Luk 11.2 + + + +

Luk 11.2

“…When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven…”

 

F Faithful

A Almighty:

T The

H Holy,

E Eternal

R Reverend   – eab, 4/26/18

 

“Wherever the work of sanctification increased

the whole work of God increased in all its branches.”

– John Wesley quoted by Abel Stevens

 

“Time” is all satan has. Thank God. His “goose is cooked” or much more eloquently Luther said, “his doom is sure.” God, by glorious contrast, has Eternity! The devil has a tiny window – God has all that’s beyond the window.

– eab, 4/26/18

 

…ONE THOUSAND AND ONE…

Could one count the grains of sand,

One could hold in one’s hand,

Moist, mingled, multitudes of quartz,

Could one imagine the huge number,

Counting slumber to slumber,

That line just a few little ports.

Could one pretend to know,

Counting row after even row,

The final tally would be so very grand,

The mind would definitely bend,

Before one came near the end,

Of counting the moist, multitudes of sand.

– eab, April 1978

 

Rom 12.2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed…”

 

You asked your careful dressing, modest wife to change so you could better fit-in with a certain business climate, a selected educational or religious atmosphere, or a particular political connection. She did. And now she may not be ready for heaven. Are you happy?

– eab, 4/30/18

 

“To be proud of learning is the greatest ignorance.”

– Jeremy               Taylor

 

Heaven & earth-texting will all pass away but God’s Text will not pass away. (Excuse an odd paraphrase.) Maybe you should do less of the first & read more of the last – it’s everlasting.

– eab, 4/30/18

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Isa 11.6 + + + +

Isa 11.6

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.”

 

“…Except ye be converted & become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”(Mat 18.3). OK. What’s it like to be a little child? Little children: Look up to their father, See their Father as the greatest, Need your help, Don’t worry about what’s for supper, say “Hold me,” Believe anything you tell them, Forgive easily, Cry unashamedly, Have as much “fun” with a box as what came in it.

– eab, 4/26/18

 

“Christ does not propose to emancipate any person from the necessity

of exercising his judgment in regard to his innocent appetites.”

– Daniel Steele

 

Christ is the Word. The antichrist has a number (Rev 13.18). Christ & antichrist are in contrast & it can be argued words & numbers are in contrast. Christ is uncreated. The devil (force behind antichrist) was created – not created evil but with a will & exercised it to become evil. If “words” are in contrast to “numbers” it could be stated that since Christ already was the Word (& therefore had the upper hand in the area of articulate express) satan chose to inflate numbers, to commandeer them for his realm of darkness & to make fallen man think numbers more important than they are.

– eab, 4/26/18

 

 

LUNCH

Woodpeckers, knocking for their dinner,

Lions preying for theirs,

Squirrels, literally going nuts,

Colts galloping to their mares,

Moo moos mowing the meadow at a munch,

All kinds of animals looking for their lunch.

– eab, April 1977   

 

Luk 16.24

“…Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue;

for I am tormented in this flame.”

 

A sinner spends a life-time making a name for himself – and then dies. Within a few years he becomes one of earth’s un-remembered millions. Hell is known as a place of torment, but it may also be a place where men are totally forgotten. “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it” (Luk 17.33).

– eab, 4/27/18

 

 

“Learn to say ‘No.’

It will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin.”

– Charles Spurgeon

 

Educational degrees can become a substitute for holiness (& have several times).

A highly disciplined life can become a substitute for holiness (& may hide the carnal nature).

And, sadly, a faulty theology can make holiness seem unnecessary – – – until the death rattle is yours.

– eab, 4/29/18

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Psa 16.1 + + + +

Psa 16.1

“Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.”

 

A writer may be lead to believe that he really knows “the agenda” of a group but has merely been given the story “said group” wants the public to know/believe. Such history is next-to-worthless. Even when a writer has a high percentage of the facts, even when he tries to subtract himself from the picture, his history is tainted by /his/ telling of the event(s). Only one His-story in the world is 100% reliable.

– eab, 1/2/18

 

“Where is the far country? Anywhere you go without God.”

– Wayne States, 5/11/87

 

Creator. It seems too short, too simple a word for the Wonderfully, Complex, far-beyond-our-imagination Being. Of course, He is much more than the Founder, much more than anything we can describe. Before any man knew anything about Him, God, in His Majesty, created/made everything “about” Him.

– eab, 1/5/18

 

LINC – LINC

His hair was the color of new-mown straw,

His eyes were the color of ice in the thaw,

His cheeks were the color of a fresh pink rose,

And His teeth all stood in nice even rows.

