When the SALT Has LOST its SAVOR....



Ye are the SALT of the earth;
but if the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted ?

 it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden under foot of men.

Matthew 5:13

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We human beings ALWAYS have freedom to worship.

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What we do NOT always have is the freedom to worship... without persecution.

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When we speak of "religious freedom" we usually mean freedom for CHRISTIANS to worship AND participate in society without persecution.

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That was the reason Puritans fled England: they could worship... but not own property or engage in other "normal " societal functions. They were out-casts and some were persecuted by not having a means to earn a living.

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Historically, The LORD alone grants Christians from time to time, from era to era, from one country or another, the freedom to worship JESUS CHRIST without persecution.

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However, historically, it has never been a PERMANENT CONDITION or state of being for Christians.

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Constantine was a famous example of a ruler who "gave" Christians the right to worship AND function in society without persecution. Different rulers throughout history is a variety of lands have been so appointed by The LORD to grant Christians the freedom to worship AND function normally in society.

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This "appointment" has NOTHING TO DO with the ruler's qualifications, but rather, it has to do with The LORD'S GOOD WILL ordaining a season for Christians to live without persecution. But, it is ONLY for a season.

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We see this, for example, in Thomas Jefferson. He was a deist, at best. He made his own "Jefferson Bible" by cutting away the parts of the Holy Bible he found offensive. This included all things referring to the Divinity of JESUS CHRIST. [ See the Wikipedia article on "Jefferson Bible" for Mr. Jefferson's horrendous views regarding Our LORD JESUS CHRIST.]

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Yet, The LORD used this apostate man to establish a statute for religious freedom which would benefit Christians, allowing them to function in society.

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Mr. Jefferson, who did NOT honor The LORD JESUS CHRIST, was prominent in establishing "religious freedom" for all... precisely BECAUSE he was not a Christian and did not wish to live under religious rule: Let every man choose his own "god."

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Thus, when we give thanks for religious freedom of choice, let us keep in mind The ONE+ Who+ actually does this: giving His+ Followers a reprieve --- for a season --- so that we may function normally in society.

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But keep in mind: 

the reprieve 

is ONLY for a season.

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As soon as Christians assimilate into society so that the distinction between Christians and worldlings no longer exists, PERSECUTION COMES. The LORD Himself+ removes the "freedom" to be a Christian AND to function normally in society , at the same time.

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Oh yes, we will STILL have freedom to worship CHRIST JESUS... just like the strong and living Church does under persecution in North Korea. Man does not have in him the ability to force us to stop worshipping CHRIST. We simply will not have the freedom to function in society AND to serve CHRIST JESUS , as before.

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Thus, we will have to choose.

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That is what PERSECUTION does for the church: it makes each person choose deeply and irrevocably to whom his allegiance lies: to the world or to CHRIST JESUS.

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We cannot have both.

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Pastor Saeed Abedini made his choice. He paid dearly for it, but great will be his reward. He remained "the salt of the earth."

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Will we ? 

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Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savor,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden under foot of men.

Matthew 5:13

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Persecuted Pastor ABEDINI FREED !



Pastor Saeed Abedini, held and tortured in an Iranian prison for being a Christian, has been released on Saturday, January 16, 2016.  His release, by the Hand of GOD, was included in the prisoner swap of 7 Iranians for 4 Americans.

All GLORY, HONOR, and PRAISE BE to The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, Our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, Who+ lives and reigns with THEE, O HOLY FATHER, in the unity of Thy HOLY SPIRIT,
ONE GOD,
now and forever, world without end. Amen !

PS--- We believe that Pastor Abedini's release was by the Hand of The LORD, not by the hand of man, in answer to the prayers of HIS+ Followers... with the added blessing of 3 other captives released at the same time.

Glory be to THEE+, O LORD.



LEFT BEHIND...



RACHEL'S TOMB
in old Bethlehem
Rachel... still weeping for her children
because they are not.

 LEFT BEHIND...

From Cradle to Cross

HE+ suffered loss in lowest garb allowed,

HE+ wrapped HIMSELF+

in Swaddling Clothes

and then, in human Shroud.

.

From rented manger

to borrowed Tomb

HE+ had not where

His+ Head to lay.

HE+ owned no Colt nor Room,

it seems,

though Temple tax ,

exacted,

paid. 

Fleeing sword 'ere HE+ could walk,

Egypt hid the Royal BABE+

from death by HIS+ own nation

at His+ birth

with Wise Men's laud and adoration.

Glory LEFT BEHIND, 

not grasped,

for us HE+ emptied Himself+

for FATHER'S Will

and by Obedience 

forged a path for us to trod BEHIND HIM+ still. 

