1/09/2013

Season of the EPIPHANY... The Day Star+

Where IS HE+...
This JESUS,
the ONE+ born
KING+ of the Jews ?

For we have seen
the Day Star+ arise
in our hearts...

And have come
to worship HIM+
with our :

GOLD

Does our worship of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST extend into our piles of gold ?  Does our worship of Our LORD JESUS control our mammon, our money, our funds ? 

Would others
KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS
by how we spend 
the funds

The LORD, in HIS+ goodness,
has entrusted to us ?

Does our witness
for CHRIST JESUS 
extend
into our pocketbooks?
our purses ?
our wallets?

Do we avoid beggars or people with signs, asking for money or work ?

WOULD OUR LORD AVOID THEM ?

Do we collect aluminum cans for CHRIST and crush them to sell ...  in order to donate pennies to missionaries ...  while sitting on thousands in the bank, collecting interest ?

As the good Bishop said in Les Miserables, when observing a wealthy man dropping a penny into the alms box:   " Ah, there is the richest man in the province... buying a PENNY'S worth of Heaven ! " 

What we REALLY VALUE is what we scrimp and save for, where we spend the MAJORITY of our monies. 

Are we telling GOD that we want only one-tenth of HIS goodness, with our giving ?

JESUS paid it ALL...
all to HIM+ I owe.
Sin has left a crimson stain.
HE+ washed it white as snow.

MEDITATION

O LORD GOD, THOU has made the Heavens and the earth and all the things therein; THOU+ hast need of nothing of mine. 

Heavenly FATHER, I have need of THEE. I have all need of Thy+ SON+ JESUS operating in me.

Help me manifest CHRIST JESUS with my monies.

I have need for THEE+ to control every penny that comes in my door... so Mammon does not control me through love of it ...or through fear.

I know, O my SAVIOR, that I cannot out-give THEE+.

Make me willing and un-afraid to turn the control over my funds unto THEE+.

Smite the fear, smite my worldly-wisdom, un-clog my deaf ears and re-kindle Thy+ zeal in my dull and fearful heart, for THOU+ doest all things well. 

For  Thy+ glory help me use the monies THOU+ hast given into my stewardship in a more sanctified way. 

This I pray, to the glory of GOD our FATHER; in the Name of Our Manifested SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. Amen.  




1/08/2013

Season of the EPIPHANY.....

Where is HE+
Who+ has been born
King of the Jews ?

for we have seen His+ star in the East and are come to worship HIM+. 
 They presented unto HIM+ gifts: 

Gold... 

MEDITATION

O LORD , THOU+ Who+ receiveth gifts fit for a King,  receive  the offering of myself ... my life...  unto THEE+. 

What can I give HIM+, poor as I am ? 

I will give HIM+ my life and worship HIM+ through this offering of my heart.     

1/06/2013

EPIPHANY... The Manifestation of The LORD Among Us

Begotten before the morning stars
Our LORD from Everlasting,
Our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
Made Manifest unto the world

O Come, let us adore HIM+ !

Behold, One like
The SON+ of Man
came with the clouds of Heaven,
and came
to the Ancient of Days
and they brought HIM+ near before HIM.

And there was given HIM+
dominion, and glory, and a kingdom

that all people, nations, and languages
should serve HIM+;

His+ dominion is
an Everlasting Dominion
which shall not pass away,

and His+ Kingdom
that which shall not be destroyed.

HalleluJAH !
Daniel 7

Where were you when...
The morning stars sang together
and all the Sons of GOD
shouted for joy ?
Job 38:7
Thy people shall be willing
in the day of Thy+ power;
in the beauties of holiness
from the womb of the morning,
THOU+ hast the dew of
Thy youth.
Psalm 110

1/05/2013

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 12th Day of Christmastide

The Appointed Heir of all things
Through  WHOM+ was made the worlds

WHO+ was the brightness of HIS glory
and the Express Image of
HIS ESSENCE

and upholding all things by the Word
of HIS Power...

