The heavens proclaim the GLORY of GOD.
The skies display His workmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make Him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
Yet their MESSAGE has gone throughout the earth.
(Psalm 19:1-4)
JESUS: "You can enter GOD's Kingdom ONLY through the narrow gate. The highway to HELL is broad, and its gate is wide for the MANY who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a FEW ever find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) "I tell you the TRUTH, I AM the Gate for the sheep." (John 10:7)
The narrow bike-path represents the Way of JESUS -- straight and narrow and uphill. To the left represents the highway to Hell -- one's deliberate, willful rejection of GOD's gift of salvation through His Son, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Death and destruction are certain for those who choose to go that broad way of idolatrous living. To the right is where dog-owners allow their dogs to do their business on the dirt/grass or sidewalk... without picking up after their pets. That's the self-centered world-system...
JESUS: "He (satan -- the devil) was a murderer from the beginning. He has ALWAYS hated the truth, because there is NO truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a LIAR and the father of lies." (John 8:44)
i came upon this rattlesnake when it was about 15 feet from me, halfway across the sidewalk i was biking upon -- just leisurely slithering into the bush...
JESUS: "...false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even GOD's chosen ones. WATCH OUT! I have warned you about this ahead of time!" (Mark 13:22-23)
Ever since i found that gopher snake when i swept clean my employer's garage -- i have become more alert to snakes -- whether in the physical or in the spiritual realm...
These six things the LORD hates -- yes, seven are an ABOMINATION to Him:
a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.
(Proverbs 6:16-19)
That's horse poop on the sidewalk... When ungodly thoughts pop up, it's like having abomination in my mind!
JESUS: "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden... Let your light SO shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
The darker the surroundings -- the brighter the light shines...
For this is the LOVE of GOD, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)
ALL of GOD's commandments come from His character of Perfect LOVE, Infinite WISDOM and Holy RIGHTEOUSNESS. GOD's Dos and Don'ts are my JOY to obey!
The WORD gave life to EVERYthing that was created, and His LIFE brought light to EVERYone. The LIGHT shines in the darkness, and the darkness can NEVER extinguish it. (John 1:4-5)
In the beginning, The WORD already existed. The WORD was with GOD, and The WORD was GOD. He existed in the beginning with GOD. GOD created EVERYthing through Him, and NOthing was created except through Him. (John 1:1-3)
CHRIST JESUS is The WORD. The Holy Bible is The Word of The WORD.
But you are not in the flesh but in the SPIRIT, if indeed the SPIRIT of GOD dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the SPIRIT of CHRIST, he is not His. (Romans 8:9) Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy SPIRIT, who lives in you and was given to you by GOD? You do not belong to yourself, for GOD bought you with a high price. So you must honor GOD with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
The GOD-Alive-Within -- the Holy SPIRIT of CHRIST -- caused my eyes to alight on this dollar-bill, while directing the traffic lights in a serendipitous manner (Palm Avenue and Dennery Road) so that i can pick it up in safety... \o/
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. (Ephesians 4:31)
From a brief conversation with "Birdman" John -- i was saddened to hear that he was still holding on to bitterness against someone...
Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105)
When the going is tough, when the way is foggy, when i can't see which direction to go -- i go to The WORD Himself -- CHRIST JESUS, my Beloved LORD -- and simply trust and obey.
JESUS: "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
(Matthew 26:41)
i have been biking to work for a few months, comfortable with the now-familiar route -- so i was not as attentive and alert as in the beginning: the consequence = a painful car-bike accident.
But the Holy SPIRIT produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control... the fruit of the SPIRIT is in all goodness, righteousness and truth. (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9)
JESUS: "I AM The True Vine and My Father is the Gardener... Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine; and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. Yes, I AM the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me, you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. BUT IF you remain in ME and My WORDs remain in you, you may ask for ANYthing you want, and it will be granted! When you produce MUCH fruit, you are my TRUE disciples. This brings GREAT glory to My Father." (John 15:1, 4-8)
i am a branch of the True Vine -- a fruitbearer of the resident Holy SPIRIT. Apart from JESUS, i can do NOthing of eternal value. Since i myself do not produce the fruit (but GOD Himself does), i need not force myself to grow HIS fruit. My part is to remain steadfastly attached to the Vine by communing with Him through prayer and by obeying His Voice, His Word. It is the SPIRIT's part to nourish me into fruitfulness -- for CHRIST's pleasure... for GOD's glory.
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