Blasphemy Is Not a Slip of the Tongue

Yes, we should try and control what we say,

And think about our words before we speak.

But blasphemy is not a slip‑up.

It is done on purpose.

When we say something that sounds blasphemous

Because we have a speech impairment,

That is probably not blasphemous,

For the fault is in the impairment, not the intention.

We must try to control our tongues,

And not let our tongues speak filthy language

As much as we are able.

But still, real blasphemy is done on purpose,

Not by accident,

Not by speech impairment,

Not by mental illnesses.

In other words,

True blasphemy is deliberate.

It requires thinking about it

Before it is said.

It requires planning

To say the Lord’s name in vain

Not just an accidental slip‑up

Or a speech impairment

But thinking about saying the Lord’s name in vain,

Then saying it.

Amen 

Flowers That Wilt, Glory That Lasts

Many use their talents to gain glory and fame,

But the only glory you should be chasing

Is the glory of Jesus.

For in the end, our glory disappears

Like flowers—fresh, when picked,

Beautiful to look at,

Beautiful to smell,

But they wilt in the sun

And their look and smell vanish.

So use your talent well,

Whether singing or writing,

Whether you know how to play

A piano or a harp

Not to glorify yourself,

But to glorify Christ.

If you are good at painting,

Then use that

To glorify Christ.

Amen

Daily Need, Daily Obedience

You want Jesus without his teachings?

What you want is a sacrifice to cover your sins,

But without obedience to God

And compassion toward your neighbor.

You want Jesus without his gospel?

What you want is the bread of life,

But without the word of life.

Many people take Jesus as Savior,

But not as boss or teacher,

But as healer

Can we live the way we want

And still gain heaven?

Once we are safe,

Are we always safe,

Or do we need God daily?

If we don’t need God daily,

We don’t need him at all.

If we need him,

We need him daily.

Amen

Through Beads to Christ

If one would talk to beads,

It might seem strange and odd,

As though the beads could do something for us.

But the prayer beads cannot do anything.

They hold no power of their own.

We use them to meditate,

To enter a frame of mind

That helps us learn the story of Jesus

And grow in his grace and knowledge.

They help us grow in Christ consciousness,

And draw closer to Christ

In mind and heart.

For the beads focus our mind

On the one we are praying to...

Jesus Christ our Lord.

It may look like we are praying to Mary,

But we are going to Jesus through Mary,

The same way Jesus came to us through her.

Yes, it looks like we are talking to beads,

But we are not.

We are meditating on the life of Jesus

Through prayers to Mary. 

Amen

No Shortcuts on the Way to God

Oh God, holy, pure, and true,

Is your name, your word,

And your kingdom forever.

Let your wisdom grow in our hearts each day.

Oh Jesus, you lead us on the way,

For the way that leads to God

Has no shortcuts and no side roads,

Only the narrow road of truth.

We live in honesty and love,

Following all you taught

In word and in action,

In devotion to Christ, the King

And Savior of the world.

Let our worship be not only prayer and song,

But actions of holy compassion,

Kindness and mercy,

So that the word and wisdom of Christ

Live in our hearts and minds.

May the advent of Christ consciousness

Awaken our hearts,

That we may act more like Jesus

From day to day.

May our devotion to Christ grow deeper,

And may we gain the pure wisdom
That comes from Christ our King. 

Amen

Channels of Light, Love, and Life

Oh Jesus,
May your light, love, and life
Be our joy and our hope,
Our faith, compassion, and kindness.

May your word, Jesus,
Be like water,
Washing the dirt from our consciences,
Not merely to gesture,
But to renew us completely.

Renew our hearts,
For a healed heart
Is a whole heart.

Keep your love true within us,
For untrue love is no love at all.
Love that is untrue
Is as good as none.

O God, keep your light true.
Let the Holy Spirit
Make us channels
Of love, of life, and of light,
For your greater glory.

For our glory is nothing.
The glory of God
Is love and peace,
Compassion, kindness, and mercy.

Your mercy does not run out
For those who truly want it,
For those willing to change.

But time will run out
For those who refuse to change their ways.
Teach us to seek you
With whole hearts,
Whole minds,
And whole souls.

If we reject Jesus,
How can we enter heaven?
There is no other way
Than the name and teachings of Christ,
Given through his apostles.

Oh Jesus,
May your life
And your teachings
Be our lasting joy
And our salvation.

Teach us to live with kindness,
With love and compassion,
For what we do to others
We do to Christ.

Be our daily bread,
Our firm foundation,
And our medicine.
Let compassion
Be oil in our lamps.

Keep your ways pure and true,
Carry us through easy times
And through hardship,
For there is a time of plenty
And a time of gleaning.

Amen.

Be True in All You Think, Say, and Do

There’s only one path to salvation, one path to joy.

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life;

No man comes to the Father except through me,

But he meant something much deeper.

We need to live with our lamps trimmed and extra oil.

This oil is Christ consciousness, devotion to Jesus in our heart.

We need to live with our hearts clean, full of devotion to Christ.

We must be true in all we think, say, and do.

For to be obedient to God is not just to comply with His wishes,

But also to have sincerity in our hearts

And to live out every day to the best of our abilities,

With true Christ consciousness.

Amen