Go ahead -  hate me in your heart.

 I'll survive every barb, I'll survive every dart.

For my life is found in Christ, 

 not in your acceptance or rejection 

 and from countless daily deaths

 I experience countless ressurections,

for the very Spirit that raised my Christ from the dead

 now lives in me and by Him I'm led.

His breath is upon me and in me He dwells

 and He's leading me, oh my enemy, far from Hell.

Go ahead, deny your heart His love

 Your suicide   -  I will not be a part of!

Go ahead  - refuse to humble yourself 

 but when it's time to get in line

 the line you're in won't end up so well

Ignore me as much as you want

 or to my face your cruelty flaunt

It doesn't matter, my enemy  -

 I'll still desire your good 

 and you'll still have my pity

 Always stop for turtles 

 when they're crossing the street

 And stop and smell the flowers

                  cause they smell so sweet

If you're in a place to look

        then sit and watch the stars

Take time each day to read the Good Book

 and you'll learn to value

                 not just the kisses but the scars

for all of life's ups and down's

   are held safely in His hands

for I know the thoughts I have toward you -

to benefit you and help you to stand

for I will finish the good work I began

when I began You

when you were just a molecule or two

It wasvthen I knew

you would be            a pleasure to me

    to make my heart       skip a beat

I have no regrets

I have no complaints 

 embrace every test

 that makes you my saint

 and when that dog licks your face

  remember he's there because of my grace...

 Oh there's a fount in Heaven above 

 Oh there's a Savior filled with sweet love

 Oh there's a place I know I can go

 when troubles beset me on earth here below

He has made a room for me

He will not leave or forsake me

He will preserve my soul for His good pleasure 

for I am His everlasting treasure!

oh He's taking me

   To the light and love I crave

   To the One who died to save

   To the place of eternal joy

   To the Daddy of all girls and boys

Yes there's a fount in Heaven above 

Filled with my Savior's eternal love

Yes there's a place I know you can go

When troubles beset you in this life here below 

 Many are they

 who come to the altar

 and pledge their love to Me

but of those who

 consummate our marriage 

 few there be

My call to all

 is one of intimacy 

Everyone is invited 

 to My inner sanctuary 

Some will come

 but not abide

most will run and hide

Only a few

come deep inside 

where I reveal 

The secrets of My heart -

treasures beyond compare

are to be found there

Wisdom and riches

of the everlasting kind

can be found by those

who give Me their hearts

not just their minds

 There is no higher pursuit

 on which to spend our days

Then falling in love with Truth

 and giving Him our constant praise 

Oh God of my youth!

Oh God of my old age!

You're the God I choose

for You are mighty to save!

Jesus,  Emmanuel,  El Shaddai!

 Draw me to Your bosom

 Raise me up on high

In my weakness 

show Yourself strong

Inhabit my chest

and right every wrong!

Make me Your holy habitation 

 that I may show Your face

to a wayward generation 

in every tribe and nation

For no one who meets You

will ever be the same

They'll either run from You or to

either way they'll be forever changed

I love You

in weakness it's true

but in my weakness 

Your strength shines through 

So this Day I will sing

My Saviour's victory song

For I am rejoicing 

that He forgets my wrongs!

My shame and nakedness are covered

as I put His robe of righteousness on!

- apostle Chris 

email address: tripperdgev@gmail.com 

Turn ye

 

Some of the old hymns are so anointed: here's one -

O turn ye, o turn ye, for why will ye die?

 When God , in great mercy, is coming so nigh?

Now Jesus invites you, the Spirit it says come!

 And angels are waiting to welcome you home.

And now Christ is ready, your soul to receive, 

 Oh how can you question,  if you will believe?

If sin is your burden, why will you not come?

 Tis you He makes welcome, He bids you come home.

In riches, in pleasures,  what can you obtain, 

 to sooth your affliction,  or banish your pain?

To bear up your spirit when summoned to die

 or waft you to mansions of glory on high?

Why will you be starving and feeding on air?

 There's mercy in Jesus, enough and to spare! 

If still you are doubting,  make trial and see

and prove that His mercy is boundless and free!

And this one - 

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,

a wonderful Savior is he.

