While He Was Still A Long Way Off

Reflection Pool

Reflection Pool My Judge sits not upon a bench with a jury by his side. My Judge wears not flowing robes with a gavel in his hand. My Judge saw my guilt and yet "innocent " He cried. My Judge gave me solid ground from a life of sinking sand. My Judge was nailed and naked upon a tree. My Judge ordered my filthy death clothes removed. My Judge paid my fine and my time so I could live free. My Judge restored and revived me, my life is now improved. There's a pond within my soul. A reflection pool at the foot of the cross. It's a body of many waters that fill a deep hole. Ripples of sweat, tears and blood loss. On the lake of my life my Savior walks with me. When I sink beneath the murky waters He lifts me up. When Satan sends ripples of temptation He says, "Look to Me." When I'm weary and weak, His strength fills my cup. The reflection pool in my soul separates the dry lands of my sin from the many waters of my Saviors tears. My sins are unsearchable in the depths of His mercy and grace. On the bank of the pool are waypoints of gratitude for all that has been washed away. Yes, my Judge has given me a new and eternal day to float endlessly in His reflection pool.

Rose Early

Rose Early When someone or something is said to, "rose early," it means they've moved from a lower position to a higher place and they've moved sooner rather than later. Some folks "rose early" while others are always "one-step-behind." Some people "rose early" in the day. Mom used to always say, "The early bird gets the worm!" Some folks "rose early" in the challenges that life throws at them. David "rose early" to face Goliath. Joshua "rose early" to march around Jericho before the walls came down. Abraham "rose early" to take Isaac to a place of sacrifice. Jesus "rose early" to pray and seek His Father's will. Women "rose early" to go to the tomb of Jesus. Jesus "rose early" from the grave. Armies "rose early" to prepare and battle the enemy. Prophets "rose early" to deliver words from God. A Proverbs 31 woman "rose early" to provide for her family. Folks who "rose early" had the fortitude, courage and determination to overtake difficulties before they're insurmountable. Folks who "rose early" don't ignore problems thinking they will just disappear. They get a head start and boldly rise up in Godspeed. Go and do likewise. It's time to arise. "Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid."‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬ "I am only a little rose or autumn crocus of the plain of Sharon, or a [humble] lily of the valleys [that grows in deep and difficult places]."‭‭ Song of Solomon‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭ Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we.#GodStoriesWithBiblebob #BibleShortsWithBiblebob #ywap4Christ #JLYASDW

While He Was Still A Long Way Off

While He Was Still A Long Way Off Some folks have trouble with surrendering completely to Christ. They have faith and yet there's still a stumbling block that prevents them from giving Jesus their whole heart, mind, soul and strength. The following story is about the Prodigal son. He took his inheritance and blew it. Penniless, ashamed and destitute, he returned home. Even while he was still a long way off, his father ran to meet him. He embraced him and loved on him. For some of us, we don't get a sudden moment where our whole being is surrendered to Jesus. It might be a process and take time. Be encouraged, your process has a purpose. ‭‭ Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬-‭24‬ ‭AMPC "Even so, I tell you, there is joy among and in the presence of the angels of God over one [especially] wicked person who repents (changes his mind for the better, heartily amending his ways, with abhorrence of his past sins). And He said, There was a certain man who had two sons; And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the part of the property that falls [to me]. And he divided the estate between them. [Deut. 21:15-17.] And not many days after that, the younger son gathered up all that he had and journeyed into a distant country, and there he wasted his fortune in reckless and loose [from restraint] living. And when he had spent all he had, a mighty famine came upon that country, and he began to fall behind and be in want. So he went and forced (glued) himself upon one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed hogs. And he would gladly have fed on and filled his belly with the carob pods that the hogs were eating, but [they could not satisfy his hunger and] nobody gave him anything [better]. [Jer. 30:14.] Then when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [fervently]. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet. [Gen. 41:42; Zech. 3:4.] And bring out that [wheat-]fattened calf and kill it; and let us revel and feast and be happy and make merry, Because this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found! And they began to revel and feast and make merry."

As Your Tongue Writes

As Your Tongue Writes Your words carry the power of life and death. Your words carry the power of positivity or negativity. Your words are seeds blown by the wind that end up in the hearing and hearts of other people. Sometimes your words are spoken directly, sometimes your words are overheard. Sometimes your words become hearsay - repeated by others, maybe in part or with an altered meaning or repeated as gossip or slander. It's hard to know if hearsay is the truth because you can't cross examined someone who isn't present. Their words remain, true or false as evidence based on opinion. Speak your word, do your word. Esteem others as being more valuable than yourself. "My heart is full of beautiful words as I say my poem for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer. You are the most excellent of men. Your lips have been given the ability to speak gracious words. God has blessed you forever."‭‭P salm‬ ‭45‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIRV Will you speak beautiful words? Erika Kirk spoke words of forgiveness after Charlie Kirk was assassinated. That's grace.

