A HYMN for the 9th Hour of the Morning...

Thank YOU+ for going

to the cross for me;

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Help me to go

to the cross

for THEE+.

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Thank YOU+ for enduring

the agony and shame;

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Help me, for THEE+,

to embrace the same.

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Thank YOU+ for love

that doesn't flee;

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Help me not

to flee from THEE+.

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<(((><

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Glory be to The FATHER,

And to The SON+,

And to The HOLY SPIRIT.

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As it was in the beginning,

is now,

and ever shall be,

World without end.

Amen

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+ + +

In Honor of Aunt Marie...

We love you, Aunt Marie!

This woman, my dear Aunt, entered into Glory with The LORD

on the 17th of December... just like she lived her life: quietly and uprightly.

As soon as I heard about her death,

The LORD graciously spoke to my heart:

"She is a member in good standing

in the Body of CHRIST."

<(((><

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Such a wonderful commendation from The LIVING LORD! Such a life needs to be examined thoughtfully by anyone who wants to receive the same commendation.

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She was not a missionary. She spent her life tending to her family. Sometimes she helped out the slender family budget by doing cleaning and other odd jobs around her small town. So, what did Aunt Marie DO DIFFERENTLY from any regular church-attender?

<(((><

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From my own observations, this is what I saw for nearly 60 years of my life: She picked up her cross...the one appointed to her by The LORD. She learned how to die daily to Self. She was self-effacing when others were demanding... or mocking. She returned good for evil. She did not engage in gossip. She kept herself free from judgment amongst the many family bickerings. She issued kindness to all. She kept her heart free from bitterness when she got hurt.

<(((><

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The family priest commended her for her serious walk throughout the years. And, in times of plenty or poverty, she quietly remained true to HIM+. She trained her children in the way they should go. She remained true to her husband when he was an invalid for a very long time, a couple of years with hepatitis... and there was no income to sustain her or the children. She didn't have to remain faithful, naturally speaking, because she was a beautiful blond of Hungarian ancestry , with beautiful skin to match and a lovely figure. She always had a delicate way about her. But she remained faithful to her husband, to her children, to her vows, AND TO HER LORD.

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I remember Aunt Marie cooking over a cook-stove in the middle of winter. Life was NOT EASY for this dear woman. She always was patiently caring for her little flock of children plus her sick husband, and doing it all with good cheer and a peaceful demeanor. No nervous breakdown for this Woman of GOD. She didn't need it; she had her LORD to support her.

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We salute you, Aunt Marie, as you leave the Church Militant and enter into the Church VICTORIOUS... in victory over temptation, sin, and heartache. May you rest in the JOY of The LORD now, and for all Eternity.

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Let us join in prayer together:

Dear Heavenly FATHER,

We come before THEE in the Name of Thy Beloved SON+ JESUS to thank you for this woman's life, her wonderful example that THOU hath set before us. Grant us the desire to please THEE so earnestly that we too may turn the other cheek, go the second mile, and return good for evil as this dear Daughter of Thine+ did throughout her lifetime.

Help us to become meek and quiet of spirit, self-effacing in the face of the demands of others, following Thy HOLY SON+ JESUS Who+ set before us all the Ultimate Example of Holiness and Purity of heart.

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LORD, help us to embrace the kind of quiet humilty that only THOU+ seest and the uprightness which pleaseth THEE+ beyond all other sacrifices. Amen.

<(((>< <(((>< <(((><

In the name of The FATHER,

Who created thee;

His Beloved SON+,

JESUS CHRIST,

Who+ saves thee;

And the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who anoints thee.

+ + +

You've been a good example, Aunt Marie! I hope you enjoy the Paradise of GOD in HEAVEN now, seeing as you always loved gardens here below.

Your flowers were gorgeous here below... I can't even imagine how much more glorious they are in the Paradise of GOD in HEAVEN!

...Until we meet again

A LIGHT+ to Lighten the Gentiles...

...JESUS is His+ Name... the light of the world,

the TRUE LIGHT which lighteth every man

that cometh into the world.

HE+ was in the world,

and the world was made by HIM+,

and the world knew HIM+ not.

HE+ came unto His+ own,

and His+ own received HIM+ not.

BUT

as many as received HIM+,

to them gave HE+ power

to become the sons of GOD,

even to them that believe on HIS+ name.

Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of GOD.

~ ~ ~

A friend of mine has landed upon a new way for her to share JESUS during the Advent season. She is making a conscious and determined effort to bless someone each day... by phone, by visit, by sharing a treat, by prayer. She arises with this goal in mind: to share JESUS and alleviate some loneliness in the little corner of the world where she lives.

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If we must do Christmas, then let us do it as unto The LORD, redeeming the time, making every day count to draw someone closer to the LORD. The holy days should be CHRIST-oriented, focused upon The Coming of The LORD.

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However, many of us have much stronger memories of family get-togethers and gifts and feasts than we do of CHRIST-centered Holy Days. Thus, when family members die or families grow apart through distance or bickering, the holy days become a burden ... a battle with the blues. It is of serious proportions. Many, many persons even in the churches dread these holy days greatly. But, the people belonging to CHRIST can ferret out these individuals and turn the focus upon CHRIST!

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As someone has said, "In every pew sits a broken heart." Myself, I would change that to, "Most pews are filled with the broken-hearted."
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The many-fold activities that churches do during this season try to fill up the void. That awful void can only be filled up by CHRIST JESUS. But how shall they hear, if no-one tells them? How shall they know if no-one takes the time to reach out in a personal, quiet, one-to-one way? Was JESUS born so that we could give parties for our friends... or was HE+ born to give hope and love to a sad and lonely heart?