He hides my soul in the cleft of the Rock, 

where rivers of pleasure i see.

He hides my soul in the cleft of the Rock 

that shadows a thirsty land

He hides my life in the depths of his love

and covers me with his hand, and covers me with his hand. 

A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord, 

He takes my burden away,

He holds me up and I shall not be moved,

He gives me strength as my Day.

With numberless blessings each moment He crowns

and filled with His fulness Divine

I sing in my rapture oh glory to God 

for such a Redeemer as mine!

When clothed in His brightness,  transported i rise

To meet Him in clouds of the sky,

His perfect salvation,  His wonderful love,

I'll shout with the millions on high!

 The worst position one can be in on earth is to think you're right with God when you're not.

The second worst position is like unto it and that is to think you're wrong with God when you're not.

Satan delights in either one. He delights in deceiving millions of "Christians" into believing that church attendance is basically all that's required of them as Christians.  Just show up faithfully and listen to endless sermons and God is happy with them.

But he also loves to target souls who are pleasing to God and convince them God isn't pleased with them, that something's wrong, that they're not doing enough, etc.

Saint - only the Holy Spirit can reveal our Father's mind and heart, if He's pleased with you or not - He will know. Our part is to "examine ourselves daily to see if we're walking in faith", genuine faith. It takes no faith whatsoever to sit in a pew and listen to a sermon - this appeals to the intellect (the soul) but does nothing for the spirit. Endless sermons do not build real faith, only the pseudo faith most churches call real faith. Singing songs does not require faith. You can sing loudly and proudly for all to hear while your heart is far from him.

It takes great faith to step out and start becoming a doer of The Word, following Christ daily into Divine encounters the Holy Spirit will arrange for you. It takes great faith to go into all the world and preach the Gospel with signs and wonders following. 

Dead religion or a living faith that engages God daily, whenever and wherever you happen to be  - the choice is yours. One choice requires you to sacrifice nothing. The other requires you to sacrifice everything  - indeed, your very life for His kingdom's sake, to fulfill the Father's will.....

Selah.

 Oh  Thank You, Lord,

 For Your loving-kindness is with me

 in the daytime 

 and in the night

Your song is with me

throughout my life

You sing over me

as I sleep

lullabies and dreams so sweet

comforting my wounded soul

till I am at peace and whole

You send me Your light and Your truth

that they might lead me - always to You

In You I boast all the day long

I will praise Your name forever 

for You deliver me from every wrong

and every curse You sever

Oh plead my cause against an ungodly nation!

Fill my soul with endless elation

for the victory You've wrought

May I experience what I've sought

Miracles,  signs, and wonders

I want all You've got

All You've said - miracles are my daily bread

Oh thank You Lord

For Your loving-kindness is with me

In the daytime 

and in the night

Your song is with me

You forsake not

those You've bought

who have been caught

in the love that knows no bounds

Oh if i could but expound

on the love You give

It is the means by which

my soul lives!

My heart is Yours

to have and explore 

May this day

be full of the treasure You've stored

in me

Oh my God

Joyfully

 Steadfast love

 I could not know

 Unless You my God

 to me did show

Faithfulness 

 could not be seen

 Unless You my God

 revealed it to me

All flesh fails

The One who never fails all flesh

All hearts spurn

The One who seeks to know all hearts

Yet a remnant has been spared

the fate of those who do not care

A people tried by fire

and true to Your desire

to be the people You've always wanted

Living to please You - 

Unashamed of their love for truth

In their pursuit of You - undaunted 

A people in who's hearts You may dwell

A people who refuse to rebel

A people who will not turn from You

No matter what You say or do

But will instead say this prayer quite humbly -

"OH LORD I WILL NOT TAKE ANOTHER STEP

 UNLESS YOUR PRESENCE GOES WITH ME"

Many, O Lord my God

are Thy wonderful works

which You have done!

They outshine the Sun

Their glory is eternal 

We rejoice for each and every one!

