Strong rock-cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.
Not passive or unpassionate, but waiting on the Lord on fire, not fearful but taking ground for the Kingdom, not uninformed but learning truth by His Bible illumination, not unproductively here but instead live constructive by God's Spirit. Real passion comes from God. Ask. He hates lukewarm-apathy and indifference.. not hating people like that. He loves us all and expects us to live passionately in Him. Every area of our lives is to be touched by His passion. We all are to love Christ 24/7/365 passionately! God says...
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men.." Col. 3:23
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) where you are going." Eccl. 9:10 amp
Man, remember Noah's ark? He was passionate for God and ran into it. It was like a cleft, a type of Christ. It was a safe refuge that went through a gnarly killer storm. The most beautiful thing about that ark as seen earlier, was that the door of it just stayed open a long time so that anyone could just come on in and hide away if ya will. It was mercy that God had Noah build the big "boat." I love God and His great mercy, that rescues sinners like me! He does that. I love His grace as well.
Please opt to be a worldchanger in the Father's worldchanging Son.. at the end of the world if ya will. You know it's at least the end of your world experience here right?
Noah was one who reached out to others in his world. He loved God, people, and perhaps even animals it would appear. He "found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Gen. 6:8). Do you remember Noah's directives?
Noah and Lot both lived at the end of the world so to speak. Each at the end of their world right before a cataclysm arrived. Noah built a big boat and he won his family over to faith in the one living God, but Lot got a couple daughters out of town, away from the danger zone. You remember how his wife turned and looked in longing for that worldly place and got judged. Man, Lots' relatives didn't want to listen to him or follow. Did they feel they had too much to lose there? Was it due to his lame example that Lot set that he couldn't even get his own wife to safety?
Let's all be and live righteous before the Lord. We can in Jesus Christ! I've been thinking a lot about Noah lately, not a whole lot about Lot really. Both were real persons of course. Noah preached the truth for over 600 years. You know that door of his ark which was a type of Christ... stayed open a long time so anybody could go into it and be safe. Why didn't more go in? Only Noah's family went in and then later his son mocked his dad. Noah had gotten naked and drunk. Was Noah depressed or what? Man, why did he do that. I love how the Bible ain't like a movie, it's doesn't hide the flaws of it's heros, but says it like it happened. Do you think about Lot in the city some? He was a city person who also lived way back in the day. I can empathize. He sure had a hard time trying to even get his relatives to believe the truth about gettin' out of town for safety. 
Are you kinda not sure of where to go? Jesus said, "I am the way.." Thee way, not one way among many. All roads do lead to God so to speak at his exacting judgment bar, but only one Way takes you into his heavenly Home. It's via Jesus..Do you have a couple sock puppets as leaders? Do you live in a land that looks like it needs a military coup because of a well planned forceful foreign takeover and occupying force? I can relate. Am not sayin’ what you should do, ask your Lord. Not sure of all that will happen in the future here with the DC Uniparty and CCP pulling the strings, but one day soon there will be a good military coup that rescues and restores all (the whole hijacked planet), as Christ and his mighty heavenly hosts return to take over here. First we get the Rapture (of his Church) and seven years later, the great coup.
I'm looking forward to the millennium, the Kingdom age with its flawless undefeated King. But until the Sweet By and By we've got to live in the nasty here and now and there are enclaves.
I live in three enclaves of sorts: Texas, Prestonwood church, and more importantly, in Christ. Come to Texas if you can, it's peaceful.. or come along with Texas (other states). But more importantly come to Christ.. come back to Christ today. Walk in Him, in his love and will for you.. yes in Him. Walk in His Spirit and come back to church, to your forever Family, to a spiritually healthy one.. who will also welcome you with open arms. Christ will, his real Church will, and I will.
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God -- great song by reformer, Martin Luther. This hymn inspires us to find forgiveness, strength, solace, protection and provision in Christ. Yes, in Him, and in his love we can enjoy a free salvation amid horrific opposition, amid the dangers toils and snares. Amid the corruption and woes of mortality. While here we truly have a best Friend who will fight for us, One who's in charge of all the armies above. And none come close, or are more powerful than this God with his host of heaven. have you been ripped off lately in small or in ginormous ways? Take courage in the courageous one. There is a rest we can enter and enjoy in our first love. When all hope fails he is still our Living Hope.
