ALL THEY THAT SEE ME+...

...laugh ME+ to scorn...

~ In Preparation for the Great Passover ~

Lenton Season Meditations

+ + +

Turn ye even to ME+, saith The LORD, with all your heart, and with fasting; and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto The LORD your GOD... Joel 2:12

+ + +

from the Book of Common Prayer, Old Version, p. 125 ~

O LORD, Who+ for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to The SPIRIT, we may ever obey Thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to Thy honour and glory, Who+ livest and reignest with the FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT, One GOD, world without end. Amen

+ + +

I am a Worm...

Meditations for the Preparation

of the Great Passover

.

Psalm 22

But I+ am a worm and no man;

a reproach of men,

and

despised

of the people.

.

+ + +

.

Are we also worms

for His Sake ?

.

Are we also reproached of men

for His Glory ?

.

Are we also despised of the people

for His Truth...

as was Our LORD?

.

+ + +

.

If not, why not?

.

+ + +

.

In the name of The FATHER,

Who created thee;

and

His Beloved Son+,

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

Who+ saves thee;

and

The Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who sanctifies thee.

.

+ + +

.

LORD, have Mercy...

+ + +

O LORD, help me not to take advantage of THEE...

nor of Thy+ mercy.

.

Lower my Self-esteem; I'm not always right.

.

Grant me enough humility

.

To see my weakness,

.

and

.

My own fallibility.

.

I don't always know

.

and seldom do I see the whole picture.

+

.

Help me be still

.

and quiet before THEE+.

.

Help me to wait

.

Upon Thy+ Movement.

.

Always Thy+ Grace

.

is sufficient for me.

.

.

For, when I am weak,

.

THOU+ art strong.

+ + +

.

In the Name of The FATHER,

Who begot thee,

And His Beloved, Only-begotten SON+,

Who+ saves thee,

And the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who sanctifies thee.

+ + +

A REFLECTION OF CHRIST JESUS...

Christian marriages, as we all know, are to reflect to the world CHRIST and HIS+ BRIDE, the church. So often, however, they reflect a battle of Selves.

.

Far from reflecting CHRIST JESUS, the marriage partners do well if they can spend one day together without arguing. Oftentimes, one ... or both... partners live lives of deep and bitter dispair.

.

How, then, would CHRIST

have us to behave

if we are caught*

in such a situation?

.

Yes, "caught" is the correct word here because people change. Oftentimes a couple will start out thinking they are equally yoked, as per Scripture. One may be more spiritually-minded than his partner, but that is often overlooked by the couple in love and sadly, by their church elders and parents.

.

Yet, even if the marriage partners are VERY equally yoked, people go through changes. If the marriage partners change together, in the same direction, then the marriage will stay intact. But if they don't change in unison, then the enemy wreaks havoc in their midst... unless one of the partners chooses to go deeper with CHRIST JESUS.

.

HE+ is the only way

for a dis-jointed marriage

to correct itself.

.

The Cross is set in stone and dirt,

The uprights made of coarse, hewn wood.

Established there, upon our hurt,

It is the Way HE+ trod.

The Cross is set within my heart;

The uprights hold my soul.

It is established for my good,

Now I call it home.

+

O LORD JESUS CHRIST,

With my whole heart I cry unto THEE+. I pour out my troubles before THEE+, O THOU+ Who+ knewest great affliction and sorrow. When my spirit is over-whelmed within me, I will look only to THEE+ Who+ alone can see in the darkness. Even though no-one cares for my soul, I will say THOU+ art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. O Rock of Ages, I will hide myself in THEE+until these troubles be overpast. Keep me as the apple of Thine+ eye.

.

O Gracious ONE+ Who+ will not let me go... I yield my life, my love, and my broken dreams unto THEE+, knowing I can entrust them all into Thy+ keeping. Correct the vision I have of myself and why I am in this marriage union. Conform me and my marriage into what THOU+ wouldst have it to be... to bring glory unto THEE+ ...and to reflect Who+ THOU+ art unto this dead and dying world.

.

In Thy+ Holy Name, O LORD CHRIST, I pray, and in the name of Thy Holy FATHER, and Thy HOLY SPIRIT, I worship and praise Thy+ Holy Goodness to me and to all the sons of men.

