ASH WEDNESDAY: Passover Meditations for the Lenten Season 2012

~ ~  ~  The Door of the Cross ~ ~ ~

    JESUS answered them and said, Verily, verily, I+ say unto you, Ye seek ME+, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.  

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto Everlasting Life, which the SON+ of MAN shall give unto you: for HIM+ hath GOD the FATHER sealed. John 6: 26 and 27.

+  +  +

You do not pursue ME+

-- the First and the Last,
Who+ was dead and IS ALIVE--

because you see supernatural works

that should draw you

upward

toward the Heavenlies,

toward Spiritural Life,

towards Who+ I+ am.

I+

-- I+, JESUS,

SON+ of The LIVING GOD,

Who+ trieth

the hearts and minds--

tell you that you seek ME+

because I+ help you

in pursuit of your own happiness.

.

You pursue ME+

because I+ make

your way easier.

.

But I+

--- I+ JESUS ,

Who+ have

the Keys of hell and death ---

tell you to

STOP FOCUSING

UPON THINGS

NOT PROFITABLE

for you in Eternity.

.

Perishable things WILL perish.

.

Separate yourself

from pursuit of the perishable

and come,

come unto ME+,

for I+ will give you rest...

the only rest available

for you.
.
Come through
the Door of The Cross.

+  +  +

Pre-PASSOVER Preparation....

Sweep the House.... Remove the Old Leaven  of Malice and Wickedness... Replace it with the Unleavened Bread of Purity and Truth.. Prepare Ye the Way of the LORD.

  

Exhortations from the Pre-Nicene Christian writer Cyprian, Ante-Nicene Fathers , Vol. 5, Epistle 7, Sections 5 and 6, p. 286-287. 

5. Let us urgently pray and groan with continual petitions. For know, beloved brethren, that I was not long ago reproached with this also in a vision, that we were sleepy in our prayers, and did not pray with watchfulness;

and undoubtedly GOD, Who “rebukes whom HE loves,” when HE rebukes, rebukes that HE may amend, amends that HE may preserve. Let us therefore strike off and break away from the bonds of sleep, and pray with urgency and watchfulness, as the Apostle Paul bids us, saying,

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same.”

For the Apostles also ceased not to pray day and night; and the LORD also Himself+, the Teacher+ of our discipline, and the Way+ of our example, frequently and watchfully prayed, as we read in the Gospel:

“HE+ went out into a mountain to pray,

and continued all night in prayer to GOD.”

And assuredly what HE+ prayed for, HE+ prayed for on our behalf, since HE+ was not a sinner, but bore the sins of others.

But HE+ so prayed for us, that in another place we read, “And the LORD said to Peter,

Behold, satan has desired

to sift you as wheat:

but I+ have prayed for thee,

that thy faith fail not.”

But if for us and for our sins HE+ both labored and watched and prayed, how much more ought we to be instant in prayers; and, first of all, to pray and to entreat the LORD Himself+, and then through Him+, to make satisfaction to GOD The FATHER!

We have an Advocate+ and an Intercessor+ for our sins, JESUS CHRIST the LORD and our GOD, if only we repent of our sins past, and confess and acknowledge our sins, whereby we now offend the LORD, and for the time to come engage to walk in His+ ways, and to fear His+ commandments.

The FATHER corrects and protects us, if we still stand fast in the faith both in afflictions and perplexities, that is to say, cling closely to HIS CHRIST; as it is written,

“Who shall separate us from the love of CHRIST?

Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,

or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

None of these things can separate believers, nothing can tear away those who are clinging to His+ Body and Blood.

Persecution of that kind is an examination and searching out of the heart.

GOD wills us to be sifted and proved, as HE has always proved His people; and yet in His trials help has never at any time been wanting to believers.

6. Finally, to the very least of His servants although placed among very many sins, and unworthy of His condescension, yet HE has condescended of His goodness towards us to command: “Tell him,” said HE, “to be safe, because peace is coming; but that, in the meantime, there is a little delay, that some who still remain may be proved.”

