r L n -- really LOVE now! : August 2016

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

CHRIST JESUS -- my Beloved SAVIOR -- THE Risen LORD!

SPIRIT-given Principles to my SALVATION:

BY the SPIRIT of The Risen LORD JESUS, i've RECKONED that IN THE BEGINNING -- in the beginning of rLn -- GOD!

BY The SPIRIT's on-going TRANSFORMATION of my Mind -- i've RECKONED that in my Adamic SELF of Old dwells NOthing good.
For in this SELF of Old dwells ABSOLUTE Depravity...
In my SELF of Old lurks Ungodly Darkness and Utter Destruction!
(Genesis 1:1; Romans 7)

BUT GOD! even BEFORE the beginning of 'IN THE BEGINNING' -- GOD SO LOVED!

GOD SO LOVED that He created from a NO-thing
a SOME-thing altogether GOOD in His sight.
GOD brought His AMAZING Light into my Chaotic Darkness...
GOD Himself created Eternal LIFE into my SELF-made DEATHness!
(John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

BY GOD'S GRACE -- i've RECKONED my SELF crucified with CHRIST -- my Risen LORD!

Day by day i RECKON my SELF DEAD to SIN, but ALIVE to GOD.
Hour by hour, this branch is at REST in the TRUE Vine...
Moment by moment i'm kept by my FATHER's SPIRIT, the DIVINE Gardener!
(Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:11; John 15)

O BLESSED ALL-mighty SAVIOR Whom GOD made to BE Sin so that WRETCHED i may be made Righteous in HIS sight -- what a GREAT Exchange!

O BLESSED Humble SUBSTITUTE who took on Himself
the JUST Penalty for my EVERY SIN.
O BLESSED Perfect LAMB of GOD who BLED and DIED a cruel Death
in my stead at Calvary's CROSS...
O BLESSED Holy CHRIST of GOD who SACRIFICED Himself
that this WRETCHED Sinner may LIVE!
(1 Peter 2:24; Isaiah 53)

O DIVINE Gardener, YOU -- by the LORD SPIRIT -- cause ALL things to work together for GOOD to those who abide in The TRUE Vine -- Your SON JESUS!

Prune away ALL worldly excess that may hinder fruit bearing.
Do ALL to this branch according to Your INFINITE Wisdom
so that The True VINE may produce MUCH fruit for Your GLORY...
For it is YOU, LORD SPIRIT, who wills and works in this fruit-bearer
according to Your GOOD pleasure!
(Romans 8:28; John 15; Philippians 2:13)

THANK YOU, LORD, for creating in me a NEW Heart of Mercy!
AS You did, i ALSO forgive ALL who have sinned against me.

THANK YOU, LORD, for TRANSFORMING my Mind day by day... IN and THROUGH YOU ALONE, i have PEACE WITH GOD -- now i enJOY the PEACE OF GOD that surpasses ALL human understanding!
(Luke 23:24; Colossians 3:13; Romans 12:2)

Search me, LORD SPIRIT -- reveal to me my INNERmost BEing! Convict me of ANY and EVERY thing that is NOT of CHRIST.
Cause me to see WHATever offends or grieves You...

Then be my Loving PHYSICIAN who cuts away DIS-ease and heals
as i stand still, FULLY trusting Your gentle hand!
(Psalm 139:23-24; Ephesians 4:30; Luke 5:31-32; John 15)

HalleluJAH! The LIFE of this NEW i am is NOW being lived out by The Risen I AM!

No longer a SLAVE to SIN, but a SLAVE to RIGHTEOUSNESS.
No longer full of SELF, but an emptied vessel to be filled daily...
Filled with the LIFE-Giving River of the SPIRIT of CHRIST!
(Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:11; Ephesians 5:18)

FatherGOD -- YOU are EVERYthing to this NO-thing whom
YOU've created to be a SOME-thing for YOUR EXPRESSION!

Cause me to bear MUCH fruit for JESUS -- the LORD of my LIFE.
By the INdwelling SPIRIT of CHRIST, use the ALL
YOU've poured into this yielded vessel...
That ALL may know YOU and Your SON JESUS, and glorify Your NAME!

AMEN!

my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)