Pre-Passover Meditation ~ ~ ~ The LIFE of the Flesh

 Photo by The ORDER OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD+
The Way of the CROSS Leads Home

The Invitatory: 

CHRIST the KING+ has suffered for us; 

O Come, Let us Adore HIM+. 

Old Testament Lesson: Leviticus 17:12-14

Scriptures courtesy of Biblegateway.com

¹² Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.

¹³ And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.

¹⁴ For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.

QUIETUDE: A time to Reflect about the BLOOD+

RESPONSE: 

Worthy is The LAMB+. 

Worthy is The LAMB+. 

WORTHY is The LAMB+ that was slain,

to receive power and riches and wisdom 

and strength and honor and glory 

and blessing! 

Amen. 

Lesson from the Epistles: 2 Corinthians 5:10-11

Scriptures courtesy of Biblegateway.com

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of CHRIST; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

¹¹ Knowing therefore the terror of The LORD, we persuade men; 

but we are made manifest unto GOD; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

QUIETUDE: A time to repent.

RESPONSE:  

LORD, have mercy upon us. 

CHRIST, have mercy upon us. 

LORD, have mercy upon us. 

And let not the enemy exact upon us, 

for our trust is in THEE+. 

AMEN.

The GOSPEL Lesson:

 Mark 9:45- 46  ~ ~ ~ 

The Words of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST ~ ~ ~

^"And if thy foot causes you to sin, cut it off: 

it is better for you to enter into LIFE lame, than having two feet to be cast into hell, 

into the fire that never shall be quenched:  

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

The WORD of The LORD.

  

THANKS BE TO GOD !

Meditation ~ ~ ~

Running with the crowd, doing what "everybody else" is doing, having to run to the store to buy the up-to-date and latest item... reflect values not based on The LORD, nor the values of His+ Kingdom, nor ways that please HIM+, our Judge+.

Yet, running... doing.... having...  consume most of our time and energies and thoughts. 

We focus on JESUS our LORD during our 1 of prayer time, perhaps.... and on temporal issues during all the other 15 hours of our wakeful time !

So, we give HIM+ a crumb of our time, a nod each day.

Fasting? Yes. Let's try fasting our time... or better yet, our thought patterns, our focus. 

Do we tithe our TIME? 

HE+ grants each of us 24 hours every day. If we focused only on JESUS the LORD for a "tithe" of our day, we would be in FOCUS ( i.e., prayer, meditation, Bible reading,) for 2.4 hours each day. Powerhouse Christians!

If our focus is on JESUS as LORD, we would be much better equipped to avoid doing things displeasing to The LORD, like eating meat with the blood still in it.

( Remember: HE+ has not changed the rule; we have, in our casual, modern life-style. HE+ still regards the blood of any living creature as sacred. )

If our focus is fixed steadfastly upon JESUS the LORD, our only Mediator+ and Advocate+, then we will truly KNOW the "terror" of The LORD and be willing to pay the price to convince others of the terror of Judgment Day... and the Judgment Seat of CHRIST+  because...  

It is there.

It is real.

It awaits each one 

who professes  

to follow JESUS.

The white throne judgment

awaits all those

whose names 

are not written

in The LAMB'S + 

Book of Life.

( Rev. 20:15 )    

Let us pray: 

O Gracious Heavenly FATHER, in the Name of Thy HOLY SON+ JESUS CHRIST,  WHO+ for the joy that was set before HIM+ endured the Cross, I come to THEE, confessing my negligence of my calling. 

O LORD, THOU+ hast given me every help I need to walk well-pleasing with THEE+.  I have Thy+ Holy Word; every word in it is GOD-breathed, yet I have taken your words casually and not laid them to heart. 

I confess my negligence in persuading those around me of the terror that awaits a person who continually and persistently walks contrary to THEE+, O LORD.

THOU+ art clear when You judge and justified when You speak. 

How can I thank THEE+ enough for providing me a refuge from Divine wrath through Thy+ HOLY BLOOD, as I confess my sins and sincerely amend my ways through the Help of Thy+ Countenance.

With Thy+ Help, O LORD, I will walk well-pleasing in Thy+ sight. 

This I pray in The Name of  JESUS CHRIST our LORD, The Eternal SON+ and WORD+ of GOD our FATHER, through the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT. 

