Not Mine

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”   Luke 16:14-15

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.   John 1:9-13

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.   John 3:19-21

But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.”   John 8:23

“Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”   John 12:25-26

“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”   John 12:47-50

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” John 14:15-21

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”   John 15:18-19

life is not fair;

the strong survive,

the weak perish,

the old die out,

the new begins;

life goes on;

do not mistake humility

for weakness,

do not mistake silence

for ignorance,

I know far more

than you think I know,

far more than your carnal mind

can imagine,

I see things you cannot see,

I travel down roads

you never will;

this is your world,

not mine.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.   Luke 23:33-34

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Sifted

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”   Luke 22:31-32

another feeling,

another emotion,

another disappointment,

another lie;

I no longer know,

who or what I am,

I no longer see,

where I belong,

or where I need to be;

the darkness grows,

swallowing everything

in its path;

I can deny myself,

but I cannot deny You,

I can run from everything

and everyone,

but I cannot run from You;

everything I know,

falls away,

everything I am,

becomes less,

everywhere I go,

is nowhere;

there is nothing

without You;

like a light shining

in the night,

You lead me back,

guiding my steps,

restoring the hope,

calming the storm,

providing the only

reassurance I will

ever need;

there is nothing

without You.

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Ours to Choose

“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:16-17

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

I have found a home here,

for good or for bad,

for better or for worse,

it may not be much,

but it is mine;

I sit on my porch,

I feel the warm sun

on my face,

I look at the mountains,

I listen to the crows;

this is my home now;

it’s all there is,

it’s all I need,

it’s all there ever

will be;

I do not know how

much longer it will last,

it is beyond my control,

it is out of my hands,

but I will rest here,

for as long as I can;

I am tired of who is right,

who is wrong,

choosing sides,

blaming one,

justifying another;

we are all wrong,

we are all to blame;

you,

me,

them,

‘those people;’

we are all liars,

murderers,

thieves,

cheats,

hypocrites;

it is in our blood,

it is our dna,

it is who we are,

it is what we will be;

we are all

something less;

there is no wrong side,

no right side,

there is only self-righteousness

and arrogance,

or mercy and grace,

our will,

or God’s will;

it is for us to choose;

now there is weeping,

now there is anger,

now there is fear,

but soon enough it will be

no more,

the shadows will fade,

the misery will no longer exist,

the sadness will turn to joy

the darkness into light,

the tears will all be

wiped away;

we will be home at last.

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At Last

green, majestic ridges,

rolling lazily, across

bright, blue skies,

too beautiful,

too wonderful;

a place only

dreamed about;

it is here,

where the road ends,

that tomorrow begins,

no more uncertainty,

no more empty future,

the final home,

the last stand;

freedom,

at last;

they have taken,

all there is to take,

the last hope,

the final drop,

nothing more to give,

nothing left to lose;

freedom,

at last;

together, we shall face

the approaching night,

together, we shall walk into

the growing light;

freedom,

at last.

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Experienced

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.   Philippians 4:12-13

have you ever been experienced? – Jimi Hendrix

the overwhelming hunger fades, the cruel,

dark night disappears, rolling like a soft, ocean wave,

into far off, distant shores, gone forever;

all your life, searching, wandering, waiting,

a prisoner of fear, a slave to desires, without fulfillment,

without satisfaction, without destination,

released by the Master, pardoned by the King;

set free by the truth;

nothing more to prove, nothing more to obtain,

the evening train awaits, the light shines bright ahead,

the dawn breaks clear, the battle already won,

the path leads to home;

I am ready.

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No Other

I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.   Isaiah 45:5-7

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.   I Corinthians 4:20

the empty highway looms ahead,

stretching on forever, no end in sight,

destinations unknown, distant and unexplored,

staring mindlessly ahead, missing the thrill of the open road,

missing the isolation of the high mountain trails,

missing the taste of a young girl’s lips,

the breathless excitement in her eyes,

the feel of her quivering anticipation;

understanding things that no longer are;

it does not matter, the past is gone,

the only truth left, shining brightly ahead,

the small, still voice, speaks deeply within,

opening your eyes, revealing things

you could never have imagined,

incomprehensible things, things of beauty, things of truth,

knowledge for which words have no expression,

leaving you humbled and in awe;

God is power,

forming the light, creating darkness,

bringing prosperity, allowing disaster,

not bold, foolish talk, not man-made traditions,

not a better way of living, not a philosophy,

far beyond anything our limited minds can comprehend,

healing the sick, giving sight to the blind,

raising the dead to life;

God is power.

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Adonai

The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high.   Psalm 110:1-7

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.   John 1:1-5

Adonai;

above You there is no other,

You are the beginning,

You are the end,

You are all there is;

Adonai;

You stretch out Your hand,

the raging winds become calm,

You speak and by Your words alone,

a universe is created;

Adonai;

You are truth,

You are light,

You are righteousness,

You are holy;

Adonai;

before You do I fall,

through You am I redeemed,

by Your will do I stand,

through Your love am I saved;

Adonai;

forgive my foolishness,

rebuke me as a Father rebukes a son,

fill me with Your truth and love,

teach me Your righteous ways;

Adonai;

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