Anger is NOT an OPTION...

... but HIDING is .

THOU+ art my hiding place;

THOU+ shalt preserve me from trouble;

THOU+ shalt compass me about

with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 32:7

.

We all know how to love our enemies...

if they are outside the home.

.

But , what do we do when the hurt comes towards our heart

from within the intimate family circle?

.

And, where do we go when that hurt

occurs over and over again ?

.

THOU+ shalt hide them

in the secret of Thy Presence+

from the pride of man;

THOU+ shalt keep them

secretly in a pavilion

from the strife of tongues.

Psalm 31:20

.

Spouses hurt one another's heart. Siblings hurt one another's heart. Parents hurt the hearts of their children and off-spring hurt the hearts of their parents.

.

HURT,

because of the Adamic curse,

is HERE TO STAY

while we are in this body,

on planet earth.

.

Some counsel to "up-front" and "honest" with our feelings: i.e., "...when you do (or say) that, it hurts my feelings because...." However, in my own tumultuous life, I have seldom seen honesty like that do anything but cause MORE problems, no matter how calmly it is shared.

.

A better way is to follow The LORD'S COMMANDS: turn the other cheek, go the second mile, return a soft answer.

.

THOU+ art my hiding place

and my shield:

I hope in Thy Word+.

Psalm 119: 114

.

However, in the midst TAKING the hurt... when our heart is bleeding or breaking... it is good to HIDE IN CHRIST+. No immediate verbal response is necessary when we HIDE IN CHRIST+.

.

For in the time of trouble HE+

shall hide me in His+ pavilion:

in the secret of His+ tabernacle

shall HE+ hide me;

HE+ shall set me up upon a rock.

Psalm 27:5

.

We learn to scurry under the shelter of His+ Wings and take refuge there until the storm is overpast. When we HIDE in CHRIST+, we learn to let HIM+ do the battling; we are silent. We leave the battle in His+ Hands.

.

Keep me as the apple of the eye,

hide me under the shadow of Thy+ Wings,

Psalm 17:8

.

We cry out to HIM+ in our anguish, for protection. We start forgiving as soon as we collect our wits, even in the midst of the verbal attack. We learn to do spiritual warfare in the midst of the hurtful attack and silently BIND the evil spirits at work, in the name of The LORD JESUS CHRIST+.

.

By doing all of this, our hands and our hearts will be too full for us to indulge in our own anger, which only aids and abets the enemy who is attacking us.

.

If we slip into an angry reaction,

we are NOT HIDING IN CHRIST+;

we are on our own in the battle.

.

So, we must repent if we think anger is an "option" when we get hurt.

.

We must learn to

HIDE IN CHRIST+.

.

+ + +

JOINING WITH CHRIST...

...against the accuser.

.

[ Otherwise entitled:

Practicing Purity of Mind]

Blessed

are the pure in heart;

for they shall see GOD.

Words of Our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST,

as recorded by Matthew in chapter 5, verse 8.

.

Did HE+ mean what HE+ said, literally ?

YES !

So... how do we become "pure" in our hearts?

It is OBVIOUS that HIS+ Word here in Matthew 5:8 is given to us... albeit gently... as an INSTRUCTION: that is, it is something concrete for us TO PUT INTO ACTION, it is an activity for us TO DO, a directive from Our LORD JESUS CHRIST for us TO PRACTICE. The Apostles learned from HIM+ and were diligent to teach the Early Church so. Here are their words:

.

The Apostle John said, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as HE+ is pure." I John 3:3

The Apostle Peter admonishes, " Seeing that ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the SPIRIT unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another with a pure heart fervently: " I Peter 1:22

The Apostle James said, " Draw night to GOD, and HE will draw night to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." James 4:8

This purity and pure heart spoken of here and in many other Scriptures, both Old and New, is not something "given" to us; it is something we must diligently work to attain in order to be pleasing unto HIM+.

So... how do we go about making ourselves "pure?"

.

WE DO ALWAYS THOSE THINGS

WHICH PLEASE HIM+.

.

We know to flee from sin and youthful lusts. We know to abstain from EVERY appearance of evil. We know how be chaste and modest in our dress. We give NO reason for ANYONE to stumble by eyeing our flesh nor to stumble by coveting, on account of how we visibly present ourselves.

.

But, what about the whisperer, the accuser of the brethren?

Are we zealous to purify our thoughts

coming from the accuser against others?

Or, do we contemplate those accusing thoughts

and then AGREE with them ?

