Oh, Heart! Seek Happiness? Accept Joy!

29 Apr 2013 3 Comments

by Gloryteller in Christ, Christian Poetry, Christian Writing, Evangelism, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Love, Metaphor Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

^^^

<3

Oh, Heart,
is it happiness you seek?
Happiness highly desirable
yet dependent?
Elusive happiness?
Happy chasings of things outside yourself?
Oh, frivolous pursuit!
Oh, Fleeting Fates!
Oh, Fickle Muses!
Oh, changing time and seasons!
Oh, whims and peculiarities of others.
Oh, Heart!

The perhaps, the unhaps.
To erase,
to replace the UN.
Happy-chance relies on happenstance.
The right things need to HAPPEN,
oh, Heart,
for happiness to come.
Aye, to come, yet it so quickly goes.
It often flees and will not stay in permanence
because something else happened
unforeseen,
or didn’t,
or someone loved,
or did not,
or quit,
or gave up,
or did not last,
or passed.
*
But,
Oh, Heart!
Have you considered Joy?
Joy is different.
It’s beyond definition, although the world tries to define it,
confine it,
call it an emotion.
The world calls it synonymous with happiness,
But it is far from the same.
Joy is elementally incomprehensible if you don’t have it.
Oh, Extreme,
Oh, Deep,
Oh, Profound,
Utterly overwhelming at times,
but not captive of time,
nor whims of others,
nor Fates and Muses,
nor the chase, nor bruises,
save the Great Chase of Christ,
oh, Heart,
when you slow, and turn,
and let Him catch your tattered strings,
and you let Him in,
and you see, and touch, and savor
His Joy,
and suddenly it is yours,
Oh, Heart!
Oh, Abiding gift!

Is it, then, Joy you might seek?
Joy so independent of what has happened,
is happening,
will happen?
Joy in knowing,
in enjoying a walk with Jesus,
joining with Jesus,
rejoicing in Jesus?
Great delight,
rich fullness,
exceeding gladness, oh, Heart?
Inside your own walls!
Happiness multiplied X times!

To have happiness and Joy together,
oh, Heart, is a precious gift.
But, take heart,
joy persists even in sadness.
No one can steal your Joy
unless you let it be taken.
There is unhappiness
But there is no unjoy,
Joy wells up from deep inside,
Overflows to the outside,
is a living, life-giving, sustaining thing;
is abundant, noticeable, contagious,
is independent of external forces.

As happiness is precarious,
Joy is precise.

As happiness happens to you,
Joy jumps with you.

“Happiness” is referred to about 30 times in the Bible
while “Joy” occurs about 300 times!

Happiness runs through your fingers the harder you try to hold it.
Joy wells up, overflows cupped hands,
and is unlimited at its source.

Oh, Heart!
Let the Lord  remake you to contain
even a small grain of  the Joy in His glory.

Happiness comes from what happens, oh, my Heart,
Joy comes from Jesus!

*

Listen, Oh, Heart!
Happiness flows in and flows away.
No one knows if it might stay.
But Joy!
Joy, oh Heart, ever bubbles from its Source.
Welling up endlessly, any time of day.
Happiness depends.
But because He lives in you,
Oh, Heart,
Your Joy will never end.

^^^

© 4-29-13 Gloryteller L. S.

Meet Xian

07 Mar 2013 Leave a Comment

by Gloryteller in Belief in God, Bible, Christ, Christian Humor, Christian Writing, Christianity, Christmas, Evangelism, God, God's Gifts, God's Glory, God's Provision, Jesus Christ, Metaphor, Personal Testimony, Secular Stuff, Thankfulness and Gratitude, Trinity, Worship, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Meet Xian
AKA, Chi – My Kind Of Guy

He has shown up twice in my latest posts.
Who is he?
Readers, meet Xian.

This is his story:

When I first started reading Christian-oriented material, “Our Daily Bread”, for example, I used symbols to mark and highlight passages that were important and inspiring.  I used the five-pointed star: It is easy to draw without lifting the pen, but it has pagan connotations, so I went to the six-pointed star:

Two triangles, voila – a Star of David.  But that takes a little too much time to draw, so I went to the asterisk:Three quick, simple lines that intersect.  My ODB, and books, and Bible are full of them.  However, for some reason, (who can explain ME) I recently began to take the X out of the aster, and just use that.  I may well have been led to do it:So there it is. X .

