As you whispered, “Forgive them Father, they know not what they do.” This agony, tearing of my heart, this unimaginable truth.

Unbearable, insufferable, and horrific pain taken for a miscreant’s expense. Passage of time and men, this still clings to my heart after generations of lights have been spent.

Forgive me, forgive me Father as this scourge remains fixed to my hand. To be sightless, ignorant of the Savior, this hammer I wield at the Son of Man.

Driving, striking, pushing these irons through the carapace of God’s mortality. Lifting, up heaving this tree of damnation, the motionless gaze of your body’s frailty.

Gasping, moments of breath from heaven, I peer at the crown of exaltation. Your last, your precious last draw of life I grapple the lance, thrusting conformation.

By my hands…

We are all guilty of His death. Only God could go through this and still offer us eternity. He has Risen, is Risen, and will forever be Risen.

Happy Easter! (The tomb is still empty)

Doug Gorman
Faith Online Business

Proudly Brought to you by Christian Classics Library

“From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church.

Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

“The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

“Two turtledoves were the Old and New Testaments.

” Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

“The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

“The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

“The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

“Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

“The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

“Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

“The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

“The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

“The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles’ Creed.
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“So here is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol…so pass it on if you wish… and Merry Christmas!
—————–

Bible Research Library
http://www.3rdpartynet-christian-classics.com/

The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the weary mind: “You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn’t moved.”

Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, “Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough.”

That’s what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. “Lord,” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?

The Lord responded compassionately, “My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?

Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have.

True, you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done.

Now my friend, I, will move the rock.”

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in Him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong … just P.U.S.H.!
When the job gets you down … just P.U.S.H.!

When people don’t react the way you think they should … just P.U.S.H.!

When your money is “gone” and the bills are due … just P.U.S.H!
When people just don’t understand you … just P.U.S.H.!

P= Pray
U= Until
S= Something
H= Happens

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Author Unknown

Contributed by Ronald Graham, South Africa
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Christian Classics Collection
http://www.3rdpartynet-christian-classics.com/

I Timothy 6:12 (Amplified version) says:- “Fight the good fight of faith; lay hold of eternal life to which you were summoned, and confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses”

GOD HAS CALLED US (SUMMONED) TO DOMINION which means:- “to exercise Sovereignty, Lordship, Rulership over a Specific Territory which has been given”(Genesis 1:26-28). We are told to ‘SUBDUE’ (get the upper hand of; tame; bring into subjection)

The Israelites were given a Promise of a Land flowing with ‘milk and honey’ – they physically, had to take God at His WORD and POSSESS it.

It required a certain action of aggression to take what was legally theirs.

Joshua 1:7,8 (Amplified) says:- “Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law, which Moses My servant command you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

V8 – This book of the law shall not depart out of you mouth, but you shall mediate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.”

Jeremiah 29:11-14 says:-

V11 – “ For I know the thoughts that I have toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

V12 – Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me and I will listen to you.

V13 – And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

V14 – I will be found by you, say the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity.

DEUTERONOMY 28:1-2 – “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I commanded you today,that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.

V2 – “And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

The delivery of the Israelites came in three (3) areas:-

1. Egypt (Victory over the World) – God did His Part. He Confronted All of the false god’s of worship who had exalted themselves against the knowledge of God (2Cor 10:4,5)

In the New Covenant – Jesus came and legally confronted and dealt with Satan’s right as the ‘illegitimate father of the world’ which previously made us Slaves to Sin.

Our DELIVERANCE is greater – it is a better Covenant because it dealt with the ‘Spiritual Claims’ Satan had over God’s Creation – Man. Israel was (physically) delivered from Egypt but WE in the New Testament or Covenant HAVE BEEN DELIVERED from the Power of Darkness and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of His Love. (Colossians 1:13)

2. Wilderness – (Victory over self/flesh/senses) self glory, self reliance (independence), self pity; anything connected with our Adamic nature or the Nature of Man. The Wilderness dealt with Man’s rebellion against God. It has to go. We cannot serve two masters. The Flesh (or natural senses) are at war against God. Romans 8:6-8 says:- [Amplified] The flesh nature (characteristics, desires) and the Holy Spirit’s nature CANNOT co-exist.

“Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death – death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and
hereafter. But the mind of the (Holy) Spirit is life and soul-peace [both now and forever].

V7 – [That is] because the mind of the flesh – with its carnal thoughts, and purposes – is hostile to god; for it does not submit to God’s Law, indeed it cannot.

V8 – So then those who are living the life of the flesh – catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature – cannot please of satisy God, or be acceptable to Him.

