A CLEAR EYE...

Picture found at WAJAMA, Kenya.blogspot.com

Keep a clear eye toward Life's end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as GOD'S creature. What you are in HIS+ sight is WHAT YOU ARE... and nothing more. 

Remember that when you leave this earth,you can take NOTHING you have received... but only what you have given....

attributed to St. Francis of Assisi

Scriptures from 1 Corinthians 15

verses 51, 52,  and 57, 58

Behold, I shew you a mystery;

We shall not all sleep,

but we shall all be changed,

In a moment,

in the twinkling of an eye,

at the last trump:

for the trumpet shall sound,

and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,

and we shall be changed.

But thanks be to GOD,

which giveth us the victory

through our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the LORD.

+  +  +

HUNGRY ?

LORD, plant in me

a deep, unquenchable

hunger for THEE+.
~

I AM

The Bread of Life; He that cometh to ME+ shall never hunger; and he that believeth on ME+ shall never thirst.

John 6:35

~

Yes LORD,

plant in me a deep, unquenchable hunger for THEE+.

+ + +

The Irresistible CHRIST+ ...

.

.

What Our LORD declares is Eternally true:

.

.

I,

if I be lifted up,

will draw all men

unto ME+ .

.

When once you know HIM+,

.

CHRIST

is

absolutely irresistible.

.

You can no more help trusting HIM+

than you can help breathing.

page 21, The GOD of ALL COMFORT, by Hannah Whitall Smith, 1956 ed.

Hannah Smith writes to the Christian:

The LORD wrestles with us in order to bring us to a place of ENTIRE dependence on HIM+. We resist as long as we have any strength; until at last HE+ is forced to bring us to a place of helplessness, where we are obliged to yield; and then we conquer by this very yielding. Our victory is always the victory of weakness. ...

And this victory will be ours, if we take the LORD to be our Banner, and commit ALL our battles unto HIM+.

from page 85, The GOD of ALL COMFORT.

.

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The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

.

HE+ maketh me to lie down

in green pastures,

HE+ leadeth me beside the still waters.

.

HE+ restoreth my soul.

.

HE+ leadeth me

in the paths of righteousness

for HIS+ Name's sake.

.

Yea, though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil

for THOU+ art with me.

.

Thy+ rod and Thy+ staff,

they comfort me.

.

THOU+ preparest a table before me

in the presence of mine enemies;

.

THOU+ anointest my head with oil;

My cup runneth over.

.

Surely goodness and mercy

shall follow me

all the days of my life

.

and I will dwell

in the house of The LORD

forever.

.

Our LORD JESUS CHRIST becomes absolutely irresistible for anyone who can see that HIS+ great good heart never changes towards HIS+ friends.

.

Do you know

The Irresistible CHRIST ?

+ + +

PSALM 27 ...

One thing

have I desired of The LORD,

that will I seek after;

that I may dwell in the house of The LORD

all the days of my life,

to behold the beauty of The LORD,

and to enquire in HIS temple.

Psalm 27:6

~ ~ ~

If any man defile the temple of GOD,

him shall GOD destroy;

for the temple of GOD is holy,

which temple ye are.

I Cor. 3:17

~ ~ ~

MY+ Kingdom is not of this world:

if

MY+ Kingdom were of this world,

then would MY+ servants fight,

that I+ should not be delivered to the Jews:

but now

is MY+ Kingdom not from hence.

John 18:36

~ ~ ~

An ILLUSION of UNION...

...is not what HE+ wants.

.

Here is a brave letter from a brave heart to the unfaithful heart of the beloved... read on...

.

Dear C...

I am returning this $1,000 you sent. Yes, there are crucial needs, but the greater need is for you to send your heart. I need not your money nor your presence here--- even as desperately lonely as I am without you--- until your heart returns to your home.

.

Without your heart, you see, both your presence and your money are shallow... leaving me more hurt and hollow than before.

.

Indeed, both your presence in the house and your gift of money is simply for you, an illusion to make you feel better about yourself. It is not an offering of real love nor does it meet real needs. I need you, not your gifts.