By imitation of HIS+ loss

we accept the limitations

HE+ sets upon our brow

that we might come before Our FATHER,

embracing HIS+ Salvation

now.

 

Meditation Poem by Sr. Judith Hannah + ,

Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+

Year of Our LORD,

1.14.2016 

2016: The SEASON of the EIGHTH BEAST... That WAS, and is NOT, and YET IS !

HIDING the CHILDREN:  What To Expect in 2016... A Year to Deepen the Faith (if you want to survive.)

The Signs of the Times are speaking loud and clear, for those who have ears to hear and eyes to see.

Scripturally, 2016 will see the Season of the EIGHTH BEAST of Revelation 17 come about across the globe.

⁸ The beast that thou sawest was, and is not;

and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world,

when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

⁹ And here is the mind which hath wisdom.

The seven heads are seven mountains,

on which the woman sitteth.

¹⁰ And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is,

and the other is not yet come;

and when he cometh,

he must continue a short space.

¹¹ And the beast that was,

and is not,

even he is the eighth,

and is of the seven,

and goeth into perdition.

¹² And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, 

which have received no kingdom as yet; 

but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

The VISIBILITY of the RISE of the EIGHTH BEAST of Revelation 17 will be occurring during 2016. The EIGHTH BEAST, ( being called the Hitler-Nazi Spirit for lack of a better term ), has been in development for a long time.   

Here is a fore-shadow of what we can expect to occur in 2016 especially in this land but also world-wide as the Hitler-Nazi Spirit, the EIGHTH BEAST, becomes evident to those who have eyes to see.  

The State Will INCREASE its Control of All Children.

Some school districts are prohibiting children to bring packed lunches from home to school and MUST eat the cafeteria’s GMO-ed food. In 2016, this type of control will expand, since all the children now belong to the state. [ Sorry, parents. ]

Schools are including immoral things in their curriculum to convince the children there is NO right vs. wrong; things are only different.  Wrong again, schools will continue to over-step their boundaries with a mandate to harvest souls for the state. 

Educational curriculum is being mandated from the central government now and it will only become more stifling.

Teaching about “other cultures” is part of that curriculum, including henna tattoos of hindu and muslim religious symbols in a “party” environment  for younger school children.

The State is vaccinating the children regardless of parental consent. It happened a couple of years ago in New Jersey.  In 2016, the out-of-control government will become even more adamant into making children into “its” own image and thinking. 

The State is also mandating sex education that is graphic and immoral at the elementary level, promoting same-gender unions as “normal,” and at the junior high level, promoting “exploration and friendly touch” … right along with mandatory birth control pills.

In some states it is not mandatory for a student to participate, but they — and their parents — are oftentimes NOT TOLD that they can be exempted for religious reasons. [ We saw this under-handed “announcement” of mandatory birth control items worked first-hand in a local school.]

The State KNOWS about the children through the Social Security system, as each baby is given a SS number at birth. To hide the child, refuse to give him a SS number. Yes, he will not be declared as a “dependant” on income tax forms and the tax rate will be higher… but he will be hidden at least on the computer files.

The Rise of Euthanasia

In 2016, Euthanasia by any other name is still euthanasia…  the issuance of selective death warrants. 

 

Sharia Law in Isis/isil- held areas of Syria and Mosul have made it LEGAL to put to death Down’s Syndrome children and children with congenital handicaps.  Fiction? no, FACT… 38 youngsters have already had a lethal injection, as the isis/isil leaders continue to put to death the little and helpless.

The little babies in the womb continue to be chopped apart while alive, by the “highest” civilization currently on planet earth.

In 2016, the opposition to curtail this heinous crime against the helpless will grow louder and continue its anti-Christ activity. Funding will increase.  For the “good of humanity,” of course, the babies’ parts are being artificially grown inside of rats and other laboratory animals’ bodies. This will increase as hearts become as stone.

While hiding or camouflaging the children, we had better learn how to keep our elderly and infirm OUT of the hands of the system also, as well as the little handicapped ones.

The rise of the Hitler spirit says to put to death “out of mercy” those useless eaters, as one famous Nobel prize winner stated; they are just going to die anyways, aren’t they? Their usefulness to society is over.

POISON– We are being systematically POISONED

in our food, water, and air.

In 2016, we will see an increase in these out-of-control programs which “play God” with the environment… and people’s lives.

Right now, school children have no remembrance of bright blue skies with normal puffy clouds. It will only become worse.

