The Just Shall Live by GRACE

Did you do a double take at the title?

Certainly, The Bible clearly reiterates (4 times!), “The just shall live by faith”, referring to faith in all that God is, as represented by His Word and His Savior, Jesus. Like me, have you heard the expression, “Prayer is the key, and faith unlocks the door”?  This is quite true, as prayer and faith are crucial spiritual tools/weapons for any serious Christian. However, rather than prayer or faith, it is God’s GRACE that actually empowers us to live the life that corresponds to our calling. Only by His Grace, accessed through faith, will we will live, die, resurrect and reign with Christ. Our faith in God’s Word activates, appropriates and endlessly sustains His Grace to us. So, in a real sense:

Faith is the Avenue to God’s GRACE~

GRACE is God’s Response to Faith in Jesus, His Word~

When you’re in a pinch to have needs met, what mental pictures do you persistently see? At every turn, do you see various angles of the need, perhaps growing bigger than it really is; or perhaps the varied consequences of the needs not being met in time?  Two things in life are inescapably certain (apart from death): Needs and Desires. All of life seems to boil down to an incredible, concentrated focus on meeting needs and desires. God’s Word, The Bible, has many great promises that cover them both, as He earnestly desires us to embrace Him, through Christ, as the source of meeting our needs and desires.

Since so many of our needs and desires are seemingly inextricably tied to the world’s money systems, it is easy for us to focus more on getting money to meet those needs, than on God, the source of all our supply. Rather than being tricked into becoming so ‘money-centric’, let’s develop ways and means to become GRACE-centric. This could be easily achieved if we mentally and spiritually embraced every need and desire as an opportunity to experience God’s Grace, whether as a recipient or giver. Here are two hopefully useful tips to achieve this objective.

Become ‘others focused’.  As noted in a much earlier post, I am regularly reminded that every need and desire I experience may well be a faint mirror-like reflection of a similar, but more intense need or desire another person may be experiencing; hence I should be moved to intercede.* This helps to place my needs/desires in a different (higher) perspective. It also reminds me God desires to meet the needs of others as well, and He does so via us who are available to LOVE by praying, believing, sharing, giving, etc.  

Got a need? 

First look for an opportunity to intercede.     

Develop your own Grace symbol.  For example, in lieu of the natural tendency to focus on money, symbolized by $, €, £, ¥, P, W, N, etc., consider the power of this illustrative symbol:

|  G |

This simple symbol gives me a handy tool to shift and maintain my focus on God’s Grace as His power working in and through me to meet needs and to give the desires of our hearts as we delight ourselves in Him. (Psalm 37:4)

Since God originally intended to meet mankind’s needs/desires directly (before sin corrupted our world), and He intends on eternally meeting the needs/desires of anyone who accepts His Grace for salvation through Jesus, it make sense to get a running start now in learning to live by Grace, through faith. While faith is relevant to life in our fallen world, it may not be required after joining God in perfect union. Grace, however, may well be the only constant that transfers from this life to the next -- eternal life. (Sound-off if you disagree.)

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* (See: http://jwootenjr.blogspot.com/2011/09/putting-face-on-faith-trust-actualized.html)

The Façade of Scarcity

Economics has been called the study of scarcity. Since God is the source of all abundance, from whence comes scarcity? Is it real, or simply a figment of our collective imaginations, figments that we have been tricked into translating into actualities? Could scarcity be simply an unfortunate, but mere option?

Many experiments have been conducted to demonstrate the concept called groupthink has some validity in shaping actual events experienced by a group of people. At first glance, we may be tempted to discount the very notion. Yet, any careful study of The Bible affirms how this principle (a spiritual law, perhaps?) works both at the individual level, also the community and even national levels. Still a doubter?

Consider this:

·          ...As he thinks [and eventually believes in his heart], so is he, i.e., so ‘becomes’ his factual actuality. (Proverbs 23:7)

     ...Righteousness exalts a [whole/entire] nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. (Proverbs 14:34)

Each of these starts first at the individual level, then expands to the community level, and eventually affects or infects the national level. This process reflects ‘culture’ – the collective behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic or age group; the sum total of ways of living built up by a group and transmitted to subsequent generations. Reprogramming culture similarly starts at the individual level and, over time, may affect or infect a nation via the community level, as a drop of ink stains a cup of water. Human cultures always initiate on a positive path, and then quickly deteriorate negatively.