Ever heard that false money-grubbing song jingle of Johann Tezel? Ever seen an actual Catholic “indulgence” that had been sold in hopes of gaining God's grace just to get out of future fegefeuer aka purgatory or help others get out? (A place that doesn't exist. Besides God grace has always been free really). On Saturday, October 31, 1517, a 33-year-old theology professor at Wittenberg University walked over to the Castle Church in Wittenberg and nailed a paper of 95 theses to the door, hoping to spark an academic discussion about their contents. In God’s providence and unbeknownst to anyone else that day, it would become a key event in igniting the Reformation. Had he ever done this before—nail a set of theses to the Wittenberg door?
Martin had certainly proposed sets of such for academic debate, which was all he was really doing on that Saturday 10/31/'17. In fact, in September of that same year, Luther had led a debate on scholastic theology where he said many other things of so called radical Bible truth. Let's all be in God's word and that bold.
Ever been to the town of Eisenach Germany? Dunno, Luther may have also posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of All Saints' Church and other churches in Wittenberg, in accordance with his University custom.
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is one of the best-known hymns by the reformer, Martin Luther. I've been to his hometown, dwelling, and church--used to live in Germany. But this hymn inspires us to find strength in God's love and salvation amid the woes of mortality.
1) "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
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
2) Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
3) And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
4) That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!" ~ M.L.
For me, not against me is my God who leads me. I was lead and live in a nice enclave called Texas that is now seeking to secede and take some states with em (I hope they can put it off)..and Ken Paxton here along with other leaders are taking steps to fight back against all the junk DC is pushin' our way.I live in a nice enclave of sorts it's like a big city, my growing healthy Bible teaching church. Wonderful people like-minded, lots of no spiritually compromise types that will stand the ground.
Best of all.. I live in an enclave of sorts, a real and strong refuge called Christ who understands totally and fights for me...for us because of his great love for us. In Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand. Go study the hymns and works of Martin Luther who lived in a Time sort of like ours. An almighty fortress Is Our God, he always wins and he never loses. When we at the hands of wicked men who cheat, have suffered losses here, God makes that backfire in the faces of our enemies. He makes it all work together for our goods like a lovely tapestry (we see the backside mess, the scrambled thread and strings sometimes, but He sees the front and the finish product). I am like his poema. It cuz we love him and are called according to his eternal purposes. See this is still to be found in the Bible, in Romans 8:28-29. world history can be broken down into three parts: generation degeneration regeneration (there was the pristine creation of God here, there was the fall of Adam in the sin -- we've all sinned, but through repentance and faith in Jesus we can be regenerated in our human spirit -- be born again spiritually). Yes, your own life can be as well. Perhaps you've suffered some degeneration lately from the ravages of this world and sin, well you can be regenerated in Christ your Refuge. Even now, He'll accept you. (Luther's home in Eisenach below)
Got a good place to hide away from all the chaos?
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
To Thy fountain Lord I fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
And behold Thee on Thy throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.” ~
Bob Kauflin
There’s a place for you to rightly fit in. Snug and clean. Live in there..in Him.. sound, safe, secure. Not passive, not fearful, not uninformed, not unproductively. Remember Noah's ark? It was like a cleft, a safe refuge in the storm. The most beautiful thing about it earlier was that the door just stayed open a long time so anyone could just come on in. God's mercy, that rescues sinners like me!Not sure of where to go?
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6
”In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4
”For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will..” John 5:21,25-29
”Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep..” John 10:7,9
”Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Christ is full of grace, mercy and glory. All are invited to come to God. WE are in the age of grace right now, the door is open. Won’t always be. Basically, all roads do lead to God at his very exacting judgment bar, but only one way takes you into his heavenly Home. Jesus. Fish4souls.org
There are trials, attacks and afflictions here at times. Yes, it's not always safe for your physical body, but you are safe in Jesus. I'm leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. His. I'm in the Cleft. I say lean forward in Him, and go that way with Him leading too! Did you know that 50% of the population lean forward and the other half lean the other way when in danger. I say lean into Him as your Refuge and advance!