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Let us become Advent messengers of that hope and love. What is really needed is for CHRIST to be born in the hearts of man, and then HE+ will set the captives free... free from fear, free from loneliness, free from futility of life. And, free to focus upon the SAVIOR+ of Mankind.

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And we ourselves will be set free of Self-serving. We will be bearers of that LIGHT+, that was the TRUE LIGHT+, that lighteth every man which cometh into the world.

+ + +

In the name of The FATHER,

Who created us;

And HIS Holy SON+ JESUS,

Who+ saves us;

And the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT;

Who sanctifies us.

Amen.

The Battle Against SELF-WILL...

~ or~

An ADVENT Message for us

to "Prepare Ye the Way of The LORD"

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It was a sweet card... a Christmas card from an old school chum with the appropriate message about the birth of Our SAVIOR on it. She signed it with "love and prayers" because she fancies herself to be a Christian, having come through a battle with cancer with the help of The LORD.

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So glad she is for the Hand of The LORD touching her life that she has found energy for a new life... by locating a man "who has her interests now" and buying a house together with "her new friend" ... outside the bounds of holy matrimony. Because she is beyond the age of child-bearing, all is well... she thinks.

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Now, she was un-churched growing up and although she is a mother, grand-mother, and great-grandmother, my old school chum DOES know the difference between right and wrong.

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The real problem is she calls herself a Christian.

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Her man friend, whom I do not know, was raised in the Roman Catholic church. At least he knows that confession and repentance are needed before taking of The LORD'S Body and Blood at Communion.

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In another situation, a young man was a musician in a local church. He loved to play on Sundays. They love to have him. His dear mother, a Christian anointed with the HOLY SPIRIT, confided to me that this son is doing well, out of jail, off drugs and alcohol. The only problem is that he is choosing not to live with Mom but rather with his girl friend.

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The minister of his church counseled him about unrepentant sin. But, the young man wouldn't turn from it. So, the church forbade him to play for the worship service [ Bless GOD! ] ... and the minister cried! He urged him, however, to keep on coming to church, but the young man is toying with it.

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The real problem is he calls himself a Christian.

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In yet another situation of a totally different caliber, a Godly, well-seasoned and experienced church leader is pursuing a building scheme to establish his ministry with a name. At one point, this minister LEFT the helm of a huge church in order to reach out to the little poor unreached tribes. Everyone scoffed at him, but Pastor followed The Will of GOD. He now has more than 200 native missionaries under his wing, going to the unreached tribes.

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What happened to this dear Pastor? He became ambitious and full of Self-Will. Problems soon developed as he pursued his will and not GOD'S will. Many words of warning have been lovingly given him. Several Christians have now distanced themselves from him and his ministry. Certain shipwreck is looming on the horizon if this Pastor pursues his self-willed course.

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The real problem is that he calls himself

following CHRIST JESUS.

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In all of these cases, Self-Will is ruling. In all of these cases, the delusion is strong that the pursuit of Self-Will will bring happiness.

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The TRUTH is that Self-Will

will destroy anyone...

...in the Kingdom or out.

The pursuit of GOD'S WILL

is the only way

to avoid certain destruction.

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That is why a daily, private, disciplined time of worship and Scripture reading is so important: it will open one's ears to know His+ Will. That is why seasons of repentance practiced by the ancient church are important for us to re-install today.

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The original intent of the not-so-ancient Advent Season was to establish a season of repentance for the Church awaiting the Incarnation remembrance*. Anything to bring to mind repentance from the human condition is GOOD.

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We all need it.

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O HEAVENLY FATHER, we have erred from Thy Way like lost sheep. We have wandered too far from Thy Fold. We have allowed our hearts to lie to us about "what" makes us happy. Help us to worship THEE+ in Spirit and in Truth in the inner man. Turn us again, O LORD GOD of HOSTS, and we shall be saved.

+ + +

*[ We KNOW this day was arbitrarily chosen for less-than-holy purposes. Even so, we unite with the Western Church in remembering the Incarnation of Our LORD simply so the Church's witness to the Unredeemed ones doesn't become more confused than it already is. ]

The Royal Invitation...

~ ~ ~ R.S.V.P. ~ ~ ~

(ASAP)

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The LORD GOD HEAVENLY FATHER offered an invitation .... one fraught with good will and lovingkindness... at the Incarnation+. HE sent forth HIS SON+ to be born of a humble and lowly Hebrew girl, a virgin of Israel from the hill county, to make solid that Royal Invitation.

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But The LORD gives a warning for Christendom : Do not offer amnesty without repentance. We Christians tend to do that at Christmastime, especially. However, that Royal Invitation does NOT preclude nor eliminate the absolute necessity of repentance... before peace flows from the Heavenly Throne of The LORD towards a man.

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If you offer amnesty without repentance,

My+ Blessing will not be upon it

and all is in vain;

I+ will not look upon

such a one with favor.

It will be with him

as the banquet-crasher

who deigned to come to ME+

at that Great Wedding Feast

improperly clad in his current

filthy clothing and sins.

Remember: that one had ample

opportunity to receive

an appointed and anointed

wedding garment;

My+ supply is limitless.

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Do not substitute fiction for fact,

for you will be accountable.

I+ offer an Invitation

of the Best Goodwill

ever for mankind.

I+ do NOT offer pardon

without repentance.

My+ Blood is sufficient

to cover every sin.

If you do not respond

to the Invitation,

the Wedding Feast will still go on...

without you.

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But remember:

when the door is shut,

it is shut

and no man can open it.

+ + +

In the name of The FATHER,

Who created thee;

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His Beloved SON+,

JESUS CHRIST,

Who+ delivers thee;

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and His Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who sanctifies thee.