Category: grace

Two Gears

Only when we can say “I’m yours. Take me as I am, imperfect, inadequate, but completely yielded does the gear slip smoothly into place.

Meditation Thought: “Anything is possible if you have faith.” (Mark 9:23)

Anything is possible if you have faith, because God is taking the action, not human beings. Faith is the lever that changes our gear from ‘our action’ to ‘God’s action’.

Maybe the gears are marked:
– ‘doubt’ and ‘trust’ or
-‘my will’ and ‘God’s will’ or
-‘my strength’ and ‘God’s strength’ or even
-‘my good works’ and ‘God’s grace’.

Whatever the labels, there is no doubt that the pace and the results are different in the two gears. We can be helped by suggestions on how to change gears, but only by our own act can we actually change them. We may have to pull and tug and experiment, but we must keep trying until we succeed in getting the gears changed.

The changing actually takes place when we relax and gently slip our heart and our will into God’s hands, but we may be unable to do this without some pulling and tugging – then giving up our struggle as inadequate, surrendering ourselves as having tried every way we knew and failing. Only when we can say “I’m yours. Take me as I am, imperfect, inadequate, but completely yielded does the gear slip smoothly into place.

Transformation: Ignorance to Life

We are delighted, awed – even puzzled.

Meditation Thought: “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24) “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)

The indwelling Spirit and the indwelling Truth of the Word implanted in the mind are the transforming powers which move us from ignorance of life to knowledge of Life. We know Whom to worship and how to worship. We know Whom to petition and how to petition. We know Whose we are and why we are.

We have discovered a new part of ourselves: our spirit. We are delighted, awed – even puzzled over this piece of us which has been there all along, but we had not yet found it.

We must learn the function of it – we must learn how to integrate it with all of our other parts. The concept is so new, so different: a part of us that is not known by physical sense, or by the mental process, but by the breath of the Spirit which brings life to our spirit. When we are born of the spirit truly we are “new creations”; we can now worship in spirit and in truth. We are no longer deceived by appearances or by the impressions others press upon us, but know the Truth: we see not with blurred eyes, but with x-ray vision. We hear not the clamor of the world, but the harmony of heaven. We taste not the bitterness of envy, but the Bread of Life. We touch not the grasp of Satan, but the tender clasp of the loving Father. We smell not the odor of burning flesh, but the perfumes of the ripened fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (See Galatians 5:23)

Miracle Workers

Not a thought, not the smallest of actions is neutral: everything is either to the glory of God – or the delight of Satan.

Meditation Thought: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Not a thought, not the smallest of actions is neutral: everything is either to the glory of God – or the delight of Satan. Practice, practice: learn the meaning of the Word, and having this knowledge, seek the wisdom of the Spirit – by these shall you think and act to the glory of God.

And by these shall you think and act to the salvation of the world: your world – and the worlds it touches.

Let not your preoccupation with your feelings, your desires, your will, short-circuit the flow of power from heaven into your world. The Word and the Spirit are the miracle workers – through the willing mind and body of the believer. A willing mind and body are constructed from a willing spirit seeking beyond self: seeking to know from whom they came, and to whom they belong, and to whom they give glory.

I come not with
pounding drums
Nor searchlights
and parades:
Those you could
not ignore.
I come softly,
quietly, with gentle touch.
Asking, not demanding –
Will you follow Me?
For I go to bring
glory to God;
I seek to show you the way.
The limits you have,
So I had too.
And as I overcame
by yielding My will,
So I show you too:
The Father’s will is
the grace of His glory
Bringing peace and joy
and love.

Daylight After the Darkness of Night

A poem of hope.

Meditation Thought: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:17-20)

Know ye not
That I am the
Way, the Truth, the Life?
Forbid me not:
Open the door of your heart
That I may enter in.
A more welcome guest
You could not entertain.
For I come not to take,
But to give:
I am your daylight after the darkness of the night.
I give you joy after tears.
I give you victory from defeat.
I give you a depth of knowledge
That confounds the wise.
I give you love that never ends
And life that is ever sweet.
The glory of God
Shall surround you:
It is without, waiting to pour in
Through the opening of the door of your heart unto me.