.

+ + +

.

A LITANY for REPENTANCE...

From Psalm 51

.

and

.

Adapted from The Book of Common Prayer

.

This picture was found in an old tract, perhaps a Chick Tract?

If any viewer knows where it came from,

please email me at the address in the blog header,

so I may give proper credit.

.

.

Most Holy and merciful FATHER, In the Name of Thy Beloved SON+, JESUS CHRIST, our LORD:

.

We confess to THEE and to one another,

and to the whole communion of saints

in Heaven and on earth and before Thy Heavenly Hosts,

.

That we have sinned by our own fault

in thought, word, and deed;

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

.

+

.

We have not loved THEE with our

whole heart, and mind , and strength:

.

Against THEE, THEE only, have I sinned,

and done this evil in Thy sight.

.

We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves:

.

Against THEE, THEE only, have I sinned,

and done this evil in Thy sight.

.

We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven:

.

Against THEE, THEE only, have I sinned,

and done this evil in Thy sight.

.

We have been deaf to your call to serve, as CHRIST served us:

.

Against THEE, THEE only, have I sinned,

and done this evil in Thy sight.

.

We have not been true to the mind of CHRIST:

.

Against THEE, THEE only, have I sinned,

and done this evil in Thy sight.

.

We have grieved Thy HOLY SPIRIT:

.

Against THEE, THEE only, have I sinned,

and done this evil in Thy sight.

.

+

.

We see our past unfaithfulness to THEE and Thy HOLY WORD:

.

We confess this as sin, O LORD.

.

We see the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience in our lives:

.

We confess this as sin, O LORD.

.

We see our self-indulgent appetities and ways:

.

We confess this as sin, O LORD.

.

We see the times we have taken advantage of others:

.

We confess this as sin, O LORD.

.

We also have taken advantage of Thy Mercy, O LORD:

.

We confess this as sin, O LORD.

.

+

.

We admit to our own anger and temper:

.

I acknowledge my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

.

And to our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves:

.

I acknowledge my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

.

We see our intemperate love of worldly goods and creature comforts

and how we cling to worldly values:

.

I acknowledge my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

.

We see our dishonesty in daily life and work:

.

I acknowledge my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

.

We admit our negligence in prayer and worship,

and our failure to commend the faith that is in us.

.

I acknowledge my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

.

+

.

O LORD, accept my repentance for the wrongs I have so foolishly done... for all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward my neighbors... for not taking Thy WORD to heart ... for committing these sins which have so grieved THEE+ .

.

Cleanse me, O SAVIOR CHRIST, and create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.

.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy+ Salvation, and uphold me with a willing Spirit.

.

+

.

Almighty GOD, The FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST... O THOU Who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his sin and live...

.

I thank THEE for pardoning me, as I truly repent .

.

I thank THEE for giving me through JESUS Thy SON+ the means of Grace and the hope of Glory.

.

And to THEE+, HOLY ONE+, I pray I will learn to please THEE+ and that the rest of my life hereafter may be pure and holy... so that at the last, I may indeed be welcomed into Thy+ Eternal Joy. Amen.

.

+ + +

.

In the name of THE FATHER,

THE SON+,

and THE HOLY SPIRIT:

both now and forever,

Amen.

The Difference between GRACE and MERCY...

The Un-merited Favor of GOD...

... is the common definition of mercy and sometimes, of grace, also. That definition, however, fits every dealing of Our LORD towards man. The baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT is the un-merited favor of GOD towards man. Salvation itself is the un-merited favor of GOD towards man.

+ + +

The difference between GRACE and MERCY has always puzzled me.

But recently, The LORD showed me the difference in a personal, peculiar way.

It happened like this.

During a recent trip, I briefly visited a cherished friend of mine whom I hadn't seen in a couple of years. We communicate frequently though and looked forward to this brief visit which I was able to fit into my schedule.

But when I arrived at her house, her welcome was much less than cordial. Her comments were sharp and her tone was abrasive. As a matter of fact, I assured her I had brought my own lunch and she wouldn't have to bother about my food at all!