.

And as far as wanting to drop by to fix the steps and screen door, well, truly they have needed a lot of attention for a while--- but you are not the one to fix them. They will go without repairs until I find a pure-hearted person who does not need to do good deeds to build an illusion about himself.

.

I'll ask someone whose heart simply is available for the chore. Your heart, you see, is not. It is not available to the home you left and it would be illusionary for you to make it seem like it was.

.

Really, it would do more harm than good because a broken step is nothing compared to a broken heart. A torn screen door knows nothing of the pain of a torn and shredded covenant that once bound us together in love.

.

So, I am returning to you these offers of your presence here, your skills, and your money so that there is NO ILLUSION established that your heart is right with me... no illusion in your mind nor in anyone who should see or hear of your activities.

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All I want is your heart... all of it.

.

Your loving--- but Truthful--- Covenant Spouse

.

+ + +

.

JESUS answered

and said unto them,

"Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites,

as it is written,

'This people honoreth ME with their lips,

but their heart is far from ME. '

Word of The LORD,

recorded by Mark, chapter 7, verse 6.

Also see Isaiah 29:13

.

Nevertheless,

I have somewhat against thee,

because thou hast

left thy first love.

.

Word of The LORD JESUS CHRIST,

Revelation 2:4

+ + +

~~~ Thy+ Presence, LORD ~~~

I want to inhale THY+ Presence, LORD,

.

to fill my Self

with THEE+.

.

I want to inhale THY+ Fragrance, LORD,

.

For thus,

enabled be,

.

to inhale THY+ Being, LORD,

.

'til Self

forgets the me.

.

I want to exhale THY+ Presence, LORD,

.

awaking those

who sleep.

.

I want to exhale THY+ Fragrance, LORD,

.

to comfort

those who weep.

.

I want to exhale THY+ Being, LORD,

.

in THEE+,

my life,

to steep.

+ + +

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Come close to ME+, MY+ Child. Do not hurry from MY+ Presence. Remove the gaps, the differences, the discrepancies between ME+ and THEE+.

.

Time is shortened now. It is crucial for you to be established unshakable in ME+.

.

Let MY+ Words become your words. Let MY+ thoughts take over your thoughts. Exchange your values for MY+ values And let MY+ SPIRIT overwhelm you.

.

Then you will be ready for ME+.

.

+ + +

ALL for HIM+ ...

.

Prayer of Consecration

adapted from a Brother Monk

in the Company of JESUS

(Andrew Counts)

.

O LORD GOD, Holy FATHER, Who, through the life and work of Thy Beloved SON+, my LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, has graciously brought me unto THYSELF in salvation:

.

Take, I pray THEE, all of me...

as CHRIST has made HIMSELF+ mine

in the Incarnation,

in Holy Baptism,

and Holy Communion;

.

So I make myself THINE, through HIS+ Precious Sacrifice.

.

O FATHER, cleanse me from all that is repugnant to THEE . Take from me all impurities of mind and motive. Loose me from all earthly bonds of the heart ... excepting those which serve to bind me closer to Thy SON+ and Thy purposes for me.

.

I desire HIS+ Holy Presence to be the air I breathe. Make me to desire HIS+ Word, HIS+ Body and Blood as my necessary food. May I be always and only for HIM+; And yes, HIS+ to use without having to ask my permission.

.

And LORD JESUS, may those I love know Thy+ Love, and come to love THEE+ more through my love for THEE+.

.

Thus, I bind my mind to Thy+ Mind, my thoughts to Thy+ Thoughts, my will to Thy+ Will ... for in Thy+ Light alone shall I see LIGHT.

.

May my eyes see as THOU+ seest, my ears hear as THOU+ hearest.

.

May my lips speak Thy+ words, my feet travel Thy+ paths, my touch leave behind the fingerprints of Thy+ love.

.

.

O, accept this sacrifice of myself, as poor as it is, for it is all I have. Enlarge my soul to be a reservoir of Thy+ HOLY SPIRIT, O LORD CHRIST, that I may shed abroad Thy+ Light, Thy+ Love, Thy+ Truth... and the Radiance of Thy+ Holy Name.