You knew I would get around to this, didn’t you…..I began to think about how the X in Xmas stands for Christ.  I found that the X is actually Chi, the first letter in the Greek word, Χριστος.  I hope I got that right, because, hey, it’s Greek!  Anyway, that Greek word means Christos – the anointed One – which is a translation of the Hebrew “Messiah”.    The X in Xmas is derived from the Chi (pronounced “Ki” which rhymes with “my”, or “guy”) in this word: Χριστος.  X came to denote “Christ” sometime in the sixteenth century.  Xmas is often misinterpreted as a modern secularization of “Christmas”, thinking that it is an attempt to remove religion from the holiday.  If it is, it has backfired!   “Xian” has been used as an abbreviation for “Christian”, as well.  These are merely abbreviations, not to be used in formal writing, and words are symbols, so maybe it is much ado about nothing, but the things words stand for, especially when they stand for people, and God, and Godly concepts, are important.  But I diverge.

One morning, I looked at the X and saw a figure with hands raised.  I don’t know what made me put a head on it, but that’s what I did.  A trinity of lines.

It came to life!  Xian was born!  (You can surely tell that art comes naturally for me).
Xian has since become just slightly more than a symbol to me, more than a stick man.  He is naturally worshipful.  You can see how he surrenders his all to the Almighty.  His hands are raised in surrender and praise.  He somehow expresses “giving glory to God in the highest”.  Sometimes I call him “Chi – my kind of guy”.   Three simple lines with a lot of heart.

No One Doesn’t

25 Feb 2013 15 Comments

by Gloryteller in Belief in God, Christ, Christian Poetry, Christian Writing, Christianity, Easter, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God, God's Love, Good News, Gospel, Inspirational Writing, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Love, Personal Testimony, Redemption, Resurrection Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

No One Doesn’t

One can push the fact away. Deny it.
Ignore it.
Refuse it.
Reject it.
Decline it.
Or flat turn it down.
The fact is this:
No one doesn’t want love.
Everyone wants love.
Whether they know it or not.
Even needs it, to my mind.
It feeds the soul.
It quenches her thirst.
Shelters her.
Clothes her in glorious splendor.
No one doesn’t long for love.
No one doesn’t!
Like breathing.
You can’t breathe properly, nothing seems right.
Some accept that, many deny it.
But it remains, beyond denial.
Beyond refusal.
Beyond all rejection of the idea.
As nectar remains deep inside the flower.
As life is encased inside the hard, dry seed.
The longing lives in us all.
A smoldering coal.
Unquenchable.
An unreachable itch.
Unscratchable.
We search a lifetime to reach, to quench.
I know that in myself.
Ahhh, to love and be loved…
Then sometimes we get close to the true thing.
Happiness, found and satisfied.
Love, at last!
It lasts a lifetime, sometimes.
But even then, a tickle, deep inside a hidden part.
Says, even that was just a shadow behind a veil.
A distant blurred image in smoky air.
The old longing still murmurs and rubs.
But WHYYY?  We rail. This has to be it, or all is lost.
Then we cry out against the One who put it there.
Wait……… The One………
Could there be a reason?
Something more?
A Truth I didn’t see before?
A seed of longing meant for me?
To search and find the one true thing?
God’s everlasting love for me!
The Love that always satisfies!
The Good News of the Prince of Peace!
The perfect Love that makes one free.
It’s the Love by which all other loves are seen.
It’s the Love inside which all other loves exist.
It’s the light by which our souls are lit.
No more itch, no more inner burning.
No more chafing, murmuring.
Except in the longing for more of Him.
Which, we need but ask, He gladly gives.
No one doesn’t long for that.
The proof  is in this overflow.
The love that’s pouring from this pen.
This here, this now, this absolute joy!
From Him, back to Him.
For me, for you.
Deny that, be ignorant of it, refuse it,
Push it away, reject it,
We still need it, want it, live for it.
It’s so deep and wide,
That because of it, out of it, and for it,
Jesus was born, and lived, and died, and arose.
No one doesn’t long for that kind of love.
Not in the soul, one doesn’t.
No one doesn’t long for Love.
No one doesn’t.
No one.