The chem-trail program ( no matter by what technical name it is called) is rapidly poisoning ALL the air we breathe. It is NOT a rampage of “allergies” in the middle of winter which is affecting the collective sinus cavities of the population. The chem-trails are affecting our eyes with itching, stinging metallic powder ( or worse) which is visible in the sunlight when the sun is just right. 

   

It is falling like herbicides on shrubs like multifloral roses and honeysuckle bushes and morning glories, which are curling and being distorted.

In 2016, this program will continue, especially over agricultural farm land. Who can stop it ? Any herd of dairy cattle or beef will be systematically fed these metallic and toxic powders drifting down daily upon the grasslands and water ponds.

A note to survivalists in 2016: One dare not eat dandelion greens or mint leaves or chickweed found in a open field. The leaves of trees are thinning, even in the middle of summer and with sufficient rainfall. Bees are being affected by these chemicals or toxic metals, also.

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In 2016, this program, funded by the global controllers, will continue across the globe and likely worsen as technology improves and consciences grow harder. Whistle-blowers will be eliminated in one way or another.

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GMO foods — These will only increase. Hopefully, labels will not be allowed to hide the GMO’s, but do not count on it, as the GMO companies are notorious for strong-arming opponents.

In 2016, the public ” safe ” water supply is already thoroughly chemicalized and although the additives are known to be totally carcinogenic,  they will be continued to be added in heavy amounts. 

If not, the chem-trail run-off would put in whatever toxic material is missing from the public water system.  It is not even safe to bathe or shower using public water. 

CITIZEN SPY TECHNOLOGY

In 2016, there will be fewer places to HIDE, both in the wilderness, in cities ( as the homeless are finding out ), and in one’s own communities. Border crossings will become more rigid.

[ This only affects law-abiding citizens; the criminals will always have a way to hide themselves and their activities.]

Driver’s licenses, pictures, all manner of identification papers FOR LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS are required even now to have one’s eyes examined.  A person cannot copy his own prescription on a piece of paper and have glasses made. The eye prescription must be written on a bona fide optician’s form or the optician or eye-glass maker cannot serve that person.

 

The optician MUST collect this data on a person’s eyes ( along with all his ID ) and send it in to the state or they are not allowed to serve that person… even if no insurance forms or government monies are being used for the exam or glasses.

  

The entire medical profession is in control of one’s body. In 2016, they will become even more aggressive.

For instance, once a tooth is pulled from your mouth, you cannot have it back; it belongs to the State !

In 2016, the computer and cell phones will be progressively improved to record , keep, and send personal tracking data to some data-bank set up for citizenry control.

In 2016, these “programs” will be MANDATED to glean information on everyone, as we are all herded into the technological corral. One example is the Windooos 10 program, among many, named ( I suppose ) after the 10 Kings of Revelation 17.

M.I.T. has revealed its government-funded research project that has developed computer technology which uses radio beams to LOCATE AND TRACT human movement… behind cement tile walls or rooms. 

This is all for the benefit of helping swat teams locate ne’er-do-wellers and fugitives from the law… for the general public’s good, of course.  It goes on sale for $300.

The postal service, lowly as it may seem, has its part to play in tracking all the information possible about the citizenry. It is recording and tracking WHO, WHERE, WHEN, and WHAT about every piece of mail going through its system.  This can only become worse, in 2016.

IDOLS 

These come in many forms, including flags. As the U.S. military burns BIBLES to protect the “culture” of a country ( such as Afghanistan) which it has invaded in order to “keep the peace,” and not offend anyone ( ?? ), expect to see idols fall like Dagon did so many years ago, WHEN CHRISTIANS FAST AND PRAY. 

CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION 

As followers of JESUS take a stand for righteousness IN ANY OF THESE AREAS, they will be making themselves an OPEN TARGET for both official and non-official haters of TRUTH

They will be denied services if they do not conform. Children of Christians will be taken from them, if parents do not conform to the “child standards” of the state.  . 

CHRISTIAN DIVISION

As the weary citizenry becomes extremely agitated with the over-possessiveness of the government, anarchy is the next natural step of the Adamic race. 

In 2016, many Christians will be pushed to bear arms and join their neighbors against tyranny OR to be non-resistant ... and stand ALONE for JESUS. 

NEITHER OPTION will be easy and BOTH will be dangerous.  


BEARING ARMS will cause GREAT DIVISION in the Christian camp which can ill afford yet more division. Christian will turn upon Christian as the distress of the nations increase. Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold. Loving one's enemies, as CHRIST has done by Word and by Example, will be cast aside... to the great detriment to the Witness of CHRIST JESUS.


As the Body of CHRIST, let us pray for the SPIRIT ARMY  of the LORD+... for His+ Apostles, Prophets, Shepherds, Evangelists, and Teachers. Let us pray fervently in the Strength and Power of the HOLY SPIRIT.  