.

This I pray through the Name of The KING+ of kings and LORD+ of lords, the ONE+ to Whom+ every knee shall bow and tongue confess... JESUS CHRIST , our LORD.

.

+ + +

What CHILD+ is This?

Incarnation 2010

Meditation #1

Haste!

Haste!

to bring HIM+ laud,

The BABE+ ,

the son of Mary.

.

Acclaim, praise... the lauds... are the first fruits of our lips, upon rising in the morning. Traditionally, they are the last 3 Psalms in the Book of Psalms. Practically, the lauds can be any praise, acclamation, or worship done early in the morning.

.

But, why the haste?

.

The key to "haste" is in Psalm 2, a Messianic Psalm. Towards the end, it says:

.

Kiss the SON+,

lest HE+ be angry,

and ye perish from the way

when HIS+ wrath is kindled

but a little.

.

Kiss the SON+...

.

That means to fasten oneself unto HIM+, a means of attachment, to touch. Translated thus, it means to LOVINGLY attach oneself to the SON+.

.

Lest HE+ be angry...

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Yes. Disobedience, hypocrisy, and willful sin will put Christians on the WRONG SIDE of HEAVEN. It is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the LIVING GOD+.

.

And ye perish from the way...

.

The way here is the Hebrew word meaning "road" . Figuratively, it stands for the "manner of life." We all know what perish means.

.

When HIS+ wrath is kindled...

.

Who is this Messianic Psalm talking about? The SON+ !

.

Christians, do not let anyone fool you: The SON+ has anger and will return ... not as a BABE+ nor as a meek, sacrificial LAMB+. HE+ will come with a Rod of Iron and HE+ will take vengeance, this time.

.

Not only does Psalm 2 talk about that , but listen to The Apostle's words in I Thessalonians 1:7,8, 9 :

.

And to you who are troubled

rest with us,

when The LORD JESUS

shall be revealed

from Heaven

with HIS+ mighty Angels,

.

In flaming fire

taking vengeance on them

that know not GOD,

and that OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL

of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST:

.

Who shall be punished

with everlasting destruction

from the presence of The LORD,

and from the glory

of HIS+ power.

.

Yes. HE+ has wrath against ALL disobedience and HE+ will not be placated. No excuses will stand. No-one will be able to hide behind the cloak of group membership or the doctrine of his "church."

.

...But a little...

.

The Hebrew says "in" a little. But a little would mean that it wouldn't take much provocation for HIS+ wrath to occur. In a little, the literal translation, would indicate that the time is short before HIS+ wrath occurs. Either way, it is true. Therefore:

.

Haste, haste

to bring HIM+ laud,

The BABE+,

The son of Mary.

.

What CHILD+ is this?

.

Whose child are you ??

What CHILD+ is This?

Advent 2010...

Meditation #7...

This, THIS IS CHRIST the King+

WHOM+ shepherds guard

and angels sing...

.

. .. .. .. .

.

.

.

WHOM+ angels sing... YES!

But

there is

ONE song

the angels CANNOT sing:

"Redeemed!

Yes, Redeemed!"

.

The angels, the Holy Ones who did not rebel against GOD during the Great Rebellion in Heaven, sing HIS+ praise. They sang as they welcomed HIS+ birth, knowing that that divine BIRTH+ was bringing Salvation to mankind. They also knew this: satan's days were numbered. Bless GOD!

.

The other angels --- one-third of Heaven --- who rebelled with Lucifer, who did NOT rejoice in HIS+ birth, rejoiced in HIS+ death. But little did they know: HIS+ death was their death warrant, delivered in Person+.

.

And, little did they know that death and all the demons of darkness couldn't hold Our LORD JESUS CHRIST in Sheol, Hades, or hell (as is commonly called).

.

Furthermore, these rebellious angels did NOT know ahead of time this fact: The FATHER would not suffer HIS HOLY ONE + , The LORD JESUS CHRIST, to see corruption.

.

Indeed, if the rebellious angels would have KNOWN what was GOING TO HAPPEN, they would NOT have crucified The LORD of GLORY+ . Bless GOD! Although they know a lot, they were NOT privileged to know that death couldn't hold the Coming Messiah, The LAMB+ of GOD.

