Advent Meditations 2012

Blessed art THOU+, LORD GOD of our FATHERS...

And Elisabeth spoke out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Luke 1:42

His+ favor rests upon you --- BLESSED --- is a wonderful confirmation from cousin Elisabeth that Mariam was central in the Will of The LORD, as she carried the HOLY CHILD JESUS in her virgin womb.

This confirmation was precious for Mariam, you see, had no time to tell Elisabeth about the situation before she saw her.

So... how did Elisabeth know to so loudly proclaim such blessings being bestowed upon young Mariam ?

Elisabeth knew because she was immediately filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.  This happened upon hearing even the voice of her kinswoman Mariam who was with child.

Now, recall, Elisabeth knew all about miraculous babies already... for she herself was carrying John the Baptist in her womb during her old age. She who was barren !

Meditation

O GOD Who bringeth forth all manner of impossibilities, bring forth new growth also:  an intense desire to do Thy+ will.

I am painfully aware of when I follow my own desires; have mercy  upon me; I repent.  Please cleanse my heart of self-interest, self-love.

O LORD, help me to guide those little lives  THOU+ hast entrusted unto me to set Thy+ will always before their eyes . Then they will have no regrests --- like I do --- as they walk through life, living for JESUS instead of Self. 

Blessed art THOU+, O LORD GOD, King of the universe! THOU+ Who +  hast shown us the path of Life+.  Amen.  

Pentecost is Coming! A personal Pentecost...

is available for all ...

regardless of what the Church Proper does or does NOT experience.

That is good news for the hungry of heart. 

Verily, verily, I+ say unto you,

unless a grain of wheat

falls into the ground

and dies,

it remains alone:

but if it dies,

it produces much grain.

John 12:24, NKJV

Within these Words of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST lies the secret to Pentecost, that great movement of the HOLY SPIRIT which engulfed the lives of the once fear-filled disciples.
 

HE+ tells us how to escape loneliness. HE+ tells us how to bear much fruit. HE+ tells us that HE+ has set in motion the way for us to experience Pentecost.

HOW do we accomplish this?

First, we set ourselves in the way, the path, HE+ directs. That involves some activity... yes, activity... on our part. We must fall to the ground, step 1. How hard is that ?

Then, we make a choice, step 2. We choose to die to Self. How hard is that ?

VERY HARD !

Indeed, we are willing but the flesh is weak and does not want to die. So... how do we "make" ourselves "die to Self ?"

We call upon The LORD for help. Will HE+ help us die ? YES, most assuredly HE+ will because it is His+ Will for each one of us. [ This is one place that His+ Will is not mysterious nor hidden to us. ]

We are "alone" until we die out to Self. Most of us know that our spouses cannot "fill" us up. Most will come to realize that our children cannot fill us up and will, sooner or later, leave the home nest. Some have even discovered the truth that our jobs, careers, work, education, etc., cannot fill us up. Our identity in these things is vaporous at best.

We sadly discover this when we retire or are forced out of our positions by corporate down-sizing, re-organization, our health, or some other contingency. We discover quickly how important and necessary our skills are to the business, company, agency, organization, hospital, or school: they can survive very well without us.

However, Our LORD JESUS CHRIST never, ever  down-sizes. HE+ does not have a "retirement" package! Even if our health plummets and our circumstances change drastically by events we cannot control, we NEVER lose our importance to our work for the Kingdom of GOD.

Indeed, in many instances of major change, we hunker down even moreso with Our LORD and do the unseen foundational work of prayer and focused, single-minded commitment to Our LORD... so vital for victories in spiritual warfare.

We embrace death to Self. It is the only way given to produce fruit for JESUS our LORD... just like HE+ said.  

+  +  +

In the Name of The FATHER

WHO begot us,

And HIS Only-Begotten SON+

JESUS CHRIST WHO+ saves us,

And the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT

WHO sanctifies us.  

Passover Meditation #19 for the Lenten Season 2012

~  ~  ~ The Door of The Cross ~  ~  ~

"But

there are some

of you

that believe not."

For JESUS knew

from the beginning

who

they were that believed not,

and who

should betray HIM+.

John 6:64

But even though HE+ knows, HE+ gives all a chance ... even Judas, whom HE+ brought into His+ very midst to see the signs, wonders, works, and great love HE+ had for mankind.

Judas saw HIM+, talked with HIM+, walked with HIM+, and received His+ love and His+ teachings, the same as the other disciples.

Judas knew something also: Judas knew JESUS was LORD and fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. There was no doubt whatsoever in the mind of Judas about JESUS being the CHRIST, the long-awaited Messiah, the Deliverer.

However, knowing, alas, is not conversion.   

The LORD JESUS knows.

HE+ knows who is following His+ Words. HE+ knows who has His+ SPIRIT. HE+ knows "when virtue goes out of HIM+" as we touch even the hem of His+ Garment, that we be made whole.

The LORD JESUS knows.

HE+ knows who has His+ Life operating inside them. HE+ knows who loves HIM+ more than Self. HE+ knows who is serving Self... no matter how "holy" Self is looking... and who is serving HIM+, no matter how hidden away. 

The LORD JESUS knows.

HE+ knows when we push HIM+ away from controlling us.

HE+ knows who is saying, "LORD, LORD," but who won't lift a finger to follow HIM+, to open His+ Word, to wrestle against Self and Self's headstrong spirit.

HE+ knows who is betraying HIM+ to the Invisible Watchers.

The Invisible Watchers know something too. They know exactly who betrays HIM+... the moment it occurs and where it happens. After a point, they depart... and other beings come in. Then, who is in control of that headstrong person?

The LORD JESUS knows the end from the beginning because HE+ is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.

Yet, His+ Part is finished, as HE+ said from the Cross.

"Behold, I+ make all things new, " HE+ said.

And HE+ will, too... starting now... with you... today.  

O LORD JESUS, I turn over my stubborn Self unto THEE+. Take it, LORD, and re-form me into Thy+ likeness and image... for real, this time. Amen.



TRUE WORSHIP....

But the hour cometh, and now is,

when the true worshippers

shall worship

THE FATHER in Spirit and in Truth:

for THE FATHER seeketh such to worship HIM.

.

Words of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

Beloved, Only-Begotten SON+ of The FATHER,

recorded in John 4:23

Do we practice Self-centered or GOD-centered worship ?

.

GOD-centered worship stems from a GOD-centered life.

.

Do we live for The LORD JESUS... or do we ask HIM+ to bless the many facets of our self-centered life? What is the difference ?

Do we ask healing for loved ones and friends

so they can live radically-transformed lives for JESUS...

or so they can resume their previous manner of a self-serving life ?

.

We cannot offer TRUE WORSHIP

unless our life is centered

upon The Living LORD JESUS CHRIST,

HE+ being our goal.

.

HE+ will accept no other.

.

+ + +

.

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, SAVIOR and KING,

I call THEE+ "LORD." Help me to move my life, my Self, off-center and replace it with THEE+ alone. Send Thy+ Grace of conviction of sin to me when I supplant THEE+ with Self.

.

Train me in the way I should go, since I haven't trained myself so well. These things I ask, O LORD, THOU+ Who+ art the true Lover of my soul.

.

I bless Thy+ Holy Name, O THOU+, Who+ alone doeth all things well and pleasing in the sight of Our HEAVENLY FATHER. Amen.

.

+ + +

.

In the name of THE FATHER,

WHO created thee;

His Beloved SON+,

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

WHO+ saves thee from thy self;

and

the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

WHO convinces and convicts thee

of sin,

of righteousness,

and of judgment

to come.

.

+