Amen.      

ASH WEDNESDAY MEDITATION 2014

Photo by The ORDER of The GOOD SHEPHERD+

Azaleas Hidden in The Woods

Ash Wednesday Meditation

the first day

of the Pre-Passover Preparations 

for the sacrifice of the Passover LAMB+

commonly known as "Lent"

The Collect from 

The Book of Common Prayer... 

Almighty and everlasting GOD, 

Who hatest nothing that THOU hast made, 

and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; 

Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, 

that we, 

worthily lamenting our sins 

and acknowledging our wretchedness, 

may obtain of THEE, The GOD of all mercy, 

perfect remission and forgiveness; 

through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. 

Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: Leviticus 17:11

For the Life of the flesh is in the BLOOD, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an ATONEMENT for your souls; for it is the BLOOD that maketh an atonement for the soul. 

QUIETUDE: A time to Reflect about the BLOOD+

RESPONSE: 

Worthy is The LAMB+. 

Worthy is The LAMB+. 

WORTHY is The LAMB+ that was slain,

to receive power and riches and wisdom 

and strength and honor and glory 

and blessing! 

Amen. 

Lesson from the Epistles: 2 Corinthians 5:9,10

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent to be well pleasing to HIM+.  

For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of CHRIST, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 

QUIETUDE: A time to repent.

RESPONSE:  

LORD, have mercy upon us. 

CHRIST, have mercy upon us. 

LORD, have mercy upon us. 

And let not the enemy exact upon us, 

for our trust is in THEE+. 

AMEN.

The GOSPEL Lesson: Mark 9:43- 44  ~ ~ ~ 

The Words of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST ~ ~ ~ 

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. 

It is better for you to enter into LIFE maimed, 

rather than having two hands, 

to go into Hell, 

... into the fire that never shall be quenched, 

... where their worm dieth not 

and the fire is not quenched."

The WORD of The LORD.  

THANKS BE TO GOD !

Meditation ~ ~ ~

Just how AWFUL is sin ... to you ? Your sin is worse than others' sins, you know.  Do you hate sin in your life so badly that you are willing to cut off your own hand rather than to keep sinning ? 

Few of us are willing to do this. 

Yet, the Promise of Life to those who hate their own sin rightfully is this: your hand will be RESTORED WHOLE again when you Enter the Kingdom of Life Eternal with JESUS ! You will lose nothing that you have discarded in fighting your own sinful flesh when you pass into the Heavenlies. You will be rewarded for every stand you have taken against your own sin. 

As a matter of fact, you WIN ! 

Let us pray: 

O Gracious Heavenly FATHER, in the Name of Thy HOLY SON+ JESUS CHRIST,  WHO+ for the joy that was set before HIM+ endured the Cross, I come to THEE, afraid of the consequences of my own sin in my own life.  

I have not loved THEE+ as I ought.

   

I have not forsaken all.

  

I have harbored things in my heart 

that I KNOW are unworthy of a follower of THEE+.

   

I have lifted up my "know-it-all" spirit 

and done presumptuous sin.

I acknowledge myself to be in need of Thy+ cleansing 

and reformation power.

O, LORD, I am in desperate need of Thy+ cleansing. Change me, O LORD. Have mercy upon me. Extend Thy+ mercy with Thy+ Cleansing BLOOD unto me, a sinner.

This I pray in The Sight of The FATHER, The SON+, and The HOLY SPIRIT. 

Amen.      

SNAKE-Handlers of The World ..... Arise !

... and follow 

JESUS , 
our EXAMPLE+
in all things...

Photo courtesy of  the-big-picture.org. uk
The Brazen Serpent Monument 
over-looking Mt. Nebo, Jordan

... and rightly discern 

the Word of the LORD. 

A tragedy occurred amongst a group of Christians in Kentucky (USA), on February 15 of this year.  A pastor was bitten by a rattlesnake and died.  He was not bitten while hunting or cleaning brush from a field or stacking fire wood. 

NO.

This pastor and father was bitten by a rattlesnake that he was "handling" as part of the church service! He refused medication for the snake bite and soon died.

Furthermore,

this pastor was a 3rd generation "snake-handler" in his church group... and his grown son is continuing the tradition now that his father has died.  

