Spiritual and Physical Strength

Beloved Heavenly Father,

In all we think, say, and do

May Your name be ever glorified.

O Father,

Give us the energy we need

Both physical and spiritual

In order to do Your will.

For when we do Your will

We step closer to heaven.

Yet we need both kinds of strength

To walk that path.

This spiritual energy

is Grace, Mercy, and compassion.

Our physical energy

Is the bread we call daily strength.

But man does not live

On physical energy alone,

But on the spiritual energy

of Grace, Mercy, compassion, wisdom,

and the Word of God.

Amen.

What God Will Look For

Where there is devotion in the heart

True, pure, everlasting,

Full of compassion, kindness,

Generosity, and obedience

A broken and contrite heart,

A heart that wants to do what God wants it to do

And not its own will,

There Christ is.

Where devotion to Christ is pure,

And where there is Christ‑consciousness in the mind,

Full of loving‑kindness,

Full of joy

Let the teachings of Christ be carried out

By all men,

To the best of their abilities

And in the situations they are given.

For this is the oil in the lamp.

Not oil like earthly oil used for cooking,

But the righteous oil of

Devotion in the heart of a person

And Christ‑consciousness in the mind.

This is what God will look for

On the Day of Judgment.

Amen

A Position of the Heart

Blasphemy is not
Just a word alone.

It is a position
Of the heart.

Speaking the Lord’s name in vain

With a mental disorder
Tourette’s or similar

Is not blasphemy.

Blasphemy is taking His name in vain

Not by accident,

Not by illness,

But on purpose.

Doing it to show off,

To offend,

To honor Satan, 

Not God.

Above all,

Blasphemy is willful

A choice of disrespect,

A choice against holiness. 

Amen

The Olives of Obedience

How many Bible verses can you memorize?
But does it really matter if we know thousands?
Without devotion in your heart,
without repentance in your mind
repentance that is sincere
it is useless.

For dishonest, insincere repentance
is worse than no repentance at all.
Repentance should be
as soon and as often as possible.
You are not guaranteed a tomorrow,
so do not wait.

Make your repentance sincere,
your devotion pure and true,
as the Lord gives devotion to my heart.
For devotion, pure and true,
is the oil in the lamp
the righteous oil in the lamp
that Jesus speaks of.

It is metaphorical, symbolic.
It is not made of olives,
but of the olives of obedience,
devotion, compassion,
generosity, sincerity, and honesty.

Amen

The Name of Jesus is Powerful

Teach us, O Jesus,

To learn and meditate
on Your word

In the ways of justice, peace, and love.

Without your teaching,

Your name becomes a magic formula.

Yet Your name is powerful,

And that power gives us grace.

To live Your word

Day by day,

Hour by hour,

Minute by minute.

All attempts without Your truth will fail

For only by the power

Of Your eternal grace

Can we stand.

Amen

Compliance with the Word of God

People say, I don’t want to be too spiritual.

God knows my heart,

But it’s not about being spiritual.

It’s about being a true, loyal, devotee of Jesus.

Yes indeed, God knows your heart,

But true devotion is shown through

Helping people, loving them, showing compassion

And above all else, compliance with the word of God.

You comply with people every day...

Your boss at work,

Your teacher at school,

And your parents.

So why do people

Not comply with the word of God?

Which is something everyone should do

If they want to go to heaven.

Amen

True Christ Consciousness Will Not Seek Money

Your heart can be devoted to Christ

Or to money—

But never both.

Yes, the love of money

Is the root of all evil.

For when we love money more than God,

We chase worldly treasures,

But hard work alone

Won’t keep us from trouble.

Not all busy hands

Are free from trouble.

God gives us work to do—

Let us focus on that.

God calls us to greater work.

Let us think for ourselves

And do His will.

This work moves our hands

And prepares our souls.

Spiritual work and prayer

Are both needed.

Work alone may keep us

From earthly trouble,

But only prayer and purpose

Keep us ready for heaven.

Amen