In the manner I prefer to think, restatement is extremely valuable. Saying the same idea in different words and expressing the same concept with alternate phrasing serves to define, illuminate, and reiterate more emphatically the root of what is being conveyed. With sufficient study and analysis, one will find this pattern abundant in Scripture.
For how language works in my experience, it behooves me to pursue clarity and honesty in every statement and action. I am always prepared with a defensible reason for my behavior or the readiness to apologize if I am wrong or my reasons were inaccurate by my misunderstanding. This is how I desire to live. This is the way I have always wanted to be. Walking in His footsteps.
With the direction of the Spirit, there is significant comedy in Scripture. There is one I really enjoy, from the Message translation, when Jesus asked about a room and the innkeeper says no vacancy, on their way out a disciple says, 'should we cast fire from heaven on them?' to which Jesus responds, 'of course not!'
Other comical aspects arise when His perception provides light throughout the Bible.
Another favorite is when Elijah was having a deity battle with some people on the wrong team. Two altars, Elijah's and falsehood's, the latter going first to get their God to set fire to their altar. Long time, no fire, and these guys are dancing around, shouting, cutting themselves, and just going bonkers when Elijah says, 'so is your God on the toilet or what?' haha.
Anyway, falsehood fails, of course. So Elijah has people douse his altar until it is drenched with water to the point of a moat formation, then he stands back and says, 'now it's my God's turn. Ready?' and then FOOMP. With a column of pure holy flame, Elijah's altar is consumed, rock and all, to a pile of flattened ash in front of everyone. That is incredible.
I love the entire Bible, full of wonderful ideas, deepest truths, meaningful stories (all completely true), powerful lessons, incredible words and meanings, and an overarching plot that is to die for.
His Word is in my heart for the love of it. His ways are all I've ever wanted for my own even when I wasn't fully cognizant of this. His guidance was all I ever sought and I was fully cognizant of that. It only makes sense to seek the Highest, Best and most Perfect if you have any true intention of living forever. And I believe Him, so I do.
But this is how we get to know Him, by learning His Word as fully and accurately as we can. This is how I found Him, by seeking desperately all the best of what He offers in His Word. Those truths you can feel even when the doctrine seems opaque. And we can't so easily grasp how wonderful these things are without significant digging! I spent a lifetime digging with a holy passion for which all credit is His, all glory is His, all honor is His, and all praise be to Jesus Christ. I take no credit because He was before me all along.
I fully understand how and why it sounds so strange to hear a contemporary utter the phrase, "I come in the name of the Lord," because of how many such encounters I endured myself in the course of my search for Him. I was looking everywhere for the Spirit and couldn't find Him, only bits and pieces over the years by latching on to what 'felt right' based on the goodness I'd been pursuing all along.
And I'll be the first to say that I abandoned Him for a time, even cursing at God Himself before I knew His name for the fact that I did not know His name. I made all manner of mistake, endured a host of shame and humiliation, confessed every sin, admitted every fault, and I will not cease any of these things so long as this flesh has a pulse and my soul remains within it. I welcome all of it, it is how I learn. It is how He teaches me. I love it!
And it is my intent to do as I'm told as well as I can. I'm not going to announce that I know exactly what I'm doing here, because I do not, I am learning on the fly by pursuing that of which I can be certain to the best of my ability as the Lord has provided me. But I do not lie when I confess I am replete with joy and happiness! I sleep better than ever! I work to greatest satisfaction! I live for Him and I love to do so!
He is real! All of His promises are true! Not suffer, then die, then meet Him! No, He's here now! He walked among us to demonstrate how He desires us to be! Walking with Him in this life now, today, forever, and always! It is what we were made for, why we were designed. To express Him.
And it is my honor, my pleasure, and my confidence to declare the glorious name of Jesus Christ, and the reality of the truth He represents with the understanding He has provided me by His Spirit. All praise and glory and honor and power to the Highest, for whom we live and breathe.