But we are admonished by these divine condescensions both concerning a spare diet and a temperate use of drink;

to wit, lest worldly enticement should enervate the breast now elevated with celestial vigor, or lest the mind, weighed down by too abundant feasting, should be less watchful unto prayers and supplication.

The devil CANNOT...





The devil CANNOT make me hate.
The devil CANNOT make me lie.
The devil CANNOT make me backbite . 
The devil CANNOT make me live for Self.
The devil CANNOT make me love Mammon.
The devil CANNOT make me lust.
The devil CANNOT make me live in fantasy. 

The devil CANNOT make me ignore JESUS.

The devil CANNOT make me sin. 

Likewise, 

The devil CANNOT stop me from loving.

The devil CANNOT stop me from being kind.

The devil CANNOT stop me from controlling my tongue.  

The devil CANNOT stop me from forgiving.

The devil CANNOT stop me from living for JESUS. 

The devil CANNOT stop me from dying to Self.

Even moreso,

The devil CANNOT keep me from The Word.

The devil CANNOT keep me out of Heaven.

The devil CANNOT keep me in fear.

The devil CANNOT keep me in darkness.

The devil CANNOT keep me from belief.

The devil CANNOT keep me from Truth.

The devil CANNOT keep me from Life.

The devil CANNOT keep me away from repentance.

The devil CANNOT keep me out of the waters of Baptism.

The devil CANNOT keep me away from conversion.

The devil CANNOT keep me away from JESUS . 

WHO, then, 
makes me do these things ?

I do.

WELL DONE ....



WELL DONE,

THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT !

The GOOD news today is

that we have no fear.

HE+ promises to walk with us through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, the Valley of rejection, the Valley of loneliness.

HE+ can...

because HE+ has been through death…

....and back!

.

HE+ endured utter rejection from family, and His+ friends didn’t even stick with HIM+ through His+ strongest trial.

.

Plus, Our Savior – our dear, dear JESUS —saw His+ FATHER seemingly turn HIS FACE away from HIM+, the only-begotten SON+ in WHOM+ HE, The FATHER, was well-pleased… all due to my sin and the sins of the whole world.

. 

THAT was the DEPTHS of the Valley of rejection, the Valley of loneliness. No-one on earth has had to embrace THAT kind of rejection, that utter abandonment of family and friends to embrace the loneliness to such a horrific degree.

.

So, we give thanks that HE+ made it through!

We give thanks because…

it wasn’t HIS+ fault.

IT WAS OURS.

.

HE+ covered for us, providing a cover of HIS+ own Blood. We hide underneath it, being grateful-to-tears for the shelter and safety HIS+ Blood brings us. Bless GOD that HE+ made it through to the end to say,

.

“FATHER!

It is ACCOMPLISHED!”

.

Now, we have no fear, of either Death ( read: “Life” ) or rejection ( read: “Companionship with JESUS” ) or loneliness ( read: “HE+ is right there beside you !” ).

.

If we embrace the cross, putting self-indulgence, self-pity, self-insistence to “death”, then HE+’S there, leading us unto fullness with HIMSELF+… and Joy follows !

.

If we accept the rejection and BLESS those rejecters in our hearts, forgiving them, guiding our minds and hearts to practice thinking

.

“Whatsoever things are lovely, … of good report… true…”

etc., of them….

then, HE+ anoints us with HIS+ great good approval. We have thus practiced HIS+ desire and example to love our enemies. Oh, how happy HE+ is when we do that !
.
HE+ is happy with US ! And, we will actually experience “the love of GOD being shed abroad” through our hearts, to our rejecters !

.

“These things have I+ spoken unto you, that My+ Joy might remain in you, and that your joy MIGHT BE FULL.”

.

Furthermore, if we embrace the loneliness appointed to us by HIS+ Sovereign Will, we will find that HE+ will meet us at the altar to join us to HIMSELF+ so that we will never walk alone.
.
No matter our condition of health, our situation of life, our position in (or out of ) family, we will NEVER be without companionship… the TRUE companionship of having someone to talk to in our hearts, having someone who knows us and loves us despite our character flaws and many failures.

.

