Dining on Words

Your words were found, and I ate them,
     and you words became to me a joy
          and the delight of my heart,
               for I am called by your name,
                    O Lord, God of hosts.

- Jer. 15:16 (ESV)

7 Biographies: To Turn the World Upside Down

The implications from these biographies are astounding.   

These books describe massive evils of humanity from fairly recent history, and tell of those who stood against the darkness.

The murderous nazi government, the conjoined evil twins of communism and atheism, and the horrible atrocities of slavery, and the ignorance breeding, controlling, theiving evils of God-less religion (which looks nothing like Jesus), each display a depth of darkness that abides in humanity.  These eyewitness accounts each have something important to communicate to us in our day.  

These seven also testify about the light that overcomes great darkness.         

I commend these books to you, your friends, and your family.  Invest in knowing history.  

- Unbreakable Joy

On Faith & Obedience

There is a unique relationship between faith and obedience.

Obedience does not equal faith, nor is it necessarily evidence of it.
The Pharisees proved this to be true.

Yet can faith exist apart from obedience?

The thief on the cross did not have an opportunity to obey, yet he was nailed to a cross.  But he believed Jesus was who he said he was.  The thief's spiritual eyes were opened to behold the Lamb of God.  Had the thief not been nailed to the cross, he would likely have been found among the disciples of Christ, being obedient.

So there may be rare circumstances, deathbed type circumstances, where faith remains alone.

Yet the old saying is true:  We are saved by faith in Christ alone, yet faith that saves is never alone.

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' yet do not do what I tell you?"
- Jesus (Luke 6:46 ESV)  

Marveling...

Why loose Your majestic grace upon those who deserve it not?

Why should Infinity have anything to do with the temporary?

Why does the Holy One care so much for the sinful ones?

Why is righteousness given to those so unrighteous?

Why would Light come to live in such darkness?

Why are You so good to those who are so not?

Why lavish Your merciful kindness on us?

Why let the blind behold so much glory?

Why give what cannot be deserved?

Why make a way for such as us?

Why would You give Yourself?

Why such musical majesty?

Why love the unlovely?

Why the incarnation?

Why so concerned?

Why such grace?

Why Jesus?

Why God?

Why?

?

No Greater Enemy

No greater Enemy exists

No one more to be feared

None more terrifying 

When You rise to make war

Armies become useless

Every weapon futile 

Those who anger You

Stir up eternal wrath

Awaken unimagined fury

A Meditation on Isaiah 2:19-21

3 Gifts For You...

If I could give each of my children only 3 gifts; 

these would be identical to the gifts that 

I would give to my closest friends, 

and beloved family members alike.

These same gifts I would offer to a stranger.

Indeed these gifts I would hold out to an enemy.

First

First, I would give you Jesus.

Yet I cannot, for He alone gives the gift of Himself.

Yet I would tell you; Jesus is God (John 1:1, Col. 1:15).

He is the great treasure hidden in a field (Matt. 13:44).

Sooner or later you shall find that He is the King of Kings.

I pray that it may be sooner.

Second

I would give you a thorough knowledge of the Bible.

The church throughout history has held that this 

book contains the very words of God himself.

That this book is the self-revelation of God.

Those who have been found by Christ, have

dearly loved the words found in this book.

Our Declaration of Independence

was literally birthed of it's ideology.

Many people have died simply

for possessing one.

Multitudes have suffered for it,

in various ways throughout history.

So powerful are it's messages, that some 

governments even today outlaw it.

Yet sadly often it sits unread

and dusty upon so many shelves.

Third

I would give you the wisdom of a hunger to learn.

Countless inspiring and interesting people have lived and

innumerable books have been written either by them or about them.

History has devastatingly important lessons to teach us,

if only we are willing to sit at it's feet.

To peer into the past through literal pages 

as if through a lens. 

The unique thing about each of these gifts,

is that I cannot give any of them to you.

Yet you could have them if you desired.

The beginning of wisdom

is this; Get wisdom.

And whatever you get, 

get insight.

- Proverbs 4:7

One Fear

Man can no more fear both God and man in the same moment, 
than he can face two opposing directions at once.

A meditation upon Isaiah 2:22 & 51:12

Kindness in the Kingdom

Like dogs we seek after crumbs on the floor
While we are invited to the King's table
As sons and daughters

- Unbreakable Joy

Lions of Fear and of Faith

Although I journey through the land of lions 

I fear not, for I travel in the company of the Great Lion

Is fear a present darkness

or the absence of light,

a dwelling in shadow  

Or is fear merely

the absence of faith,

an inability clearly to see

This I know; it is impossible

to be in faith and in fear
at the same moment

Fearlessness blossoms in His light

Here fear is dried up and withers,

then digs it’s own grave and dies

- A.B. Seal