I don't know how long I'll be hanging around here or what I am doing tomorrow, all I seek to know is Christ crucified; that is to say His plan, His intent, His will, His desire, His guidance, His light, His next step for me. And for the moment, I am to write.
Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day :)
For how language works in my experience, it behooves me to pursue clarity and honesty in every statement and action. I am always prepared with a defensible reason for my behavior or the readiness to apologize if I am wrong or my reasons were inaccurate by my misunderstanding. This is how I desire to live. This is the way I have always wanted to be. Walking in His footsteps.
With the direction of the Spirit, there is significant comedy in Scripture. There is one I really enjoy, from the Message translation, when Jesus asked about a room and the innkeeper says no vacancy, on their way out a disciple says, 'should we cast fire from heaven on them?' to which Jesus responds, 'of course not!'
Other comical aspects arise when His perception provides light throughout the Bible.
Another favorite is when Elijah was having a deity battle with some people on the wrong team. Two altars, Elijah's and falsehood's, the latter going first to get their God to set fire to their altar. Long time, no fire, and these guys are dancing around, shouting, cutting themselves, and just going bonkers when Elijah says, 'so is your God on the toilet or what?' haha.
Anyway, falsehood fails, of course. So Elijah has people douse his altar until it is drenched with water to the point of a moat formation, then he stands back and says, 'now it's my God's turn. Ready?' and then FOOMP. With a column of pure holy flame, Elijah's altar is consumed, rock and all, to a pile of flattened ash in front of everyone. That is incredible.
I love the entire Bible, full of wonderful ideas, deepest truths, meaningful stories (all completely true), powerful lessons, incredible words and meanings, and an overarching plot that is to die for.
His Word is in my heart for the love of it. His ways are all I've ever wanted for my own even when I wasn't fully cognizant of this. His guidance was all I ever sought and I was fully cognizant of that. It only makes sense to seek the Highest, Best and most Perfect if you have any true intention of living forever. And I believe Him, so I do.
But this is how we get to know Him, by learning His Word as fully and accurately as we can. This is how I found Him, by seeking desperately all the best of what He offers in His Word. Those truths you can feel even when the doctrine seems opaque. And we can't so easily grasp how wonderful these things are without significant digging! I spent a lifetime digging with a holy passion for which all credit is His, all glory is His, all honor is His, and all praise be to Jesus Christ. I take no credit because He was before me all along.
I fully understand how and why it sounds so strange to hear a contemporary utter the phrase, "I come in the name of the Lord," because of how many such encounters I endured myself in the course of my search for Him. I was looking everywhere for the Spirit and couldn't find Him, only bits and pieces over the years by latching on to what 'felt right' based on the goodness I'd been pursuing all along.
And I'll be the first to say that I abandoned Him for a time, even cursing at God Himself before I knew His name for the fact that I did not know His name. I made all manner of mistake, endured a host of shame and humiliation, confessed every sin, admitted every fault, and I will not cease any of these things so long as this flesh has a pulse and my soul remains within it. I welcome all of it, it is how I learn. It is how He teaches me. I love it!
And it is my intent to do as I'm told as well as I can. I'm not going to announce that I know exactly what I'm doing here, because I do not, I am learning on the fly by pursuing that of which I can be certain to the best of my ability as the Lord has provided me. But I do not lie when I confess I am replete with joy and happiness! I sleep better than ever! I work to greatest satisfaction! I live for Him and I love to do so!
He is real! All of His promises are true! Not suffer, then die, then meet Him! No, He's here now! He walked among us to demonstrate how He desires us to be! Walking with Him in this life now, today, forever, and always! It is what we were made for, why we were designed. To express Him.
And it is my honor, my pleasure, and my confidence to declare the glorious name of Jesus Christ, and the reality of the truth He represents with the understanding He has provided me by His Spirit. All praise and glory and honor and power to the Highest, for whom we live and breathe.
I don't know how long I'll be hanging around here or what I am doing tomorrow, all I seek to know is Christ crucified; that is to say His plan, His intent, His will, His desire, His guidance, His light, His next step for me. And for the moment, I am to write.
Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day :)