Many, many a Christian marriage

and untold numbers of churches

are floundering

because of the work

of the accuser going unchecked , un-stopped,

.

This "work of the accuser" gets a foothold when we get our feelings hurt. If we are ignored or snapped at, if we are blamed or held in disrepute, if our motives or our words are misunderstood... the accuser steps in to help us "discern" the truth.

How can the father of lies

help us discern ANY "truth" ?

Here, then, is where the Holy Scriptures step in to combat those lies, fortify our emotions, and help us INTERVENE against the wicked spirits , the spiritual "bullies" who are afflicting us and our loved ones [ by getting us to accuse each other ].

Thy Word is very pure:

therefore Thy servant loveth it.

Psalm 119:140

In essence, we turn our back on the accusing lies trying to get us to AGREE with them, and we proclaim His+ Word. (Use the Psalms or other Scriptures. One Christian struggling deeply with hurt had to forcefully read 17 Psalms before the accuser quit her presence ).

.

We REFUSE TO AGREE with the accuser, no matter how badly we have been hurt.

Why do Christians refuse to agree with the accuser?

We KNOW it is the evil one who uses unsuspecting flesh to hurt us. The evil one will then lay his evil working to the account of the "unsuspecting flesh". That person who was used to hurt us then has sin laid to his account.

Thus, we learn to "join with CHRIST" to fight the liars from laying siege to the person who brought us hurt or injury. We join with CHRIST to free that person from control of the wicked spirits lying to him/her. Yes, that very person who has done us wrong and is now being accused by our OWN hearts, we fight FOR, not against.

Once the Scriptures are " in the air", in our hearts, in our minds, and IN OUR MOUTHS, the distress and "need" to accuse the person who hurt us, will leave. We will be free and healed from the hurt and the love of CHRIST JESUS will be shed abroad.

With our mouths, we proclaim GOD'S HOLY WORD until His+ Word takes over our emotions.

With our mouths, we list all the RIGHT and GOOD things about the one who hurt us, making ourselves be fair.

With our mouths, we pray for GOD'S richest blessings to come to that person... all those things temporal and spiritual which will lead him to CHRIST or to a deeper walk.

Christians, let's do it!

Let's practice developing

a pure heart,

one that is pleasing unto

The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

+ + +

In the name of The FATHER, Who created us;

HIS Holy SON+ JESUS CHRIST, Who+ saves us'

And their Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, Who+ sanctifies us.

Amen.

GOD is GOOD!

GOD is GOOD...

... all the time.

.

.

ALL THE TIME...

GOD IS GOOD !

A responsive cheer from the Gospel Express Ministries, a prison ministry.

CHOOSE this day WHOM ye will serve....

because...

.

No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

.

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

.

Ye cannot serve

GOD and mammon.

.

Words of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST

to His Disciples in Matthew 6:24

.

Now, let's look at the Greek :

No one has the power two lords to slave to;

for either the one he will hate

and the other different one

he will AGAPE (love enough to lay down his life for);

.

or

.

one he will cleave to

and the other different one he will despise.

You do not have the power

to be a slave to GOD and Mammona.

.

.

The GREEK is important because it brings out the essence of the difference between the kingdoms of THIS world and THE Kingdom of GOD.

• We see that the two kingdoms are entirely different.
• We see that the difference is because of whom is being served:

GOD or Mammona, a wicked spirit.

• We see in the GREEK that Our LORD JESUS CHRIST said that man does NOT have the power ... is totally UNable... to serve both GOD and Mammona at the same time.
• We see that this servitude is not picked up and laid down; but rather, it is a life-encompassing slavery.

.

Having the rule over wealth --- mammon--- is the sole most important feature of the kingdoms of this world. Control over things that contribute to wealth is what war is fought over, be it diamonds, iron ore, oil, or shipping lanes. James chapter 4 confirms this truth.

.

.

Wikipedia lays the Christian doctrine of "Just War" [ i.e., righteous war ] at the feet of Augustine of Hippo ( 354-430 AD ) and Thomas Aquinas. This was a total break away from the teachings of CHRIST and His+ Apostles which was uniformly held by the Early Church of the first two centuries.

.

The Reformers, in an effort to correct the corrupted teaching of the Roman Catholic church, unfortunately kept the heretical doctrine of "Just War" even as they broke away from the established church. Indeed, some of the Reformers were not content simply to teach this heresy; at least one (Zwingli) was killed in battle while fighting other Christians !

.

THE LORD JESUS said,

"My+ Kingdom is NOT OF THIS WORLD..."

.