He Follows Patiently. Your Turn.

17 Feb 2013 2 Comments

by Gloryteller in Allegory, Christ, Christian Poetry, Evangelism, Forgiveness, God's Grace, God's Love, God's Provision, Good News, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Metaphor, Salvation Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

 

 

 

In the book of your life,
Jesus follows you closely, quietly,
As you walk your path.
Turn the pages, He walks with you.
If you run, He runs.
Lie down, and He lies down nearby.
If you try to outrun Him,
Or get away,
He effortlessly stays right behind.
Veer right or left,
He is faithful in the turning.
Stop, and He stops.
Continue in your way,
He continues with you.
But turn around and look back,
He does not turn around.
Not ever.
He looks into your pleading eyes.
Always.
Turning to Him is all He wants.
Asking Him to take the lead
Is all you need.
To write your new page.
To fill the complete book of your Life.

Doxology

08 Feb 2013 4 Comments

by Gloryteller in Belief in God, Bible, Christian Music, Christian Poetry, Christian Writing, Evangelism, God's Glory, Holy Spirit, Inspirational Music, Trinity, Worship, Worship Music Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Doxology

 

 

The word “doxology” comes from the Greek words “glory” and “saying”.  That sounds a lot like “glorytelling” to me, so lets explore a little deeper.

A doxology is a short prayer, verse, or hymn expressing praise to God.  Often poetic, I see it as a triumphant, glorious conclusion to a session of praise and worship of  The Triune God by a congregated “body of believers”.  Let us review a few of the doxologies available to us to glorify the Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit:

This one is a familiar doxology, often added at the end of the Lord’s Prayer:
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever, Amen.”
This verse seems to be an addition to the ancient text of Matthew 6:13.  I rather like it there.  It seems right to say this out loud.  It can also be sung.

In the Epistle of Jude, the last two verses are considered to be a doxology:
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

This Roman Catholic doxology is sung by the presiding priest after the eucharistic prayer:
Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, forever and ever. Amen.

Here is one I remember singing in the Methodist Church of my youth.  It is from an unknown author, and is known as “The Gloria Patri” and “The Lesser Doxology”:
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.

Certain Canadian Churches, as well as The United Church of Christ, sing  this doxology:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God for all that love has done;
Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One.

Then there is this one, sometimes called “The Greater  Doxology”.  It is an expansion of Luke 2:14 :
Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the highest)

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men of good will.
We praise You,
we bless You,
We adore You,
We glorify You,
We give thanks to You
For your great glory,
Lord God, Heavenly King,
God the Almighty Father.
Lord Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
You Who take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
You Who take away the sins of the world,
hear our prayer.
You Who sit at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For You alone are holy,
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
With the Holy Spirit
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

This next is an old standard simply called “The Doxology”.  I happily sang this in my youth as well.  I’m sure you will recognize it.  It goes like this:
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
These lyrics were written by Thomas Ken in 1674  as the final verse of his hymn “Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun”.  The music for “Doxology”, which is sung in many churches today, is attributed to Louis Bourgeois and his “Old 100th Genevan Psalter”, from 1551.  Here are the complete lyrics of the beautiful “Awake, My Soul,….” :

Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.

Thy precious time misspent, redeem,
Each present day thy last esteem,
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the great day thyself prepare.

By influence of the Light divine
Let thy own light to others shine.
Reflect all Heaven’s propitious ways
In ardent love, and cheerful praise.

In conversation be sincere;
Keep conscience as the noontide clear;
Think how all seeing God thy ways
And all thy secret thoughts surveys.

Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praise to the eternal King.

All praise to Thee, who safe has kept
And hast refreshed me while I slept
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake
I may of endless light partake.

Heav’n is, dear Lord, where’er Thou art,
O never then from me depart;
For to my soul ’tis hell to be
But for one moment void of Thee.

