Luring me to wear it’s velvet robe

My name glittering in diamonds

I wander into it’s sleeves, silently, softly

I run to my pleasant death

Lies spiked with comfort,

I drink the hidden poison,

Averting my eyes to the truth of it’s consequence, I smile foolishly

Laughing now, I fade from reality

Forgetting the pain I have left in my wake

Silently

Softly

I run to my pleasant death

I run to your velvet robe

Those of the greatest devotion may know the deepest darkness.

The faith that is born in the light is often developed in the dark.

Never doubt in the dark what you learned in the light.

True test of character is what you do when no one is looking.

Better to lean on God in darkness, than stand alone in man-made light.

If your sun has set, it WILL rise again, as Christ rose for us.

Go in peace, love, and grace today.

Inspiration taken from the late pastor Adrian Rogers.

This Morning’s Meditation

C. H. Spurgeon

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, etc.”—Matthew 6:9. 

This prayer begins where all true prayer must commence, with the spirit of adoption, “Our Father.” There is no acceptable prayer until we can say, “I will arise, and go unto my Father.” This child-like spirit soon perceives the grandeur of the Father “in heaven,” and ascends to devout adoration, “Hallowed be Thy name.” The child lisping, “Abba, Father,” grows into the cherub crying, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” There is but a step from rapturous worship to the glowing missionary spirit, which is a sure outgrowth of filial love and reverent adoration—”Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Next follows the heartfelt expression of dependence upon God—”Give us this day our daily bread.” Being further illuminated by the Spirit, he discovers that he is not only dependent, but sinful, hence he entreats for mercy, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors:” and being pardoned, having the righteousness of Christ imputed, and knowing his acceptance with God, he humbly supplicates for holy perseverance, “Lead us not into temptation.” The man who is really forgiven, is anxious not to offend again; the possession of justification leads to an anxious desire for sanctification. “Forgive us our debts,” that is justification; “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” that is sanctification in its negative and positive forms. As the result of all this, there follows a triumphant ascription of praise, “Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen.” We rejoice that our King reigns in providence and shall reign in grace, from the river even to the ends of the earth, and of His dominion there shall be no end. Thus from a sense of adoption, up to fellowship with our reigning Lord, this short model of prayer conducts the soul. Lord, teach us thus to pray.

This morning I went on a quick bike ride and felt some rain drops…..a relieving feeling after a weeks worth of falling ash.

I believe that we have two fundamental choices we can make with our lives.  Live to impact the world in a positive, passionate, loving, and sacrificial way or live solely for ourselves, selfishly ignoring our fellow brothers and sisters across the world, just to make ourselves feel comfortable and “happy”, and in so doing, blinding ourselves to our God given purposes on earth.   We live one decision at a time.  Those decisions determine our actions, and actions do have circumstances….every single one.  Making sacrificial and selfless decisions based on God’s love for us, will slowly, but certainly bring beautiful, and desperately needed change to our world.  

My intention is to challenge those who are comfortable and complacent in their current station of life.  To help people (and certainly myself) realize their God inspired purposes on this planet, to seek and find truth, to struggle and question our beliefs, and to find a way to impact our earth in a way that will bring a little heaven, peace, and love to a world full of hell, war, and hatred.

One selfless decision at a time, we will generate a chain reaction of loving and peaceful actions across the world.   Together we can build a global community routed in God’s love, so strong and beautiful that it will be irresistible to those around us. 

Live passionately in love, truth, and forgiveness, and we really will change the world.  It starts with me and you.  Ask God for his strength and wisdom, and we will see extraordinary things take place…..as they are already taking place all across the globe. 

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, YOUR kingdom come, YOUR will be done, on earth as it is in heaven….. (Matthew Chapter 6, 9-10)

As God’s children, created in His image, we are called simply to love everyone, especially those in need and pain, and in so doing, we will bring heaven to earth.  Let us not wait in the lukewarm waters of Christian complacency and judgement, but arise and follow Christ where He will bring us to life and love.  Let us feel His revolution pulse in our veins, a revolution of truth, love, and peace. 