Did HE+ mean that literally ?

+

Do not think that I+ do not know where your true loyalties lie. I see your tears and your zeal to promote and protect the red, white, and blue ... no matter what the cost. Do not let it cost you your soul. Separate yourself from the unclean thing and become single of eye ...before the Kingdom of GOD+ is torn from your hands and given to a people more worthy.

+

I+ have not called you to defend any secular nation... not its wealth, not its life-style, not its pride. I+ have called you to defend one Kingdom+ alone... the Kingdom of GOD+... with mighty weapons which are not carnal nor tactile nor visible. Remember: If you take the sword, you shall die by the sword... even if you "only" take it in your heart.

+

Beware of pulpits or "Christian" voices wrapped in red, white, and blue. Their hearts are divided and their true loyalties are given over to Mammona and wealth. They have chosen this. They will have no part in My+ inheritance.

+

Behold, I+ have set before you an open door.

I+ AM the WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE.

No man comes to The FATHER, but by ME+.

+ + +

In The Name of The FATHER,

His beloved SON+, Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

and the blessed HOLY SPIRIT.

Amen.

To the Struggling Monastics...

Remember this: Our GOD is a JEALOUS GOD.

HE+ did not call you to be monastic

in order to be with a group.

Rather,

HE+ called you to be monastic

in order to

be with HIM+.

HE+ has placed this call upon your life; you will not be happy until you embrace it. There is simply no way around it. And yes, you WILL feel alone in it... but you won't be because you have HIM+. Plus, many, many others have been called to a semi-hermetic, monastic life-style ... hidden from the eyes of the world... but you can't see them or find them. If you could, it wouldn't be monastic, would it ?

.

Yes, you may attend a group from time to time or on Sundays for fellowship... but don't give them your heart. Meet them through JESUS. Keep in mind you are not going for you, but for them.

So, do what you can as a semi-hermetic Monastic.

If HE+ calls you to prayer stations throughout the day, DO THEM.

If HE+ calls you to get up in the middle of the night for time with HIM+, DO IT.

If HE+ calls you to read through the entire book of Psalms every week,

then DO IT.

How little these acts of obedience are

compared to what HE+ has done for us!

Furthermore, you don't need a group to do these

(or some such similar things.)

These are simply

individual acts of discipleship,

individual acts of worship,

individual acts of devotion

which HE+ has called you to do.

.

And dear ones, reflect on the outside what HE+ is doing on the inside.

Search HIS+ will and don some kind of a habit.

.

Sisters, cover your body in some kind of modest apparel: no cleavage, no thighs. Do what you can do to NOT APPEAR LIKE THE FASHIONABLE WORLD. No, you don't have to look frumpy; be dignified, as befitting an Ambassador of the KING+. Give NO WITNESS to the world and its capricious fashions. It won't kill you.

One way to do this is to dress in solids instead of prints or plaids or stripes. Solid colors give a more dignified, more somber appearance. In the hot summer, solid whites or solid beiges are fine, with tops and bottoms being the same or close to the same colors because that looks more monastic, more separated. Avoid colors which draw attention to your Self. It won't kill you.

.

Sisters, seek HIS+ face and don a head-covering of some sort , coming into line with the Word in I Cor. ll. Be brave enough to wear it in public, also, so as to not deny HIM+ in public. It won't kill you. What it will do, though, is set you apart so that hungry, hurting hearts will make a bee-line for you when the coast is clear [i.e., when no-one is looking ] !

.

Brothers should also dress in a separate way, covering their bodies with clothing that reflects modesty instead of today's fashions. Solid colors are simply more dignified. Vests are always good. Suspenders help. Shirts with collars (versus Tee's) lend more sobriety.

.

The LORD does not want us to learn to cling to each other; that is something we must UN-learn. HE+ does not want us to cling branch to branch, but rather simply to the VINE+ HIMSELF+. Groups distract us; HE+ wants our UN-divided attention... at all times.

.

Take heart, little flock. Be of good cheer.

Ye are of much more value than the little sparrows.

Do the Work I + have called you to do, without distress.

You will lack nothing meaningful.

+ + +

FEARING The LORD... With All Due Respect . . .

But I will forewarn you

Whom ye shall fear:

Fear HIM,

which after HE hath killed

hath power to cast into hell;

yea, I say unto you,

Fear HIM.

.

The Word of The LORD JESUS CHRIST to His+ Disciples,

Recorded in Luke 12:5

.

Bless GOD, we attend a Christian assembly which does not hallow war among men. The members of this assembly LIVE differently.