Lord, I my vows to Thee renew;
Disperse my sins as morning dew.
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.

Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say,
That all my powers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.

I would not wake nor rise again
And Heaven itself I would disdain,
Wert Thou not there to be enjoyed,
And I in hymns to be employed.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

There are many doxologies in the Bible, and they are all a blessing to both worshiper and God.  I urge you to find and use them.

In conclusion, I would like to offer my own version of “Doxology” in order to replace the word “ghost” (not that there’s anything wrong with it):

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise God, holy Three In One;
Praise loving Father, Spirit, Son.
Amen, Amen.
LS<

What an honor to proclaim His glory,
In doxologies spoken and sung.
For it’s a pleasure to repeat the story,
Of The Father, The Spirit, and Son.
LS<

Carrier!

30 Jan 2013 4 Comments

by Gloryteller in Allegory, Apologetics, Belief in God, Christian Writing, Christianity, Evangelism, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, God's Gifts, God's Glory, God's Grace, God's Love, God's Provision, Good News, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Inspirational Writing, Jesus Christ, Metaphor, Personal Testimony, Salvation Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Carrier!

 Do Not be alarmed by what I have to tell you.
How do I phrase this? ……………………… I’ve been infected.

Years ago, I was exposed. The infectious agent was introduced into my heart through an opening that had not been there before. It was my own doing that it was left open, though. I meant to do it because I had made a choice. I had chosen to invite Salvation in, and thus was exposed to The One Truth, and The Only Life. I was immediately overwhelmed and taken over! Infected! Much like a computer is “infected” by downloading a foreign program that takes over its operation. Much like a human virus that, once inside you, replicates inside one’s cells, not killing, (although I did die to my old self) but changing the DNA. Thus I succumbed.

As a side note, do you know that some scientists propose that nearly 10% of the human genome (the entire “code” of human genetic information) is composed of leftover viral DNA that humans have carried around in their own genes for many thousands of years?

In a like manner, I have been carrying “Heavenly information” left within me by the infecting power of Holy Spirit. I am a Carrier! I have been imparted, and implanted, with belief in the Good News of Jesus Christ! Being a Carrier of information this important, and because of the nature of this glorious infected state, I have a driving need, a compulsion, a commission, to pass it on to others. That’s not so difficult since it’s airborne and contagious.  Those who have developed resistance through long exposure to the enemy’s anti-Body, may take longer by varying degrees.  But, sharing a few words of my own testimony, of the wonder of my own infectedness, or of Jesus’ great love for the prospective infectee often has the desired effect. The agent I carry is so infective that the mere sight of me carrying this Life, this Joy, is sometimes enough to transfer it. Often, I share a gift of food, or supply needed materials that I’ve liberally infused with Holy infectedness, and they catch it.  Other times I have to leave seed and spore of the Good News where the Spirit bids, and He sees to it that it infects and grows in His good time.

I was infected by a Christ-follower. That’s the only way it can be spread, but it can spread fast when fellow carriers each do their part to make more carriers.

The thing is, once this infecting Agent is fully established in the heart, in the very DNA, it is there for good. I mean that in every sense of the word.  I have never heard a person say they wish it hadn’t happened.  Truth, Salvation, Life, and His unfathomable Love are infectious like that.

By Grace Un-Limited

01 Nov 2012 2 Comments

by Gloryteller in Belief in God, Christ, Christian Poetry, Christian Writing, Creation, Evangelism, Faith, God's Bounty, God's Glory, God's Love, God's Provision, Inspirational Writing, Jesus Christ, Personal Testimony, Redemption, Worship Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

By Grace Un-Limited

 

Oh, Lord, I have swum astounded, deep into clear Hawaiian lagoons

Holding my breath in the pressing foreign world

On my own before I knew You

In rocky marine corridors where fear is, and faith calls

Twenty feet down in discomfort, but not crushed

Where beautiful creatures live and breathe effortlessly

Looking up in urgency, life and light seemed much too far away

Yet I rose up from distress and received life through Your mercy.