Choose Every ‘This Moment’

Every moment you choose again. Choose Love. Choose Life. This moment, and every “this moment”.

Meditation Thought: “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God… God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” (1 John 4:15,16b)

Cast away from your life all that is not love and truth. The knowledge of the Word shall keep you on your proper course: the course where the Father does His works in love through you.

You have been given a choice:
– to choose God,
– ignore God, or
– oppose God.
Every moment you choose again.

Every moment you choose to take the cross in pain and rise in glory, or to plod on and on, discouraged and confused, or even bringing wrath and bitterness to your soul as you oppose Love.

Choose Love. Choose Life. This moment, and every “this moment”. You will have no regrets. The tears of night turn to joy in the morning.

Evidence surrounds you that effort produces results, persistence produces results, that those who choose positions that are based on Truth, and love, beauty and kindness, go down in history as venerated and not hated.

Would eternity not be even more intense in the expression of Truth and Love?

If you have difficulty in doing what you know you ought to do, remember that God is in you and you are in God; therefore you cannot fail when you move to do what you ought to do, and furthermore, your blessings will be great.

Life progresses from tiny to large, from seed to fruit, from labor to rest.

You must look if you are to see, and you must see if you are to understand. If you want to truly understand, move close: move so close that at least your spirit is able to move inside that which you observe: and, consistent with the purpose which you have chosen, namely, doing the Father’s will in love, let your spirit guide your mind, your words, your deeds, and the Spirit which dwells in you, just waiting for your call upon His power, will move heaven and earth to do your bidding.

Turning on the Light

To the greater degree that we live out the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves, to that degree do we, in essence, by our choices, bathe our own selves in light.

Meditation Thought: “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.” (1 John 2:9-10)

If we do the will of the Father, if we delight the Son, if we make welcome the Holy Spirit, how can we possibly be in the dark? We cannot: to the greater degree that we live out the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves, to that degree do we, in essence, by our choices, bathe our own selves in light.

The light is available, the light is created to dispel darkness: but we must know where the switch is that turns it on, and we must go to turn it on once we know where it is.

Of course, we may stumble on the way, we may lose our sense of direction for a time – but if we persevere, determined to find that switch and to turn it on, we shall have light, as we were intended to have light.

Our error is often believing that we can stay where we are and the switch will be placed in our hand and turned on for us.

Our way is sometimes made easier by the faint light from others’ lights showing us the path more clearly – but in order for this to happen, we must be looking for light in them and not for darkness, for what we seek we shall find.

Climate Change

If we have the choice to love or not love Him, obey or not obey Him, then our choice to please Him is magnified in its significance.

Meditation Thought: “…if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

When we are cleansed from sin we are being images of the Father, Who is
loving,
good,
kind,
forgiving,
righteous,
willing to give free choice.

Furthermore, He respects our individuality and realizes that if we have the choice to love or not love Him, obey or not obey Him, then our choice to please Him is magnified in its significance. We must allow others the same choice – and as the Father does, by our words, principles, and actions, prepare a climate which encourages others to love – to act rightly – to find closer fellowship with God and with all.

A Lover, Giver, Healer

Hate flees from love.
Selfishness flees from grace.
Sin flees from mercy.
Doubt flees from faith.

Meditation Thought: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18(

When a man turns to the Lord there is freedom from doubt, from guilt, from selfish, barbaric instincts. There is the freedom to become like that which we see: The Lord. We are not bound by the restrictions of our human condition, of that which is feasible only by the efforts of men.

We behold a new vision – live by a new hope, and become a new creature: not be our own will and power, but by God’s will and power.

The glory of the Lord
Shines into our contrite hear.
Our dark intentions, our despairing
Souls become transformed:
The warmth of Love,
The light of Truth penetrate:
Healing, purifying, beautifying.

