What Is Your Will In Christ?

The world around us is full of contention. Arguments abound and lines are drawn daily in an effort to create boundaries between mine, yours, ours and theirs. Legal arguments regarding these things along with rights, liability and ownership are primary occupations of our society. But this morning, I'm struck by a thought, a saddening thought on one hand, but one that also gives reason for great joy on the other. From the beginning of time our God has been teaching us how to live. He's known from before our creation what men needed to know to live in harmony and peace. The preponderance of His word is His wisdom in dealing with these very things. The life cry of men obsessed by the thinking of this world is to be first, have the most and to be the best. My sadness due this thought is the recognition of the fact that if all men were given to live by the wisdom of our creator, we'd have little reason if any, for the voracious contention that consumes the society we live in. T

I've written a lot of things, and indeed they come from my heart and from His inspiration. But this one is very hard for me and because of His urging to share it, also necessary. Most of it was actually written some time ago before I knew that there was purpose in its' writing. It speaks of my own posture before my Lord and my own past struggles with my flesh. But it also speaks of perspective and the difference that can exist between how we see things and the reality we ultimately live in before our God. It gives evidence of the beginning of my own adjustment to, and quest for, His perspective. So in humility, I submit this very personal glimpse of my life and hope that you'll understand that I'm just as human as any, and in the hope that you'll see that there are multiple lessons to be learned in this one snapshot of my past life. I am nothing, but grateful for His mercy. This is but a fragment of where my understanding of the existence of His perspective comes f

Our life in the garden of our Lord is like blessed rose of His desire Budding in our infancy, we grow by the tender care of His hand Weathering the storms of life, we live straining to reach the Son He is faithful as we grow, to prune, nurture and feed what He loves Until only by the graceful care of the Masters' hand we come to full bloom It is then that our beauty and essence speak of His faithful loving work in us But unlike the rose of this world, we do not wilt when He tenderly harvests For our beauty and essence is His heart in us living eternally to be His joy

As we approach Father's Day, sons and daughters by the hundreds of thousands are looking for the perfect Father's Day gift for the Father they respect and love dearly. Some fathers will be getting fishing gear, new clothes, that special little whatsit that he's been talking about, or maybe even a gift card to choose the gift of their hearts desire. A lot of thought and effort will be expended looking for just the right thing to honor the father they admire. But I worry about the father that I don't hear mentioned nearly enough when I hear people talk about Father's Day. The one who's always there in support with just the right words of wisdom to get His children through the tough times in their life. The one who's always willing to shell out when his children are in need. The one who would do anything for the children He values more than anything else and always keeps them at the forefront of His thoughts. He thinks of them first in all things and has the m

Before we come to worship Him, whether in the quiet solitude of our prayer closet, or in the gathering of fellowship... we must take time to remember who He is before we begin. We must remind ourselves who it is that we are coming to honor and respond to that truth ... If we have our God's perspective, we do not walk through this life "practicing" the rituals of some "religion". These are the world's terms, used in disgust to defame our faith in our God. Both are hollow and devoid of true wisdom and knowledge. The world's "intellect" deprives it of the revelation of the truth. It has become an obstacle, a veil that prevents it's understanding of their life's purpose. Pity their blindness enough to have compassion to pray for their healing, but never allow their words to be true of you. If we have truly known our God, then we are compelled by the reality of who He is to walk in the love motivated discipline of the truth. Our God is not

W ondrous Creator of the universe and all that it contains O mnipotent God reigning over all that exists without equal R ighteous and just judge of the souls of men S avior of the truly repentant who surrender their will to His heart H ero of the mightiest heroes who seek justice in His name I ndescribable power that gives life to all that lives P otent avenger of the helpless and the weak H onorable and singular author of the truth I mmoveable and final authority over the lives men M ajestic King of glory, forever the God of all that exists I ndisputable victor over death N ever ending origin of life T error of evil hearts R e-payer of those who work injustice U nlimited source of true wisdom and knowledge T rusted Lord over lives that know Him H oliest of all that is Holy

If the joy of our Lord could be expressed in color, the rainbows would need be ashamed... For their bland repose would be greatly exposed, for the unending joy of our God is famed If His compassion could be expressed as sound, all of the worlds' hearts would break... For His compassion toward men is greater by far, than the hearts of men can take If the love of our Lord could be expressed by size, the oceans would shrink from this fate... As vast as they are, they know none can compare, for the love of our God is great And if the heart of  God toward men of creation, could be sincerely expressed... Then the sacrifice of His Son, to speak of their value, would surely say it the best

In the quiet, I solemnly lift my hands to present an offering of praise... my heart is full and it's my deepest desire to bless you. So, with tears in my eyes and in all sincerity I announce my intentions and simply say "I praise you Lord" and I stop there. In all of your majesty, descending from on high to meet my humbled spirit to receive the offering, you honor me to come. But then...  as the powerful presence of your spirit fills the room to my hearts joy ... you pause. And with a voice filled with loving tenderness, you speak softly "but my precious child, the plate is empty". Suddenly, I'm aware of my mistake and quickly move to fill the plate of my offering, to render the feast of your heart's desire and I speak again with deep conviction "Lord God Of All That Is, I praise you with these truths from my heart as I declare that you are the Lord God of all righteousness, the author of all that is truly good. You're greatness is immeasurab