Jesus & Radical Inclusivity

JESUS & RADICAL INCLUSIVITY Jesus loved on people who were treated as second class citizens. Jesus elevated women. Embraced outcasts. Healed the sick. Jesus made friends with those living beyond the boundaries of cultural acceptance. Jesus was so accepting that He was considered a radical; outside the legalistic limits of rigid religious leaders. Jesus could be considered an all-inclusive kind of a guy. He inclusively invited everyone into a personal relationship with Him that would ultimately lead to an exclusively eternal life in Heaven. Inclusively and exclusively are opposites. There's an age-old adage that says: "opposites attract." Does Jesus offer inclusivity to all in this life and include them all in the exclusivity of the afterlife? It seems He was all inclusive of who could come to Him, but exclusive of who could go through Him to the Father. There is a Bible verse known as the doctrine of exclusivity in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus was inclusive in inviting all sinners to enter exclusivity with Him through repentance and a changed life. Jesus was and isn't inclusive in accepting those still living in sin. What is sin? It's separation from God by living outside His boundaries. The Bible is clear in so many ways on how we should live our lives to avoid being excluded from the narrow way that leads to heaven. Modern culture speaks of a kinder and gentler Jesus who invites all into an inclusive acceptance, irregardless of repentance or a changed life in behavior. That's like believing Jesus would never say, "Away from me, I hardly know you." Matthew 7:23. For years I was disillusioned by a church that preached purity while religious leaders treated children as sex objects. It took me awhile to pursue Jesus beyond my distrust of religion. When I finally understood how I could have a personal relationship with Jesus, my life changed. After many years of studying and reading about Jesus exhorting us to uphold and fulfill the whole law, it's clear to me; the Bible is the Book of Behaviors. Read it for yourself to determine how inclusive your behaviors are as being acceptable into the exclusivity of heaven. Truth be told. There's no other way. "And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and [especially wicked] sinners came and sat (reclined) with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and those [preeminently] sinful? But when Jesus heard it, He replied, Those who are strong and well (healthy) have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin)." ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody. Jesus loves you and so do we. #GodStoriesWithBiblebob [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/godstorieswithbiblebob?__cft__[0]=AZb1cEd6oTWD2kNZMZs3uJvQxBex17mY7Q-tqETR6CpQ3V973rlVv3_5c-x2hagrEpeNDkTpskprzWzuk2Mu4WK4F9D5VXGbn-hWtVTVtzc7Adn9YpJ2Sj0kFpmahFxMfyI1tDsXCSxXyvSbHPBDEjmqL2TbSQ46Y44tcJSiA2GOF5uZ1Kcg-vxzd_rQkwWMXl0&__tn__=*NK-R] #BibleShortsWithBiblebob [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/bibleshortswithbiblebob?__cft__[0]=AZb1cEd6oTWD2kNZMZs3uJvQxBex17mY7Q-tqETR6CpQ3V973rlVv3_5c-x2hagrEpeNDkTpskprzWzuk2Mu4WK4F9D5VXGbn-hWtVTVtzc7Adn9YpJ2Sj0kFpmahFxMfyI1tDsXCSxXyvSbHPBDEjmqL2TbSQ46Y44tcJSiA2GOF5uZ1Kcg-vxzd_rQkwWMXl0&__tn__=*NK-R] #ywap4Christ [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/ywap4christ?__cft__[0]=AZb1cEd6oTWD2kNZMZs3uJvQxBex17mY7Q-tqETR6CpQ3V973rlVv3_5c-x2hagrEpeNDkTpskprzWzuk2Mu4WK4F9D5VXGbn-hWtVTVtzc7Adn9YpJ2Sj0kFpmahFxMfyI1tDsXCSxXyvSbHPBDEjmqL2TbSQ46Y44tcJSiA2GOF5uZ1Kcg-vxzd_rQkwWMXl0&__tn__=*NK-R] #JLYASDW [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/jlyasdw?__cft__[0]=AZb1cEd6oTWD2kNZMZs3uJvQxBex17mY7Q-tqETR6CpQ3V973rlVv3_5c-x2hagrEpeNDkTpskprzWzuk2Mu4WK4F9D5VXGbn-hWtVTVtzc7Adn9YpJ2Sj0kFpmahFxMfyI1tDsXCSxXyvSbHPBDEjmqL2TbSQ46Y44tcJSiA2GOF5uZ1Kcg-vxzd_rQkwWMXl0&__tn__=*NK-R]