When HE+ had by HIMSELF+
purged our sins,
HE+ sat down on the right hand
of the MAJESTY on high...

O Come,
Let us Adore HIM+  !

1/04/2013

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 11th Day of Christmastide

I+  Am
The ROOT
and OFFSPRING
of David,
The Bright and Morning Star

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !



I shall behold HIM+
but not near;
there shall come a
STAR out of Jacob,

And a Scepter shall rise
out of Israel....

Out of Jacob shall HE+ come
WHO+ shall have dominion...
Numbers 24

JESUS, The SON+ of GOD
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

Thy+ people shall be willing
in the Day of Thy+ Power;
in the beauties of Holiness
from the womb of the morning,
THOU+ hast the dew
of Thy youth.
Psalm 110 

JESUS, The SON+ of GOD
O Come, let us Adore HIM+ !

Looking unto JESUS,
the Author and Finisher of our faith,
WHO+ for the joy that was set before HIM+
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand
of the Throne of GOD.
Hebrews 12 

JESUS, The SON+ of GOD
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !


1/03/2013

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 10th Day of Christmastide

The LAMB+
is the light
of the City of GOD.

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

JESUS The LIGHT of the world...
HE+   is the TRUE Light
which lighteth every man...
whosoever will come to HIM+
in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.

JESUS the LIGHT of the world,
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+



We are sent to bear witness of That Divine Light... and woe unto us if we refuse that charge! A false witness shall not be un-punished.

JESUS the LIGHT of the world,
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+


For with THEE is the fountain of Life; in Thy light shall we see light.

JESUS the LIGHT of the world
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !

Men loved darkness rather than Light,
because their deeds were evil .
For everyone that doeth evil
hateth the Light,
neither cometh to the Light,
lest his deeds should be reproved. 


JESUS the LIGHT of the world
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !
But he that doeth TRUTH cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in GOD. 

JESUS the LIGHT of the world
O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ ! 


1/02/2013

The WORD+ Incarnate... the 9th Day of Christmastide

The New Jerusalem
has no Temple for the
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
and the LAMB+ are its temple.

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !




Such a fabulous city is this New Jerusalem, whose Builder and Maker is GOD, the city which Abraham looked for, a city which had foundations (Hebrews 11:10)  in the Heavenlies. 

Ahh.. those foundations are like no other foundations of any other fabulous city in either the ancient or the modern world.

This city wall has 12 foundations and on them were the names of the 12 apostles of The LAMB+.  These foundations were adorned with all kinds of precious stones. 

The 12 gates were 12 pearls of such magnitude that each individual gate was ONE PEARL! 

Furthermore, 12 Angels were stationed at the gates, one per gate.


Pure gold like transparent glass pave the streets of this fabulous New Jerusalem, which came down from Heaven as a bride adorned for her husband. 

Even more, her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. 


Meditation

O LAMB+ of GOD,  slain from the foundation of the world, JESUS CHRIST, the Holy CHILD+ born in Bethlehem at the time appointed by The FATHER,

We glorify THEE+ for Thy every act of Good Will purposed, planned, and carried out for mankind from the foundation of the world... in accordance with the Will of Our FATHER in Heaven. 

O HOLY FATHER in Heaven, help us so to agree with Thy Will that we may walk in unity this day with THEE, with Thy Holy SON+ JESUS, and with Thy Blessed HOLY SPIRIT... the three WHO point to the ONE, consubstantial, undivided Tri-Une GOD !    

1/01/2013

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 8th Day of Christmastide

Behold,
I+
make all things new.

O Come,
Let us Adore HIM+ !


I+ AM
Alpha and Omega,
the beginning
and the end.

Blessing, honor, glory
and power
unto HIM
that sitteth
upon the throne
and unto The LAMB+ !

Meditation

O GOD Our FATHER, Who for our redemption, hast given Thine Only-Begotten SON+ JESUS CHRIST to the death of the Cross and by HIS+ glorious resurrection , hast delivered us from the power of the adversary;

Grant us so to die daily from sin, that we may forever live with HIM+ in the joy of His+ Resurrection through the same Thy Beloved SON+ JESUS CHRIST our LORD,

Who+ lives and reigns with THEE and Thy Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, now and forever, to the endless Eternal ages. Amen.  