.

Yet, they know that there is ONE GOD; the devils believe and tremble. (Oddly enough, the devils DO "believe," don't they ? Salvation must entail something more than "belief," yes?)

.

Now, there is NO WAY out for the angels who rebelled. They are doomed, as Lucifer, their leader, is doomed. They have no "Redeemer" to rescue them from Lucifer and the Lake of Fire, where they all will be, forever and ever, where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.

.

Bless GOD! Mankind does NOT HAVE TO END UP that way, with the fallen angels. So, let us never neglect so great a Salvation. Let us join with the Holy Angels to lift our songs unto HIM WHO sitteth upon The Throne and unto The LAMB+.

.

For HE+ shall reign forever and ever. HalleluJAH! HalleluJAH! The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of Our LORD and of HIS CHRIST. And HE+ shall reign... and HE+ shall reign... and HE+ shall reign FOREVER AND EVER. HalleluJAH!

+

Whose child are you ?

+ + +

What CHILD+ is This ?

...Whom+ shepherds guard...

Advent 2010 ~ Meditation #6

+

Rough...

but valiant...

were those shepherds guarding the Temple flocks pastured at Bethlehem.

~

Well-trained in their gruelling work, the shepherds delivered, nourished, and guarded the lambs around the clock. The unblemished lambs were set apart for sacrifices in the Temple... for both the daily morning sacrifice at 9 a.m. [ the hour of crucifixion] and the daily evening sacrifice at 3 p.m. [that same hour when Our LORD finished the Last Sacrifice+ ]

~

Wielding staff and rod, those rough but valiant men would have laid down their lives for their lambs... around the clock, day and night.

+ + +

Do we ...

lay down our lives for the little flock The LORD has entrusted unto each one of us, in our small circle of influence?

~

Do we ...

stand between them and the destroyer... the one seeking to destroy their souls through wiles, sin, trickery, error, or injury ... around the clock ?

~

Do we ...

allow ourselves to be inconvenienced or to be without food for a season or to be separated from worldly pursuits in order to spiritually defend HIS+ little lambs, under our influence ?

~

Do we ...

guard and correct HIS+ lambs with gentle love, with tough love, with whatever is required to get them through life and moving safely towards The GOOD SHEPHERD+ ?

~

Do we...

risk rescuing HIS+ lamb, valiantly going after the lion or wolf who has attacked it and dragged it away from the flock, to devour it ?

~

Do we ...

spend sufficient time with the GREAT SHEPHERD+ and BISHOP+ of our souls for HIM+ to train us how to skillfully wield the un-carnal weapons of our warfare... which are mighty through GOD to the pulling down of strongholds ... in order to defend HIS+ lambs ?

~

Do we...

make certain our words, our lives, and our examples are providing spiritual nourishment at all times for this little flock ? Have we become a spring of Living Water+ flowing from The LORD through our hearts to HIS+ lambs unceasingly?

+ + +

.

Feed My+ lambs.

Feed My+ sheep.

Feed My+ sheep.

+

Why do ye call ME+

"LORD, LORD"

and do not

the things

which

I

say

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

.

Whose child are you?

+ + +

What CHILD+ is This?

This, this is CHRIST The King+...

Advent 2010

Meditation #5

One small BABE+

came

that we might come to HIM+

as a Babe...

pure,

innocent of malice,

devoid of accusation,

released from judgment

and from judging others.

.

Are we living in the pureness

of this newborn Babe+

towards others?

.

Are we living in the innocency

of this newborn Babe+

concerning sin?

.

Is our heart as tender as this Babe+,

softened with the tenderness

of HIS+ mercy toward everyone?

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Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are righteous, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

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Whose child are you?

+ + +

What CHILD+ is This?

...While shepherds watch are keeping.

~

Advent 2010

Meditation #4

