. i had always hoped that He would redeem me, and He had because i had finally accepted His gift of salvation. i knew that the men who crucified Him had huge planks in their eyes; yet, i couldn't point that out to Him or anyone because there was a very long and significant time in my life when i hadn't bothered to pull a huge plank out of my own eye. Jesus knows that.  He doesn't need to point that out to me.  He knows i'm going through the process of repentance.  He knows the struggles i've been having.  He knows abo...

 Jesus' two-part healing of the blind man:  first he saw men who looked like trees walking.  He had blurred vision.  i have and still have at times blurred vision when it comes to understanding my Lord and His Word.  If i cannot see a man with a dirty face, how can i wash his face?  If i can't see a tear in her eye, how could i bring comfort to her broken heart.  i am in need of that Second Touch, so that i can see everything clearly.  If all i see is a blurry vision, how can i see people who are in need passing by?  People who feel betrayed and people who are addicted.  i, too, have been among them. God knows every one of us no matter what our circumstances are.  Right now, i've got the only true friend i'll need right now.  i need and have always needed Jesus.  i needed Him back in high school; other than the band and school musicals and plays, i was pretty much alone, willing to confine myself to my room after school do...

"Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" --[Matthew 16:13] Need i the wind of public opinion?  Am i more interested in what men say than what God says?  Lately i think i've been very proficient in rejecting and rebelling against the mindless mouth and actions of fools.  It's the Christian thing to do at times to simply walk away.  Jesus Christ is the Messiah and i will go to my grave determined not to make a mess of the Messiah.  That's what is happening these days--new age intellectualism seems to be the ruler of this day; i know because i've been a disciple of new age intellectualism, referring to God at one time in my life as "The Creative Source."  Jesus Christ died on the cross so that i can be forgiven for such foolishness, for making such wrong decisions and bad, misinformed choices.  Jesus is the Christ, the one God, the Anointed, the Son of the Living God.  The wicked whispers and mutters. and they give power to the money that the mon...

 He is the Sun of Righteousness with healing in His wings.  "Who among you fears the Lord?"  i wish to move and act in godly fear where He is uppermost in my mind at all times.  Mercy is on those of us who fear Him.  May fear of the Lord come upon my very soul.  To live in constant awareness of His presence.  Please, Lord, do not lift Your hand against me and take away any blessings You may bestow upon me.  i know i am not worthy of Your blessings, and yet, i know You love me and have patience with me.  You have blessed me with things that align with Your will, such as breaking the chains of addiction.  i still have work to do in other areas.  i still have that "thorn" that needs to be addressed. i'm still resistant when it comes to returning to church.  You know how tired i get hearing TV pastors harp on and on about supporting my local church and how i think of course they all say that; they're standing at their own pulpits s...

  "And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." --[Luke 1: 31-33] The hope of the world isn't in religion, politics, or intellectualism.  The hope of the world is in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Highest.  He is the Prince of Peace, yet each of us individually must have peace in our hearts.  His peace.  It's not about peace in the home, street, city, country, or world.  The Prince of Peace must reside in each of our hearts.  He sees me for who i am and who i can be despite my flaws and, boy, do i have plenty of them!  The list of people who are the bane of my existence far exceeds my list of true friends. There is no peace in my city or in my dwelling, so how can there ...

 Lord, bless the sound of the neighbor's toilet seat slamming down so that it reminds me of the sound of the water pump downstairs in the garage when i lived in that loft apartment in Slippery Rock.  Grant me the peace, quiet, and serenity by nudging me with the Gift of Knowledge about ordering online those "earmuff" ear plugs that buffers the yap and the noise down the hall.  Thank You for the fan above the stove i can use for white noise to drown out the back and forth marching of the neighbors upstairs.  You have provided the nudges i need to be aware of the evil of this world that these demonic forces are only too happy to provide. Bless me with the ability to not only overlook the differences in people but that i just don't know that they are there, that seemed to be Dad's strength.  If something irritated or caught his attention and observations the way they always did me, then that was either a cause for his blessings or his death.  Of course, knowin...

For now we see a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. -- [1 Corinthians 13:12] i sure would like to meet a man holding a pitcher of water and follow him in a house.  A tiny house where all the world has forgotten about the Trinity or have totally disregarded Them, where i get the chance to have my feet washed and where i can wash the feet of this man who's led me to this tiny house, which is great,: yet, compared to eternity, this tiny house doesn't fulfill anything unless occupied by the Holy Spirit.  i could never be lonely in my tiny house because God, who everyone else seems to be forgetting, is with me along with His Son; and, in case i become so immersed in worldly things like most of us are, the Holy Ghost is always in there to remind me about the other Two. And there could never be any dispute among whom i am dwelling about which one of us is the greatest and should be sitting alongside the ...

