At every motion of our breath,
Life trembles on the brink of death;
A taper's flame that upward turns,
...While downward to the dust it burns.
Moment by moment years are past,
And one ere long will be our last,
There is a point no eyes can see,
Yet on it hangs eternity.
This is that moment who shall tell,
Whether it leads to heaven or hell?
This is that moment as we choose,
The immortal soul we save or lose.
Time past and time to come are not
Time present is our only lot;
O God! hence forth our hearts incline
To seek no other love than thine.
~The Christian Hymnary #567
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Let Us Follow Him
Our Lamb has conquered: let us follow Him,
with eagerness of heart and strength of limb,
Brave in endeavor, with your vision clear,
And high thanksgiving for God's purpose here-
Our Lamb has conquered: let us follow Him! ~Dorothy Conner
Hymn 587 Moravian Book of Worship
with eagerness of heart and strength of limb,
Brave in endeavor, with your vision clear,
And high thanksgiving for God's purpose here-
Our Lamb has conquered: let us follow Him! ~Dorothy Conner
Hymn 587 Moravian Book of Worship
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Menno Simons on... Faith
"But without faith it is impossible to please him..." ~Hebrews 11:6
True faith, which avails before God, is a living and saving power which is, through the preaching of the holy word, bestowed of God upon the heart; that moves, changes and regenerates it to newness of mind; that smothers all ungodliness; that destroys all pride, ambition and selfishness; that in malice, makes us like children, etc. Behold, such is the faith which the Scriptures teach us, and not a vain, dead and unfruitful conjecture, as the world pretends it to be.
But you should know that the righteousness which avails before God, consists not in any ceremonies and outward works, but solely in a true, pious and fruitful faith and in nothing else, in this manner. For the faith which comes by the word of God cannot be without fruit only in those who sin against the Holy Ghost, as said above, but it leads into all manner of righteousness, it willingly submits itself in all obedience and it cheerfully complies not only with baptism, but with all the words and ceremonies which God, the gracious Father, through his blessed Son, has so clearly taught and commanded in his holy gospel.
This, I say, is our foundation, and, by the grace of God, it will ever remain our foundation, for we truly know and confess that it is the invincible word and truth of the Lord; therefore we testify before you and before all the world that we do not agree with those who teach and institute a dead faith, which they gather from profane history: First, that without change, there can be Spirit, power and fruits. Secondly, that we can be saved by our own merits and works, for reasons above stated.
True faith, which avails before God, is a living and saving power which is, through the preaching of the holy word, bestowed of God upon the heart; that moves, changes and regenerates it to newness of mind; that smothers all ungodliness; that destroys all pride, ambition and selfishness; that in malice, makes us like children, etc. Behold, such is the faith which the Scriptures teach us, and not a vain, dead and unfruitful conjecture, as the world pretends it to be.
But you should know that the righteousness which avails before God, consists not in any ceremonies and outward works, but solely in a true, pious and fruitful faith and in nothing else, in this manner. For the faith which comes by the word of God cannot be without fruit only in those who sin against the Holy Ghost, as said above, but it leads into all manner of righteousness, it willingly submits itself in all obedience and it cheerfully complies not only with baptism, but with all the words and ceremonies which God, the gracious Father, through his blessed Son, has so clearly taught and commanded in his holy gospel.
This, I say, is our foundation, and, by the grace of God, it will ever remain our foundation, for we truly know and confess that it is the invincible word and truth of the Lord; therefore we testify before you and before all the world that we do not agree with those who teach and institute a dead faith, which they gather from profane history: First, that without change, there can be Spirit, power and fruits. Secondly, that we can be saved by our own merits and works, for reasons above stated.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
True Peace For Seekers
I've roamed through the world beholding, how wide and fair it lay, Yet all of my longing draws me, far, far from this world away!
I've seen men and women searching, as they restlessly come and go, While the toil and the sorrow of living, is all that their sad hearts know.
They seek where there is no answer, in the honour and love of men, And their hearts are bereft of comfort and their souls laden down with sin.
Yet there is an end to searching, where the weary and sore distressed, Find new life in the Lord and his people, and sorrow is laid to rest!
There alone is true peace given, to seekers from every land, It streams from the throne of heaven, from the wounds of the conquering Lamb!
~Unknown
I've seen men and women searching, as they restlessly come and go, While the toil and the sorrow of living, is all that their sad hearts know.
They seek where there is no answer, in the honour and love of men, And their hearts are bereft of comfort and their souls laden down with sin.
Yet there is an end to searching, where the weary and sore distressed, Find new life in the Lord and his people, and sorrow is laid to rest!
There alone is true peace given, to seekers from every land, It streams from the throne of heaven, from the wounds of the conquering Lamb!
~Unknown
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The True Holy War
This is a time of great reason to war against the enemies of our soul. A time to suffer, a time to sacrifice, a time to groan, a time to die.
We all are well aware about the fact that it has been given to the beast to make war against the saints and overcome them. So in consideration he is doing just that,he is making war against the saints, and we seem to be loosing our influence in the market place, schools, media, internet, and so more. Slowly the antichrist spirit is working to see that the truth be hated and the lies loved.
One of these lies is the hideous notion that if it makes you sad it is wrong and if it makes you happy it is right. Sadly this one lie has destroyed more people than Hitler or Stalin ever could.
