...FOR HIS NAME SAKE!

IN AN ENDLESS TRADITION OF GOD'S WORD AND THE MIRACULOUS!!!

Do you know, if I might ask, the reason of existence? I mean what’s the point of living without any sense of purpose? Have you ever being in a fight where you know, by the stance of your opposition, there is no chance but you went in anyway just because

You wonder why the ellipsis? Well, so that you can fill in the space.
What was the motivation? What was the inspiration? Was there ever a reward? Did you get a return? Maybe it was love…maybe lust…maybe envy…maybe pride.
There are times when we don’t need a reason to do things. All we need at such moments is just to act. Many call it living. Stop the procrastinations that totally wind you in and take a bold step and do something spontaneous. It would be inappropriate to stifle this piece with debates to ruffle such clean sheets.
Be it as it may, there are other times when your heart finds an urge - some inexcusable, and indelible stroke of reason.
Powerful. Unquenchable. Vibrant. Potent. And real.
Painful as it is, many have fully accepted a life of mediocrity. The twist and turns of life have really shut down the fire that burned once in them; the love that captured their hearts; the anger that ruptured their control to do. “…the love of many has wax cold.”
Jesus said we shall receive whatever we ask in His name. Precious Jesus authored and finished our faith for His name. A good example here is for me, without reason, to proclaim Him the blessed One forever.

You look tired dearly beloved. You have traveled far haven’t you? Look at your feet so sore. I pray thee, can you take any more? Touch your temple. You do need a drink from the living cisterns. It’s been a while since you’ve waited. Will you give hope credence?
Stand up for a while. Glance ahead of you. The latter road seems to be longer than the former.
If you were of Israel, I’d champion David’s mighty men! If you were of Greece, I’d call you Spartans. If you were of Africa, I’d praise the name Carthaginian.
Nay, not of all these are you from but of one whose city is the New Jerusalem; a citizen of heavenly places; a creature adopted as God’s son.
Still tired? Look. The Giants of Anak approach!
Thirsty? Stand. The desert wind blows.
Hungry? Hold your ground. The seven years of Egyptian famine looms.
Listen. The Master speaks:
Christians. Fellow soldiers of Faith. Lovers of Hope. Carriers of Love.
Arm yourselves. Draw your swords smeared by God’s Holy Word. Take up your shields fastened with faith. Where is thy silver helmet cast in the fiery furnace of salvation? Show me your feet shod by Christ’s gospel peace.
Stand with me.
If there be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy and brace yourselves. We do not live because there wait, for us, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
We go like David against Goliath, in His Holy name.
Feel your foreheads.
Feel out the name written on it and embrace your owner.
Do you care to drink again from the living waters?
Answer me soldiers.
Strike the ground like Moses stroke the rock. Let the waters from Christ, your solid foundation, gosh out in power. Let it flow and remain like a lake…
…fill yourselves for we go a step further for His name sake.

The prisoner of Christ

...HE LEADS ME IN THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

IN AN ENDLESS TRADITION OF GOD'S WORD AND THE MIRACULOUS!!!

Do you care to notice that lovely meadow? Care to crave for its loveliness as it waits on the other side, full of promise? Watch, I adjure you. Watch. See how the rivers flow of milk and honey? Try to relish how the sun dares not to set in the New Canaan.
Care to join the crossover team?
What was that?
You ask of how?
Look. We have a leader.
Behold. There is the path that leads to bliss.
You hesitate?
Oh! I see.
Your life has been filled with devils, and your soul, mingled with filthiness that you found yourself unworthy to even enjoy a glimpse of the new heaven and the new earth, let alone go with us.
Be still. Beloved.
Let us reason together.
I felt that way too. I know the heavy burden my soul carried. I felt the milestone tied around my neck. Look briefly at the scars the mighty tides of life have inflicted on me.
It was all my doing.
In sin I was conceived. In sin I was born.
But before you drink again from the dregs of bile, and wallow in the mire of squalor, let me, if you please, give light to your darkness.
See the master? I mean the one who leads us in this journey?
Yes. He is the one who glows in light too bright for the eyes to hold.
He told me that He leads all of us who bear no inkling of rightness.
He came to seek and save that which is lost.
He said those that need a physician are not those who are whole but those who are sick.
So I beseech thee. Sample those of us who are on this path.
Look how vile and despicable we are. See the rottenness of our teeth, and the incorrigibility of our essence.
Now do you see how you fit in?
Do you dare to care?
Will you care to dare?
The acceptance of our insufficiencies is the perfection of His efficiencies.
For it became of him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of our salvation perfect through sufferings.
So if our leader, the God of light and love, would care to cross over in order to lead us to His kingdom, won’t you think it suffice enough to show gratitude by yielding to follow?
Don’t common sense prick you to lay off the sin that easily beset you and come with us?
Come.
You have tried to be right before but you failed.
Follow.
You have struggled to stand before but you fell.
Obey.
You have traveled many paths before but you found nothing.
Look at the bridge.
You can’t see it?
Wait.
Let me lift you up as my strength can bear.
Be unburdened and awake your confidence.
The road may be hard, steep, rough and long but do not fear
He leads in the path of righteousness!

The prisoner of Christ

He Restores My Soul

IN AN ENDLESS TRADITION OF GOD'S WORD AND THE MIRACULOUS!!!

It’s been a long journey.

It wasn’t so hard to understand the possibility of taking advices from King David, a man who got chased from his throne by his own son. I joined him in his flight.
Do you think it strange when I ended up in prison with the ruler, Joseph, a man who was sold by his own brothers? In the darkness we gasped for light.
It wasn’t a mystery discovering the great supplanter, Jacob, whose life was desired to be ended by his own twin. We ran away with all our might.
Would you have been puzzled when I found myself in a ship with Jonah, who thought it best to run from his God? Storms in the ocean turned us white.
It wasn’t at all startling to find myself locked up in an ark with Noah, who shut himself and his family from his own people. Our lives were shaken by the waters’ height.
Maybe it should have been a wonder when I ran from Damascus with Paul, who was to be killed by his own religious brethren. He taught to fight the good fight.
But…
It was with great humility we were all summoned to join, in death, our Savior, Christ Himself, who didn’t survive eternal punishment from his own creatures. He gave us the strength to go on even in the chastisement and blight.

Christ promised us restoration.
Spirit guaranteed our redemption.
God ushered His Son – a reward.
Jesus gifted the Spirit – His due we can never afford.

Paul suffered the most of all the apostles….but God…restored his soul.
Noah wept at the futility of his muscles ….yet God…restored his soul.
Jonah repented at the belly of the beast…but God…restored his soul.
Jacob ran in fear, for his brother’s right he leased…yet God…restored his soul.
Joseph yearned and long-suffered for his family…but…God restored his soul.
David wrote some psalms in pain…but…God restored his soul.
Christ was killed for my gain…and God…raised his soul.

I look back and couldn’t see anyone, yet, somehow, without a doubt, I knew I was surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses. It wasn’t the first time I found myself in such a predicament. Some were sufferings for good; others, by my own foolishness.
Nevertheless, he restored and still restores many. He shall surely restore me again.

The sand felt hot under my cracked feet.
My belly roared for some form of meat.
In spite of it all the bleak distance shone in hope. Courage seeped into me again to take another step.

Why?

Because every time I’ve found myself in lack, Spirit made me whole;
Each time I found the strength to go, Christ was, and still is my goal –
And every time I get caught in the deep, God, He restores my soul!!!

The Prisoner of Christ