Persistent, individual thought, thus is the ‘seed’ of culture. This is why God reiterated His concern about ‘the imaginations of the thoughts of man’s heart’, knowing full well persistent thoughts/imaginations become beliefs, eventually produce their fruit, and then quickly spread their seeds to take root exponentially. This is how the earth realm is programmed to respond to seed of any kind.

This exact process is how abundance becomes scarcity -- thoughts ‘thunk’ persistently, then spread exponentially. Our challenge remains: how to reprogram our mindsets, beliefs, speech, and expectations to root out the sickness-poverty-lack mentality we all grew up with. Re-training our imagination is not so easy, especially as we daily ‘behold’ the deteriorated conditions in our world that we have created via the above process. What a conundrum!

The answer is clear and simple, and is reiterated in The Bible four (4) times as:

The just (people whom God calls ‘righteous’) 

shall live by faith. *

The object of faith (i.e., that at which ‘the eyes of faith’ must steadfastly look) must be something other than that which is in front of our natural/physical eyes. Why? Continually looking at the latter will only ensure continuing thoughts, imaginations, beliefs and seeds to produce more of the same! Rather, we need to focus on (imagine) things associated with and related to our God of abundance, to the point that these become real, inwardly. As we do, they will eventually become actual, outwardly. How? 

Faith thus becomes the ‘avenue’ to God’s Grace,

The portal through which things of Heaven we taste.

Grace is the pure essence of God’s mighty power.

It’s exactly what we need in this dark hour!

Thus, we may aptly say, ‘The Just Shall Live by GRACE’,

And, thus, our scarcity mindsets, we will erase!

Grace, God’s power through us that accomplishes

That which pleases Him, that which He cherishes.

Economics is the study of façades,

Figments of our imaginations, so flawed.

The only shortage that really exists,

Is one of faith in God's Grace in our midst!

Imagine this: God has made available to each person, the equivalent of a nuclear power plant to generate power to accomplish whatever we need to live a righteous/Godly life, but we stupidly ignore this because we cannot imagine that it's true. And so we make do in life, trying to get by on a couple of rechargeable AA batteries! 

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* Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38

To You, Do I Stink?

Pardon me, Sir/Ma’am, to you, do I stink??

Or to you, am I a pleasant fragrance?

Before responding with blank stares and blinks,

Let me clarify my question’s essence.

I speak not of my breath or body personal,

But of all my messages Biblical.

To you, are the words I speak Godly seed kernel,

Or just useless spiritual babel?

Knowledge of Christ is a dual fragrance. *

That knowledge is likely what you smell; perhaps it’s God’s breath.

To us who’re saved, it’s ever so pleasant.

To those who are hell-bound, it’s the stench of eternal death.

So take a deep breath, smell me and my kind.

I hope you’ll not only smell, but also taste,

Taste the love of Christ; to you it’s inclined.

Come! Experience His astonishing Grace.

Here is one thing to ponder before I quit:

You, yes you have dual fragrances, too!

Think about the fragrances your life emits,

Then imagine: ‘Who smells which smell’ from YOU?

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* Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved, and among those who are perishing. To the (latter) one, we are the aroma of death, leading to death, and to the other (former), the aroma of life, leading to life. 

(2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

So Delightfully Yours (Poem)

I AM delightfully your God, AM I.

I’m faithfully guiding you with My eye; *

Loving, disciplining you with My hand;

Letting you know it’s on your side I stand.

In faith, lift to Me the bread that you sup.

By faith, ‘toast’ Me with that wine in your cup.

Privately, as it's Me whom you are ‘toasting’,

Publicly, it’s about you I'll be boasting. **

My love for you, so universally vast.

My loving Grace to you, time will not outlast.

I AM The Lord Almighty, Creator.

Let My Word be your heart’s motivator.

That which you diligently put inside your heart

Is what My earth and angels will surely bring out. ***

I AM The Lord, ALL powerful, and I’ll never be mocked. ****

So beware what you put inside, 
          so your world won’t be rocked.

You will live by what you diligently ‘hear’,

Whether what you hear produces faith or fear.