 

Oh, Lord, I have climbed to dizzying heights in the Rockies

Only on Your power, not my own, amazed that You allowed it

Where breathing became gasping and cold winds blew

Where even clouds and birds played far below my perch

And glorious formations waited for me to stand upon them

Inhospitable, the threatening no-man’s-land, even dangerous

Hesitation overcome by hope of life renewed

In flatter places well-made for my warmth and breath.

 

Oh, Lord, I have delved deep  into vast, southern subterranean chambers

Where squeezing darkness rules in uneasy peace

Where tunnel and precipice wait and bat wings warn

Where immeasurable  crushing weights loom overhead

Where magnificent earthly artwork poses to be admired

Exploration of being — of Spirit, of Earth, and of Spirit again

Who am I to be adventuring out of self and into You who creates

From a Living Love so unrestricted, so infinite, so boundless?

 

Oh, Lord, Your grace has pulled my heart, my mind, my very soul

Strongly, surely, toward quick-receding limits

Then beyond limits where that beautiful grace can be grasped

Where hope, and faith, and mercy can be held, and felt, and measured

Where peace is palpable, and there is no end

Where Your very Love can be embraced, and seen, and heard

And where, only through Christ, my being, my existence, my overwhelming joy

Is released, freed, and un-limited from the ends of Earth into Life Without End.

 

Copyright by Len Snider, Gloryteller   11-1-12

 

 

Good Friday? Good Sunday!

06 Apr 2012 4 Comments

by Gloryteller in Christ, Christian Fiction, Christian Music, Easter, Forgiveness, God's Glory, Good News, Jesus Christ, Redemption, Resurrection, Resurrection Sunday, Salvation, Worship Music Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

It is Good Friday.  This is the day of remembrance of how my Lord Jesus suffered the agony of torture and death.  A part of me died with Him that day – the part that needed to.

When I stood accused of selfish sins and crimes that I knew I was guilty of, He effectively said to me as He stood there weak, trembling, and covered with blood: “Don’t worry, you’re good.  Get behind Me.   I love you too much to let this happen to you. I’ve got this.” 

His torture and death were my fault.  (my brothers and sisters argue that it is theirs, but I am the guiltiest)  But He forgave me that fault and went ahead and saved me anyway.  “It’s forgotten,”  He said, graciously.

So, I don’t know about the “Good” part of Good Friday.  It is also called Black Friday and Holy Friday, either of which I can relate to, especially “Holy Friday”,  but hardly Good Friday, except that good resulted from it.  You can’t have a resurrection without a death, especially THE Resurrection following THE Death that rocked the foundations of the world.

If anything should be called “Good”, it is Resurrection Day – “Good Sunday”, the joyous day that I lived through Him, and had Life because of Him, and was shown the true meaning of Love.

I once again turn to Stuart Townend, Keith and Kristyn Getty to express with music and images what cannot be expressed with words alone.  I pray that every heart that hears and sees this will be broken, transformed, and renewed at the foot of that one horrible, and glorious, cross………..

Thank you victoryinjesus123 for uploading this beautiful video.

Oh, and one more thing – the power of the cross is only the beginning.  The power of His victory over death lies at the doorstep beneath the joyously-open doorway of His empty tomb!  THANK YOU, JESUS!

Rejoice! Rejoice With All Your Might! Rejoice!

05 Apr 2012 5 Comments

by Gloryteller in Bible, Christ, Christian Poetry, Christianity, Easter, God's Glory, Good News, Gospel, Inspirational Writing, Jesus Christ, Personal Testimony, Redemption, Resurrection, Resurrection Sunday, Salvation, Worship Tags: , , , , , , ,

Hardly a day goes by that I don’t think, in some way, about Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Today is no different. Wait, it is different, for today is the Church’s official celebration of that creation-changing, world-changing, life-changing Day.  Today, let there be loud singing and joyous dancing.  Let there be massive celebration over all the Earth,  for our Jesus is alive!  Let there be all of that, but, most importantly, let Him be the Lord of your life.

 Rejoice!

Rejoice, My Soul – All People, Rejoice!

I celebrate this holiest

Of all the days of holiness,

For as the sun appears to rise

In the East,

The Son of God did arise

On Easter – Resurrection Day,

The greatest Day the Lord Has Made.

