Category: Selflessness

Happy Hunger

Happiness comes in the Hunger (for God/Righteousness/being in right standing or relationship with Him and others).

TRUE HIS-Story

“I am an historian, I am not a Believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless Preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.” Historian AND Famous Sci-fi Writer, H. G. Wells (italics and bold added by me).

The Grief of Unbelief.

NO MORE ‘grief by unbelief’ prayers but, instead, ‘intercession confessions’ in faith…and praises to our All-powerful/knowing LORD God, Jesus Christ! “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” And “the just shall LIVE by faith” and, “without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.”

The Old is Gone, THE New Has Come: No More PAST, Present & Future Living…

We were made for divine Double-vision, not triple-vision, to learn from and perhaps even admire, the past, albeit at a safe distance…but NOT to live in it, to our own stagnation and demise. So we desperately need elevated Duplicity of Vision, first for our Truer, Homebound Tomorrows, then for our Urgent, Needful Todays, to be embraced by God’s Double, above-time Vision that can empower higher-living perspectives and foster HIS freedom and joy-strength in the Here and Now. In short, ‘Today AND Tomorrow Double-Vision’ but not, ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Triple-Vision’ (and I should know, as I live with physical double-vision)! “…old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new,” II Corinthians 5:17 and “…do not dwell on the past,” Isaiah 43:18 and “…this ONE thing I do…” Philippians 3:13. Rhema.

Hurry, Make it (a) Fast!

“Almost everywhere, at all times, fasting has held a place of great importance, since it is closely linked with the intimate sense of religion. Perhaps this is the explanation for the demise of fasting in our day. When the sense of God diminishes, fasting disappears.” Edward Farrell, as quoted in The Book on Prayer, pg. 280, by Ken Gurley.

When GOD Weeps

“When the city came into view, He wept over it. ‘If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead, your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome (but instead refused)  God’s personal visit’ (Me).” Jesus, weeping over Jerusalem (and us), Luke 19:41-44, MSG Bible. (Words in parenthesis and italics added by me, dkb.)

The ULTIMATE Experience in Life

“The only thing that will remain in Heaven of our earthly time is our prayers.” (Vesta Mangun.) “Yet, why do so many struggle with prayer? Prayer is the ultimate experience of life; it reaches into eternity. It is our opportunity to become a part of the eternal purpose of God. Prayer is often constricted to a narrow focus or it may sprawl in our mind without parameters. The ‘sweet hour of prayer’ becomes a dreaded responsibility instead of a privileged relationship. Prayer has been perceived as drudgery, when it is a pleasure- as a hard self-discipline, when it is a self-rewarding sacrifice – as a commitment you can never quite keep, when it is an unlimited communion with God. A lot depends on how our prayer life is conducted.” Teri Spears and Thetus Tenney, in loose-leaf (note/work) book, ‘…first of all…Prayer’ pg. 1 (Introduction). (Italics and bold added by me.)

Live it…UP!

“Hold on to things lightly (not tightly), love deeply (not shallowly), forgive always (not sometimes) and LIVE without regrets (FOR GOD, ‘the same merciful Savior yesterday, Today & FOREVER’)!” Pastora Patty Conner, The Rock Church/Pentecostals of Simi Valley, Mother’s Day 2024 (words in parenthesis added by me).

Priceless, Efficacious Tears.

“In one of the six ‘Golden Psalms’ (michtam, in Hebrew), David describes how God values tears:

Psalm 56:8-‘You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?’ God is an avid collector of tears. Tears are the silent, eloquent testimonies to God’s nearness: “He remains close to those who are brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Did you know what’s physiologically in our tears? A tear is comprised of more than ‘just’ water and includes proteins, enzymes, lipids, metabolites, electrolytes, and even our DNA! If our eyes get irritated, tears are more aqueous (comprised of water). If we are under high stress, our tears are filled with stress-related hormones.

But the chemistry of tears pales in comparison to their (spiritual) value (to God…and us): “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable (hope and) love.” Unknown.

Contrition. Unspeakable love. Not ordinary, everyday words…nor occurrences, sadly, though tears might be.

Is that why God has a supreme interest in…and pays undying attention to…our tears? He is love personified and, therefore, “near to the brokenhearted.” The Psalmist said that ‘God collects tears, even stores them in his bottles.’ ” The Book on Prayer, pg. 248, by Psr. Ken Gurley (italics and words in parentheses, etc., added by me, dkb).