The Day

Awakened from the darkness in which I was sleeping

Through which moved dreams of sorrow and weeping.

What I perceive has changed from gloom into light

When I opened my eyes, forever passed was the night.

Here is no time, spring that eternal moment

Outside of the bounds of where evil's anger is spent.

Things are aglow and no shadow is found

Sings all creation with melodious, harmonic, sound.

The breeze, the blue sky, the flowers, speak peace.

Overwhelmed by tranquility that I know will never cease.

Once dull physical senses are unhindered, acute.

Wisdom and intellect dance together as partners, astute.

A surfeit of indulgence in justice and truth

Far from the presence of violence method's uncouth.

Free now to understand Love's grand reason why

He wants me here with Him, Him who's uncontained by the sky.

I've been recreated a worthy temple, His child.

I am His jewel, shining with joy undefiled.

Grow Up in Such a Way That Others Can Grow Up Too!

In a christian's struggle to progress in the likeness of Christ, there comes a plateau of maturity, where seeming contradictions must be reconciled, where waring needs must be brought to a harmonious balance. After all, didn't Jesus say, "The poor you have with you always" to take care of, and chose to allow himself to be ministered to?

When you begin your journey away from selfishness, and submit your will to Him, there will be those who are quick to take advantage. A diabolical mindset sees humility as a weakness to be exploited. Their needs will flower and expand outward to absorb all that time and energy you had freed up to devote to Him.

In all such situations, be alert, engaged, and learning. He will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able to handle, so use all such things to advance in sanctification. Be choosy of the battles you take on, applying strength and knowledge to increase, in others, righteousness and the glory of the Lord. Our will and strength should be exerted in the resistance of evil, over that which compels us to put anything before God in our hearts. It is not because what we want is wrong, of itself. It is because what God wants is better and for the best.

Wash Your Hands

We heard that phrase from our mother. She was the one who existed to nurture us, whose purpose was fulfilled in our well being, and now imparts wisdom to the structure of our life. After all, cleanliness must be attended to before anything can be put to proper use. Without purification, ugly hues and illnesses will soon start invading the rest of our lives. Corruption will spread if it is not evicted early on.

God has used the exact same admonition in His Word, and then tells us it's spiritual equivalent. "Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8 A mother knows that hands should not be used unless they are first cleaned. So the Lord tells us we are not His, nor can we be used of Him, unless we first avail ourselves of His purification work accomplished at the cross. This is the principal, the foundation, upon which all of our subsequent actions must be built, in order for them and us to be accepted by God.