I rejoice and I am exceedingly glad in it,

For my Savior lives!

Oh, Lord, He lives!

Now and forever, He lives!

And because He lives,

So can I!

For my heart, too, was sealed

With hardened stone

And in that darkened tomb

Dwelt death.

With tender touch He moved

The hardened part away

To let in light and life

So death was put to death.

The Holy Spirit Jesus sent

Was sent to live in me.

As Christ began to breathe again

I felt my spirit leap.

It leapeth still in Heaven’s realm

So graciously removed from hell

That I can only raise my hands and say

Rejoice, all people, rejoice!

Hallelujah, praise God, rejoice!

For our Savior lives and breathes in us.

He arose, he conquered bitter death, and saved.

He does that, still, today!

With love,

Your gloryteller

Re-posted For Resurrection Sunday,  4-8-2012

The Day Will Come

21 Oct 2011 2 Comments

by Gloryteller in Bible, Christ, Christian Writing, Evangelism, Good News, Jesus Christ Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Howdy y’all,

Chaff here again and mighty glad to be.  This is another day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

I’m writing today about that Harold Camping guy.  I mentioned him in my first and second blogs, (go here to review ) seems like a long time ago.  I’ve learnt a lot since then, thank God, and thank my cousin, Gloryteller, and my wonderful wife, Millie Jean.

Well, Mr. Harold Camping is at it again.  He says October 21, 2011 (TODAY) is THE day when Christ will come and this old world will end – the day of so-called rapture.

(Well, let me back up here and say there is lots of argument about the “rapture” and whether Christ will come then or later, or whether His coming is one event or two, or whether some people will be left here after the believers are taken.  It doesn’t matter!  All that matters is that He will come and take us believers with Him)

Harold Camping could be right.  It could be today jist as much as any other day.  But exactly when or how it will happen NO-ONE KNOWS.  According to the Bible, the “big event” will come as a surprise on an ordinary day jist like any other day.  Maybe a day when we least expect it – like a day when some pretender predicts it – a day jist like today.

I heard some women on the news say that if  Mr. Camping is right, he wins, but if he’s wrong we all win.  They have it so wrong and so right.  The believers I know welcome the day when Christ comes to take us with Him and ALL PEOPLE WILL BOW ON THEIR KNEES TO HIM.  Of course the non believers will soon find out their judgement and it won’t be a good day for them.  No wonder they think that if the world remains intact and whole it is a good day for them.

I, for one, can hardly wait to see my Savior, so that day WILL BE the best day of my life here, and it will be my entrance into eternity with God and His Son.  I don’t know, Eternity probably isn’t even measured in days.  It could be like one, endlessly beautiful GREAT DAY.

So how about y’all?  Will the last day be a great day for you, or a horrible day?  It is important that you think about that and be prepared.   The keys to Life or Death are layin’ on the table in front of you.  Please, please, my friend.  Choose LIFE!

Blessings to ya’ll,

Chaff

 

Second Guessing Oneself

13 Oct 2011 2 Comments

by Gloryteller in Bible, Christ Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Do you ever doubt your own judgement?  Well, I have wondered about allowing that last post.  It was, most certainly, meant as a concise articulation of a point of view.  But did it alienate any friends and readers?  I’m torn between removing it and taking a stand upon it.

These days so many people remain silent out of fear of ‘offending’ others.  We want to be “politically correct”, but there lies the problem – there is hardly anything associated with politics that is correct anymore.  It is corrupt, and usually, being politically correct directly contradicts Biblical Truth.  Then there is the subject of tolerance.  Tolerance should be a good thing, but lately I’ve seen it as just another way to avoid the truth, especially Biblical Truth.  And, to compromise can be a very good thing, but compromising oneself only leads to trouble.

So I stand with Chaff (Well done, Chaff) against political greed, against the hunger for political power, against hate –  FOR our republic,  and for sensible, unselfish, governmental spending, taxation, and economic policies.  The Bible teaches that debt is a very bad thing, to be strictly avoided.  However, our whole economy is based on debt.  Not surprising is it?  And not surprising that we’re in trouble!

