Showing posts with label Quietude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quietude. Show all posts

10/28/2016

KNOWING The Will of The LORD...


Time with CHRIST JESUS.

In Thy+ Light shall we see LIGHT.

 This is The WAY+ ; walk ye in it.

 

These are all Words of Life from Scripture, Words we know so well.

 So, why is it that we walk through our time here on earth in a confused muddle, not knowing whether we should go to the left hand or to the right ? 

Why is it, then… 

that The LORD’S Will is a mystery to us especially when we have a crucial decision facing us ?

 

If any of you lack Wisdom,

let him ask from the Giving GOD,

giving to all men freely,

and not reproaching

( chiding, upbraiding);

and it will be given to him.

James 1:5 literal Greek

We have the HOLY SPIRIT at our re-birth; it is a promise given to us in Acts 2:38 to repent and be baptized to receive the GIFT of the HOLY SPIRIT.  Marvelous Gift from GOD !

With all this help promised to us from The Word of GOD and from the HOLY SPIRIT dwelling within us… 

why are we confused,

stumbling, and up-set, 

not knowing whether to go to the left hand

or to the right ? 

 

We have all been in this state, and it is DISTRESSING.

 

We say …

” Oh, if only The Scriptures would tell me what to do ! If I could only open my Bible and see whether I should take this job…  move to that city … marry that one … embark on this out-reach. 

Then I would know what to do !” 

 

We say …

“Oh WHY doesn’t The LORD answer me when I NEED to know what to do ? “

 

But HE+ says:

 

“Oh, WHY

have you LIMITED your time with ME+ ?

 

Why have you been SO busy…

and then, too, too tired …

to spend QUALITY time with ME+ ?

 

Have I+ asked you to do

any great thing in your life ?

No.

 I+ have only asked one thing of you:


Come and sit with ME+

a-while

every day.

 

No studying,

not even reading at this time,

not fellow-shipping,

not singing,

not public worship.

 

Just come and SIT WITH ME+.

Alone. Every day.

 

But no, you will not do that

for even 30 minutes of earthly time.

 

You begrudge coming to SIT WITH ME+

beside My+ Still Waters.

 

You refuse to STILL yourself.

Everyday you are too busy

with “good” projects and necessary duties

to find time to sit with ME+. 


But, I+ am your Life-Source! 

I+ am your Wisdom!  


How then can you expect to hear My+ Direction

when the changes of Life occur

or when trouble raises its head ?

 

I+ will not join you in your busy-ness.

 

I+ cannot refresh your soul there.

 

You cannot hear My+ Voice there.

 

I+ will not reveal My+ Will

in the midst of other voices

competing for your attention.

 

If you want My+ Direction

you must come to ME+

in My+ Stillness. “

Everyday.

Before the crises of life happen.

+  +  +

 

LET US PRAY:

 

LORD JESUS, I have neglected YOU+, the Most Important ONE+ in my life. Life is meaningless without YOU+, yet I have gone on my way expecting YOU+ to accompany me… instead of me accompanying YOU+.

 

I repent of my mis-guided busy-ness. I place every one of my activities on the altar; burn them with the fire of Thy+ Holiness, O LORD.

 

Settle me down. Place upon me, now, O LORD, Thy+ Will, Thy+ Way and I will walk in it. Let me not go to the left hand nor to the right, to the Glory of GOD my FATHER.

 

Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me, O LORD.

 

I am still now, LORD,

… and listening.

 

+  +  +

3/03/2016

QUIETUDE: A Hard QUALIFICATION to Meet ... Passover Meditations for the Monastic-At-Heart .... Ephesians 1:19


The QUIETUDE of CHRIST

    
Meditations  for  the Pascha Season
(The Passover Season, 2016)


Now is My+ soul troubled;
and what shall I+ say ...
FATHER,
save ME+
from this hour ?
but for this cause
came I+ unto this hour.

FATHER,
Glorify Thy Name.

Then came there a Voice from Heaven, saying,

I have both glorified IT,
and will glorify IT again.

John12:27-28

+  +  +

Meditation Verse 
Ephesians 1: 19


The literal Greek of verse 1:18 : 
The eyes of your  HEART   having been  illuminated in order for you all to have SEEN   what is the hope of HIS+ calling, what the abundance of the glory of HIS+ inheritance in the Saints...