And many are Thy thoughts

which are towards us

They cannot be counted

If I could declare and speak of them

They are more than can be numbered

Yet You know

the thoughts You've thought about me

You think of me continually 

Your desire is for me       eternally 

 Take the time

and you might find

a treasure in 

this heart of mine

For what it's worth

if you'll pause to search

and to explore 

The greatest treasure of all

could be yours

For found in me

buried deeply

is the God

of all humanity 

My Joy, my Christ 

my reason for life

My love, my King,

Lord of everything!

He can be seen

He can be heard

He can be touched

You can hear His words

If you'll take the time to look

You may see yourself written in His Book

His word in me

is like a mirror,  you'll see

wherein, if you'll gaze intently 

you'll see your own reality 

for my treasure is meant to be 

given away, not kept,

to the souls for whom

Jesus wept

So, please, come to the Well

  drink deep, for free

  and satisfy your hunger

  for I am the bread of life

    broken for thee

    eat of me

    as I eat of Christ 

     together we'll possess

            eternal life 

Prune my heart

 

Prune my heart Lord, prune my heart.

Do surgery Lord, to it's deepest parts

cut away all the death, the wickedness, 

the desire for all the things of the flesh, 

the pride, the lust, adulterous thoughts,

till Yours is the only Spirit that's sought. 

Prune my heart

all my evil ways and desires

Prune my heart

then cauterize the wound

with Your Holy Fire -

burn all the dead things

in Your Holy blaze

Renew in me a right mind

so I'll no longer be crazed...

Prune my heart

Restore my soul 

To love and desire You alone

is my highest goal

Prune my heart

Please. Oh God, please,

I'm begging You for Grace and Mercy

Please, prune my heart!

Break up it's fallow soil

Soak it daily in Your Holy oil

Teach it to obey our Father

lest it dine with the swine!

Wash it clean daily with Your Word as water

till it belongs to You - solely Thine

Prune my heart

I no longer wish to be

a prisoner on the inside of me -

my heart, a jail,

where i continually fail

NO! NO!  NO MORE!

Oh God! You have the key to my heart's door!

Set me free as You promised You would 

that I may become what You call "good"

I want You to be the chief love of my heart

Storm all my ramparts

Crush it's defenses like Jericho's walls

till every one of them falls

Prune me, consume me, teach me, groom me,  

play Your tune in me

Shout to the battle, 

for my heart is Yours!

Pierce it to it's core!

Strip it bare

with Your tender care

I surrender it to You -

    Your territory 

to do with as You want to

Prune my heart

recreate it anew

that from henceforth 

  it will reflect only You

 I personally don't have (or haven't had) nearly as much of a problem putting my sins on the Cross of Christ for Jesus to bear as I have putting the sins of those who sin against me on my cross - the cross I must pick up and carry daily (Luke 9:23). My cross is far more painful and heavy to ME than the Cross of Calvary. 

Sure it hurts me to know that I hurt Him - especially because He didn't deserve it - but, I cannot ask Him to bear my sins if I'm not willing to bear the sins of those who sin against me. 

Following Jesus,  when He's carrying His Cross, isn't easy, but I cannot follow Him to Heaven if I'm not willing to first follow Him to the Cross. Besides,  my miniature cross is nothing compared to His - He took on the sins of the whole world  - all sim ever committed, from Adam to the last soul judged and found wanting. I only must bear the sins of the few who sin against me - so far, no physical harm (we first must be able to endure soulish and spiritual wounds before we can endure physical wounds to His honour) - what a privilege! To walk as He walked in this life! I gladly bear the wounds of those who have sinned against me, who hate me - gladly I say! I do it out of love for them - just as Jesus bore my sins out of love for me.

But oh the rewards! For if I follow Him to the Cross  - laying on my own cross willingly as He did on His - then I can follow Him out of my tomb, then the stone of a hardened heart will be rolled away and I'll receive a heart of flesh - able to love like Him - then I'll be able to breathe on others and say "receive ye the Holy Ghost", then I'll be able to follow Him where He rose - leaving the pull of this world with all it's wicked ways, far behind  - up where the air is pure - where I breathe The Holy Spirit in and out - up to my Heavenly Father  - able to abide in His presence forever more because I walked the trail Jesus blazed for me.

