The purpose of life is the building of character through truth.”
–Phillips Brooks

“A man’s character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.”
–Mark Twain

What is that thought in your mind? Imagine if it could be seen–oh my. Some thoughts just float on through while others linger for a few moments. Then there are those that sit themselves down and stay awhile.  There are some that want to make your mind their home, but have no business being there at all. I came across the following written by Clarence W. Cranford:

“If your mind was an art gallery in which your thoughts could become visible like pictures hanging on a wall would you be willing for your mother to see the exhibit?
This question was asked in a college chapel service. Some of the students treated it lightly. They joked about it afterward. But some of the students knew it was no laughing matter. The pictures we carry in the mind color the rest of our lives and affect our relationships to God, the greatest art critic of all.
During the exile, some of the Jewish people fell into bad habits. They adorned the walls of a room in their houses with ugly idols. This they did in the dark, not permitting their friends to enter and see what they had in that room. That room became a wall between themselves and God.
The mind is our art gallery. We adorn it with many pictures, some good and some bad. Let us pray for God’s help in the selection of the pictures we imagine.
Prayer: O God, help us in the selection of the pictures we create in the art gallery of the mind. Grant that they may be beautiful to see. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Thoughts, dreams, imaginations, ideas are all part of the things that the mind process. It is extremely hard to stop thoughts from entering, but we certainly do not have to hang them up. Sure, others may not be able to see that they are there, but you bring them to your mind’s eye and the Lord certainly sees them.
Perhaps you and I need to invite the Holy Spirit to the gallery of the mind. Let Him wander around and allow Him to begin to take down the images, thoughts, and dreams that are hanging there. There may be some not pleasing to Him, such as lustful thoughts or the thoughts of self. In other words, don’t keep them hanging around. Instead let the Holy Spirit hang His pictures; let Him give you His thoughts.

“Have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, every man in his room of pictures?”
–Ezekiel 8:12

God! God! God! Best defined when undefined; a Fire that may not be touched; a Life too great for shape of image; a Love for which there is no equal name. Who is He? God. What is He? God. Of whom begotten? God. He is at once the question and the answer, the self-balance, the All.”
–Joseph Parker

“God is not to be described in parts; He is to be comprehended in the unity of His character.”
–Joseph Parker

God’s name is so flippant today. It is no longer sacred causing us to be filled with reverential awe. No, I’m not talking about the world out there. They are already ignorant of God, but I’m speaking about those who say they are His children. Supposedly the blood-bought, the redeemed–those who think they are on their way to heaven to spend eternity with the One whom they mock and take His name in vain.
God is not an exclamation! His is not three letters!! He is the Creator; the Almighty; the holy I AM! He is a consuming fire and He is love. He is jealous and will have no other gods before Him. Everything about Him is holy, and yet man, those in the church will lower His name. There is one thing that He esteems higher than His name–the Word. I’m not talking about a book, or some verses, but the Theos. “In the beginning was the Word…”!
I mentioned in the Paine on Monday that I was concerned that the Spirit is not welcome in many churches today. He is not talked about because He is not known personally. The same is true of God. Those in the church do not want to hear a sermon dealing with theology (the study of God); they instead like to be tickled or at least come out of church feeling goooood. To speak or preach on God’s holiness who make those in the congregation cower, and their self-esteem might be damaged. As Parker said, we do not dissect God, we must take Him in His entirety.
Why do people in the church have the same issues that those in the world have? Don’t give me the excuse, “I’m only human,” or “We’re not exempt from the world.” Those are true statements, but do you not have God living inside you? Doesn’t He offer you power–the power to overcome? But, no wonder, He is simply “OMG” to most in the church. He is not God. We fear Muslims and terrorists, we fear politicians, we fear economic collapse, we fear old-age, we fear working for a living, we fear famine, we fear global warming, we fear–fear. Lord, help us through the jungles! Listen to Parker again, “Fear God, and no other fear will ever trouble you.”