12/31/2012

The WORD+ Incarnate....the 7th Day of Christmastide

EMMANUEL
Faithful and True,
Judging in righteousness,
Ruling all nations
With a Rod of Iron...

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !



Meditation

And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of GOD is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and GOD Himself shall be with them and be their GOD.
Rev. 21

O EMMANUEL+ , SON +  of the Living GOD, we thank THEE+ for donning the robe of flesh to live among us. 

We thank THEE+ for meeting satan as the Second Adam, and defeating him, so that mankind could escape the father of lies.

Help us, O EMMANUEL+ , to cling to THEE+ , Faithful and True ONE+, Who+ cannot lie.  

Blessed be GOD:
FATHER, SON+, and HOLY SPIRIT.

And, blessed be HIS Kingdom,
both now and forever,
world without end.
Amen. 

12/30/2012

The WORD+ Incarnate.... the 6th Day of Christmastide

GOD shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes... 
No more death,
no sorrow, no crying, no pain... 

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+ !



Proper Preface
(adapted version)

Because THOU didst give JESUS CHRIST, Thine only-Begotten SON+
begotten of His+ FATHER
before all worlds;

Who+ was
conceived by the HOLY SPIRIT,
born of the Hebrew virgin, Mariam,
and was 
GOD of GOD, 
LIGHT of LIGHT,
Very GOD of Very GOD,
begotten, not made,
being of ONE SUBSTANCE
with The FATHER,
by Whom+ all things were made.

But, when the fullness of the time was come, GOD sent forth His SON+ , made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

And because ye are sons, GOD hath sent forth the SPIRIT of His SON+ into your hearts, crying, ABBA , FATHER ! 

Wherefore, thou art no more a servant but a son; and if a son, then an heir of GOD through CHRIST.
Galatians 4: 4-7    

Meditation

Our FATHER, Which art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.

I thank THEE for the promise of Eternal Life through Thy Precious Gift+ to mankind ...  for every person who will receive that Gift+ of Thy Holy SON+ JESUS.

I sing Thy Praise ! May I never take my eyes from His+ Face !

In the Name of the Precious CHRIST-CHILD, JESUS our LORD, I pray.
  
+  +  +

12/29/2012

The WORD+ Incarnate.... 5th Day of Christmastide

GOD is not the God of the dead
but of the living;
for to HIM+
all are alive.

O Come, let us adore HIM+ !



PLEASE NOTE: December 28th on the Christian Calendar is the Remembrance of the Death of the Holy Innocents, the little ones whom Herod put to death in his attempt to slay the Holy CHILD+ JESUS. We will commemorate that today.

From Matthew 2, starting with verse 13:

The angel of the LORD appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young CHILD+ and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young CHILD+ to destroy HIM+.

When he arose, he took the young CHILD+ and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: was was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was sppoken of the LORD by the prophet , saying, Out of Egypt hve I called My SON+. 

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently equired of the wise men. 

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children , and would not be comforted, because they are not. 

Meditation
(Collect  for the Death of the Holy Innocents ) 

O ALMIGHTY GOD, Who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and madest infants to glorify THEE by their innocence in death; 

We praise THEE for taking unto Thyself those little lives, the babes killed by Thine enemies, and to comfort them with Thy glory.

O Great Comforter of the Sorrowing, mortify and kill all vices in us, and so strengthen us by Thy grace, that by the innocency of our lives, and constancy of our faith even unto death, we may glorify Thy Holy Name; through JESUS CHRIST Our LORD. Amen. 

+  +  + 

12/28/2012

The WORD+ Incarnate.... 4th Day of Christmastide

Behold,
the DESIRE+ of All Nations
shall come,
O Come,
Let us adore HIM+ !


And lo, the angel of The LORD
came upon them,
and the glory of The LORD shone
round about them;
and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you
Good Tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.