Lord, you have given us eyes, but we are blinded by our flesh and the mirage of this world that the enemy creates to deceive us. Even those of us who endeavor to follow Christ are limited by the visions of life that we allow to be created around us. Those things that appeal to our flesh are the things we see most clearly and in this knowledge the enemy seeks to create an illusion of truth to keep us from seeing how far we really are from you. Your clear truth and wisdom would give us life in abundance, but the enemy seeks our destruction in order to grieve your heart. He would attempt by delusion to convince us that our efforts to draw near to you are good enough. That simply meeting the minimal requirements for salvation are all that you desire. That we need not recognize the reality that having a living relationship with us is your goal and purpose for our creation. Lord, remove the veil from the eyes of our minds and hearts to see clearly your purpose and your desire. Lead us Lord,

How is it my Lord that I can triumph and be at peace when the world rages? How is it that in the face of all things that come against me I can have confidence and peace? In the story of my life, I've suffered traumas in the past that have left their mark on my heart and changed me forever. I've committed failures in my life that have brought pain to myself and to others I love most around me. I've seen my house lay in ruins in the aftermath of a fire that consumed many things that I had struggled to build. I looked upon years of restoration and the endless labor of my days smolder in the ruins. I've seen some of the deepest love of my heart, my love for the children of my children, be shredded and trampled in the dirt by pure evil as it took them away rending my heart to the deepest levels of pain. I've watched to see part of the greatest prize of my heart, struggle helplessly against a demon that he had no power over as it thrashed his life without mercy. I'v

My Lord, through all that I've experienced in my life, both good and bad, there has been one constant and unchanging presence that has shaped me to be who I am... “My Father who art in heaven” There is no more awesome power in all the universe than you... “hallowed be thy name” There is no more important mission or purpose in this life than to seek you and your will... “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” It has been by your provision and mercy as we pray “give us this day our daily bread” , that we are and have been sustained in this world and never by our own hand despite where we choose to lay credit Our portion as born condemned, is death, but by your unending grace as we pray “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” that we become heirs to the unending and incomprehensible riches of a generous and loving Father I have learned that if there is any security in this world and if I am able to do any good works, that it is inherited of you

A Mother is Gods gardener ... each heart the soil that He provides She plants the seeds of love ... and with caring patience she abides With tenderness and joy ... the hearts' garden she will attend She waters it with loving wisdom ... on which all seeds depend And in time, if some say with certainty... this man is truly good Deep in his heart he knows he owes it ... to the one who weary stood And toiled for countless hours ... pulling weeds and tilling soil Protecting from the countless things... that cause good seed to spoil If there would be any good to come ... from a child's tended heart It's most often likely due ... to a loving Mother who did her part For a Mother is Gods' gardener ... and a child, to her a gift of love But for the child, ... His Gardener ... is the gift He sent down from above

What I must say here to you may sound simple. Without giving thought, perhaps a little untoward. But for all my years I've labored and struggled to serve others. Having been born with a servants' heart. Just to see the pleasure my efforts bring to people around me, was my desired, yet uncontenting reward. But though I may try, and by endurance, to a measure succeed, it was never His plan for this to be my part. For I was not born to serve the sons of men or even myself. My life and my love were made for my Lord. When my hands and feet seek to serve but His hearts' desire, He perfects the work of them to become His art. Then, when despite my efforts, my hands and feet may fail, by His grace the end product is never untoward. For when the measure of love He gives me, is reflected back in true and faithful service to His loving heart, the need of men around me is fulfilled beyond the work of my hands, and contenting love, my Fathers' reward. By service rendered to

Struggles come nearly every day A Christian’s life can be a rocky way But in our hearts we know the truth and a loving God to see us through Sing for joy and let them know you have it Soon it will become your habit: The loving heart of a loving God We’re living this life to seek His will to show His love that molds us still For our lives once so sadly broken Are given hope by words He’s spoken Sing for joy and let them know you have it Soon it will become your habit: The loving heart of a loving God How glorious is this heavenly hope while others near the end of their rope So sing His song with love and praise And share God’s heart all your days Sing for joy and let them know you have it Soon it will become your habit: The loving heart of a loving God When others hear your joyful song They’ll draw near and want to sing along They need the hope you have inside They too need Jesus by their side Sing for joy and let them know you have it Soon it will beco

Our perspective defines the way we live. That's why obtaining His perspective is so important. Even as Christians, we may sometimes tend to get caught up in the perspective of our flesh more than we realize. And we know it's a flawed way to live. Our flesh is always tempted to get caught up in serving itself and getting what it feels it deserves. But the truth is that what we all deserve is to be lightening roasted and basted with our own selfishness. It's only by the grace and mercy of a forgiving and loving God that we are given an opportunity for anything else. Not because we deserve it. Our perspective dictates what we value and what we value dictates what we give the most priority to in our lives. To what we value most in life, we give the most of every thing we have. For those things we show the most emotion and we give the most of our time. We're obsessed with them and they become the recurrent topic of our conversation. We give them our money, our thoughts...