“And God said to Moses, I Am Who I Am and What I Am, and I Will Be What I Will Be; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I Am has sent me to you!”
–Exodus 3:14 (AMPC)

I don’t know why, but this song has been on my mind for the past couple of weeks. I wonder what the composer was going through or was thinking when he wrote the song. There is a tremendous message of hope in the midst of trials, troubles, despairs and the struggles of life. The answer–Jesus!

“I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.”
–E.A. Hoffman

Much talk is given today in Christian circles of develop a relationship. E.A. Hoffman knew what to do–take it to Jesus. Perhaps you had a close friend, one in whom you could confide everything and anything. Jesus is that friend. When burdens seem too heavy, go to Him. When there are troubles, take them to Him. He will give you strength to overcome or to carry your burden, or He will carry it for you, or He might even take them away completely.

“I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate Friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.”

The cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, the lure and glamor of temptation can wear upon our minds and souls. There is no way we can defeat all of these foes. Sorrow, suffering, and disaster may come upon me; woe is me, what can I do? I must take them to Jesus; He will share them with me.

“Tempted and tried I need a great Savior,
One who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share.”

Whether we want to realize it or not, the world is our enemy. The hosts of the world war against our soul and seek to destroy any vestige of Jesus we might have within us. The world seeks to make us conform to its image. It dangles its delights and entices our senses to join her. The world appeals to our senses and our eyes wanting us to lust and give in to the temptation it offers, and thus we become part of it. Jesus is there to help us win the victory over sin and the power of the world.

“O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the vict’ry to win.

I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus!
I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.”

There is no hope other than in Jesus. The struggle and the weariness of life cannot be lifted by the counselor of the psychologist’s couch. There is no escape and the burden gets heavy, but there is an answer–Jesus alone!

When troubles surround us, when evils come
The body grows weak the spirit grows numb
When these things beset us, God doesn’t forget us
He sends down His love On the wings of a dove.
         –Bob Ferguson

“Faith is not wishful thinking.  Neither is it a stubborn refusal to face the facts.  Faith is following God’s clear leading and acting upon God’s clear promise.”
 –Gary Inrig

Are you a prepper or a survivalist?  Lots of talk about that stuff going around these days, but very little in the spiritual sense.  Let me say that if you are prepared in the fullness of the Holy Spirit then for sure you are going to survive!  I have been watching, over the past several years, that the church is lacks the Holy Spirit.  By hype and emotion people say that the Spirit is in their midst, but that isn’t necessarily so.
Let me give you a few tidbits I picked up from A.W. Tozer.
The kinds of people who will not be at home in a Spirit-filled church:
               1)  Those who put on their religion as a Sunday garment.
               2)  Those who refuse to let religion endanger their own plans.
               3)  Those who expect religion to be fun.
               4)  Those who embrace a church only for cultural values.
The kinds of people who will be happy in the Spirit-filled group.
               1)  Those who have a leading ambition to be rid of their sins.
               2)  Those who want to know God and to walk with Him.
               3)  Those who have learned to recognize the voice of the Shepherd.
               4)  Those who are sensitive to the Invisible Presence.
In the past couple of weeks I have had students ask me if I believed in ghosts.  I said I believe in the Holy Ghosts but no phantoms that were once human.  They were shocked and then, instead of asking about the Spirit of God, they want to discuss the validity of ghosts.
Then we have those who seek to be bless.  Bless me, bless me, oh, bless me; when God actually is waiting to bless them with the Holy Spirit.  If the true, unadulterated Word of God is not being preached, then the Holy Spirit is being quenched and will eventually leave that church.  There is confusion in a person’s mind when they say, “I want God and all of this too.”  Sorry, it doesn’t work that way.  There is a price to be paid for the blessings and filling of the Holy Spirit.  We want the thrill of being full, but we don’t want to meet the conditions. (Tozer)  To be blessed, the Holy Spirit will expect obedience to the Word of God.
God is willing to fill us and bless us.  In our times of difficulties and despair, He longs to meet our need.  Our problem is that we neglect to seek the Spirit and follow His guidance.

“And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
–Acts 5:32 (NASB)