To be artificially politically correct, or to tolerate concepts and ideas obviously outside of Christian values seems just a way to compromise with “the world”,  which Jesus never did,  nor did the apostles, nor did the early believers.  Thank God!

To stand upon the unshakeable Rock of Christ is the answer to our worldly troubles.   Come join me there!  Anyone?

Spirit Walks

29 Sep 2011 2 Comments

by Gloryteller in Apologetics, Bible, Christian Writing, Christianity, Evangelism, God, God's Glory, Inspirational Writing, Jesus Christ, Personal Testimony Tags: , , , , , ,

An excerpt from a story I’m writing.

The H.S. says “Don’t wait, post this now!”

So, OK!

“Realizing my foolishness in trying to explain the nearly inexplicable, if I were to try to describe the difficult concept of how the indwelling Holy Spirit of Jesus operates for me, it would go something like this:   I am on a trail, hiking toward a glorious peak, a pristine lake, or a hidden green valley, but the trail is full of obstacles and choices, forks and distractions,  beauty and fearfully deadly hazards.  The few trail markers are easy to miss, but I begin to notice something supernatural happening. Awareness, like seeing movement in the corner of my eye. A shadow, a fleeting image, I see with a new eye, eternal and perfect.  An image steps out of my own, going before me.  Only a nanosecond ahead.  It is like my own image only sharper, brighter, more colorful, perfect.  Quicker than a thought, and before the outline can be fully perceived, I step into the form and fill it as it completely filled me only the shortest of moments ago. My course is slightly altered, and adjusted. The Eternal Spirit leads and follows all at once.  It helps me and asks for help in one breath, and the Spirit Man responds and follow-leads all in one smooth, ongoing, motion taking both beings, as one, up and down the ever-changing trail in the most effective and joyful way.  Together. Not having to chase or be chased, unless playfully.  Not like before they met.  Nanosec after nanosec.  Mile after mile.  Parsec after parsec. Together.”

Remember Our Defenders

29 May 2011 16 Comments

by Gloryteller in Bible, Christ, Christian Fiction, Christian Poetry, Evangelism, Faith, Jesus Christ, Prayer, Salvation Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,


Remember sacred memory

Of those who chose to sacrifice

Their single, treasured, earthly life,

Like Christ, their neighbors to keep free.

No greater love has any shown

Than Christ who gave us perfectly

His Life and Love that we could know

God’s freedom, peace, security.

For all your sacrifice and pain

We pray our people wake and see

We are released, unbound, unchained,

Not hobbled now, but running free.

This, thanks to Christ and such as these,

This, thanks to Christ and such as these.


Bloggin Is Hard

26 May 2011 5 Comments

by Gloryteller in Bible, Christ, Christianity, Evangelism, Forgiveness, Gospel, Jesus Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chaff Rantley, back agin.

Okay, this here bloggin’ or brite-in as my cuz calls it, aint quite as easy as I thawt.

I had to study up on rapture acuz that word aint in the Bible thet I can find at all, no way.  Thats why I got corn-fused.  Read this what Paul told them Thessalonianses–

15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Near as I can figger, thets what ‘the rapture’ means — being snatched up into the air by angels and took to Heaven straightaway!  Well I’m all fer that I caint hardly wait!  But as fer some guy named Harold  trying to tell us  zackly when itll happen I have this to say to him—

    36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[f] but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.   42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  Matthew 24: 36-44

My sweet wife showed me howta do thet, thanks Hun and she dont want her name in public so I wont but how do you like that!  JESUS said that and I believe HIM and not some Harold dude who thinks he has some inside knowin about some secret code. Guess we still should forgive him – he shore dont know what hes doin……………………. I still think he wants to go camping.

Chaff

New Adages – Like Snack Morsels

05 May 2011 6 Comments

by Gloryteller in Christ Tags: , , , , ,

I’m feeling creative raindrops saturating my britesite today, but after answering my comments, have little time left.  Some interesting morsels came out in the Marriage/Wedding comments, though:

1.  “Christ trumps culture”  (that’s mine)

2.  “Jesus is waiting at the altar for you.   He has already said His vows. He is waiting for you to join Him.”  (Jane’s pastor )

3.  “Marriage is a danceline with Jesus in the middle”  (or should be) (mine, again)

A weak brite post needs help.  Who out there has original marriage/wedding “snack morsels” to add?  Help?!