(We know, of course, that being around other humans does not guarantee “companionship”, but rather, the communing of our hearts with one another is the fellowship  we hunger for. That is why so many find companionship with their little pets and thus, take great good care of their little 4-footed, fuzzy “heart-mates”.)

.

So, let us walk free of the torment of fear. Embrace the cross; for in so doing, you embrace CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF+, Who+ loves you dearly.

.

Embrace death to Self, for it will bring you LIFE in CHRIST.
.
Rejoice in rejection … for it will work in you great holiness.
.
Welcome loneliness; for inasmuch as you receive His+ ordained loneliness, you’ll receive HIS+ Companionship!

.

And then, when your sojourn upon earth is finished, the transition unto the Heavenly Kingdom will be utterly desirous… and you will hear,

.

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant; ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD.”

.
Indeed, you have ALREADY been walking in that close JOY for many days with CHRIST JESUS as LORD of your life, through many rejections and much loneliness.

.

Then it will come to pass that the Valley of Baca … of Weeping… will be turned into a summit of total joy in Our LORD… when you see HIS+ welcoming face, full of love, glowing… coming towards you!

In the Name of The FATHER

Who created us,

and His Beloved SON+,
Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

Who+ saves us,

and the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,
Who sanctifies us.

Amen

Making Yourself AVAILABLE to The LORD...

Making oneself

AVAILABLE

to The LORD is how
serious Christian disciples

seek to follow

The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

But without faith it is impossible to please HIM+: for he that cometh to GOD must believe that HE is, and that HE is a rewarder of them that diligently seek HIM+. Hebrews 11:6

In the daily walk there are certain things ... practices or disciplines, if you will... that will draw us closer to The LORD ... if we practice them diligently.

The Apostle calls this "sowing to the SPIRIT."

Similarly, there are certain daily activities or "focuses" of our energy and mind, that, if we pour ourselves into them, will draw us FARTHER AWAY from The LORD and HIS+ values.

The Apostle calls this "sowing to the flesh."

All serious-minded Christians know and do realize the truth that sowing to the flesh reaps corruption.  

The problem is, however, that usually the CORRUPTION doesn't OCCUR immediately and the CORROSION oftentimes is not obvious but unseen.  The corrosion remains hidden until a time of testing befalls a Christian, then the "steel girders" of one's faith are found to be piles of rust, giving way at the very moment when needed and blown as the chaff in the air. The Christian tumbles and the witness is destroyed.

Here is an easy rule to ascertain what "sowing to the flesh" entails: It is ALL those things that  DO NOT PROFIT US SPIRITUALLY !

For some , it may be chatting on the phone or emailing. For others, it may be TV or videos or reading a book, listening to music, doing projects around the house.... anything that takes our focus OFF of The LORD. 

For some, it may even entail involvment with church work and activities and hospitalities.

Most of us have innumerable duties and responsibilities through the day, in the public or at home. Some of us are so over-loaded that we are almost too exhausted to think.

The cure is to seek The LORD ... and then simplify where HE+ shows us to simplify.

 But, I will tell you this as a fact:

>  >  >  The LORD would rather have you quiet and with HIM+ than being full of activity... in or out of the church ... in or out of the home.

HE+ is not fooled. HE+ knows when our projects, activities, meetings, church doings and fellowships are being substituted for spending "down" time with HIM+.  If  HE+ is not directing us SPECIFICALLY to an activity, then we need to spend that time quietly, sowing to the SPIRIT.

> > > We will never live  making ourselves available to HIM+  if we do not sow to the SPIRIT, every day, in a disciplined way. 
 

Thus,  

what exactly entails

"sowing to the SPIRIT" ?

 

It is ALL those things that DRAW us closer to The LORD ... that make us recall His+ Sacrifice ... that make us recall our sins and repent ... that make us love HIM+ more ... so that we can embrace more of the Cross . All those things that make our MIND as well as our FLESH submit unto The SPIRIT entails "sowing to the SPIRIT."

 

Yes, all those  things which strengthen us SPIRITUALLY should become our daily sowing, our daily food, our daily discipline. 