I had a little kid.

 

He was the second in our family line.

He was “blessed” with a laugh just like mine.

He could eat like a man off a two-day fast;

And win my heart, the punishment past.

I had a little kid.

 

Lincoln Scarbrough Bryan was his full name;

Lincoln – that man of pure and honest fame,

Scarbrough – the maiden name of his NICE mom,

Bryan – the Irish ancestry that he came from.

I had a little kid.

– eab, April 1970

 

2Ti 2.15

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”

 

*Grammar* If you’re a home-schooling Dad/Mom ask God to increase both your knowledge & love of grammar. (If you love it, great; pass that on to your child. If you don’t like it, your child may not either.) “Why, Bryan, would you devote a post to grammar?” Paul (he spoke Hebrew & Greek Act 21.37 & 40) writes serious words to Timothy (2Ti 2.15) about “…Rightly dividing the word of truth.” A better grasp of grammar (I admit mine is weak) will mean a better grasp of God’s eternal truths – truths being conveyed to us via the structure of language. – eab, 1/20/18

 

“Judgment awaits us judgment or revival…”

– Oswald Smith, fr /Consuming Fire/

 

You write a new date – – – it’s always higher than the one before. Days add into weeks & weeks to yrs. Time is not “at it again.” No. Time has continually rolled, when you were aware it was going & either wished to hasten it, or hold onto it. And – when you were unaware of its passage, time was sneaking over the brink, sliding away, everyday.

– eab, 1/31/18

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Mat 27.51 + + + +

Mat 27.51

“…The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;

and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”

 

We should thank God everyday that we’re not restricted to an animal sacrifice, nor a mere man as a priest, nor to the Jewish sabbath. We get to enjoy the privileges of the New Testament! Praise the Lord.

– eab, 4/27/18

 

“Antagonism to holy living comes from unregenerate people and never from the regenerate.”

– George               Shaw, /Spirit in Redemption/

 

It seems (Luk 16.23) that an inhabitant of hell had a view of the Blessed World. If this can be expanded, all of hell may see the joyous activities above. See but know they’ll never. (Purgatory is an awful falsehood!) See & know they could’ve gone. See a saint they fired ‘cause he wouldn’t lie for the company. See a saint they made-fun-of in the family. See a saint they tortured (killed?) now happy. And, perhaps be aware that that saint will never remember them again. Earth knows no loneliness (IMO) like hell has.

– eab, 4/27/18

 

 

good neighbor

Being a good neighbor

May take love and labor

But deeds done and gifts given

Do not open the gate to heaven;

Confession & Belief only, bring God’s favor.

– eab, April 2011

 

Eph 5.25

“Husbands, love your wives…”

1Pe 3.1

“…Ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands;

 

Broken home? Who broke it?  Yes, I know satan hates the home (‘cause God made it) but the devil can’t break a home by himself – he has to have help. A broken home is ALWAYS an “inside job.”

– eab, 4/27/18

 

 

“The difference between Jesus Christ & Mahomet. Mahomet was not foretold; Jesus Christ was foretold. Mahomet slew; Jesus Christ caused His own to be slain. Mahomet forbade reading; the Apostles ordered reading.”

– Blaise Pascal

 

God has given man control over his mind. We are free to believe (or not believe) as we choose. This is a fantastic power with which God’s entrusted us. The most important beliefs center on the Triune God & our earthly/Eternal relationships with Him. But in many other areas we chose to accept Truth or lies. And we *chose* to continue believing a Truth or discontinue believing a lie. God allows this exceedingly important power to be ours. Watch what you affirm or disaffirm by the life you live.

– eab, 4/27/18

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Mar 12.17 + + + +

Mar 12.17

“Jesus…said…Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s

and to God the things that are God’s.”

 

God doesn’t want (or truly “need”) that which has Caesar’s image. What He wants is us (made in His image) & sons/daughters (His image). Money is replaceable. It’s a means of exchange. Misguided men crave money, think they need more than they do, & fall in love with it. Some will kill a human to have money. Rather, let us kill the desire for money, in order to love humans.

– eab, 4/24/18

 

“The very essence of sin is pride…”

– George               Shaw, /Spirit in Redemption/

 

Retired? Congratulations. If Christ isn’t paramount in life you’re tendency may be to fish/hunt more, eat-out more, & do more hobbies. None are wrong & God may allow you (even when He IS paramount) to enjoy these, with limitations. When you worked at factory, store or taught, you were away hours & couldn’t study the Bible as you wished – Now you can. You can double, triple the time you give to the Classic of all classics. Do a serious study with notes on paper or on computer. Share with others as God opens the door.