Imagine, believe, pretend it’s My Word that’s true,

So my angels and I can bring our world to you.

I AM The Lord, in you I delight.

Between you and Me, there’s no more fight.

So glad to Me you have opened your heart’s doors.

Yes, I AM The Lord, so delightfully yours.

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* Psalm 32:8

** Matthew 6:6, 18

*** Proverbs 4:23

**** Galatians 6:7

Blood Moons, So What? (Poem)

  Tetrad of Blood Moons - Genesis 1:14 Rune
(Middle East, 2014 – 2015)

Blood moons have come and gone; it's now all a blur.
“So what?”, you may ask; “Now what?”, you may wonder.
T’was much speculation on what they all meant.
God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament
To divide the day and night, for years and seasons.” *
Then He said, for these there was one other reason.

He said they'd especially be to us as ‘signs’.
Interesting, to this one reason we pay no mind,
Ignoring His Word, thinking we can manage,
Ignoring their role as God’s great sign language.
Jesus said look for signs in the sun, moon and stars,
Then pray and ‘watch the fig tree’, not planet Mars! **

The fig tree is the nation of Israel,
But what to watch on this long spinning newsreel?
What is the unique sign to us, from Him?
It’ His beloved city, Jerusalem!
He said it’ll be “trampled by Gentiles until
The times of the Gentiles are completely fulfilled.” ***

Since then, Gentile rule had been in prominence
Until Israel overcame all resistance, (1967)
Then decided one key area to yield --
That thrice holy’ spot up there on a great hill.
Al-Aqsa mosque is there and The Dome of the Rock.
Some call it Temple Mount. All eye it like a hawk!

You see, this tiny bit of thrice holy real estate
Is a microcosm of regional spite and hate.
It’s to this city and site nations anxiously look,
Just as predicted in The Bible, God’s Holy book.
The stage is set! To this lend eye and ear,
As the meltdown moves into higher gear!

In the U.S. we have an old expression:
“As goes California, so goes the nation.”
Now, as goes Jerusalem, so goes the Middle East,
And, as goes the Middle East, so goes ... the entire world!
That the Middle East is God's great caldron, there can be no doubt.
So watch it closely to see what life on earth is all about.

Jerusalem is to the Middle East,
As the Middle East is to the whole world.
Heads up! Stay tuned. No time to fall asleep!
Watch and take heed as our world is ... unfurled. 

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* Genesis 1:14

** Luke 21:29

*** Luke 21:24

A One-World Order and Government? (poem)

       See the Parade of Global Hegemon Nations series here

There's lots of talk and angst about a coming so-called one-world government and religion within the next decade. I refer to the UN's Agenda 2021 (sanctioned in 1992), which has now morphed into Agenda 2030 (to be sanctioned at the September 2015 UN General Assembly; "Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."), plus the USG’s Prophecy Project, meetings of the so-called Illuminati, alleged attempts to use massive semi-global trade agreements as a means of reshaping the world order, worldwide anarchy that could result from a much talked-about debunking of the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency, the Pope's call for a one-world religion, etc., etc.

Let's take a few moments to put all this talk and angst in their proper, Biblical perspective. The prophetic books of Genesis (in part), Ezekiel, Daniel and Revelation give one internally consistent, thematic message, so read them as one book, written by One Author -- The Spirit of God who 'moved' these men to write what they wrote. (This applies to the entire Bible, by the way.) Also, read the news of current events within the context of God's plans revealed in these books, i.e., with the The Lord’s 'end game' in mind. (The Lord is Jesus, pre- and post-incarnate.)

A clear message is there have been successive attempts at a one-world government, all aimed at usurping the laws of God and advancing the pride of mankind, beginning with Nimrod and his Tower of Babel in the plain of Shinar where Babylon is located (The Book of Genesis, chapters 10 and 11). The Lord interrupted Nimrod's prideful plan in order to force mankind to obey His instruction to scatter and multiply over the Earth. He subsequently allowed the first ‘one-world’ government in the same geographic area (Babylon), headed by King Nebuchadnezzar. Both men were ruled by the spirit of pride, which God hates as it is anti-God.