We have to be like Jesus and [accept] walk in His Righteousness (Romans 3:21-24). We have to experience Our Gethsemane – a laying down of Our Will and Agree with the Father – Not My Will But Your Will Be Done.

In the Garden Of Gethsemene Jesus TOTALLY stripped Himself of ALL the desires, agenda’s and understanding of the Flesh because it directly opposed the PERFECT WILL of GOD which was the Cross. Jesus settled the DESTINY of ETERNITY in the Garden. He TOTALLY Submitted Himself to the WILL of God.

This War of the Flesh [Gethsemene] will determine whether or not We Will Possess the Land which has been Promised – ‘The Promised Land!’

OLD HABITS or UNPRODUCTIVE (unprofitable) Habits have to go. Romans 3:12 [Amplified] says:- ‘All have turned aside; together they have gone wrong and have become unprofitable and worthless; no-one does right, not even one!’

We have been GIVEN the NEW NATURE – even the NATURE OF CHRIST; all we have to do is AGREE WITH GOD and continually WALK in it.

Ephesians 4:21-24 says:-

V21 – “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught Him, as the truth is in Jesus:

V22 – that you putt off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

V23 – and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

V24 – and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness.

It is in this Place that we are being PREPARED TO RULE. It is in THIS PLACE THAT DOMINION IS WON.

It is important to note that while even in this land [Wilderness] that God in His Mercy and Goodness still attended to their needs. He gave them food and water, clothed them and housed them. Even though they were constantly at WAR with God, He did not EVER abandon them. But in order for them to FULLY POSSESS they had to come to a Place of Faith in God’s ability – not theirs. AWESOME!

3. CANNAAN – The Promised Land – The Land of Blessings; The Land of Heaven on Earth. [Deut 11:21] A Land FULL of the LIFE of God. FULLNESS to OVERFLOWING.

After 40 years of rebellion in the Wilderness [a harsh land – a desert, barren land] Israel finally came into physical possession of the Promised Land of Canaan.

After they had won the Victory over themselves [self/flesh/human nature] they had to BELIEVE in what God had Promised them was theirs. Standing in the way of our Inheritance in Christ are ‘giants’.

We have to be like Joshua and Caleb and BELIEVE that God Will back us up IF we TAKE HIM at HIS WORD. Joshua and Caleb had a good report because they ‘believed’ God. They acknowledged there were indeed giants BUT WITH GOD – WE ARE WELL ABLE which means:- ‘wholehearted and bold’ [Numbers 13:30]. However, the people of the congregation refused (rebelled) to enter because they were still looking at their natural circumstances. They believed what their eyes saw rather than what God said.

Our Canaan is THE LAND OF PRECIOUS PROMISES (2Peter 1:4) which are ALL contained IN CHRIST!

‘By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape (by flight) from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.’ [amplified]

How Do We Possess It?

Matthew 11:12 [Amplified] says:- And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time the Kingdom of Heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize] – a share in the Heavenly Kingdom is sought for with most ardent zeal and intense exertion.

The Kingdom of God – ALL that God Has Promised – has to be taken by force. Apathy (laziness, sleep, indifference) has to be broken off our lives IF we are to INHERIT the PROMISES of God. We have to take the initiative and CONFRONT the enemy. Whatever is ‘keeping’ us out of our Promised Land is THE ENEMY.

EVERYTHING connected to our PAST LIFE which is UNPRODUCTIVE has to be destroyed. This may include:- bad habits [smoking, lying, swearing, gossip, slander, drunkenness, jealousy, idolatry, selfish ambitions and numerous other ‘old patterns’]. (Galations 5:19-21)

Everything which is of the ‘OLD’ nature connects us to Satan and death. It has to be dealt with violently. We have to totally break EVERY LEGAL RIGHT (foothold) that the devil has over our lives (Eph 4:27) in order to ENTER the Land of Milk and Honey [Blessings!].

Jesus said – ‘the devil has come and he has found nothing (no legal right) in me.’ Jesus COMPLETELY annihilated the devil and publicly humiliated him (Col 2:15). His Victory is Our Victory – All we have to do is BELIEVE it and Take it.

Jesus is The Head, We are the Body and the devil is UNDER our FEET but we must ‘subdue’ him [bring him into subjection, tame, get the upper hand].

We just have to believe God’s Word and SPEAK to the Mountains until they CRUMBLE and FALL [Mark 11:22-24]

2CORINTHIANS 4:13 “But since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believe and therefore I speak.’

Start SPEAKING to Your Weaknesses, Your Circumstances and Yield Your Will and Mind to the Power of the Holy Spirit. When You Speak God’s Word in Faith [nothing waivering – fully persuaded] ALL Heaven backs You up; God’s resources become yours.

