1/28/2013

ST. PATRICK'S BREASTPLATE

Photo courtesy of  PDPhoto.org

Ireland




St. Patrick’s BREASTPLATE
Amended words*  or verses *by
The Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+
Year of Our LORD
1.24.2013


I bind unto myself today 
the strong name of The TRINITY.
By invocation of the same
the Three in ONE ~ and ONE in Three.
The BLOOD of JESUS covers me,
The BLOOD of JESUS covers me.

CHRIST be with me, CHRIST within me,
CHRIST behind me, CHRIST before me,
CHRIST beside me, CHRIST to win me;
CHRIST to comfort and defend* me.

I bind unto my self today 
the strong name of The TRINITY… 
( repeat stanza 1 )

CHRIST beneath me, CHRIST above me,
CHRIST in safety, CHRIST in danger* ;
CHRIST in hearts of all who love me,
CHRIST in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto my self today 
the strong name of The TRINITY… 
( repeat stanza 1 )



Against the demon snares of sin
   the vice that gives temptation force
   the fantasies*  that war within…
   hostile spirits+ that mar my course.

I bind unto my self today 
the strong name of The TRINITY… 
( repeat stanza 1 ) 


Few* or many, far or nigh,
in every place and in all hours
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me GOD’S*  Holy Powers.

 I bind unto my self today 
the strong name of The TRINITY… 
( repeat stanza 1 )
  
Against all satan’s spells and lies*
Against false words of heresy,
Against the doubt that causes fear*…
The cries of self I will not hear.

I bind myself unto The LORD*
The BLOOD of  JESUS, The Living WORD,
By invocation of HIS+ Name
Eternal SON+, ever the same.
                 
Against the wizard’s evil craft
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft…
Protect me, CHRIST, till Thy+ returning.

I bind myself unto The LORD*
The BLOOD of JESUS, The Living WORD,
By invocation of His+ Name
Eternal SON+,  ever the same.

+  +  + 


1/15/2013

Season of the EPIPHANY ... Frankincense

Where IS HE+...
The ONE+ born
King of the Jews?

Frankincense... that fragrant herb...
also from the resin...
which helps the bitternesss of the myrrh.

MEDITATION
Our dear Heavenly FATHER, we thank THEE for always bringing enough frankincense to mix with the bitter myrrh.

We pray, O dear FATHER, that THOU canst see JESUS when THOU lookest upon our hearts.

We pray for THY FATHERLY goodness to rest upon us during our trials ... that we may bring glory unto THEE.

Sanctify our trials and make them a sweet savor unto THEE, O LORD OUR GOD.

O LORD GOD, let it never be said, when THOU lookest upon me, "Where IS HE+?Have you hidden your light under a bushel? "

Remember, O MY+ child: If you deny ME+ before men, I +  will deny you before MY+ FATHER and before the Heavenly Angels.

Where IS  HE+,
in your life,
MY child ?  


1/14/2013

The Season of the EPIPHANY.... Myrrh


Photo of teardrop of resin of myrrh
from essentialhealth.com

The Gift of Myrrh.... that bitter herb   ...  amber teardrops of resin from gashes in the bark of that rough shrub, which grows in stony, unforgiving ground.


This gift of Divine Sorrow and Suffering was given to Our LORD JESUS as HE+ lay in the manger, for there was no room for HIM+ in the inn.

 






 
MEDITATION

Dear LORD JESUS, O THOU+ Who+ wast sent to earth to suffer for mankind, receive the suffering of our hearts.

O LORD, we know our suffering has been caused by humans... others and our own selves... humans who have not followed THEE+.

O MASTER of All-Suffering, hear our cry.

Heal my heart of the wounds lodged in my soul. Heal those who have been wounded by me, when I walked in darkness and ignorance of THEE+.

I thank THEE+ for the suffering of Thy+ heart and Thy+ body that THOU+ hast carried for me... before I even knew THEE+.

May I never forget Thy+ teardrops, O LORD. Let them reside in the cup of my heart.

Glory be to THEE+ O Great Redeemer; Glory be to THEE+.

