4 📷 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." - Colossians 3:2 KJV
Set Your Affections Where?
Though there are strong parallels ordained by God between the natural and the supernatural, they are not the same...similar but not the same.
Beware of any attempt by the god of this world to blind you to this world's witness of God, or to worship the messenger.
No holy cows, no spirit animals, no worship or prayers to saints or angels.
Let us rather set our affection on things above, on the King of Kings, not on things on the Earth, or its prince.
And let us find spiritual life in Christ, while we bear witness of the Gospel on this earth.
2 Corinthians 4:4, 7, 16, 18 KJV
"4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. ...
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. ...
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. ...
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
-
5 📷 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." - Galatians 6:7 KJV
The natural creature reproduces after its kind, and
the spirit produces fruit that reveals its true character.
The writer of Romans 3:8 addresses an interesting perspective on this matter. There were people who accused him of saying,
"Let us do evil, that good may come."
He responded that this mindset was damnable. Is it not an abomination?
● Back to Matthew 7:15-17,
do we sow thistles, that figs may come?
● Do we sow wild oats? do we have a rumspringa,
expecting spiritual growth?
● Do we bribe God to look the other way with indulgences?
● Do we rob God? Malachi 3:8
● Do we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Romans 6:1
Spiritually Discerning
While physical sowing and reaping are quite visible, spiritually, people are far less discerning.
We so quickly wither in the face of opposition or are easily sidetracked by bad ideas with no track record, or at least no truthful record that is politically correct to publish.
We are scattered like so much grain upon a patch of earth.
Read Matthew 13 for more on that point.
And yet, I have see many plants, whether hardy or fragile, beautiful or noxious, poisonous or nutritious, growing in places the determinist would dismiss.
Let the power of God grow you where you are planted.
There are some who make excuse regardless how good the soil. And there are others who allow bad conditions to make a false prophet out of them.
Understand the perils, learn what is profitable, and grow where you are planted.
Whatever the obstacles, natural or supernatural, grow, by the grace of God.
But this illustration is about more. It is about being a sower, being a co-laborer, sowing in your life and the lives of others, spreading the Word.

6 📷 "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." - Galatians 6:8 KJV
Sow in Tears
We are slow to sow in tears, unless they are tears of self-pity, and so we scarcely reap in joy, unless we count the fleeting sense of instant gratification, or the feel-good follies of false prophets.
Psalm 126:5 KJV
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."
Little do we sow in tears; little do we reap in joy.
The stewards in the parable of the talents weren't just feel-good investors (Matthew 25).
In living color, they had challenges to face, known enemies and unknown growing conditions. They earned their living by the sweat of their brow.
Jesus, the Bread of Life, earned for us eternal life, by the sweat of His blood-stained brow.
If you ever think you had a hard day of work, remember...
If you ever thought you could pay the price God requires, remember...
Remember Jesus Christ.
But wait a minute, shouldn't joy beget joy?
Hebrews 12:2 KJV
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Jesus looked forward to joy, with hope, and that is what He found.
He believed the Father,
Jesus Christ the Son,
prayed in anguish of spirit,
"Thy will be done."
Jesus believed God,
a hope beyond trials,
a faith that would walk
even double the miles.
Do you believe God?
His face you will see.
What have you sown
for eternity?
Colossians 3:1-4 KJV
"1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
You reap what you sow...
There is much more to say on this topic.
If you want to read ahead, go to 1 Corinthians 15, and consider its relation to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and how we have access to such grace as we look forward to His appearing.

Lord, Write
The Book of My Life

Oh Lord, I want You to write the book of my life;
Take the quill, and write every line;
And when I'm turning the page at the end of the age,
May it read that Your Will transformed mine.

Oh Lord, I want You to search the script of my life;
Lord, I long to be perfectly whole.
Show me every blot, ev'ry error in plot;
I want Jesus to be in control.

Oh Lord, I want You to write the theme of my life;
Write the song that beckons my soul;
Write a song that is free, pen my heart's melody
That I'll sing while eternity rolls.

Poetic Prayer by Eric Druist

Will You Part at the Portals?
by Eric Druist

Will you part at the portals
at the end of the day?
Will you stand undecided
as time passes away?

Will you walk on together
with the family of God?
Or will you find yourselves parted
in the courtroom of God?

Admonition
by Eric Druist

When you pray for mercy,
Make a prayer for grace.

When you plead forgiveness,
Earnestly seek his face.

When you ask for compassion,
Remember the cross anew.

When you’re seeking redemption,
Be searching in truth.

Do you love Christ and the Church?
Do you love them both?