– eab, 4/24/18

 

 

IMMENSE

God’s salvation plan is immense,

His redemptive love is intense,

Soon eternity will commence

Stop, hypocrite, trying to ride the fence.

– eab, 4/25/10

 

 

1Pe 4.7

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”

 

Retired? Happy for you. Perhaps you traveled for a living & are happy to be home. Or you’ve looked forward to retirement to trek more. Be careful & enjoy it. Allow me to suggest a “travel” which is less costly in dollars but takes time. Journey the earth via prayer. Evangelists across earth would love to have you “visit their country” in prayer once-a-week through your prayer list. This is not plane travel – this is prayer travel or if you like, Prayer Travail. You can visit more than one country in an hour of prayer J

– eab, 4/24/18

 

“Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully

as when they do it from religious conviction.”

– Blaise Pascal

 

You have a Free Will. The fact that you deny you have a Free Will is an act of your will. If you have no Free Will than ultimately (right before death) you can blame God that you’re dying out of fellowship with Him. The great sin (perhaps the greatest sin) of denying that you chose to “Perish” (& thus not have “Life” – words fr. Joh 3.16) is you ending up making God responsible for your damnation. How unfair! Man’s foolish little theology (a lot of theology is earthy & won’t be seen in Heaven or hell IMO) is trying to ignore that God gave His Son.

– eab, 4/24/18

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Luk 23.43 + + + +

Luk 23.43

“…Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

 

There’s no more a “gradual” salvation than there is a gradual wedding. There’ll be years of working “…out your own salvation…” (Php 4.12 – Don’t overlook the “fear & trembling.”) & there’ll be years of married-learning, learning how to better love your husband or wife. But the New Birth & the New Home (“I NOW pronounce you man & wife”) are instantaneous.

– eab, 4/24/18

 

“No man can have God’s highest thought and be popular with his immediate generation.”

– A B Simpson, fr. his ?Holy Spirit/

 

As non-atheists we tend to lose patience with anybody who would thus oppose the Being of God. Allow me to suggest there may be a sin worse than atheism. What? Pray tell, what? The avowed atheist is supposedly opposed to God (in reality his assertions about God are indirect acknowledgments of Him.) It maybe worse than atheism to Ignore God. To be so busy chasing shillings, chasing skirts, chasing shows, that we don’t recognize His Book, His Day, His Fatherhood. Take time, friend to not only concede His right to rule you, but invite Him into your inner being, your soul to live.

– eab, 4/24/18

 

              

Thief

The thief looking sideways could see

That Face did not “go with” that tree.

It took all he could muster.

These last words to utter.

“When Thy kingdom comes remember me.” Luk 23

– eab, 4/24/05

 

 

Mar 13.33

“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.”

 

“I don’t have time to pray.” Do you have time to eat? “I eat on the run sometimes.” Pray on the run – – – sometimes. But when you slow down & sit down to eat ALSO find your prayer closet, enter, shut the door. If need be shut the door again, & keep shutting it until you’re alone with God. – eab, 4/24/18

 

“He that lives to live forever, never fears dying.”

– William Penn (uncertain source)

 

* Longer post :(* God has allowed millions of repentant, believing sinners into His Kingdom. And, God has allowed sour, backsliding souls to leave His Kingdom (only volunteers serve Him). What kind of a gentleman would not allow you to leave his house? You thought you wanted to attend his dinner. You entered at his invitation (& your will). You got scared. You sensed your unworthiness (ma’am/sir, we’re all unworthy). Or you sat there thinking of the “fun” peers were having outside & you wanted out. The gentleman didn’t want you to leave – after all, he’d invited you or you wouldn’t have been there – but he allowed you to slip out the door. He may have a sorrowful heart or even a tear that you wanted to go but he let you. God is a Gentleman & will not keep you in the Kingdom if you want out.

– eab, 4/24/18

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Rev 15.2 + + + +

Rev 15.2

“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and

them that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image…”

 

The Bible frowns on images over & over. John was inspired (allowed, one might add) to tell of an upcoming satanic image that will have life, speech, & power (Rev 13.15). If you’re in a group that worships images (could be argued that an icon is simply a two-dimensional statue) please leave. “But, this is all I’ve known all my life!” Cry out to God. He is incomparably greater than all man’s statues piled together & can/will lead you to Himself, if you obey His leadership. Have a great trip toward God!

– eab, 4/23/18

 

“Repentance implies a willingness to be known and estimated according to one’s real character.”