Our LORD+ MESSIAH is returning very soon in power, in flaming fire to take vengeance for His+ Beloved Church and to take HER unto HIMSELF+. 



The Kingdom of evil HE+ will shatter and destroy with the brightness of His+ Appearing and strike down with the breath of His+ Lips. 

HOLD FAST, Children of the LORD GOD YHWH ELOHIM of Heavenly Armies.

Our Deliverance is NEAR

                                                    AMEN + + +

By Brother Brendon, 

Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+ 

SWADDLED in Humility ... Incarnation Meditations 2014 ... for the Monastic-At-Heart

Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her Firstborn Son, and wrapped HIM+ in swaddling clothes, and laid HIM+ in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Swaddling a baby seemed to be a custom in the lands of the Orient. It consisted of enveloping the infant with strips of cloth, wrapping the babe and totally binding him.  The purpose was to limit or restrict movement, to restrain the babe supposedly from hurting himself.

The Royal SON+ of GOD Who+ left His+ Glory, the Glory which HE+ had with The FATHER before the world began, entered the realm of man clothed in this restricted fashion.

From his first hour out of the womb, The LORD JESUS was totally restrained and limited.

The LORD JESUS came to earth ...being found in fashion as a man, HE+ humbled Himself+... to take upon Himself+ the restrictions of a human being. HE+ voluntarily embraced the humility of being as limited as the ones HE+ created, in conjunction with The FATHER'S good Will. 

Can we imagine how demeaning that was? How limited would it be for a Potter to become a clay jar, a vessel of his own creation ?  From Glory with The FATHER, HE+ became a clay vessel to be used by the dirty and befouled hand of man.

Yet, The LORD JESUS came to earth and was appointed to this humility. HE+ agreed with The FATHER'S will BEFORE HE+ left His+ throne in Glory.

HE+ embraced --- before HE+ was born --- His+ swaddling clothes.

Do we ?

Let us Pray:

O LORD JESUS, I call THEE+ "Lord, Lord,"  yet I have rejected the very first step to begin my  intensive walk with THEE+: to embrace the restrictive swaddling clothes, the clothing of Thy+ Choosing.

I shudder to don them daily. I shy away from limitations that restrict my day, my flesh, my thoughts.  I fail to bring them in line with Thy+ Holy Discipline... that discipline which THOU  has chosen for me. 

O HOLY FATHER, THOU Who constrained and limited Thy HOLY SON+ JESUS when HE+ took upon  Himself+ the form of a man,  THOU knowest what is best for me also. 

To bring Glory to Thy Name, I need to heed disciplines of restrictions of my time, my actions, and my thoughts.

I need the discipline of limitations, especially of my  interaction with others, in order to hear Thy+ Voice. I need these disciplines in order to  grow straightly and properly and to be a profitable servant of Thine.

Un-warp me from my crooked ways, O LORD; wrap me securely within Thy+ limitations.

Enfold me within Thy+ Self, THOU+ Who+ hast become my Divine Swaddler+.  I yield my Self unto THEE+.  I am not mine own any longer; I am bought with a price.

Because it is THEE+, O JESUS,  Who+ restricts me, I  embrace the disciplines of  constraints and limitations which THOU+  dost plan for my good.

O HOLY ONE+ of Israel Who+ came as a Babe+ and Who+ was immediately swaddled in humility, grant me Thy+ Grace to be swaddled by THEE+ .

 Let this Divine Humility be according to Thy+ Will and purpose. Let  it become my armor, O GOD. 

In JESUS' name I pray: now unto the KING Eternal, immortal, invisible, the ONLY wise GOD, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen

 

O, INN-KEEPER of Bethlehem ! ... INCARNATION MEDITATIONS 2015

Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped HIM+ in swaddling clothes, and laid HIM+ in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

O Inn-Keeper of Bethlehem !

Did you do the Will of GOD? 

Did you do all you could to procure the young, laboring mother a room ? 

Did you not feel any remorse at all, in your decision to avoid inconvenience for you and perhaps some of your clients ?

Undoubtedly, it is hard to face the anger and ire of inconvenient guests who have already paid their money.

After all, one has to consider one's reputation for future business.  Besides, some guests could become a bit unruly when disappointed.

However, If a great king had come along with his entourage, you may suddenly have "found" a room, the nicest one in the establishment. 

You would have roused up the highest-paying guest and, without a twinge of remorse, removed him from the requested room.

Oh, how gold and silver make a difference in daily decisions ! Everybody can understand that, even discomfitted  clients.