Live passionately, it is our only chance.  What impact will we leave once we are gone?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/25/fire.grounded.aircraft.ap/index.html

http://www.spurgeon.org/morn_eve/this_morning.cgi

Friday, October 26, 2007

This Morning’s Meditation

C. H. Spurgeon

“Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.”—Haggai 1:9.

HURLISH souls stint their contributions to the ministry and missionary operations, and call such saving good economy; little do they dream that they are thus impoverishing themselves. Their excuse is that they must care for their own families, and they forget that to neglect the house of God is the sure way to bring ruin upon their own houses. Our God has a method in providence by which He can succeed our endeavours beyond our expectation, or can defeat our plans to our confusion and dismay; by a turn of His hand He can steer our vessel in a profitable channel, or run it aground in poverty and bankruptcy. It is the teaching of Scripture that the Lord enriches the liberal and leaves the miserly to find out that withholding tendeth to poverty. In a very wide sphere of observation, I have noticed that the most generous Christians of my acquaintance have been always the most happy, and almost invariably the most prosperous. I have seen the liberal giver rise to wealth of which he never dreamed; and I have as often seen the mean, ungenerous churl descend to poverty by the very parsimony by which he thought to rise. Men trust good stewards with larger and larger sums, and so it frequently is with the Lord; He gives by cartloads to those who give by bushels. Where wealth is not bestowed the Lord makes the little much by the contentment which the sanctified heart feels in a portion of which the tithe has been dedicated to the Lord. Selfishness looks first at home, but godliness seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, yet in the long run selfishness is loss, and godliness is great gain. It needs faith to act towards our God with an open hand, but surely He deserves it of us; and all that we can do is a very poor acknowledgment of our amazing indebtedness to His goodness.

WHEN I AM CALLED TO DUTY, LORD WHEREEVER FLAMES MAY RAGE,

GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO SAVE SOME LIFE WHATEVER BE ITS AGE. 

 HELP ME EMBRACE A LITTLE CHILD BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE,

OR SAVE SOME OLDER PERSON FROM THE HORROR OF THAT FATE.  

ENABLE ME TO BE ALERT AND HEAR THE WEAKEST SHOUT,

AND QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY PUT THE FIRE OUT.  

I WANT TO FILL MY CALLINGAND TO GIVE THE BEST IN ME,

TO GUARD MY EVERY NEIGHBOR AND TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY. 

 AND IF ACCORDING TO OUR FATE,

I HAVE TO LOSE MY LIFE,

PLEASE LORD BLESS WITH YOUR PROTECTING HANDS,

MY CHILDREN AND MY WIFE.  

AUTHOR UNKNOWN  

Lord please watch over all the residents of California and bring a quick and safe end to the wildfires.

Thank you to Dale Moore for sending this to me. 

This Evening’s Meditation

C. H. Spurgeon

“She gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.”—Ruth 2:3.

ER hap was. Yes, it seemed nothing but an accident, but how divinely was it overruled! Ruth had gone forth with her mother’s blessing, under the care of her mother’s God, to humble but honourable toil, and the providence of God was guiding her every step. Little did she know that amid the sheaves she would find a husband, that he should make her the joint owner of all those broad acres, and that she a poor foreigner should become one of the progenitors of the great Messiah. God is very good to those who trust in Him, and often surprises them with unlooked for blessings. Little do we know what may happen to us to-morrow, but this sweet fact may cheer us, that no good thing shall be withheld. Chance is banished from the faith of Christians, for they see the hand of God in everything. The trivial events of to-day or to-morrow may involve consequences of the highest importance. O Lord, deal as graciously with Thy servants as Thou didst with Ruth.
How blessed would it be, if, in wandering in the field of meditation to-night, our hap should be to light upon the place where our next Kinsman will reveal Himself to us! O Spirit of God, guide us to Him. We would sooner glean in His field than bear away the whole harvest from any other. O for the footsteps of His flock, which may conduct us to the green pastures where He dwells! This is a weary world when Jesus is away—we could better do without sun and moon that without Him—but how divinely fair all things become in the glory of His presence! Our souls know the virtue which dwells in Jesus, and can never be content without Him. We will wait in prayer this night until our hap shall be to light on a part of the field belonging to Jesus wherein He will manifest Himself to us.

Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year award Slideshow