God is AGAINST LACK – Jesus came to destroy LACK. In the Land God gave us – there is NO LACK. GOD is ALL SUFFICIENT.

The LORD is my Shepherd – I SHALL NOT WANT (LACK) Psalm 23:1

An elephant when in training is tied to a stake and it NEVER moves because of his training. We have been trained by the ENEMY to not move and just TAKE What he dishes up. We forget that the STAKE [the things which bind us, keep us UNDER Circumstances] has BEEN REMOVED by the POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS through the HOLY SPIRIT.

WE ARE FREE TO GO. Whom the Son HAS Set Free is FREE INDEED. No longer a Slave or under bondage BUT FREE. (John 8:30-36)

TAKE YOUR PLACE IN GOD declare to the devil that You Are FREE. Fight the GOOD FIGHT of FAITH – Lay Hold (take by force) ETERNAL LIFE.

YOU TAKE THE OFFENSIVE – NOT THE DEFENSIVE against the Devil. Draw up a BATTLE PLAN then Work the Plan. Be strategic in Your WARFARE. Know what enemy you want destroyed then BLAST Him with the WORD OF GOD. Be Bold and Courageous – For the Lord Thy God is with You.

DECLARE TO THE DEVIL – ‘A STATE OF WAR.’ Tell Him ‘he is no longer going to ‘steal, kill or destroy’ in your life anymore’ tell him you are going to ‘possess’ the land which the LORD Thy God has given you!” Tell him, ‘you are going in to possess the Abundant Life which is in Christ Jesus!’(John 10:10)

God wants to comfort the uncomfortable and make the comfortable uncomfortable. Declare you are coming out of Your Comfort Zone! Be aggressive! Tell Yourself to WAKE UP to Righteousness.

AWAKE! AWAKE! To RIGHTEOUSNESS [1 Cor 15:34]

TAKE the LIMITS OFF GOD (Psalm 78:40-42)

Do not be like the rebellious Israelites and harden your heart against God with doubt and unbelief. Rather, be like Joshua and Caleb who do not waiver – they were not ‘double-minded’ in their faith; they took God at His Word – Be Strong and Courageous!!!!!!!!

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About the Author:

Gayle Jans, Australia
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Christian Classics Collection
http://www.3rdpartynet-christian-classics.com/

I try so hard to remember in this time of ‘Jacob’s trouble’ (or the ‘beginning of sorrows’) not to hate my enemies. I know they are murderous devils who can’t be reasoned with. I imagine them roasting in hell when the devil and his army ‘will be put in prison 1000 years’. Human nature I guess, but no excuse.

My Lord, Jesus told me to love my enemies. Believe it or not, this is easier than hating them. No matter what their reasoning, they are murderers, and so I am not saying we should not stop and/or kill them before they kill us first. Just love them while we are putting them out of their misery. However, ‘fear not the one who can kill your body, fear The One Who can kill your soul’. I wish that we could have all lived in peace, but the enemy just can’t get past it and will never let Israel live in peace.

However, He does not say love THE enemy, meaning the devil. Terrorist miscreants after all, are devil worshippers. They call him god, and he is their god. The thing is, they do not realize who he is. They are deluded, and are to be pitied, not hated.

You think the devil walks up and says, Hi, I’m the devil, call me god? No, he would delude and mislead his ‘followers’ to make them think he was God. These poor, ignorant suicide bombers think they are going to heaven for commiting murder in the name of god? It is just so horribly tragic. Don’t they know God is Love?

Anyone who knows anything knows God said ‘Vengance is mine’. The One God would never in a million, trillion years condone this. Therefore, their prophet is the false prophet, and the one they call god, is the enemy, who is the beast. His name is hatred.

I would like to say if the Palestinians had been treated better when Israel reclaimed their homeland, and we made it possible, that we wouldn’t be in this mess today. But long before, the Muslim holy book declared Israel their enemy. My God said he would punish severely, anyone who (sic) attacks Israel.

In the meantime, what can we do but pray. Hate is poison to our souls. This is why Jesus said we should love our enemies. When they crucified Him, He said, ‘Forgive them, they know not what they do’.

When I stop hating them just for a second, I feel such compassion and sadness for my brother. We need to start listening to what it is they are so troubled with us for. It may not do any good, because they can’t be reasoned with. But then again, they say the weapon that no one can resist is love. So far the other weapons just kill and maim each other. Call me Pollyanna, but I still dream of a world where we love each other because every creature created by God is our family.

If you believe the Bible, you know how it turns out. So what is there to fear? God wins. Good wins. Hands down. He is love, not hatred.

Love those that hate you.

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Author:
Patricia Brucoli
Bible Research eBook Library
http://www.3rdpartynet-christian-classics. com/