 He wants me as i am.  He does not want anything from me, a sacrifice, a work; He wants me alone.  i can hide nothing from God.  The mask i wear before men will do me no good before Him.  He wants me as i am.  He wants to be gracious to me and He is and always will be gracious to me, even with all my fleshly desires and lusts and disdain for other people.  He is so gracious, even in my solitude, even when nobody else is watching.  i walked right past a juicy joint yesterday on the street and then a half-smoked cigarette butt not much farther up the street.  i walked by both and i thanked Him immediately.  He is responsible.  He is gracious.  i can only hope i could please Him as He observed me. The two of us remembering the days i carried an empty cigarette box when i would pick up that roach and butt--like taking up a collection--and saved it for later so i could mix a bunch of roaches and butts to roll, light up, and intensif...

 Test my heart and mind, righteous Father, and make me upright in heart.  i know You are angry with the wicked every day, so i can leave the wicked to You.  They're in Your hands anyway, always have been, always will be.  If He does not turn back He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready...He makes His arrows into fiery shafts  --{Psalm 7: 12, 13] You cause the fire of destruction before the wicked do.  You pollute the air before the wicked can while protecting the righteous.  Have the wicked fall into the ditches they dig in their hopes of persecuting others.  i sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.  He renders to my enemies and persecutors what is theirs, and i shall render to Him what is His. Let God arise and may His enemies scatter!  Let His haters flee!  It's not about me!  It's about those who hate God who need to flee into caves of repentance.  i don't need to flee from You into some c...

 By his heart, actions, and words, the evil servant says, "My Lord delayeth His coming"  There should be no presumptions, no carless delay.  The signs are already fulfilling and the scorners and scoffers are asking, "When is He coming?"  He comes as a thief, so you unbelievers, spitters, and scoffers need to be careful.  Not even sleeping with one eye open will help you.  We have a hell to shun and a heaven to win.   You all talk about a book of Jewish fairy tales!  Watch the news.  calamity after calamity.  This has been going on a long time, so we think He's not coming; this stuff's been going on for decades and decades but God doesn't regard time the way we do.  He's on His own time schedule.  Time to wait, watch, work for our Lord's appearing.  Believe with heart , soul, mind and strength that there is indeed a hell to shun and a heaven to win.  If scoffers think God delayeth the Son's return maybe they shoul...

 Is it not a miracle that we break from the bondages of Satan?  To turn from a stubborn wayward will to the glory of God?  To please and glorify His name?  Now that's a miracle.  Get behind me Satan--you and your demons--for you favor the things of men and not the things of God!  While i search for the quiet words to pray...silence, solitude, discipline are three very important words to me.  i have thought many times before about entering the monastery, knowing i should fast and pray.  An activity that i contemplate doing all the time.  Nobody to watch, nobody but God to answer to.  No man, no woman can condemn me, cannot throw the first stone. i have an ascetic temperament, gravitating toward solitude, willing to begin the process of excessive self-denial and rigorous devotion and self-sacrifice.  Spirit strong, flesh is weak. When i think my concern for righteousness exceed God's, then i become a self-proclaimed messiah...shame on...

 i'm on my way to heaven because i'm following the voice and trying to walk behind the footsteps of the Good Shepherd.  When i get to heaven, my eternal reward may not be as great as anybody else's but i'll accept my role given to me by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The realization is coming to me.  It's taken quite some time as i've traveled along so many paths and routes that were wrong.  i may finally be on the correct narrow way and even now i'm still slipping off now and then.  i get angry at my fellow man.  i let pride get in the way still and i tend to hold onto a rebellious nature, but i thank the Lord because He bears with me.  He loves me unconditionally and doesn't expect me to be perfect.  i thank God that He is putting a reconstructed heart inside me and that i am more willing than ever to have Him calling the shots.   i love the World Cup competition because one important thing i notice is the thankful demeanor of...

 For He will contend with you who contends with me, and He will give me the peace within which i'm feeling this morning with not a worry or a care with what occurred in my dreams last night.  He knows what's in my heart and He has assigned me the role of Barnabas because that's the tole i'm settling on.  He knows in my heart that i want to remain behind the scenes these days. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.  His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth. -- [Hosea 6:3] And the same Spirit that gave life to the body gives a renewed heart.  For He spoke and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. -- [Psalm 33:9] That you may know that the Son of Man has the power on the earth to forgive sins.  Healing for both body and soul.  There are many who are suffering physical ailments waiting for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus came to d...