.

Any visitor can quietly discern that because there is no national icon waving behind this pulpit, neither do they make a distinction in prayer about which nationality of soldiers to pray for: they pray that ALL may be saved and ALL the swords of every nation will be beaten into plowshares and pruning hooks.

.

They know that ALL men are dead men... unless they know The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

.

Furthermore, political statements are NEVER heard from this pulpit because they know something: they know that Christians are living in The Kingdom of GOD and thus, serve another KING, an Infallible ONE+ Who+ doesn't need votes or guns or lies to stay in power.

.

Thus, on this day set up to honor the slain of an earthly warring kingdom and to crow about its military prowess, let us keep in mind The ONE Whom we should truly fear for HIS might and power.

.

...For, HE+ cometh...

for HE+ cometh

to judge* the earth;

.

HE+ shall judge* the world

with righteousness,

and the people with HIS Truth.

.

Psalm 96:13

*This verb "to judge" means

to pronounce an unescapable sentence of execution

upon someone... or some "thing."

.

+ + +

PENTECOST LORD'S DAY !

HAPPY PENTECOST !

May The LORD pour out His+ Blessed HOLY SPIRIT on all HIS+ children once again. May the church gatherings rattle and shake with HIS+ rushing, mighty BREATH (ruah = wind, breath)... the very BREATH of GOD !

May vibrant, vivid, and vehement TONGUES of FIRE alight upon all HIS+ followers, all who walk with HIM+ in Spirit and in Truth... for The FATHER seeketh such to worship HIM+.

.

In the name of The FATHER,

Who+ created thee in HIS IMAGE,

.

And His Beloved SON+,

JESUS CHRIST,

Who+ sent forth the HOLY SPIRT

upon HIS+ followers

When HE+ was glorified

.

And their Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who alights the hearts of His+ People

With the Holy SPIRIT of GOD,

Whenever and wherever

HE+ Wills.

.

Amen.

Come LORD JESUS, Come.

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.

.

+

TRUE WORSHIP....

.

The LORD gave the pattern.

.

Our LORD gave us a pattern of how to pray, yes, and also how to worship HIM+ in Spirit and in Truth.

.

The "LORD'S PRAYER" in Matthew 6 is a perfect example of how

to WORSHIP HIM+ in an acceptable way.

.

Yes, I do believe that HE+ hears the heart-cries of all His+ creation... because HE+ heard mine.

.

However, we who are now born again in the BLOOD COVENANT should not be "loose" and irreverent when we come before HIM+.After all, we'd show an earthly ruler (king, queen, president, etc.) proper respect or we wouldn't last long in his/ her presence!

.

How much more so is reverence due to the KING of KINGS, the LORD of LIGHT, the ALMIGHTY GOD, the EVERLASTING FATHER, the PRINCE of PEACE! The Hebrew children were strict to conform to a reverent and holy and PROPER order of worship and sacrifice before the ALMIGHTY GOD. They did not play loose and fast with HIM.

.

[Recall what happened to Aaron's sons when they offered strange incense upon the altar or what happened to the unsanctified men who steadied the Ark of the Covenant when David was trying to bring it home.]

.

But, to return to the point of Matthew 6, the LORD'S PRAYER:

.

HE+ gave us that pattern SO THAT we could properly enter into the Divine Presence of both our and HIS+ Heavenly FATHER.

.

First of all then, to WORSHIP, WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE that HE is our collective FATHER; no one person "monopolizes" HIM nor is HE a respecter of persons.

.

We acknowledge that HE is FATHER, the ONE in control, HE Who caused us to be born, HE Who provides for us... both things we like and things we would rather not have to deal with. We acknowledge that this Heavenly FATHER has the right to chastise us so that we are not illegitimate children and thus omitted from the promise, the inheritance of the saints. HE has the right to make us afraid of HIS power and might.

.

We acknowledge that HE is The FATHER in HEAVEN, not our earthly father.

.

We acknowledge that HE is Pure and Holy... even HIS very name is HOLY !

.

The first part of the "LORD'S PRAYER" is the very first part of TRUE WORSHIP, either collectively or privately.

.

In the next part of the pattern, we forebear mentioning our wants and desires; we FIRST AFFIRM that the FATHER'S KINGDOM and WILL is our greatest desire, above all the issues of our heart.

.

We TESTIFY that we WANT HIS Kingdom to come, that we want badly HIS Divine will to be accomplished here on earth the same as it is being done this very minute in HEAVEN.

.