 

Dear ones...
    You know what they are, for The LORD has shown you. HE+ will show you more, if you ask. Furthermore, HE+ will clear your schedule, if you wish to have more time to diligently seek HIM+... for HE+ is desirous for you to COME. HE+ would rather have a "Mary" than a "Martha..."   for Mary had chosen the better part.

Drawing Closer to The LORD...

Money cannot buy:

1. health

2. love

3. peace

4. forgiveness

  5. cleansing from your sins 

6. a pure conscience

  

7. a new heart

  

8. a new character

  

9. an escape from the grave

  

10. freedom from FEAR of loss… of anyone or anything

  

11. a family , natural or otherwise, to belong to

  

12. an entrance into Heaven

  

… and, you cannot LIVE without any of these 12 !

So, little Flock, why do you spend your time and thought chasing after the things NOT on this list ? Why do you worry about "more" money… when it cannot get you NOT EVEN ONE of those 12 things you cannot live without?

   

Spend your every waking moment with ME+; I will see to it that you have the earthly things needed.

  

Simplify those "desires" of your eyes and heart. Make your life easy to maintain, to clean , to keep going with the least amount of time.

  

Spend your time with ME+; return to ME+ every hour with a Psalm, a prayer of thanksgiving. Stop your day to RETURN.

Teach your children to do so, when they are young. When they are old, they will not forget how to draw closer to ME+.

Draw CLOSER to ME+... nothing else is more important to you than this.

+  +  +

To draw closer to The LORD, accept DISCIPLINE... of some form... into your daily schedule. Return to The LORD on the hour, or on the prayer station hours, read a chapter from John after every meal, walk around the block or down the lane as a "prayer" walk and exercise time, etc.  The important thing is to do something that cuts across the grain of your time, your thought, your daily schedule... and helps you re-focus upon Our LORD JESUS CHRIST. If you have little children, make them join you or settle on the couch with a "Jesus book" for a small version of prayer times. They can join you in prayers , also. Do something... whatever you can... to draw nearer to JESUS our LORD.

Lift Up Your Hearts!

Lift up your hearts!

We lift them up

unto The LORD.

Let us give thanks

unto The LORD GOD.

It is meet and right

so to do.

It is very meet, right, and

our bounden duty

that we should at all times

and in all places

give thanks

unto THEE,

O LORD,

HOLY FATHER,

ALMIGHTY,

EVER-LASTING GOD.

Who, in the multitude

of Thy mercy 

hast surrounded us

with so great

a crowd of Witnesses...

that we,

rejoicing in their fellowship,

may run with patience

the race

that is set before us...

that together , with them,

we may receive

the Crown of Glory

that fadeth not away.

Therefore, with Angels

and Archangels,

and with all

the Company of Heaven,

we laud and magnify

Thy Glorious Name 

evermore praising THEE

and saying...

HOLY

HOLY

HOLY

LORD GOD of HOSTS*

Heaven and earth are full

of Thy Glory

GLORY BE

TO THEE

O LORD MOST HIGH.

Amen.

* Hosts= Divine, Heavenly armies

Ancient Hymn called the Sursum Corda

UPON HIS+ SHOULDER............... Tying Together HIS+ Nativity and The TREE+

For unto us a CHILD+ is born,

Unto us a SON+ is given:

. 

and the government

shall be UPON HIS+ SHOULDER...

.

... Isaiah 9:6, A

In ONE VERSE  in the prophet Isaiah, the INCARNATION of the Eternal SON+ of GOD and what HE+ came to accomplish is set forth TOGETHER... tying together the Nativity and the Cross+ of JESUS CHRIST.

.

Tertullian (c. 160-240 A.D.) writes about this Nativity Passage... and ties it to The TREE** , i.e., the Cross of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST... **not the "Christmas" Tree.  

 

Listen to this famous Early Christian's words. Tertullian says: 

Similarly, again, Isaiah says: "For a child is born to us , and to us is given a son." What novelty is that, unless Isaiah is speaking of the "SON" of GOD?...  and one is born to us, the beginning of whose government has been made "on HIS+ shoulder."

  

What king in the world wears the ensign of his power  on his shoulder, and does not bear either diadem on his head , or else sceptre in his hand, or else some mark of distinctive vesture? 