#reformationday

THE WAY

~ The Compass:
Not just a needle to be jostled by our whims and circumstances, Christ is the body of the compass, present with markings to define our heading, truer north than our desires, truer north than our North Star on cloudy days.

~ The Course:
Paul said, "I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim 2:7) He also said, "For me to live is Christ." (Phm 1:21) To follow Christ's course by faith is to serve Christ.

~ The Captain:
Wherever we go,
He has already been,
willing and able to turn us again.
From the grave 'neath the wave,
to the clouds in the sky,
by fish or by boat,
He can guide us by eye.

~ The Door:
The door of the sheep (Jhn 10:7,9), the strait gate (Luk 13:24), the only way (Jhn 14:6).

THE TRUTH

~ The Light:
Jhn 1:5, 9 "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. ... That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

~ The Rock:
Mat 7:24-25 "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock."

~ The Foundation:
Eph 2:20 "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"

~ The Fortress:
Psa 91:2 "I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."

THE LIFE

~ Preserver:
Psa 121:7-8 "The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." Also, Mat 14:22-33.

~ Provider:
2 Pet 1:3 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" Also, Luk 5:4-11.

Nehemiah 8:9-10 KJV
9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Hebrews 12:1-3 KJV
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Psalm 126:1-6 KJV
1 A Song of degrees.
When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

The simplicity of
surrender to God
by the grace of God
is the antidote to
becoming wise in
our own conceits.

"Be simple concerning evil…" (Rom 16:19) Simply surrender. True wisdom, walking in the fear of the Lord, true goodness, will build from there.

If it is all done in our own strength, how shall God guide our hands? We need the grace of God to guide and guild our paths.

Otherwise, we are otherwise wise, wise in our own conceits, doubling down where we have not surrendered, calling it good as if the Almighty is impressed by our self-congratulations, and in pride and error we go.

No twisting of words can deceive the Most High.
But they may deceive you. So don't lie to yourself.
Hear the Word of the Lord and say,
"It is good, and I will obey."

Thanks for What?

Thanks for what? We often wonder.
What can we be grateful for?
In this land, it’s all for granted,
Then...a knock sounds at our door...

“Alms for orphans,” says the neighbor.
“Doorbell buzzer, get it real!
There’s no orphans in this city;
Ev’ry child here has a meal.”

“I’m an orphan,” says the neighbor,
“So are you, but for God’s grace.
God said, ‘Stop. Remind your neighbor
What it is to seek my face.’”

Thanks for Who? the question stands now.
Thanks for Jesus Christ Your Son.
Thanks for making life worth living.
Sincerely, Grace’s adopted son.

Hope of Seasons

Autumn leaves are gently falling,
and I wish they would not go;
But I know that their great beauty
will be touched by winter snow.

Winter snow comes for a season;
then it swiftly melts away;
But the blossoming of springtime
will erase those shades of gray.

Springtime fades away as summer
brings to life another song;
Summer heat brings forth a harvest
and the cheerful harvest song.

With those seasons quickly passing,
time stands still and I can see;
What we reap will grow tomorrow,
and tomorrow I will see.

Nothing stands at once forever,
nothing goes unchanged by time;
Only God can call the seasons,
only God can call the rhyme.

Without Him, no thing would happen,
without Him, no thing would be;
Without Him, there’d be no Saviour,
without Him, no hope to see.

When Things Go Wrong
As they often will do,
I find that God's hands
Are the gentlest and true.

Whatever will happen,
Whatever will come,
Just hold to that hand—
It's the nail pierced one.

When praying is harder
Than lips can express,
The Spirit's own groaning
Will pine for your rest.

God's ways are beyond us,
But this I am sure,
He knows you; He loves you;
He cries even more.

How ever deep your pain, His grace is deeper still.

Starlight on the Hills,
Shepherds watch their sheep.
Sound of music thrills
Those who vigil keep.

Starlight in the east,
Wise men seek a king;
Greatest and the least
Bring Him ev'rything.

Starlight overhead,
Shining on the Son,
Showing us the way,
To the Holy One.

Starlight ever shine,
Shed your beams of grace,
Cause the blind to see
The Redeemer's face.

Eric Druist 👑 Edify

The Entitlement Razor

When NECESSITIES become a LUXURY, you have POVERTY.
"We can't afford that."

But when LUXURIES become a NECESSITY, you have ENTITLEMENT.
"I gotta have that."

Read - Philippians 4:11-13
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state l am, therewith to be content.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Pray - Proverbs 30:8
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Don't Be A Scrooge
Proverbs 3:28 KJV
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.