So yes - I'll endure my cross - my temporary pain - the sins of those fallen and without hope, as well as the sins of my brethren in Christ  - hoping they'll likewise bear my sins on their crosses - so we may all become bound together by the love that overcomes and transcends all hate and wickedness,  the great and mighty love of our great and mighty God! How can we partake of His love and freely receive it and not love and forgive others? No matter what anyone ever says or does to me, from here on out, I will gladly bear their sin - I will not seek revenge or give hate and bitterness safe harbor in my mind or heart. I'm free! Hallelujah!

We're surrounded by death as a gift from God. For it is a gift to be constantly reminded of how much we need Him. We need to constantly remember  - what we call "life" is an illusion  - it's really death, thinly disguised - He is life (I am the Way, the Truth and THE LIFE) - He is the source and sustainer of true life, not this death tge whole world is abiding in, believing they're alive when they're really dead. To be without Christ is to be dead (remembered Jesus said "let the dead bury their dead)....dead eternally and in every other way. So every time we see death, be it a bug, a flower, an animal or a human, it should cause us to cry out to HIM  O God! Save me! I need You desperately!  O Death, where is thy sting? My God has defeated you for all eternity! Selah. 

 I heard the Cry of God's heart.

 I heard JESUS say

"Give Me the scum of the earth!

 Give Me the worst of the worst!

 Give Me the alcoholics and addicts!

 Give Me the outcasts and the tragic!

                         I want them!

                         I'll take them!

I'll give them

My heart and My home

They'll never again have to roam

For they'll never again be alone

       My love heals

       My love covers

       My love reveals

              The Truth

That I am their soul's perfect Lover

I alone can satisfy 

their longing deep inside 

I alone can take their pride

and turn it into humility 

I sent My Spirit to reveal to them

their need   for       ME

Come to   ME   all you weary

and I will give you rest

From your path of destruction 

Only receive My instruction

and you'll  live

Open

Open your heart

  your inner self

  your most hidden rooms

                               to  ME

and I'll transform you

into   who you're meant to be

Come

let's take flight

let's soar high

If you're a failure 

If all you can do is cry

If you're constantly thinking of suicide 

Oh loved one           please know

You're the apple of My eye!

You are so dear to Me!

I've made it so clear,  can't you see?

I want you here so badly!

Oh Beloved - LET ME IN!

I'm standing out here in the cold, knockin!

Please let Me love you

I hate seeing you harm yourself!

Let Me have your heart -

    I'll heal you and make you well

Didn't I die?

   Just for you?

Didn't I suffer

   so you could be rescued? 

If I Could

 

If I could sit with you

take ten minutes of your time

I'd share with you  the

love and joy that's mine

I'd tell you of my Savior 

My God,  my best friend 

Then I'd invite you too

to come to know Him

It's simple simply because 

for you He's full of love

His desire is to know you

His will is to bestow upon you 

all the blessings it's in His

power to give

including a New heart

and a renewed mind

that you may live

forever by His side

Oh my Jesus is alive!

and He will give His life to you

because He loves you!

lost sheep

 

You've heard of that lost sheep?

 The one that left the 99?

 Far behind?

Well, I'm that guy - 

 who wouldn't abide

 in the peace and safety

 found at my Shepherd's side.

Nope, couldn't do it,

 I wandered away,

 led astray

 by every sin and temptation 

 known to man.

Thought only of myself 

 not how my sin would affect

 those who love me well.

My Shepherd wept

 when He saw I'd gone.

Then my Shepherd left

 to find me and bring me home.

But i wouldn't go with Him.

I refused  - so obstinate!

So He broke my legs

wept as i wept

I'll never forget 

how He picked me up

and carried me away

from the Hell

full of the pleasures I craved

 Here's a truth:

  The "Service" never truly ends -

  In Heaven, it's ongoing  - it continues forever -

  There's never-ending worship before His Throne  -

  And here in "Time and Space" it is perpetually happening in pur hearts - 

  our souls too, should be adoring Him, worshipping Him endlessly  -

  So when we gather together as one Body, we've been in "service" of Him

  (and hopefully each other) long before we arrive and long after we leave.