The shepherds kept their watch ... all through the night. They did this to guard the flock around the clock. Thus, there were those ever-ready men who were awake and on the watch when the Angels appeared unto them, announcing the Advent of their long-awaited MESSIAH+.

~

"What, could ye not watch with ME+ one hour? "

~

"Watch

and pray

that ye enter not into temptation:

the spirit indeed is willing

but the flesh is weak."

~

Do we set aside time to watch and pray,

even one hour,

with Our LORD

... so that HIS+ concerns become our concerns?

... so that HIS+ Will becomes our will?

... so that HIS+ mind will be in us?

~

OR...

Do we think that it just "happens"

that we will somehow know

the mind of CHRIST,

HIS+ will,

HIS+ concerns?

~

Do we think that we are so strong that we can circumvent HIS+ admonishment to "watch and pray" ?

~

Do we think that HIS+ words

that the "... flesh is weak... "

do not apply to us?

~

The "flesh is weak" is what HE+ said to those who walked with HIM+ daily, seeing HIM+ in the flesh, hearing HIS+ words and teachings, watching HIS+ miracles unfold.

~

What would HE+ say to us, today?

~

Do we TRULY think we can spend most of our waking hours

taking care of the temporal ...

yet reap spiritual discernment

and the knowledge of HIS+ will ?

~

"What, could ye not watch with me one hour? "

+ + +

Whose child are you ?

What CHILD+ is This?

...Whom+ angels greet with anthems sweet...

.

Advent Meditation #3

2010

How do we "greet" Our LORD and SAVIOR every day?

.

Do we, with GREAT joy, lift our faces up to HIM+ as we arise?

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Do we, with glorious anticipation of what HE+ will accomplish in our hearts, meet HIM+ in the morning?

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Do we, with hearts over-flowing with thanksgiving, bow before HIM+ in worship, as HE+ gives us our very breath, thought, energy, and enabling grace to work in HIS+ camp with every passing moment of this day?

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Are our hearts filled with anthems sweet as we pick up our cross and die daily to our Self... so that HE+ will rule and REIGN in our lives?

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O Gracious and Life-Giving FATHER,

We humble ourselves in repentance, knowing we have not greeted Thy HOLY CHILD+ JESUS as we daily rise, in the same fullness of thanksgiving and joy that the angels greeted HIM+ .

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O THOU, Who provided us a way to LIFE+ itself, forgive our earth-centered hearts. Move them, O LORD, to be focused on HEAVENLY things, constant in season and out, with THEE and Thy HOLY SON+, JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

.

Amen.

Whose child are you?

+ + +

What CHILD+ is This?

Who+, laid to rest in Mary's lap,
is sleeping...

Advent Meditation #2

2010

.

HE+ maketh me to lie down in green pastures;

.

HE+ leadeth me beside the still waters.

HE+

restoreth

my soul.

.

Dear Gracious, Heavenly FATHER, Who ordereth our days aright:

.

Deliver me from discontent. Help me to rest the ordering of my days... my life... in Thy Hands.

.

Forgive my foolish ways of self-pity and complaining. Deliver me from accusing others of rejecting me... when I so badly need to make certain I have no rejection in my heart towards them. Forgive me for accusing even THEE when THOU art, in reality, saving me from my own mistaken and foolish desires.

.

I thank THEE for the green pastures and the rest when I come close to THEE. I thank THEE for the Living Water, so filling and quiet, which flows to Thy Children through CHRIST JESUS, Thy Beloved Son.

.

O THOU, Who respecteth no man's person nor position, I thank THEE for including me in all Thy Promises, through JESUS CHRIST my LORD.

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In the name of Thy Only-Begotten SON+, in Whom+ we live and move and have our being, I pray. Amen.

~

Whose child are you?

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. . . .

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