r L n -- really LOVE now! : May 2024

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

rLn's TESTIMONY 2024

TOday, i KNOW (intellectually AND experientially) The ONE TRUE Living TRIune GOD Who is THE Creator and Owner of HIS Universe -- ALL things visible and ALL things INvisible! And because i am HIS, dependent upon HIM for each and every breath, for my very existence -- i owe GOD my total allegiance, committed to gladly obeying HIS revealed Will, as recorded in His HOLY Word, The Bible. i KNOW this Sovereign GOD as my Holy FATHER, as my Beloved LORD JESUS and MESSIAH, as my INdwelling SPIRIT of TRUTH, HOLY Comforter and Helper. HalleluYAH! \o/

BUT before August 2003, in rebellious PRIDE -- i was senselessly DISobedient of GOD's Commandments (whether in thought or word or actual DOing). i broke GOD's HOLY Laws for godly and righteous living. i bowed my knee to my fleshly idols of SELF-Focus, SELF-Pleasure, SELF-Pride.

i was BORN with a sinFULL nature -- a SIN-natured SIN-doer. GOD's TRUTH described my Natural SELF before GOD interrupted my HELL-bound spiral INto EVERlasting PUNISHMENT. GOD's Word says: “The ACTS of the SINful NATURE are obvious -- SEXual IMmorality...debauchery, IDOLatry, witchcraft, hatred, jealousy, fits of rage, SELFish ambition, envy...' Through GOD's TRUTH, i was convicted: 'that SINCE i lived like THAT, i will NOT inherit the Kingdom of GOD!' (Romans 3:10; Galatians 5:19-21)

From the ABUNDANCE of my sinFULL Heart, came forth UNwholesome words, bitterness, anger, greed, gossip, malice, impure motives -- LIES! GOD's Word convicted me of the REALity of my Heart: HOW deceitFULL it IS above ALL things, HOW desperately SICK! i WAS a LOST, helpless, hopeless SINNER -- choosing to do my OWN will instead of doing GOD's Will, choosing to please MY own SELF instead of pleasing GOD, choosing to glory in MY own SELF instead of ascribing ALL GLORY to GOD! (Matthew 12:34; Jeremiah 17:9)

i WAS part of the Walking DEAD -- physically alive, BUT spiritually DEAD! i WAS part of THAT UNsaved Humanity -- 'the cowardly and UNbelieving and detestable, murderers, the sexually IMmoral, sorcerers, IDOLaters, and ALL liars, whose part will be in the Lake of FIRE, which is the Second DEATH' -- EVERlasting HELL. (Ephesians 2:1; Revelation 21:8)

BUT in 2003, GOD IN CHRIST by The Holy SPIRIT's SUPERnatural LIFE-giving POWER, quickened ALIVE my DEAD spirit by REgenerating me aNEW, REbirthing me by GOD's GRACE alone -- by gifting me with REPENTANCE, with a NEW heart to LOVE GOD and others, a NEW mind -- SET on His WORD of TRUTH; with a NEW Disposition of glad OBEDIENCE to HIS Commands. GOD reconciled me back to a LOVE-Relationship with Himself THROUGH and IN CHRIST. i was made a NEW creation, the OLD things that were of MErlin have passed away; and, as rLn -- GOD's NEW things have SUPERabundantly come! \o/ (2 Corinthians 5:17, 19)

TOday, my personal REALity is this -- 'to LIVE IS CHRIST and to DIE IS superlative GAIN!' Because my Beloved LORD JESUS DIED in my place to pay IN-FULL the Price of DEATH for my SINs; because The Holy SPIRIT joined me INto CHRIST's Body; because my Holy FATHER chose me as one of His LOVE-Gifts to His ONE and ONLY Begotten SON -- i am NO LONGER under GOD's Condemnation, NO LONGER under His WRATH, NO LONGER bound for EVERlasting HELL! \o/ (Philippians 1:21; Romans 8:1)

i KNOW (intellectually AND experientially) that i am enABLEd by The Holy SPIRIT withIN to LOVE sacrificially -- that GOD causes ALL things to work together for my GOOD, because GOD PREdestined me to be conformed to the Image of His SON, CHRIST JESUS, The PREEMINENT Firstborn; and like The Risen LORD JESUS -- i also SHALL be glorified: spirit, soul AND body! \o/ (Romans 5:5; 8:28-30)

i KNOW that i was not REDEEMED with corruptible things like silver or gold, BUT with the Precious BLOOD of CHRIST -- born AGAIN through the LIVING and ENDURING Word of GOD. GOD's GRACE is ALWAYS sufficient for ALL my circumstances, for HIS SUPERnatural POWER is perfected in my weaknesses. For united with CHRIST, by the ALL-Mighty SPIRIT working withIN, both to WILL and to DO -- i am emPOWERed to do ALL things through CHRIST Who strengthens me. \o/ (1 Peter 1:18-19, 23; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 2:13, 4:13)

i KNOW that my 2xborn soul is wholly GOD's Workmanship, REcreated IN CHRIST JESUS for good works, which GOD my FATHER prepared beforehand so that i would walk in them. i am a citizen of GOD's Kingdom, with a GLORIOUS Inheritance awaiting me. Surely -- i am a child of GOD because The Holy SPIRIT withIN leads me to follow hard after CHRIST, conforming me more and more INto CHRIST's likeness, so that i may BE to the Praise of The GLORY of CHRIST -- my ALL IN ALL! \o/ (Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 3:20; Romans 8:14, 29; Ephesians 1:12)

i KNOW that NO one and NO thing can EVER separate me from the LOVE of CHRIST JESUS. NO affliction, turmoil, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword! i am FULLY convinced that NEITHER Death, Life, angels, rulers, things present, things to come, powers, height, depth, NOR ANY OTHER created thing, will EVER separate me from the LOVE of GOD, which is IN CHRIST JESUS, my Beloved LORD! \o/ (Romans 8:38-39)

Therefore -- the ONE THING i do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching, STRAINING forward to what lies ahead, i PRESS ON -- one day at a time, one step at a time -- with ALL my Soul, Heart, Mind and Strength toward the Goal of CHRIST-likeness: The PRIZE of the UPward call of GOD IN CHRIST JESUS. For i have been crucified with CHRIST, and it is NO LONGER i who live -- but CHRIST lives IN me. And the LIFE which i NOW live in the flesh, i live by FAITH IN The SON of GOD, Who LOVED me and GAVE Himself up for me. \o/ (Philippians 3:13; Galatians 2:20)

BLESS The LORD JESUS! ALL that is withIN me -- BLESS HIS HOLY Name! BLESS The GOD and FATHER of my Beloved JESUS, Who has blessed me with EVERY spiritual blessing in the Heavenly Places IN CHRIST! BLESS The SPIRIT of TRUTH, my HOLY Comforter and Source of LIVING Water! BLESS The ONE TRUE Living TRIune Sovereign GOD! For by GOD's GRACE alone, through FAITH alone, IN CHRIST alone -- i am a Child of GOD forEVERmore! \o/ (Ephesians 2:8)

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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)