Think with me, the word of the Lord says: “For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin”
Can we agree that suffering is to be part of our weapons in this war against the flesh, the world and the devil? Yes, surely there can be no doubt in this regard, seeing that we are to glory in tribulation.
Here we are to consider that as it was given to Pontius Pilate to seemingly overcome the Lord Jesus, because it was given him from above. Even so the Christian will likewise be despised and rejected in the name of so called human wisdom. Yes they will be hated and unwelcome among the religious main stream ‘churches’.
What a sad sight when we are avoiding suffering, tribulation and rejection thinking that it is wisdom.
There is a war and it is not out there in some far country. No! It is in our own bosom. Let us fight the good fight of faith; let us arm ourselves with the right mind.
Come now, saints of God, arise and take your place in the ranks of God’s army, prepare to suffer with Christ. Speak forth the word of God with boldness, cry aloud, spare not, and show my people their sin. Let them see that they have left Me, the Fountain of Life and have hewed them out broken cisterns. Bring supplication and prayer with strong crying before our God, for this generation is immensely deceived. O how terrible is the wrath of God that awaits those who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
We are to hate iniquity and love righteousness in our lives.
* A holy hatred for selfishness, pride, jealousy, envy, anger, lust, covetousness, unbelief, friendship with the world, and any other work of the flesh lurking in us.
* A deep thirst and hunger after righteousness, that loves rebuke, to be humbled, misunderstood, forgotten, and any other virtue that can be used of God to form Christ Jesus in us.
When we fight and war with our brothers it is clearly a sign from God that we have lost the war against self. We would do right to put away the pointing of the finger and seek after holiness without which no man shall see God.
The war against the flesh is won by the weakest and most needy one, for He runs to the throne of God to find grace to help him in time of need. He like David cries out to God saying, O Lord, deliver me from my enemies that are too strong for me.
Are you armed and ready for war?
LoudVoice.org
We all are well aware about the fact that it has been given to the beast to make war against the saints and overcome them. So in consideration he is doing just that,he is making war against the saints, and we seem to be loosing our influence in the market place, schools, media, internet, and so more. Slowly the antichrist spirit is working to see that the truth be hated and the lies loved.
One of these lies is the hideous notion that if it makes you sad it is wrong and if it makes you happy it is right. Sadly this one lie has destroyed more people than Hitler or Stalin ever could.
Think with me, the word of the Lord says: “For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin”
Can we agree that suffering is to be part of our weapons in this war against the flesh, the world and the devil? Yes, surely there can be no doubt in this regard, seeing that we are to glory in tribulation.
Here we are to consider that as it was given to Pontius Pilate to seemingly overcome the Lord Jesus, because it was given him from above. Even so the Christian will likewise be despised and rejected in the name of so called human wisdom. Yes they will be hated and unwelcome among the religious main stream ‘churches’.
What a sad sight when we are avoiding suffering, tribulation and rejection thinking that it is wisdom.
There is a war and it is not out there in some far country. No! It is in our own bosom. Let us fight the good fight of faith; let us arm ourselves with the right mind.
Come now, saints of God, arise and take your place in the ranks of God’s army, prepare to suffer with Christ. Speak forth the word of God with boldness, cry aloud, spare not, and show my people their sin. Let them see that they have left Me, the Fountain of Life and have hewed them out broken cisterns. Bring supplication and prayer with strong crying before our God, for this generation is immensely deceived. O how terrible is the wrath of God that awaits those who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
We are to hate iniquity and love righteousness in our lives.
* A holy hatred for selfishness, pride, jealousy, envy, anger, lust, covetousness, unbelief, friendship with the world, and any other work of the flesh lurking in us.
* A deep thirst and hunger after righteousness, that loves rebuke, to be humbled, misunderstood, forgotten, and any other virtue that can be used of God to form Christ Jesus in us.
When we fight and war with our brothers it is clearly a sign from God that we have lost the war against self. We would do right to put away the pointing of the finger and seek after holiness without which no man shall see God.
The war against the flesh is won by the weakest and most needy one, for He runs to the throne of God to find grace to help him in time of need. He like David cries out to God saying, O Lord, deliver me from my enemies that are too strong for me.
Are you armed and ready for war?
LoudVoice.org
Monday, March 15, 2010
Moment by Moment
Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."~John 15:4
Today my mind and heart has been absolutely captured by how much I need my blessed Lord to lead me through this sin infested world. It seems that everyone is living a defeated life, not only among sinners but also among professing believers. Oh if people could just see that they could have untiring joy if they would but trust Christ to be their only source for true happiness. Yet, the sad truth is that people today hunger for the temporal things of this world to supply their joy, and though they are tossed about like the raging waves of the sea they seem determined to return to the world over and over again only to be used for its own twisted will of defeat in their lives and ultimately their very souls.
Moment by moment I need my Lord! If left to myself I will without doubt offend my God and err from the truth of His Word, not because I wish to leave my God but rather because their is a rotten Devil out there seeking to devour the weak and helpless and without God I am nothing but weak and helpless! The professing christian is sitting around in their despair wondering why there is no contentment to be found in their weary hearts, yet they are unwilling to deny themselves and daily carry their cross. When one is attracted to this world it is sure proof that there is no contentment in Christ alone... therefore no joy.
My heart's cry is that moment by moment and breath by breath, I might be found abiding in Christ alone... with no dependence at all in my own strength or in the false hope of this world, for without Him I can not be the husband or father or preacher that I should be. May we all who name the name of Christ rest every moment in our blessed Lord!
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