This is TRUE WORSHIP, when we affirm that His Kingdom, His Will, as the very best that could ever happen to this civilization and to us, His children. We tell HIM how we long for HIM and for HIS Day to be seen for what it is... WHO is the TRUE RULER OF THE UNIVERSE !

.

All this is humbling, to see WHO HE is... and who we are in HIS eyes.

Then, after humbling ourselves and putting away our will, we ask for those things we have need of daily, including forgiveness from HIM and towards others.

.

We ask daily for HIS deliverance from evil and from temptation... yes, who among us is so pure that we are not daily tempted with some unrighteous, some impure, some unholy thing or thought?

The last section RE-STATES WHO actually has all the Kingdom, all the power, and all the glory .... ....not only now BUT FOREVER !

When the human heart does all this, true worship takes place.

.

HE+ has placed this pattern in His+ Word

so that we who are hungry for HIM+

can find HIM+.

For, the true children of the Kingdom must worship The FATHER in Spirit and in Truth... for The FATHER seeketh such to worship HIM.

+ + +

IN HIS+ IMAGE...

If one receives Genesis 1:26-27 as Truth,

one is able to understand sin.

.

"And GOD said,

Let US make man in OUR image,

after OUR likeness...

So GOD created man in HIS own image,

in the image of GOD created HE him;

male and female created HE them."

No-one wants to be thought of as being truly and totally "bad." Every person clings to the self-illusion that there is SOMETHING worthwhile about himself... enough good to "out-weigh" the bad.

.

I discovered this when I worked in a prison. From the boy-rapist to the double-ax murderer and all those in-between, each man thought he was not totally bad and that his "good" self out-weighed the bad he might do or have done... or would do in the future !

.

SIN'S nature is deceitful,

.

Scripture says,

.

and it lies to one's heart.

.

The LORD JESUS, however is TRUTH+ and there is no unrighteousness in HIM+. GOD is not a man, that HE+ should lie.

.

In light of that, how is it that we... who are so sinful...

are made in the image of GOD ?

What does that mean ?

.

SIN is when we don't look like Who+ GOD is.

.

SIN is when we don't reflect HIS+ character.

.

SIN is when we bear witness to the flesh,

the world, and the devil ...

instead of to Our Holy FATHER,

Who art in Heaven.

.

.

This is the resounding reason why fornication, adultery, and homosexuality is forbidden in Scriptures and by all the Holy Men of old. Those sins especially BREAK the image of GOD that mankind was created to reflect TO OTHERS, both visable and invisable, as a testimony to HIS+ purity and holiness.

.

.

Those who participate in SIN become abusers of GOD's image in front of others. They have broken the true reflection of GOD's character and are giving forth a wrong image of WHO GOD IS. Thus, the judgment of GOD falls upon them now with diseases and many, many social and spiritual consequences... and it will fall upon them throughout eternity.

.

Some Christians of old warned against

"breaking the type."

.

What they meant is that there were always severe consequences in Scripture when one broke the type... the type of CHRIST, that is, the image of GOD, that man was created to reflect, untarnished.

.

.

"Breaking the type" is why Moses couldn't enter into the Promised Land after he disobeyed The LORD and smote the ROCK+ twice. He broke the type, the pattern, the image of CHRIST in front of the congregation when he became angry.

.

.

The LORD Who+ loved Moses would not permit HIM+ to enter into the Promised Land, regardless of whether HE+ loved Moses or not.

.

.

FRIGHTENING !

.

Thus, when we are tempted to sin, we should lay to heart the seriousness of breaking the image of GOD in which we were originally made and have been RE-BORN into through the Blood of CHRIST JESUS.

.

Let us walk in HIS+ image.

.

+ + +

CHRIST IS RISEN !

HE+ is risen, indeed !

Death hath no more

.

dominion over HIM+ !

.

HE+

.

is the firstborn

.

from the dead;

.

that in all things

.

HE+

.

might have the

.

Pre-eminence.

.

HalleluJAH

TURN Ye....

.

. . .

.

They were not estranged

from their lust.

But while their meat was yet in their mouths,

.

The wrath of ELOHIM

came upon them,

and slew the fattest of them,

and smote down

the chosen of Israel.

.

Psalm 78:30, 31

Turn us again, O ELOHIM,

and cause Thy Face to shine;

and we shall be saved+.

Psalm 80:3

+ + +

In the name of The FATHER,

WHO created thee;

His Beloved SON+,

Who+ died for thee;

and the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who

convicts and convinces

of sin, of righteousness,

and of judgment to come.

+ + +