As it turned out, we met a couple of mutual, old college friends who just happened to arrive in town the same time I did. I thought it was the hand of The LORD!

+ + +

After our pleasant repast together, our mutual friends left and my friend and I shopped for groceries.

Disastrous!

As she snatched my grocery list from my hand to "assist" my shopping, we nearly created an argumentative scene in the store . It was an unbelievably distressing situation for me, for it seemed whatever I did angered her.

With great effort, we parted civilly, but my... I had no burning desire to repeat a visit to see her again.

Yes, for weeks afterwards, I pondered what had happened ? I felt like I had stumbled into a hornet's nest. I pondered why those things happened. How was I to relate to this old friend of mine in the future?

Then she called. She called to tell me about a mutual friend being in the hospital. In the course of our conversation she started to cry about the elderly she knew who had died. No, she did not apologize about her behavior during our visit. She did not even think anything she did was wrong. And no, I did not confront her because earlier The LORD had showed me she simply didn't see what she did. In fact, she was totally ignorant of how she carried herself towards me. Worse, she would have been crushed to think I was upset with her or thought what she did was hurtful ! Thus, I set aside any thoughts of an honest confrontation, and tried to minister to her.

And that, dear friends, is GRACE.

GRACE covers us when we do things to hurt the LORD, in our ignorance.

GRACE takes the hurt we blindly dish out to The LORD.

But, if we walk in Truth and daily search our souls to see if we are pleasing unto The LORD, HE+ ... in due season... will show us our sins, our hurtful ways, our abrasive behaviors that do NOT reflect a CHRIST-obeying Christian.

So then, what is MERCY ?

Mercy is what HE+ extends to us after we see how we have acted.

After we REALIZE what we've done,

how badly we have behaved,

how we have ignored CHRIST JESUS and HIS+ Words...

in short, how we have hurt HIM+...

after we hang our hearts in shame,

then HE+ extends MERCY to us,

and we do NOT get

what we rightfully deserve

for hurting someone...

that SOMEONE+ being the ONE+

Who+ died for us miserable sinners.

Can we not imagine the punishment we should incur for hurting someone innocent, who never hurt us? Can we not imagine the punishment we should incur for hurting HIS+ Royal Person?

It is HIS+ Mercy

that stands between us...

and utter destruction.

+ + +

So foolish was I and ignorant; I was as a beast before THEE+. Nevertheless, I am continually with THEE+: THOU+ hast holden me by my right hand. THOU+ shalt guide me with Thy+ Counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Psalm 73: 22-24

Less talk; more walk.

+

MY+ INTENTIONS

...for the lost.

.

An abject sinner, trying to justify himself, recently asked me who had suffered from the awful way he lived. His answer was "only himself." However, I answered, " Everyone whose life you touched."

.

But upon serious reflection afterwards, I realized the ONE+ Who+ suffered the most from his waywardness was CHRIST JESUS the LORD.

.

And thus, The LORD gave me a Personal Invitation to extend to him. In case you know someone else who needs such a Personal Invitation, here it is.

~ ~ ~

.

You see, I+ created you. I+ gave you birth and life. I+ planted you in a good family... better than many. I+ gave you a healthy body and an excellent mind, with lots of natural abilities. I+ allowed you to have more money for fun than millions have for basic necessities.

.

Why did I+ do that for one small child?

.

For one thing, I+, The LORD JESUS CHRIST, intended that you would follow ME+. That is the reason you exist.

.

I+ intended for you to be productive in the Kingdom of GOD... and that does not necessarily mean be a church pastor.

.

I+ intended you, so beloved, that you should turn that love towards ME+... in order to receive even more.

.

I+ intended for you to become clean, renewed by The blessed HOLY SPIRIT and to be filled with My+ Holy Ways and purity.

.

I+ had a marvelous plan for your life, and then, after your Work+ was done, for you to be received in the Heavenlies and live in Eternal happiness and joy.

.

This is what I+ intended for your life.

.

But, you took other paths. Now you are no longer young and you have some health issues. Your good abilities are a bit rusted over and your excellent mind is clouded with troubling thoughts.

.

Even so, I+ say , "Come."

Even so, I+ still will renew your life

and cleanse you.