Since then, successive attempts at worldwide governments have been predicted and permitted. (See the interpretations of King Nebuchadnezzar's dreams, given by The Lord, through Daniel, in The Book of Daniel, chapters 2, 3 and 4.) Each actual or attempted worldwide government has, in a way, advanced The Lord’s unfolding plans for mankind. Note how these governments have geographically marched "westward". (See the post, When Westward Becomes Eastward) Once these nation governments became so morally vile and full of pride, they fell from their lofty roles in the world, and the baton was passed along. 

The above sequence will continue until "there is no remedy"-- no more Grace to be extended by God. This pattern is revealed in Genesis 6 and 7, and in 2 Chronicles 36:16. Before reaching this point, Genesis 15:16 demonstrates just how long God's Grace can be extended to sinful, unrepentant people. Here, God explained to Abraham his unborn descendants would be in a foreign land for ~400 years because "...the iniquity (sinfulness) of the Amorites is not yet full."

Once Grace runs out on human governments, there will be two more one-world governments -- one headed by the anti-Christ (for 7 years following the rapture or catching away of the Church), and one headed by Jesus Christ (for 1,000 years -- a millennium). This will be followed by a bifurcated eternity experience -- heaven and the lake of fire, respectively for those who accept Christ’s payment for their sins, and those who reject Him and His offer of salvation Grace. This is that one, pivotal decision about which life on Earth comes down to. In sum, human life is a series of personalized tests to prompt you to make your one decision.  

Here is the key point relevant to current events: Since the anti-Christ's reign will be very short (only 7 years) compared to typical lengths of governments, it seems logical that the necessary basic governmental structures required to govern the world will have already been put in place by the time he is revealed. Thus, he will only need to take over existing, basic structures, and will likely not have to create them from scratch. The Bible reveals he will accomplish this via deceit. (Daniel 8:25)  Thus, it should be no surprise that the United Nations' Agenda 2021, Agenda 2030, and all other emerging global governance strategies, are all marching toward this eventuality. The overarching impetuses of this movement are the responses of socio-politico-economic networks to mankind's gross mismanagement of Earth’s resources, the physical environment, and our global financial systems. Their responses address global poverty, income inequity, unsustainable development, loss of bio-diversity, and deteriorating security. 

Interestingly, their responses may seem honorable, and to be headed in the right direction. The Books of Daniel and Revelation clearly reveal, however, only a one-world government will be powerful enough to set things aright. satan will have his final attempt at it via the anti-Christ’s reign, but the only government that will succeed in addressing these and a host of other ills, will be the one to be headed by Jesus Christ, and administered by His faithful followers—His then resurrected, immortal, glorified (glowing) saints from across the first 4 ages of human history). (For more on this diplomatic and administrative corps, see: Historical Countdown — 7 Ages of Human History, Yea, Even in This 'n This 'n That and also The 4th DoA (Poem, Part 6 - Millennial Job Description.) 

~~o~~

In fear we cringe; all this talk about a one-world order;

A new currency to debunk the once mighty dollar;

A global religion spoken of by a Pope.

Fears threaten our confidence and dash our hope.

An angel told Daniel in chapter 12, verse 10,

None of these things will the wicked understand.

So if some end-time things seem to baffle your mind,

Heads-up!

Check to see if you may be ‘of the wicked kind’.

Life's about ONE decision you'll make, it's a must!

Whether it's in God or your prideful self you'll trust.

If you trust in God, it's Jesus you will embrace.

But if you trust in self, you will forfeit God's Grace.

You see, our time in this life is so very limited.

A new world order IS coming; it'll be unlimited.

God loves you, and He's giving out passes.

Get yours, then read His Word with ‘new glasses’.

One-world government? Don't let your heart be troubled.
Learn to be at peace, and to Jesus be snuggled.

Then don’t let a rock take your place

In our God’s great big Hall of Praise!

If you are His, and He is also yours,

You’ll be with Him when He reaches Earth’s shores! 

Don’t fret about that 7-year age, so short in history. 

Rather, prepare for THE age that’ll bring to Earth blazing GLORY!!!!