Marriages vs. Weddings

04 May 2011 8 Comments

by Gloryteller in Apologetics, Christ, Christianity, God, Prayer, Trinity Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Despite my seeming cynicism about the ‘royal wedding’ I have nothing against marriages. (Except maybe the casual kind, the selfish, loveless, or meaningless/vain kinds)   In fact, I’m rooting for Kate and William to be in love and married together forever and to be the shining example of everything God intended marriage to be. I’m rooting for all traditional (no, I’ve no time for that subject) marriages everywhere to be all that God meant them and wants them to be.  I pray that couples will keep Christ the center of their marriages and their lives.  I pray that they make their vows in all sincerity and  call upon the Holy Spirit to help keep them.  The wedding, however has little to do with any of the above except to provide special circumstances in which to make sacred promises to God and to one another.  The obsession with all the worldly trappings surrounding the wedding have little to do with the success of the resulting marriage.  If as much thought, time, planning, dreaming, and praying were applied to the actual relationship, to loving the other person involved, to the realities of a great marriage, then the wedding would become secondary instead of the other way around.  I’m just saying……..

In the end, when Christ comes to “marry” His beloved bride, His Church, the wedding will be wonderful, but the marriage will be forever spectacular.                         I’m out of time. Dear readers please supply the appropriate verses – you’re so good at it!

Rejoice! Rejoice With All Your Might! Rejoice!

24 Apr 2011 6 Comments

by Gloryteller in Bible, Christ, Christian Poetry, Christianity, Easter, God's Glory, Good News, Gospel, Inspirational Writing, Jesus Christ, Personal Testimony, Redemption, Resurrection, Resurrection Sunday, Salvation, Worship Tags: , , , , , , ,

Hardly a day goes by that I don’t think, in some way, about Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Today is no different. Wait, it is different, for today is the Church’s official celebration of that creation-changing, world-changing, life-changing Day.  Today, let there be loud singing and joyous dancing.  Let there be massive celebration over all the Earth,  for our Jesus is alive!  Let there be all of that, but, most importantly, let Him be the Lord of your life.

(This was written hurriedly, so please forgive its imperfection.)

 Rejoice!

I celebrate this holiest

Of all the days of holiness,

For as the sun appears to rise

In the East,

The Son of God did arise

On Easter – Resurrection Day,

The greatest Day the Lord Has Made.

I rejoice and I am exceedingly glad in it,

For my Savior lives!

Oh, Lord, He lives!

Now and forever, He lives!

And because He lives

So can I!

For my heart, too, was sealed

With hardened stone

And in that darkened tomb

Dwelt death.

With tender touch He moved

The hardened part away

To let in light and life

So death was put to death.

The Holy Spirit Jesus sent

Was sent to live in me.

As Christ began to breathe again

I felt my spirit leap.

It leapeth still in Heaven’s realm

So graciously removed from hell

That I can only raise my hands and say

Rejoice, all people, rejoice!

Hallelujah, praise God, rejoice!

For our Savior lives and breathes in us.

He arose, he conquered bitter death, and saved.

He does that, still, today!

An excerpt from “My Joy”

By Len, Gloryteller Resurrection Sunday 4-24-2011

The Power of Jesus Upon the Cross

22 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment

by Gloryteller in Christ, Christian Fiction, Christian Music, Easter, Forgiveness, God's Glory, Good News, Jesus Christ, Redemption, Resurrection, Resurrection Sunday, Salvation, Worship Music Tags: , , , , , ,

I once again turn to Stuart Townend, Keith and Kristyn Getty to express with music and images what cannot be expressed with words alone.  I pray that every heart that hears and sees this will be broken, transformed, and remade at the foot of that one horrible and glorious cross………..

Thank you victoryinjesus123 for uploading this beautiful video.

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