And what is the exceeding greatness of HIS power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of HIS mighty power,

The literal Greek of Verse 1:19:

And what the surpassing greatness of HIS inherent capability toward us, the ones believing, according to the  energetic operating power of the mighty strength of His dominion.

+  +  +

+  +  +

Meditation

The eyes of our heart were enlightened for us to "see" some things, the previous verse tells us.

Verse 19 gives us a glimpse into the MAJESTIC POWER of GOD. There are 5 different Greek words for "power, might, strength" used in this verse.

[ It is difficult to really determine the fine-line of difference in meaning among these 5 words. The Greek writers and readers understood the difference; that is why they selected the different words. Sadly enough, the differences are not very discernible when translating those 5 words into English. ]

Let's look at the POWER of ALMIGHTY GOD .

HE has exceeding, surpassing, super-eminent BIG-ness or GREATness.

HE has duname0s. That is, HE has the inherent ability to perform anything ! English speakers recognize this kind of power in the word "dynamite."

And what the surpassing greatness of HIS inherent capability toward us ...
 
HE uses that dynamic power of HIS for our good, for all of us who entrust HIM with our very lives.

... according to the  energetic operating power

This power of GOD is not passive; it is ENERGIZING !  This operating power will energize us ... if we want it... if we meet the conditions, the requirements, like  CHRIST did. 

... of the mighty strength of His dominion.

Both of these words are ill-translated and do not give a complete picture of GOD'S power.

Mighty strength is the Greek word ischus which some might recognize as STRENGTH.

Dominion is the Greek word kratos , which some might recognize, connecting that with dominion. We recognize it as "Pantokrator," ... ALMIGHTY GOD. It means "the possession of the kind of FORCE bringing supremacy or dominion or control."

All this POWER of GOD comes toward us who believe, at HIS discretion and for HIS purposes in our lives and for the Kingdom of GOD.


Why then are we more constant in  whining  than believing? Why then are we allowing  defeat to shadow our days?

We do not really see this energetic operating power of GOD in our lives, do we ?  NO, we do not.

We do not see it at work in our lives on a daily basis BECAUSE... we have NOT met the conditions, the requirements of GOD, like  CHRIST  our EXAMPLE+ did.

There are QUALIFICATIONS to be met, pre-requisites, if you will, for those who want to see the power of GOD operating in their lives.

The LORD JESUS HIMSELF+ said, "Greater works" than these shall you do because I+ go unto The FATHER." John 14:12

ARE WE DOING THESE ?

NO.

Most of us are doing the best we can simply to hold our ground, clinging to the Cross through the maelstrom of life.

To receive GOD'S power, the requirements are this: to dis-entangle oneself from the pursuit of this life. Hibernate, if you must.

To qualify, one must learn to enter into QUIETUDE... to SIT STILL with GOD. 

Not study, not make supplications, not memorize verses, not make notes ... just SIT STILL with HIM.

His+ energizing, operating power will pour through you AFTER your Quietude.

STILLNESS is not a hard "cross" to pick up. Why aren't we doing it then?

We don't WANT to be quiet.

Then, we do not want His Power, either, because that is the only means to obtain it.


+  +  +
Let us pray:

O LORD JESUS, we say we want to be like YOU+, but we do not do the things YOU+ did when YOU+ walked this earth as a man.

I am not still; my mind is busy even when my body is still.

Help me to forsake this incessant busy-ness that has engulfed my life. Help me un-entangle my life from all the activity and interaction which only serve to DISTRACT my focus from YOU+.

I call YOU+ "LORD, LORD," but I will not set aside any time in my busy life to sit with YOU+. 

Forgive me and help me re-set my priorities. I will to quiet myself like a weaned child and await Thy+ good pleasure.

Bring Thy+ Stillness into my soul, O LORD, for Thy+ Name's Sake.

Amen.

+  +  +
Worthy is the LAMB+.

Worthy is The LAMB+
that was slain.

Worthy is the LAMB+,
slain
from the foundation
of the earth.
Revelation 13:8


+  +  +
PRAISE and THANKSGIVING
be to The FATHER,
and to His Beloved SON+
JESUS CHRIST,
and to
the Blessed RUACH haKADOSH.

ONE GOD:
FATHER,
SON+,
and HOLY SPIRIT,
both now and forever,
world without end.
Amen.