What Is Your Will In Christ?

For all of the pageantry and tradition that men might seek to display at Christmas with passionate and dramatic presentation, some in the pursuit of celebration itself, ... nothing will ever outshine the humblest display in a dingy animal shed on the outskirts of a little town called Bethlehem. There were no strings of colored lights, no decorated trees or mechanical yard ornaments. There was no grand reception, no carefully scripted and choreographed Broadway play. No lavish reenactments or comfortable accommodation ... What there was, was the light of God's glory emanating from the person of His Son who lay tiny and helpless. He was born by His own willing choice in human form into the cold dampness of a world that was destined by prophecy to reject Him. He was greeted in lowly accommodations - a feeding trough, some dirt and fresh hay. His reception was by a company of animals and their keepers with few other humans in attendance. But the drama that was playing out was ...

Reposted from The Jude 3 Fellowship website (http://www.jude3fellowship.com/) with permission from Author Dr. Jim Jenkins In Taxing Times By Jim Jenkins on Dec 23, 2017 01:53 pm The tax cut that changed everything With all the talk of tax cuts and the ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas…’ and ‘I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas’ barrage, I had a moment of insight today. The airwaves are rife with talk of student loan debt confiscatory taxes, political intrigue, back door deals…and the beat goes on… and, in the midst of it all… Christmas. Think with me for a moment about the first Christmas Joseph, an ordinary man, by most accounts no one special, has been dealing with the fact that there is a rumor of scandal surrounding his young bride. Enduring what must have been terrible gossip and off balance due to the fact that both he and his wife had been visited by the angel of the Lord and told that the Child Mary carried would be called Emmanuel—God With Us They were told that He ...

As a young boy coming from a family that specialized in making the best of having little, I've experienced the presentation of a lean material celebration of Christmas. As a young man I've tasted the loneliness of a Christmas alone - broken hearted and isolated from all of my family and friends. As a young father, I've felt the guilt that can accompany the inability to provide the kind of gifts and grandeur that my heart longed to do for my little ones. As a husband, I've felt the inability to present to my precious life partner so many of the things that my heart would in deep love and appreciation at Christmas. So it might be fair to say that I have at least some small glimmer of understanding of those who may find themselves in less than optimal circumstances as Christmas approaches along with a deeply compassionate heart for them as well. So I offer a word here in the hope that any who find themselves in that situation might find some contentment. It was for the...

Psalms 82:3-4  “Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people." I was struck by something I read again this morning. I've seen it many times and often more prevalently during this season of the year, so it wasn't shocking to me and it certainly wasn't by any means something outrageous. In fact, it was good and something that I've practised myself often. But even as I agreed with what I read, for some reason it also simultaneously struck a familiar chord of inner protest in my own heart at the same time. I think that it's because it touches a personal burden of my heart that I felt compelled to write. It was a written call to pray for the less fortunate in this Christmas season that I read - to which I agree is good and right. After all as His children, we know that there's no possible greater power to affect the plight of those less...

My Dearest Much Loved Child, While the existence of Santa Claus might be subject to debate and perhaps the tree might still be in the forest with no sign of the customary packages beneath, there's still great reason for awesome hope and joy regardless of circumstances ... if one can find the true cause - "the true spirit" of Christmas. It's in the absence of such things as one might find customary in the world at this time of the year, in my personal experience, to have even greater hope of connecting with the true source for celebration. You see, in the absence of the distractions and excitement over other things, one has a greater opportunity for focused reflection and a clearer view of the reasons for true, great and unrelenting joy. This because long ago, from above the chaos of man, Father God looked down with a broken heart to observe all of mankind that had once held such great hope and promise in His own great heart, was now forever broken and separate...

Note:   If you've not had the opportunity to read the foreword or previous chapters and would like to, please look for the title of this writing under the "Blog Pages" tab above and click on it. You'll find what's available to date under that tab. jbh The Passion Well Chapter 14 Tasting The Waters Of Holy Passion Psalm 58:8-13 8 "I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways. 9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, so our land will be filled with his glory. 10 Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed! 11 Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness smiles down from heaven. 12 Yes, the LORD pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its bountiful harvest. 13 Righteousness goes as a herald before him, preparing the way for his steps." As I mentioned early on in this seemingly ever expandin...

Reposted from The Jude 3 Fellowship website (http://www.jude3fellowship.com/) with permission from Author Dr. Jim Jenkins My Reformation Story by Jim Jenkins Posted on October 31, 2017 “If I profess with loudest voice and the clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God’s Word except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking…I am not confessing Christ…however boldly I may be professing Christianity. Where the battle rages the loyalty of the soldier is proved…and to  be steady on all battlefields beside is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at the one point.”      Martin Luther As we commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, I chose this quote by Martin Luther to focus our attention our attention on why the Reformation was necessary. There were many  reasons for Luther’s decision, but for our purposes let’s focus on what I see to be the main issue—how we must be saved. In ...

LORD, my Lord in heaven, I don't know or understand all of the countless mysteries that you own with authority. I don't have the wisdom to successfully navigate all of the difficulties even in my own small sphere of life on my own, while you manage all that is contained within the endless expanse of the heavens with sovereign perfection... But by your grace, there are these things I do know... Your goodness, majesty, kindness and glory escape the pursuit of human words to describe their towering volume to measure. You are the awesomely awesome, the immeasurable blessing and the unending joy to all who truly know and trust you... Your faithfulness to even the lowest unworthy who call on your name in repentant submission is undeterable to respond in selfless and boundless grace.Your explosive, thundering and unlimited power as the God who reigns sovereign, holds gentle enough to tenderly wipe away humble tears... You are both terrifying and kind, omnipotently sovereign...

Note:   If you've not had the opportunity to read the foreword or previous chapters and would like to, please look for the title of this writing under the "Blog Pages" tab above and click on it. You'll find what's available to date under that tab. jbh The Passion Well Chapter 13 A Heart Eternally Branded "I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary.” Charles Spurgeon *** Hosea 6:3 (NLT) "Oh, that we might know the LORD ! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” *** In thinking about the divine nature and person of Christ Jesus, He may seem distant or otherworldly. He, with the Father and the Holy Spirit are one God, an amazing and mysterious, omnipotently powerful God that created everything that we know and far beyond that. He...

Note:   If you've not had the opportunity to read the foreword or previous chapters and would like to, please look for the title of this writing under the "Blog Pages" tab above and click on it. You'll find what's available to date under that tab. jbh The Passion Well Chapter 12 Peering Into The Well... *** Proverbs 30:4-5 (NLT) 4 "Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name—and his son’s name? Tell me if you know! 5 Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection." *** What could transform a guy once hardened by life's seeming hardships, inequities and endless struggles to become so passionately grateful, devoted and filled with adoration for a seeming invisible God?... The answers are endless, but for the sake of those who indulge me to follow me here, it's not easy, bu...

Note:   If you've not had the opportunity to read the foreword or previous chapters and would like to, please look for the title of this writing under the "Blog Pages" tab above and click on it. You'll find what's available to date under that tab. jbh The Passion Well Chapter 11: Divine Reconstruction “The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us. ” A.W. Tozer They're worthy things to ponder - God's purpose for the life that He's given us, the depth of His hand in them and whether or not we're realizing the fullness of what He's really inviting us into... I knew some things about God and had experienced Him in my life at times, but I confess that I spent a lot of my earlier life not really "knowing" Him much at all. I was a bookw...