1/09/2013

Season of the EPIPHANY... The Day Star+

Where IS HE+...
This JESUS,
the ONE+ born
KING+ of the Jews ?

For we have seen
the Day Star+ arise
in our hearts...

And have come
to worship HIM+
with our :

GOLD

Does our worship of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST extend into our piles of gold ?  Does our worship of Our LORD JESUS control our mammon, our money, our funds ? 

Would others
KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS
by how we spend 
the funds

The LORD, in HIS+ goodness,
has entrusted to us ?

Does our witness
for CHRIST JESUS 
extend
into our pocketbooks?
our purses ?
our wallets?

Do we avoid beggars or people with signs, asking for money or work ?

WOULD OUR LORD AVOID THEM ?

Do we collect aluminum cans for CHRIST and crush them to sell ...  in order to donate pennies to missionaries ...  while sitting on thousands in the bank, collecting interest ?

As the good Bishop said in Les Miserables, when observing a wealthy man dropping a penny into the alms box:   " Ah, there is the richest man in the province... buying a PENNY'S worth of Heaven ! " 

What we REALLY VALUE is what we scrimp and save for, where we spend the MAJORITY of our monies. 

Are we telling GOD that we want only one-tenth of HIS goodness, with our giving ?

JESUS paid it ALL...
all to HIM+ I owe.
Sin has left a crimson stain.
HE+ washed it white as snow.

MEDITATION

O LORD GOD, THOU has made the Heavens and the earth and all the things therein; THOU+ hast need of nothing of mine. 

Heavenly FATHER, I have need of THEE. I have all need of Thy+ SON+ JESUS operating in me.

Help me manifest CHRIST JESUS with my monies.

I have need for THEE+ to control every penny that comes in my door... so Mammon does not control me through love of it ...or through fear.

I know, O my SAVIOR, that I cannot out-give THEE+.

Make me willing and un-afraid to turn the control over my funds unto THEE+.

Smite the fear, smite my worldly-wisdom, un-clog my deaf ears and re-kindle Thy+ zeal in my dull and fearful heart, for THOU+ doest all things well. 

For  Thy+ glory help me use the monies THOU+ hast given into my stewardship in a more sanctified way. 

This I pray, to the glory of GOD our FATHER; in the Name of Our Manifested SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. Amen.  




1/08/2013

Season of the EPIPHANY.....

Where is HE+
Who+ has been born
King of the Jews ?

for we have seen His+ star in the East and are come to worship HIM+. 
 They presented unto HIM+ gifts: 

Gold... 

MEDITATION

O LORD , THOU+ Who+ receiveth gifts fit for a King,  receive  the offering of myself ... my life...  unto THEE+. 

What can I give HIM+, poor as I am ? 

I will give HIM+ my life and worship HIM+ through this offering of my heart.     

1/06/2013

EPIPHANY... The Manifestation of The LORD Among Us

Begotten before the morning stars
Our LORD from Everlasting,
Our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
Made Manifest unto the world

O Come, let us adore HIM+ !

Behold, One like
The SON+ of Man
came with the clouds of Heaven,
and came
to the Ancient of Days
and they brought HIM+ near before HIM.

And there was given HIM+
dominion, and glory, and a kingdom

that all people, nations, and languages
should serve HIM+;

His+ dominion is
an Everlasting Dominion
which shall not pass away,

and His+ Kingdom
that which shall not be destroyed.

HalleluJAH !
Daniel 7

Where were you when...
The morning stars sang together
and all the Sons of GOD
shouted for joy ?
Job 38:7
Thy people shall be willing
in the day of Thy+ power;
in the beauties of holiness
from the womb of the morning,
THOU+ hast the dew of
Thy youth.
Psalm 110

1/05/2013

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 12th Day of Christmastide

The Appointed Heir of all things
Through  WHOM+ was made the worlds

WHO+ was the brightness of HIS glory
and the Express Image of
HIS ESSENCE

and upholding all things by the Word
of HIS Power...

When HE+ had by HIMSELF+
purged our sins,
HE+ sat down on the right hand
of the MAJESTY on high...