The basis of this tradition of handling venomous snakes is supposedly found in Mark 16:18, Words of our Risen LORD JESUS CHRIST, as recorded by Mark.

Starting with verse 17: 

" And these signs shall follow them that believe: In MY+ Name shall they cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues: 

18)  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them:  they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." 

So, if snake-handling is in Scripture, spoken indeed by our HIGHEST AUTHORITY, The Risen LORD JESUS CHRIST... what went wrong ?

THIS IS "WHAT WENT WRONG" :  

They did NOT  follow our HIGHEST EXAMPLE+, Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, when dealing with serpents. 

They did NOT follow our next examples, The Apostles, when dealing with serpents.

They did NOT follow the teachings or practices of the Prophets, when dealing with serpents.

They did NOT follow the teachings or practices of the Patriarchs and Righteous men of old, when dealing with serpents. 

Thus.... they did NOT follow the HOLY SPIRIT nor even the Word of GOD in Mark 16:18... when dealing with serpents. 

For, the HOLY SPIRIT does NOT contradict Our EXAMPLE+, The LORD JESUS CHRIST. The HOLY SPIRIT does not contradict our other examples, the Apostles, of so long ago. The HOLY SPIRIT never contradicts His+ Word, either. 

Furthermore...

The Snake-Handlers did NOT closely examine the Word of GOD in a diligent manner. That VERY WORD of GOD which they claim to follow to the Nth  degree... they let lie fallow on the page. 

So let us do 

what the Snake-Handlers neglected to do: 

examine Mark 16:18 

in the original language. 

( And yes, there are enough resources available to allow ANYONE to fruitfully use the Greek New Testament, even if the reader does not know Greek, starting with Strong's familiar  Concordance, number 3789.) 

  ( more to come... )

Pre-Passover MEDITATIONS for the Lenten Season

Photo by The ORDER of The GOOD SHEPHERD+
 Azaleas Hidden in the Woods

The season known commonly as Lent in the Christian church calendar is the season of fasting and repenting of one's sins during a 40-day period preceding Holy Week and The Resurrection.  

The word "lent" itself is from the German, according to Wikipedia, and it simply means "spring" ~ ~ ~ derived from the Germanic word "long" , relating to the "longer" days when springtime arrives after winter. 

Thus, the word "lent" or "lenten" is a secular term and the name LENT has nothing to do with Christianity, in and of itself, nor does it even mean "repentance." 

Therefore, we at the Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+ have re-named this season of repentance with a term associated with What Happened at this season of the year in the ancient Holy Calendar: "Pre-Passover Preparations."    

Repentance --- removing the old leaven as was commanded before the Passover Season --- is certainly the central theme of this important Christian season leading up to Holy Week.

During Holy Week, we remember Our LORD'S death and sacrifice for our transgressions, HIM+ being bruised for our iniquities. We remember the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM+, and that with HIS+ stripes --- not ours --- we are healed.

During this season in which we remove the old leaven of malice and wickedness, we search our hearts before GOD, asking HIM+ to show us areas hidden to our own deceitful hearts, areas where we need to repent.

It starts with Ash Wednesday, with the acknowledgement that WE INDEED ARE SINNERS... and have need of a SAVIOR+. 

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER 

IS SACRIFICED FOR US

THEREFORE, LET US KEEP THE FEAST. 

Not with old leaven, 

neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness

but with the un-leavened bread 

of purity and Truth. 

Let us search our hearts... beginning now.  

As a Thief in the Night, the Day of The LORD .... COMETH !

Photo by Juan Carlos Casado ,
published in the Daily Mail, 
taken in  Tasiusaq Farm in Greenland,
at 21:24 EST
on Year of Our LORD,
2.23.2014 

The LORD 

speaks to mankind in a variety of ways: 

he who has a heart to hear, let him hear ! 

.... HE+ is clear when HE+ judges 

and justified 

when HE+ speaks.

+  +  + 

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of GOD, and have the testimony of JESUS CHRIST+ 

Photo by Juan Carlos Casado ,
published in the Daily Mail, 
taken in or near ?
Tasiusaq Farm in Greenland,
at 21:24 EST
on Year of Our LORD,
2.23.2014 

+   +   +

Who shall not fear THEE+, O LORD ... ? 

for the great day of HIS+ Wrath shall come; 

and who shall be able to stand ? 