Even so, I+ will allow you

to be fitted into a Work+

for My+ Kingdom.

.

But, you must come.

.

And you must come on My+ terms.

.

If you are willing to be made totally new, cleansed, refreshed, healed in spirit and in soul... and, if you want My+ plan and purpose now for the remainder of your life... then contact one of My+ Servants whom I+ trust to lead you to ME+.

+ + +

.

Servants,

are you ready?

+ + +

.

In the Name of The FATHER,

and The SON+,

and the HOLY SPIRIT;

as it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be.

World without end.

Amen.

Only ONE Chair...

...And only ONE occupant at a time, is the rule.

I am the LORD:

that is My Name:

and My Glory

will I not give to another,

neither My praise to graven images.

Isaiah 42:8

This wonderful piece of Christian "art" will never be found in art galleries of the famous. It will, however, be found in the most important places, i.e... imprinted on the heart, mind, and spirit of those who follow CHRIST.

.

There is only one chair in the Throne Room of our hearts. Who will fill it during 2010 ? Who filled it during 2009 ?
.

Is it time to make changes? None of us are getting younger. All of us are marching ever onward toward that inevitable appointment with The Almighty. Since the Keys to life and death are TOTALLY in HIS+ Hands, is it time to make REAL changes in the Throne Room of our hearts?

.

The question is very simple, black and white: WHO RULES?

.

The answer is also very simple, black and white: Self or The LORD JESUS CHRIST?

.

Whichever one we serve here on earth in this life will be the determining factor of our eternal... unceasing... continual... without end... always and forever placement the instant we close our eyes in death. Rich or poor, sick or healthy, young or old, lazy or industrious, clever or not... the same rule goes for all.

.

Everyone KNOWS we cannot carry one little scrap with our soul and spirit as we fly away: not one dollar bill, not one degree, not one award nor certificate, not one license, not one piece of furniture, and not even one tiny thread of material to cover our nakedness.

.

Moreover, not one friend nor acquaintance, not one father or mother or brother or sister or wife or husband or son or daughter, will accompany us at that Time Appointed. Neither minister nor church group, be they ever so faithful, will stand at the judgment with us. Each one of us WILL STAND ALONE to render an account of what we have savored during our allotted years: Self ... or... The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

.

We will enter eternity covered only with one thing: The righteous Blood of The LAMB ... or ... our own stains of Self-rule. Yes, eternity DOES WAIT for us all; our entrance is really rather close. It is also quite certain.

.

But, through WHICH DOOR shall we enter eternity? The one that leads Heaven-ward ... or ... the entrance into perdition?

.

There is only ONE CHAIR

in the Throne Room of our hearts.

Who will rule:

Self ?

... or ...

The LORD JESUS CHRIST ?

.

Thankfully, no-one is ordained to go into perdition and no-one is ordained to go to Heaven. We can repent of serving Self and we can live to serve Our LORD... or... we can continue on serving Self, satan, and the things of this world.

.

HE+ will not force us

to follow HIM+.

.

And likewise,

we cannot force HIM+

to let us into Heaven.

.

Only one life,

'Twill soon be past;

Only what's done for CHRIST

Will last.

.

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 33:11

.

The WORD of The LORD;

Thanks be to GOD!

+ + +

In the name of The FATHER

Who created thee;

And His Beloved SON+,

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

Who saves thee;

And the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who sanctifies thee.

+

.

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

Thank YOU+ for going

to the cross for me;

.

Help me to go

to the cross

for THEE+.

.

Thank YOU+ for enduring

the agony and shame;

.

Help me, for THEE+,

to embrace the same.

.

Thank YOU+ for love

that doesn't flee;

.

Help me not

to flee from THEE+.

.

.

<(((><

.

.

Glory be to The FATHER,

And to The SON+,

And to The HOLY SPIRIT.

.

As it was in the beginning,

is now,

and ever shall be,

World without end.

Amen

.

+ + +

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."

<(((><

.

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.

.<(((><

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?

<(((><

.

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.

<(((><

.

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.

.<(((><

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.

.<(((><

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.

.<(((><

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.

.

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.

.

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.

.

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!

.

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."
.

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?

.

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.

.

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.