– George               Shaw, /Spirit in Redemption/

 

Do not wait for the next revival at your local house of worship. Do not postpone your need till camp meeting. Do not wait for Bro So-n-So to initiate an extra prayer meeting. Start your own personal move toward God. Get rid of that shadow between you & Jesus. Talk to (in person is best) that relative/friend to whom you owe an apology. You may not live to see a greater result than your own private “revival” but that alone is so very important for you.

– eab, 4/23/18

 

 

Where’s he bound?

Judge not a man by his origins,

The banks and borders he called home,

Before he came to where you saw him

Before he from that place did roam.

 

It’s not our point of origination,

Not old country nor older creed

That decides the worth of earth’s traveler

Nor even present movements or deed.

 

Which way is his nose pointed?

If he were (he’s far more) a hound

You’d know by the set of his head

The direction his heart is bound.

 

Judge not a man by his home,

Judge by where he’s going,

Judge by exerted efforts,

Judge by his daily toiling.

– eab, Apr. 2001

 

1Jo 4.1

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:

because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

 

Candles do not “try to shine.” They light their surroundings without “trying.” Light & candles go together. A word of caution though; as they banish the darkness about them, they themselves are consumed.

– eab, 4/23/18

 

“…True fear comes from faith; false fear comes from doubt…”

– Blaise Pascal, fr. his Pensees

 

Worldly-minded ministers (& their un-saintly boards) create “worship services” to suit carnal hearts. If one or more of them have seen a Spirit-lead service they may try to imitate its holy “freedom” by one “music” or other means. This may fool those who’ve never known a Holy-Ghost-lead-service but it will not fool saints. It may sound overly simplified but in reality, all church services are either lead by the Blessed Holy Spirit or they are lead by His enemy, the spirit of the pit.

– eab, 4/23/18

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Rev 1.10-11a + + + +

Rev 1.10-11a

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

“Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last…”

 

Do you love the Lord? Does that mean you love His Word? Does that mean you spend time with His Bible e-v-e-r-y day? Does that mean He & you have “conversations”? He speaks to you & you speak to Him? When we love someone we read their letter/text & talk with them in person. And when we love SOMEONE we read His text & we talk to Him in person.

– eab, 4/22/18

 

“We have a responsibility to discern;

We do not have a responsibility to judge.”

– Leonard Sankey, IHC Shelbyville, IN, 9/17/96

 

We humans prefer multiple choices. We like to think we have the spectrum, A to Z. We do not like to be restricted to 3 but, “as limited as 3 is, it’s better than 2.” God allows us choices in several areas of life: color’s, dimensions, locations, etc. In the most important areas He makes the choice starkly simple: Him or His arch enemy, Up or down, Heaven or hell – there’s no neutral ground. “He that is not with me is against me…he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad” (Mat 12.30).

– eab, 4/22/18

 

              

YOUR LAST DAY

Today is a day to serve God by choice.

To sing and shout and greatly rejoice,

Because today could be your last day

To serve God on earth.

Today is a day to give God your will.

To seek and to know; His mind to fulfill,

Because today could be your last day

Of this world’s birth.

– eab, April 1984

 

Gal 6.6

“Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.”

 

Are you conscious of symbols? You probably recognize emblems of Toyota, Nike, & Apple. Some symbols are being used without text – very convenient as we head toward one-worldliness. We’re not just headed toward oneness in government & business, we’re headed toward a one-world religion. Religions, cults also have symbols. Warning: all you see that’s supposedly christian is not. I want to understand icons better & I strongly encourage you to open your eyes & ask God to help you see truth behind symbols.

– eab, 4/22/18

 

“God never made a promise that was too good to be true.”

– D L Moody

 

Do you honor God’s special Day? (It’s properly called “The Lord’s Day” Rev 1.10). Do you leave off unnecessary work? Do you omit buying. (Thank God for Hobby Lobby & Chick-fil-a.) Yes, He IS Lord of the sabbath & we’re definitely not bound by Jewish “sabbath laws.” Honoring the Lord’s Day by making it different/sacred is a clear way of honoring Christ – it is the day He chose to come back to life again!

– eab, 4/22/18

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Mat 6.10 & 13 + + + +

Mat 6.10a & 13b

“Thy kingdom come…”

“…For thine is the kingdom…”

 

Kings are not (as some Americans are tempted to think) merely legitimatized military dictators. Though there’ve been some “bad eggs,” many kings loved their people & were loved by them. This loyalty to royalty has been overlooked by those painting them all in broad, bad strokes of power & greed. Christians are the wonderful recipients of the Heavenly King who loves His people & is loved by them as well. 4/12/18

 

“A mistake is a thing you did when you knew no better;

a sin is a thing you did when you did know better…

the motive determines the morality of the act.”