And this shall be a sign unto you;
Ye shall find the BABE+ wrapped
in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger. 

And suddenly, there was with the angel, 
a multitude of the Heavenly Host, 
praising GOD, and saying, 

Glory to GOD in the Highest, 
and on earth
peace,
good will toward men.
Luke 2: 9-14


Meditation and Collect

Grant , O LORD, that , in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of Thy Truth, we may learn to steadfastly look up to Heaven and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed.  

May we be so filled with Thy HOLY SPIRIT that we may learn to love and bless our persecuotrs by the example of KING+ JESUS, Our EMMANUEL+. 

We remember Thy first Martyr Saint Stephen, who, lifting  his eyes to Heaven, was strengthened to endure unto the end.

We recall that Stephen prayed for his murderers to THEE+, O blessed JESUS, WHO+ standing at the right hand of GOD, is able and willing to succour all those who suffer for THEE+, our only Divine Mediator and Advocate. Amen   

12/27/2012

The WORD+ Incarnate ... 3rd Day of Christmas



Our King+ and SAVIOR
now draws nigh;
O Come,
Let us adore HIM+ !

+

Rejoice greatly,
O daughter of Zion!
Shout,
O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your KING+ cometh
unto thee;

HE+ is just,
and having salvation;
lowly,
and riding upon
as ass and upon a colt,
the foal of an ass.
Zechariah 9:9

Meditation (Collect)

O GOD, Who makest us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Thine only-begotten SON+ JESUS CHRIST; Grant that as we joyfully receive HIM+ for our REDEEMER, so we may with sure confidence behold HIM+ when HE+ shall come to be our Judge, Who+ liveth and reigneth with THEE and Thy Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, one GOD, world without end. Amen. 


O LORD, as we remember Thy Holy Humility THOU+ didst embrace in order to be robed in the mortal flesh of men, help us to embrace humility in a holy fashion in order to bear perfect witness unto THEE+.

For Thy+ Name's sake we pray, O Great REDEEMER. 

+  +  + 


12/26/2012

The WORD+ Incarnate

CHRIST the KING
ever reigns on High,
O COME
LET US ADORE HIM+ . 



Almighty GOD, Who hast given us Thy only-begotten SON+ JESUS CHRIST to take our nature upon HIM+,  and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin;

Grant that we being regenerated and made Thy children by adoption after repentance and by Grace through the Holy Waters of BAPTISM,

That we may daily be renewed by Thy HOLY SPIRIT;

Through the same Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,
Who+ liveth and reigneth with THEE and the same SPIRIT ever, one GOD, world without end.

Here is the Man+
named "The Branch"
Who+ will be seated
on His+ Throne
and the government
shall be upon His+ Shoulders.

+  +  +

12/25/2012

A SAVIOUR IS BORN !

For unto you is born this day
in the city of David
a SAVIOUR+
Who+ is
CHRIST the LORD !
Luke 2:11 


And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
art not the least among the princes of Judah:
for out of thee shall HE+ come forth unto ME
WHO+ is to be ruler of Israel, 
WHOSE+ goings forth have been
from of Old, from Everlasting !
Micah 5:2 


JESUS
knowing that The FATHER
had given all things
into HIS+ hands

and that HE+ was come from GOD
and went to GOD;

HE+ riseth from supper,
and laid aside His+ garments
and took a towel
and girded Himself+.

After that, HE+ poured water
into a basin,
and began to wash the disciples' feet,
and to wipe them
with the towel wherewith
HE+ was girded.
John 13


My LORD has garments so wondrous fine
And myrrh their texture fills;

Its fragrance reached
to this heart of mine,
With joy my being thrills. 

Out of those Ivory Palaces
Into a world of woe, 

Only HIS+ Great
Eternal Love
Made my SAVIOUR+ go.
Hymn by
Henry Barraclough
Charles M Alexander 


12/24/2012

Advent Meditation #23

Behold... The Lord, Whom+ ye seek...
shall suddenly come to His+ Temple...
Even the Messenger of the COVENANT
Whom+ ye delight in...