Likewise, if a powerful lord with his soldiers had made the request, how quickly you would have found a room... even several ! 

You would have discomfitted even your most loyal customer to avoid the point of the sword. Everybody would understand that, also.

Future reputation ? No problem!

Unfortunately, O Inn-Keeper, you looked upon the outward appearances of your clientele... and made the worst judgment call of your life.

The KING+ of kings was about to be born, but you could not see in the dark, that gross darkness that covered the earth.  You did not know that your time had come to decide for GOD.

The splendor of this Coming KING+ ... and His+ TRUE RICHES... escaped your carnal eye, alas. 

The LORD+ of lords was ready to enter the world outside His+ mother's womb, but you would not have HIM+ in your abode.  You did not see the Divine Heavenly Armies that HE+ commands, did you ?

The Heavenly swords were not unleashed against you, so you had no knowledge of their presence. (Hmm...mm..m. An interesting thought. )

O, Inn-Keeper of Bethlehem !

In your great benefice, did you direct them to a stable, an animal stall ? Perhaps you thought, a birthing woman and her husband did not need anything as good as a place in your inn full of guests that night.

Perhaps birthing a child inside the inn might have created an awkward situation and disturbed your guests who were already grumpy, having to pay more taxes to Caesar.

One must be expedient, you know. After all, you had a business to run and so many clients to satisfy. No more demands were you going to carry that night, especially from these travel-weary, rustic "unknowns."

Thus, O Inn-Keeper, you missed it.

You missed your time. You missed your calling. You missed being a part of the Greatest Birth on Earth. 

You missed welcoming The MESSIAH+.  You missed the KING+ of kings and LORD+ of lords Who+ came to your lowly establishment.

You did not ease His+ entrance into this harsh world.  You did nothing to help His+ Servants as they brought HIM+ forth from the womb of His+ tired, young mother.

Furthermore, you did not proclaim His+ Birth because you hid your face from His+ need.  At the hour of His+ need you absented yourself. Your temporal duties absorbed all your effort.

O, poor, poor Inn-Keeper !

There are some things that money cannot buy: rest, peace, a clear conscience, the love of The LORD our GOD. 

You sold your birth-right for a mess of pottage.

Your time had come. It was a one-time event, never to be repeated. There were no second chances.

O, Inn-Keeper...may The LORD have mercy upon your soul... wherever it is… in Eternity right now.

And, may HE+ have mercy upon mine, opening my eyes to see HIM+ when HE+ comes to my own door, in disguise. 

Standing at the Manger... Incarnation Meditations 2015... for the Monastic-At-Heart

Standing at the Manger...

There, in the lowly, common feeding trough for rough animals, Our LORD was laid.

No, the HOLY BABE+ did not choose the manger HIMSELF+.

Here is what HE+ did choose:

HE+ chose to leave His+ glory ---  that Glory HE+ had with The FATHER before the world was --- and come to earth as a man for the suffering of death, as a man like one of us.

So, His+ entrance into the world placed the nativity of this Royal BABE+ ...

·                   of the scepter-wielding tribe of Judah,

·                   of the princely line of David 

... into a common and lowly room for domesticated farm animals, at the very out-set !

HE+ was a Priest after the Order of Melchizidek, King of Righteousness, a Priest unto whom even Abraham paid tithes.

Even so, it was The FATHER'S good will that HIS Sublime SON+ be born into a humble environment, a setting even considered lowly by the standards of lowly men.

Oh yes, how we yearn to rule with CHRIST!

Do we also yearn  equally as much to be as lowly as HE+ was ? 

Is our goal to be swaddled in humility ?

Do we have such a degree

of humbleness of mind

that conviction falls

on others around us  ?

If not, let us return to the manger and STAND THERE. 

There, let us meditate on our dear SAVIOR'S+ littleness of Self.

Let us Pray:

O Perfect CHRIST, Who+ came in littleness of Self,  look with mercy upon my greatest need.

My need... my great need of humility ... hinders me from hearing Thy+ Voice, from doing Thy+ Will. 

How can I think that THOU+ will use me while I  resist embracing being lowly, the last, the least, the forgotten,  in mine own eyes ?

Help me  truly  to count others better than myself.   Help me truly  to enjoy being inconvenienced by others throughout the day, that Thy+ Holy Will may be accomplished. 

Absorb me in humility like THINE+ own, O CHRIST, that Our FATHER'S good will may flow through me at all times. Let Thy+ great humility grow in me unto a sweet-smelling and acceptable sacrifice offered  back unto THEE+. 

This I earnestly pray, O CHRIST, in Thy+ Holy Name.

Amen