O Come,
Let us Adore HIM+  !

1/04/2013

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 11th Day of Christmastide

I+  Am
The ROOT
and OFFSPRING
of David,
The Bright and Morning Star

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !



I shall behold HIM+
but not near;
there shall come a
STAR out of Jacob,

And a Scepter shall rise
out of Israel....

Out of Jacob shall HE+ come
WHO+ shall have dominion...
Numbers 24

JESUS, The SON+ of GOD
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

Thy+ people shall be willing
in the Day of Thy+ Power;
in the beauties of Holiness
from the womb of the morning,
THOU+ hast the dew
of Thy youth.
Psalm 110 

JESUS, The SON+ of GOD
O Come, let us Adore HIM+ !

Looking unto JESUS,
the Author and Finisher of our faith,
WHO+ for the joy that was set before HIM+
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand
of the Throne of GOD.
Hebrews 12 

JESUS, The SON+ of GOD
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !


1/03/2013

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 10th Day of Christmastide

The LAMB+
is the light
of the City of GOD.

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

JESUS The LIGHT of the world...
HE+   is the TRUE Light
which lighteth every man...
whosoever will come to HIM+
in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.

JESUS the LIGHT of the world,
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+



We are sent to bear witness of That Divine Light... and woe unto us if we refuse that charge! A false witness shall not be un-punished.

JESUS the LIGHT of the world,
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+


For with THEE is the fountain of Life; in Thy light shall we see light.

JESUS the LIGHT of the world
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

Men loved darkness rather than Light,
because their deeds were evil .
For everyone that doeth evil
hateth the Light,
neither cometh to the Light,
lest his deeds should be reproved. 


JESUS the LIGHT of the world
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !
But he that doeth TRUTH cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in GOD. 

JESUS the LIGHT of the world
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ ! 


1/02/2013

The WORD+ Incarnate... the 9th Day of Christmastide

The New Jerusalem
has no Temple for the
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
and the LAMB+ are its temple.

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !




Such a fabulous city is this New Jerusalem, whose Builder and Maker is GOD, the city which Abraham looked for, a city which had foundations (Hebrews 11:10)  in the Heavenlies. 

Ahh.. those foundations are like no other foundations of any other fabulous city in either the ancient or the modern world.

This city wall has 12 foundations and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of The LAMB+.  These foundations were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. 

The 12 gates were 12 pearls of such magnitude that each individual gate was ONE PEARL! 

Furthermore, 12 Angels were stationed at the gates, one per gate.


Pure gold like transparent glass pave the streets of this fabulous New Jerusalem, which came down from Heaven as a bride adorned for her husband. 

Even more, her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 


Meditation

O LAMB+ of GOD,  slain from the foundation of the world, JESUS CHRIST, the Holy CHILD+ born in Bethlehem at the time appointed by The FATHER,

We glorify THEE+ for Thy every act of Good Will purposed, planned, and carried out for mankind from the foundation of the world... in accordance with the Will of Our FATHER in Heaven. 

O HOLY FATHER in Heaven, help us so to agree with Thy Will that we may walk in unity this day with THEE, with Thy Holy SON+ JESUS, and with Thy Blessed HOLY SPIRIT... the three WHO point to the ONE, consubstantial, undivided Tri-Une GOD !    

1/01/2013

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 8th Day of Christmastide

Behold,
I+
make all things new.

O Come,
Let us Adore HIM+ !


I+ AM
Alpha and Omega,
the beginning
and the end.

Blessing, honor, glory
and power
unto HIM
that sitteth
upon the throne
and unto The LAMB+ !

Meditation

O GOD Our FATHER, Who for our redemption, hast given Thine Only-Begotten SON+ JESUS CHRIST to the death of the Cross and by HIS+ glorious resurrection , hast delivered us from the power of the adversary;

Grant us so to die daily from sin, that we may forever live with HIM+ in the joy of His+ Resurrection through the same Thy Beloved SON+ JESUS CHRIST our LORD,

Who+ lives and reigns with THEE and Thy Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, now and forever, to the endless Eternal ages. Amen.