HE hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich HE hath sent empty away. 
HE hath holpen His servant, Israel,
in remembrance of His mercy; 

As HE spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham,
and to his seed forever. 
Luke 1: 53-55

Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.

Bless GOD that HE has made a way to fill up the hungry of heart !  HE knows   who calls upon HIM in hunger, in thirst, in anguish of heart.  HE knows  ... and thus, HIS Holy SON+ JESUS knows.  His Beloved SON+ JESUS comes to those who call upon HIM+ in Spirit and in Truth, for The FATHER seeketh such to worship HIM.


What CHILD+ is this ?

GOD, Who at sundry times
and in diverse manners
spoke in time past
unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days
spoken unto us by
HIS SON+,
Whom+ HE hath appointed
heir of all things,
by Whom+ also
HE made the worlds;

WHO+,
being the brightness of HIS glory,
and the express image
of HIS ESSENCE,
and upholding all things
by The WORD of HIS power, 

When HE+ had by HIMSELF+ 
purged our sins,
sat down on the right hand
of the MAJESTY
on High, 

Being made so much better
than the angels,
as HE hath by inheritance
obtained
a more excellent Name
than they. 
Hebrews 1: 1-4

The promises of The GOD Who cannot lie are more solid than anything our senses can experience or hearts imagine. 

Those promises are found in His Word and are made true by the Living WORD+ of GOD made flesh, Who+ dwelt among men, at the exact season appointed by The FATHER. 

Since only man is locked into a time frame on planet earth, The LORD's promises to Abraham were and are as living and valid as the day HE made them ! 

Meditation

O Great and Magnificent LORD of HOSTS, we praise THEE and thank THEE for providing a way out of sin and darkness since the beginning of the transgression in the Garden of Eden. 

O LORD, my Life+, help me to trust in Thy fore-knowledge in things concerning my life on planet earth. 

Let my trust become so great that I lose all fear of the loss of everything... except the loss of THEE+, O Great SAVIOR+. 

Come and fill this little temple of my soul with THEE+ , Precious REDEEMER+, and make me ready to meet the last great struggle on planet earth... the world-wide persecution of  Christians.

Grant me Thy+ Grace ... enough Grace to look upon the Promises of GOD and to KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that Thy+ Kingdom will certainly be established by the power of Thy Right Hand ... that same Right Hand+ which hath gotten THEE the Victory ! 

Amen. Maranatha.
Come, LORD JESUS. Come.   


12/23/2012

Advent Meditation #22

To this end was I+ born
and for this cause came I+
into the world...
...that I +  should bear witness
unto The Truth.
Every one that is of
 the Truth heareth My+ Voice.



HE hath shown strength with HIS arm;
HE hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts.
HE has put down
the mighty from their seats,
and exalted them of low degree.
Luke 1: 51, 52

Amen and Amen !


Listen to the Word of The LORD, from the Prophet Obadiah, chapter 1:3,4 ...

The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou, who dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high, who saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground ?

Though thou exalt thyself like the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, from there will I+ bring thee down, saith The LORD.

And from the Prophet Joel, chapter 3: 

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the Day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 

The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 

The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His Voice from Jerusalem, and the Heavens and the earth shall shake; but The LORD will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 

And from the Prophet Zachariah, chapter 12... 
And in that day will I+ make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the nations of the earth be gathered together against it. 

And it shall come to pass,in that day, that I+ will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 

And from the Prophet Malachi, chapter 3...

But who may abide the day of His+ Coming? And who shall stand when HE+ appeareth?  For HE+ is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap. 

MEDITATION

Come, O  come, and fill this temple with the Glory of The LORD!

We are hungry for Your+ Touch; we love YOU+ very much. We delight to proclaim the Name of JESUS.

 Forgive us, LORD,  for grieving YOU+ and make our hearts anew with the fire and power of Pentecost.

Come, YES, COME... and fill this temple with the Glory of YOU+ , LORD !