As we are changed into His likeness
We once again reflect His image,
As He made us.
The ravage of the rebellious years
Is removed – remembered no more.

As a father’s glory is enhanced
By his child’s true reflection
Of his father,
So the glory of the Lord
Is enhanced
By our reflection of Him.

We reflect Him when His Spirit
Is within us,
Giving us His qualities
In such abundance
That all alien forces take flight:
Hate flees from love.
Selfishness flees from grace.
Sin flees from mercy.
Doubt flees from faith.

His righteousness
Takes possession of us.
Not the righteousness
Of a Pharisee is this,
But the righteousness
Of a Christ:
The righteousness of
A lover, a giver, a healer.

Pace-Setter

The transforming grace of Love changes every thought, every word, every deed.

Meditation Thought: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Message perceived to be from Jesus:

“If you are willing to follow Me, I will take you with Myself – holding your hand when necessary, doing all that you need to be done and cannot do for yourself along our journey.

To walk in the darkness of mere physical life is discouraging to you – and limits your potential. If you will follow Me, I will light your path, revealing many things to you which will be opportunities to use your talents, fulfill your dreams, and bring joy to many. Is this not what I did on earth? I suffered but I was a dynamic force and I knew the joy of obedience to My Father. I knew the joy of healing the sick, giving hope to those in despair, and setting the pace for all who would run the race of life – if they would follow Me, they would develop in similar character, in similar works.

Many desire to make a mark upon the world – but unless it is I whom they follow, that the Way may be that leading to the Father, the impact will be satisfying to neither that person nor to the world – certainly not to the Father.

But the Way is not easy, for self must be subdued – at first a difficult sacrifice – but when self has been crucified, then is the Holy Spirit raised up off that cross crucifixion, and the new creature is formed in the old body, and old mind and old spirit: the transforming grace of Love changes every thought, every word, every deed.

It is I who will give you the courage and the strength to crucify self that the new creature may emerge.

My bodily crucifixion ‘set the pace’ for the crucifixion of self-will and the sinning involved with it. But My crucifixion did more than ‘set the pace’ for those who follow in the race. I return from My running of the course of physical life to be the Light for all who run, and who desire Me to accompany them. My Light, as does the sun, provides warmth needed for growth, and energy needed for movement as well as visibility of Truth, that all things may come together for good: that the race may go, not to the swift, but to the enlightened.”

Out on a Limb

We won’t find the Life if we don’t go out on a limb!

Meditation Thought: “And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.” (Luke 19:2-6)

Zacchaeus did just what was needed to give himself a new perspective and thus a new life. He was curious about who Jesus was; he moved himself from the ordinary place into an unexpected position, and is doing so was more visible to Jesus. He made his preparations – making sure he was on the proper road, and in the position where he could see Jesus. And when Jesus spoke to him, Zacchaeus responded promptly and joyfully and obediently.

In addition, when Zacchaeus understood who Jesus was, he responded to this knowledge by doing what he could to rectify what actions had been taken wrongfully before he met Jesus, and also decided to live differently in the future. Zacchaeus wanted to be found: he placed himself in a position where the possibility was greater to be found, though he was unaware of it at the time, and then, when Jesus called to him, seeking him, he answered as Jesus desired him to answer. Thus both Zacchaeus and Jesus were pleased with the results: both had fulfilled their desires and their missions.

Each one is sought by Jesus – and each of us who seek to see who Jesus is, and make effort to find a place where we can see who He is (going to the Word, to the places the Word is preached, to the prayer-time and concentration of thought on what Jesus is saying through the Holy Spirit) and then respond to what He does say to us promptly, joyfully and obediently – we find and He finds.

We learn who He is and He saves us because we do learn and we do obey Him, believing in His authority and in His ability. We find the Life we seek, and He finds His mission fulfilled.

But we won’t find the Life if we don’t go out on a limb!