Who shall not fear THEE+ , O LORD, 

and glorify Thy+ Name ? 

For THOU+ only are HOLY

and all nations shall come 

and worship before THEE+... 

For THY+ JUDGMENTS 

are made manifest ! 

Photo by Juan Carlos Casado ,
published in the Daily Mail, 
taken in  Tasiusaq Farm in Greenland,
at 21:24 EST
on Year of Our LORD,
2.23.2014

+   +   +

Fear GOD, and give glory to HIM; 

for the hour of HIS judgment is come: 

and worship HIM that made Heaven, 

and earth, and the sea, 

and the fountains of waters. 

Photo by Juan Carlos Casado ,
published in the Daily Mail, 
taken on QUALERALIT GLACIER, Greenland,
at 21:24 EST
on Year of Our LORD,
2.23.2014 

+  +  +

But the 

Day of The LORD 

will come 

as a thief in the night;

in the which the Heavens 

shall pass away 

with a great noise, 

and the elements shall melt 

with fervent heat,

the earth also 

and the works that are therein 

shall be burned up. 

Photo by Juan Carlos Casado , 
published in the Daily Mail, 
taken on QUALERALIT Glacier, Greenland,
at 21:24 EST
on Year of Our LORD, 
2.23.2014  
The Milky Way in splendor and glory !

+  +  +

Now unto HIM+ 

Who+ is able to keep you from falling, 

and to present you faultless 

before the Presence of His+ glory 

with exceeding joy,  

to the only wise GOD our SAVIOR+, 

be glory and majesty, 

dominion and power, 

both now and ever. 

Amen. 

Hide Not THY+ Face...

GARDEN CROSS
Photo by
ORDER OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD+
Year of Our LORD, 2007

Hide not Thy+ Face

far from me; 

Put not Thy+ servant away in anger. 

THOU+ hast been my help; 

leave me not, neither forsake me, 

O GOD of my salvation. 

Psalm 27:9

When do you "see" GOD ?  When do you "look upon" HIS+ Face ?  Is not this the desire of your heart ?

YES!

For you know this, if you could only see HIM+ face to face, all would be well. Your hurts would cease in His+ Presence, your fears be gone, your body healed, and the empty places in your heart filled. 

When THOU+ saidst, 

"SEEK YE MY+ FACE;" 

my heart said unto THEE+, 

"Thy+ Face, LORD, will I seek." 

You are enabled to SEE HIM+ by the HOLY SPIRIT, the Paraclete, The Divine SPIRIT of GOD Who comes alongside of you to help.  

When does this happen?

This happens when your heart lines up with His+ Will.

What is HIS+ Will for your life?  

      His+ will for your life is simply this:

  

Do not hide your face from HIS+.

When you are angry, go to HIM+... do not carry that burden yourself. Bring your intense concerns and upsetnesses to HIM+. 

HE+ sees them coming, before you do.

But, something CHANGES when you do not hide your angry face from HIM+.  

This is what changes:  You put yourself under HIS+ Divine Covering, His+ Divine Protection from your own angry flesh... and from satan using your anger to beget sin.  

Be angry, but sin not, Scripture teaches.

That sin, even if it does not immediately hurt others, will be an open door that satan will use to hurt... YOU!   

The evil one will send oppression, torment, unhappiness, agitation, and fear in to hurt YOU, through that door you have left open to him. The evil one does not know everything... but he knows what will hurt you and REST ASSURED, he will send it your way through every open door you give him. 

When you bring your anger to HIM+, HE+ will hear you out. HE+ will tell you to sit still for awhile with HIM+. Then HE+ will lead you through that awful valley of anger, until you can see: 

1. the hurt that made you angry 

and 

or

2. the pride that made you angry 

( when pride is stepped upon)

At that point, you must put it ALL on His+ altar, of His+ Will, to do with it all as HE+ sees fitting. 

When you surrender and completely yield to HIS+ Will, you will SEE HIS+ FACE shining towards you!

This is "seen" by the eyes of your heart .... usually !

Therefore, to live a peaceful, secure, and happy life: 

Hide not your face from HIM+ Who+ loves you best...

even when turmoils

beset your heart.