– C W Ruth, /Bible Readings/

 

Please Sir/Ma’am, I oppose suicide for the one who’s strongly tempted. (I write “strongly” on purpose, many have had, myself included, a fleeting temptation.) It’s too late, (much too late, if it happened yesterday) for the one who’s committed this, I hope to save the next one. Never allow yourself to seriously consider ending your life! What good will that do? You’ll still face God for all your sins. God doesn’t want you to kill yourself. God wants to give you a new, make that NEW Beginning!  Impossible!  No, with God nothing, hear it, nothing is impossible!

– eab, 4/21/18

 

 

TARNISHING HANDS

Help us not to touch the glory

Of the great Gospel story

With our tarnishing hands.

May we ever yield You praises

For the various phases

Of missions across the lands.

There’s a great work to be done;

There’s a wide world to be won.

Our arms can’t be extended,

But Yours are never ended,

They reach to every mortal man.

– eab, April 1976

 

Mat 27.5

“And he [Judas] cast down the pieces of silver in the temple,

and departed, and went and hanged himself.”

 

Some soul may be thinking, “I’ll commit suicide & end it all.” “Ending it all” is a lie! Suicide begins damnation. “I’m going to go to hell anyway.” That has its roots in hell. Jesus Christ is your answer, Friend. “I’m not sure Jesus exists.” He does. 1000s of souls alive today know He does. He saved them – – – some from suicide. Start reading the NT (John is a good beginning). Read it not by the chapter – read it by the hour. As you read ask the Holy Spirit for help. There’s HOPE for you! Seek God as you never have before!

– eab, 4/21/18

 

“…The coming worldwide religion of the antichrist is rooted in & will establish itself as mysticism…the promotion of mysticism in the movie Dr. Strange.”

– T A McMahon

 

You’re a female, single, but not wanting to be. Mr. “X” is in your church/school/camp group. You know he left his wife – rumor has it she was “blah-blah” (you name it) & people feel sorry for him. Should you allow yourself have an interest? Think – you know “t-h-i-m-k.” He’s not with wife #1. What would keep him from leaving wife #2? The NT doesn’t allow for D&R, nor should you, but even if you’ve persuaded yourself D&R are “ok,” every story has 2-3 sides & you’re primarily hearing one. Hello?!?

– eab, 4/16/18

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Luk 18.1 + + + +

Luk 18.1

“…Men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

 

Abraham Lincoln is credited with saying, “The Lord must love poor people; He made a lot of them.” Lincoln’s analogy may be incorrect but poor people are more likely to pray than rich people. God wants to hear from His “kids” When is the last time (other than emergency) you called on Him? When did you say? – eab, 4/5/18

 

“Affluence has never created great faith.”

– Ken Rice, sermon, 12/30/91

 

When a quote (face book, twitter, google+ etc.) resonates with you, it would be good for you to see: 1) Who he is (really is, even if you think you know), 2.) What he is doing, 3.) Where is his “allegiance” (religious persuasion), 4.) When did he change, & 5.) Why he’s being vocal on this issue.

– eab, 3/12/18

 

              

beyond vainness

Some want an impressive structure

with steeple and carved door,

Some people like colored windows

and an attractive floor,

Others worship in a house

which strikes one with its plainness.

Worshiping God is a must –

get beyond the building’s vainness.

Compared to the Lords’ riches

all churches are clearly poor.

– eab, 4/20/13

 

 

Dan 7.10

“…Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him:

the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”

 

It’s sad when a friend/relative is on the left road but insists they’re on the right road. At the end, the Son of man, “…Shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left” (Mat 25.33). It is simple but true – once one leaves the right way, the only “way” left is the wrong (left) way. Oh, be watchful, Brother/ Sister. – eab, 4/14/18

 

 

“In the beginning I devoured Augustine, but when…I knew what justification by faith really was, then it was out with him.”

– Martin Luther

 

Many children today need a strong masculine image in their lives ‘cause dad is dead or gone. Who makes the best “substitute male parent”? Probably the safest man is a near relative: grandpa, uncle & it may be best if they’re not fully aware of their influence. If they can include the child without the child being conscience of the inclusion – the more natural this is, the better. A non-related man may be able to “plug-in” here, but he needs to be a genuine Christian & all man.

– eab, 4/19/18

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