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Agenda 2030 adopted today, September 25, 2015:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51968#.VgYhZY9VhHw

The Great Pretender

God gave us, not only two eyes, but more importantly, two sets of eyes: our physical eyes, and our spiritual eyes of the heart. We work at keeping our physical eyes healthy, e.g., with ‘20/20 vision’, but we tend to focus them on spiritually unhealthy stuff. The stuff on which we repeatedly focus our physical eyes seeps in and eventually gets locked deep inside of our spirit, coloring and shading our spiritual eyesight, in general, and especially to what God promises. Living in a carnal world, it seems rather impossible to reverse this dynamic in order to have well developed spiritual sight and discernment, both insight and ‘outsight’. Outsight (yep, it’s a real word) refers to being able to perceive externally, beyond yourself and your normal frame of reference. 

Could the key answer to this conundrum be something as simple as..... pretending? As children, we all learned to pretend, and we got pretty good at it. What happened to this critical skill as we aged? Out the door it went! Yet Jesus says to believe upon Him, and to come to Him as children. Most sermons I have encountered that touch on this topic speak of the innocent faith of children. They skip over or fail to consider the keen ability of children to pretend. In pretending, children act as if there is a ‘supra-reality’ that temporarily transcends their current, factual actuality. The stronger their intensity to ‘act-in’ this supra-reality, the weaker their desire to ‘act-out’ their factual actuality, and the more fun and joy they experience. As a result, they not only look forward to their next pretending session with friends, but individually they even create pretense scenarios. We’ve all ‘been there, done that’, right?

Friend, this may well be what Jesus is calling you and me to do, and to be concerning the great, promised-based supra-reality He has made available to us. His supra-reality transcends every known factual actuality we can ever encounter. Our ability to walk in His supra-reality requires a less sharp set of physical eyes ever ready focus on harsh actualities surrounding us, and a keen set of spiritual eyes that lock onto God’s exceeding promises, extract critical insight therein, and apply effective outsight within our world.

As you rekindle your pretending skill and flame, you will increasingly become God’s ‘Great Pretender, infusing fresh, greater meaning into a phrase from the song by this title (“The Great Pretender”, by The Platters, 1956):

Oh-oh, yes I’m the great pretender...
Too real is this feeling of make-believe...

~o~

Consider this summary in rhyme:

 
God’s promises for life require an imagination actuated.
But what is the key to getting your imagination activated?
It’s pretending - acting-out what we imagine as Truth in God’s Book,
Irrespective of actualities on which we must daily look.

If ‘believing/having faith’ you find too difficult,
Try pretending – your key to start getting God’s result.
Remember, it’s something you did so well as a child,
That critical skill with which you should now reconcile.

Are God’s promises to you dead words, not worth the read,
Or life-giving source on which you daily look and feed?
Walking by faith requires imagination’s proactive use.
Try pretending’s child-like way; give imagination a boost.

Don’t think God’s concerned with what you imagine? Check this out:

--And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)

--And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. (Genesis 8:21)

--He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. (Luke 1:51)

Happy Pretending~

A Prayer to Our ‘So-Called’ Father

See the Prayer and Praying Series here

Do you know people who live their lives

along the lines of this ‘prayer’?

 *

 Our so-called father,

Who art in an imaginary ‘heaven’,

I don’t hallow or worship your ‘name’.

Your imaginary ‘kingdom’ will never come.

Your imaginary ‘will’ can’t ever been done,

Whether on earth, or in your imaginary heaven.

I’ll enjoy my daily bread, no thanks to you!

I don’t need, nor will I give forgiveness to anyone,

especially from the likes of imaginary you!

As for temptations, I can manage these on my own, thank you.

As for evil, it’s everywhere, and it’s likely you causing most of it,

Since you’re so-called sovereign (presuming you exist at all)!

There is no kingdom, and if there is, it’s certainly NOT YOURS!

Power and glory are my money/position/prestige. You have none!

To me, you’re one broke, powerless, impotent, imaginary non-god.

There is no forever and ever – just NOW.

AMEN,

Good-bye,
Good Riddance

!!!

This ‘prayer’ is laid out in the form of a tree,

representing the tree of the non-believer’s life. 

But it lacks a treetop (where the * is positioned).  

What do you think should go at the apex of this ‘tree’?

~o~

Here is God’s response:

“Now consider this,
you who forget God,
Lest I tear you in pieces,
And there be none to deliver:
Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;
And to him who orders his conduct aright
I will show the salvation of God.”

Psalm 50:22-23