But the novel "King of ages," CHRIST JESUS, alone reared "on HIS+ shoulder"  HIS+ own novel glory, and power, and sublimity, ... the cross, to wit: that, according to the former prophecy, the LORD thenceforth "might reign from the TREE. (Psalm 96:10)*"

from The Writings of Tertullian, ANF Vol. 3, I. Apologetic: ,  Section 7, "An Answer to the Jews", Chapter 10, p. 166, second printing edition, 1995.

 * This phrase from the tree... was removed from the text, although the Early Church writers quoted it, being familiar with it. See footnote, that same page in Vol. 3, ANF.

GLORY  TO GOD

      IN THE HIGHEST!

.

Only Our LORD JESUS CHRIST could

.

Reign from the TREE+

.

of HIS+ Cross !

.

And it was prophesied

right along with HIS+ Birth !

Glory to GOD ! 

.

Glory to GOD

and PEACE

GOODWILL

toward men !

.

+  +  +

SKELLIG MICHAEL...

The  BEEHIVE....  

Photo from skelligstrips.com (I think)

Within your Heart...

SKELLIG MICHAEL... A Retreat into Prayer

Photo from  prayerfoundation.org

             Skellig Michael- Monastery in the sky-  Ireland

Photo from  in-between.org.UK
or
basementgeography.blogspot.com

Ancient Celtic Monks Living Quarters on Skellig Michael

                 A  Quiet Monk
   

The ULTIMATE PRAYER RETREAT...

A life given over to HIM+,

undistractable and focused,

agreed with CHRIST+ Our LORD.

Skellig Michael, an ancient monastery jutting out of the cold Atlantic, about 9 miles from Ireland, was used by a small group of monks for about 600 years. They were stone serious about their retreat into prayer. 

~  ~  ~ 

We hear much about prayer retreats these days. How long do your church brothers and sisters spend at theirs? How much time is spent in prayer during the rest of their lives?

How about learning to feel GOD'S presence? How about learning to BREATH with HIM+ Who+ needs no air, but is the Breath of Life for all who choose to come to HIM+ in repentance and in truth?

HE+ says, "Draw near to ME+ and I will draw near to you."

HE+ says, "If you seek ME+ with all of your heart, you  will  find ME+."

In our very busy, self-oriented world and society, some will feel that they do GOD a favor by taking a few days, or maybe a week, to participate in a prayer retreat of one sort or another. Others will go on a prayer retreat out of a desperate desire to find GOD, to come close to HIM+.  That's commendable.

However, the direct mandate from our LORD CHRIST is to "deny ourselves, take up the Cross and follow ME" ... DAILY.

HE+ says, " Whoever of you that does not forsake all that he has, cannot be My+ disciple." 

We feel that these are hard words and probably not for us.

If they are not for us,

then

who are they for?

I think that we all are part of "whosoever".  The problem is that HIS+ words interfer with our materialistic western lifestyle. So, we feel that JESUS must have meant someone else other than us, or maybe HE+ was just mistaken, not understanding that we are under Grace!!  However, HE+ is the ONE+ Who+ placed us under that Grace with HIS+ own Body and Blood! HE+ is not likely mistaken.

      

Let us all take heed to our own lukewarmness, which in another place, JESUS said, HE+ will vomit out of HIS+ Body. JESUS can not be tricked.

      

There are those now and those in the past who have accepted HIM+ in every area of their lives and have sought to live the ultimate prayer retreat daily, for whatever amount of time they have been alloted in this very short life. The Cross of Christ is more valuable to them, you see, than any material gain or advantage or possession... than any career... than any retirement security. Yes! JESUS is right after all!! 

        

What is your life?

It is but a mist that appears for a little while, and then disappears. The only thing you really have is what you give back to HIM+. HE+ will keep it for you unto all eternity. HE+ will give it back to you multiplied a hundred times over!!

         " ..... is not My WORD like a FIRE, says the LORD? And like a HAMMER that breaks the rock in pieces?"   

AMEN

Brother Brendon Patrick, OGS +

In the Name of the FATHER Who created you,

the SON+ Who saves you,

and the Holy SPIRIT Who sanctifies you.

+ + +