Hell Hounds

Yep.

We have a pretty vivid imagination.

A simple Google search spewed a hoard of images that are varied impressions of what we fear most….hell….and of course, its associated monsters.

This particular image was sourced from this page, perhaps you can indulge your interest in the matter.

There’s nothing wrong with imagination, it helps in retaining memory and in the hypnotic occupation of entertainment…..but there are lines to be drawn here.

In the Bible, there are creatures which do not stray far from the imaginative descriptions of hell hounds, but I won’t get into that, I believe that the authors saw what they saw….what is of interest is that the Devil, our mortal enemy, is not quite as elaborately fearful in the Bible as other creatures, he is largely defined as a master of deception, an impostor, a very convincing actor, if you will. He is even defined as an angel in many instances. His most frightening persona is ‘the dragon’, but there isn’t much detail in a fearful description (Revelation 20), his main trait is the skill of lying, deceiving...

Take a look at this..

The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. Matthew 13: 34-30

The devil has no interest in looking dangerous and formidable, I believe his most artistically fearful work lies in hiding in plain sight, plugging himself in situations that are construed as healthy and worth while. The guy is like the CIA! The most fearful thing about our enemy is that he knows what trips us up, our weaknesses and vain desires. He preys on us at our weakest point. His agenda is by no means simple, but well structured and effective…. a point to note: Notice how all the evil we label as especially heinous is performed by man toward his fellow man? I think we fit the hell hound description better than the devil!

Bottom line: We are no match for Him..

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal….(Martin Luther)

I submit to you to stop trying to justify seemingly ‘good deeds’. For all we know it could be one of the devil’s elaborate plan to woo you into a corrupt system that would consume you and estrange you from Christ. Instead, focus on what Jesus offers: alienation from this world of sin and impending doom. Like a faithful blade of wheat, grow among the tares, knowing full well you do not share in the same future…

Keep walking, keep growing…..Compared to the devil, a hell hound is the least of your problems…..

Lonely…never alone…

The narrow path is not one for company.

There is barely space for two, and its full of too many twists and turns to incur the same tactical opinion. The path is unpopular and greatly abandoned, there are few looking for it, and many that are have not found it….. its a lonely road…

There is little that will be found righteous when Jesus Comes, most of us will have strayed, and quit waiting for the redemption that feels overdue…

Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8

I have always approached my thoughts logically, which almost always works for explainable situations. I have found this to be of a great disadvantage in my Christianity, for there is no logic I have applied that has advanced my spiritual growth, its like there is nothing within me that can spur Spiritual progress…

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; buthow to perform that which is good I find not. Romans 7:18

This means I have to abandon the norms that are ingrained within my psyche,  and develop a new extrinsic school of thought that will guide me. You know what this means? I may have to tread on very lonely road, very lonely…
I like what mikeschair says in their song “Let the water’s rise”

There’s a raging sea , Right in front of me,

Wants to pull me in, Bring me to my knees

So let the waters rise
If You want them to
I will follow You
I will follow You..I will follow You…

But you know what? This loneliness remains as a feeling, the actual fact being that I am not alone.

Apart from the occasional bump in from other weary travelers,  I do not believe that God has ever left me…..He was and is always there…

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Lovely Promise….As I walk into the dusk…

Singular Purpose

The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil Proverbs 16:4

I’ve posted this before, but it always sounds different when I think about it. There is nothing ambiguous about our presence on this planet; we were all designed for one express purpose.

It sounds really unfair, doesn’t it? Well, we don’t have a lot of say in that regard, our importance is graded by God, who did not withhold anything to see that we should not perish….

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance 2 Peter 3:9

I believe that once we understand how singular the reason for our existence is, the sooner we take the steps in the right direction.

Purity is not the status of being clean, but a singularity in purpose, having one driving incentive in one’s life….Jesus.

I have heard many a preacher speak of the writings of Solomon, especially Ecclesiastes. It has been logically excused as the time when Solomon was at his Spiritual Low, when he realized how far he had strayed. While this may be true, there is not a word in that Book I do not find logically disagreeable. There is no other reason for living, there is only Christ, and the cross He call’s us to carry. Sounds quite forlorn, huh? Well, as it should;  why live without God, better yet, why live without life?

I want to single out what my purpose is, I want to know what I am meant to do. This response sounds so terminal, but what in this life isn’t? The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren has been a useful tool in this walk, I would encourage you to get a whiff of this resource.

Is there anyone out there who drones about every day, feeling like just another cog in the works, meant to spin perpetually without reason? Well, Come, let’s take a walk, dull as it might seem, I believe  your experience of it will be quite fulfilling…

The contrast of your destitute nature and His abundant providence should be your motivating factor. While it’s still day….A Necessary Evil: Punishment

 

By your side…

I’ve come to Love Tenth Avenue North‘s Song ‘By your Side’, I’ve related to every line in every verse. Here’s a portion of the song:

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don’t turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I’m not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I’ll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don’t fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

I guess a Christian‘s age in faith is insignificant…..no matter how mature you seem to be, the moment you decide to stand by your own means, strive to attain righteousness by your lone efforts, destruction comes……swiftly and decidedly…

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall…I Corinthians 10:12

Since November of Last year, I’ve been on a Journey that in the end proved only what I knew too well…there is no peace without God, there is no life, no purpose, no endeavor worth undertaking without God… We were created for His express purpose, to play our role in the making of the tapestry that will be unveiled when the time comes…..

I am now tasked with repentance for my foolishness….and thus begins my journey back on the narrow road….Walk with me….

A Perfect World

Perhaps this is how it was meant to be….complete silence….oblivious of the world burning around you, all the chaos and disorder shrouded by the peace that bears on your consciousness….irrevocable, unwavering….

Maybe this is how it was meant to be….overlooking the hurt that she caused you, the pain of separation, the guilt trips and feigned innocence….overlooking all the dark attributes to forgive and accept back without regret…. Somehow, I imagine perfection not in the alleviation of disorder, pain, suffering….hurt….but in the strength it takes to make it through…

In a perfect world, there would be no rain, no gloom of looming storm clouds, no loneliness, no despair, no lack…..

In a perfect world, perfection would not be needed, because we wouldn’t know what it was…

The ideal situation calls for the job to be completed seamlessly, with milestones overcome in time and with minimal strain on resource…..perfectly…..

In an Ideal situation, there would be no job, no milestones to overcome, no need to manage resources, all the puzzle pieces would fall where they were supposed to…

In a rioting crowd, perfection is bleak, and order is lacking, chaos persists, and in many cases, in a plight to bring perfection to a related situation….I guess you can fill a cup by emptying it….

In a perfect world, I do not exist, since I still seek perfection, I still seek Ideals, In a perfect world, I would not be born…

In a perfect world, there exists none to challenge the other, none to point out one’s mistakes

In a perfect world, there would be none at all to perform the mistake

In a perfect world………….