 I've had a strong,  heavy impression on my soul lately about Babylon  - buying and selling.  It disgusts me. It's so far from God's heart - it's pathetic.  It divides people into rich and poor,  into the haves and have nots. I hate everything about Babylon  - the exaltation and glorification of man - of flesh - of desires and lusts for pleasures, for self.

Jesus was combating Babylon when he said take no thought for what you will eat or wear. In fact, there's not a single example in Scripture of Jesus going shopping  - or buying a thing. He testified he owned no home or property. On earth. His home was where his heart was - in Heaven. On earth, he came against the merchants  - representing buying and selling  - in the Temple.  We are HIS temple  - therefore,  if our hearts are set on things, possessions  - on buying and selling  - he will be angry with us too. When the new believers came to Christ in the Book of Acts, he led them to sell their land and their homes, and possessions  - to detache themselves from earthly attachments  - from land and homes - this is true freedom from Babylon  - when we set our hearts and minds on things above!

Is ir coincidence that Judas betrayed God for money? Oh Lord, how many have betrayed You for money?! Oh saint, how many in Babylon today have, through covetuosness with feigned words made merchandise of you? Their judgment lingers not and their damnation slumbers not. It is nigh. It is high time God judged them. And He is. He is exposing them even now - those who lust after money and all this world lusts after. 

COME OUT AND BE YE SEPARATE SAYS THE LORD. HAVE NO PART WITH HER WHORISH WAYS. DELIVER YOUR SOUL FROM ETERNAL DAMNATION.  COME WITH ME, LET ME CLEANSE YOU AND CONVERT YOU - THAT YOU WILL NO LONGER SERVE SELF BUT ME. YES I WILL SACRIFICE YOU BUT IT IS FOR YOUR ETERNAL GOOD. ARE YOU NOT TOO PRECIOUS TO ME TO LOSE? AFTER ALL WE'VE BEEN THROUGH TOGETHER? LET ME HAVE THE REIGNS OF YOUR HEART! LET ME TEACH YOU MY WAYS - NOT BABYLON'S. STOP FOCUSING ON YOU, ON YOUR FLESH. I MADE IT TO DIE, TO PERISH,  SO I CAN GIVE YOU ANOTHER BODY I'VE PREPARED FOR YOU - ETERNAL FLESH, PERFECT FLESH, DESIGNED FOR A HEART AND SOUL FREE OF SELFISH LUSTS AND DESIRES - DESIRE FOR PERVERSIONS - THIS BODY I'VE PREPARED FOR YOU TO INHABIT FOREVER IS WONDROUS! YOU'LL LOVE IT! ALL I MAKE IS BEAUTIFUL AND BEYOND YOUR ABILITY TO IMAGINE! OH THE DELIGHTS THAT AWAIT YOU, MY CHILD! SO DON'T FOCUS ON THIS LIFE, THIS FLESH YOU'REDWELLING IN - IT IS A PALE FLICKER OF A SMALL CANDLE SOON TO BE SNUFFED OUT - IT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT WILL BE - FOR THOSE WHO LOVE ME AND WHO OBEY MY CALL - WHO FULFILL MY PURPOSE FOR THEM IN THIS PRESENT AGE - WHICH IS TO LEARN ALL ABOUT ME SO THEY MAY EMULATE ME - THIS PLEASES MY FATHER WHO IS HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE HIS NAME.

GIVE EACH MOMENT TO ME  AND I WILL REDEEM THEM AND MAKE THEM PEARLS IN THE VESSEL OF CLAY YOU CALL YOUR LIFE. CAST NOT YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE! I WILL SHOW YOU WHEN AND WHERE TO SHINE YOUR LIGHT BEFORE MEN. GIVE ME YOUR TONGUE. 

"Sermonless Services"

 

I hereby issue a challenge to all churches everywhere  - go an entire month without a single sermon. No prepared teaching or preaching whatsoever.  The idea is to come together and wait on the Holy Ghost. Wait for Him to do or speak whatever He pleases whenever He pleases through whomever He pleases.  NOTHING WHATSOEVER planned in advance - including worship songs. Completely rely on the Holy Spirit to conduct the Service.  Can you do this? You can. The real question is: will you? It is a matter of Will. Will your will or God's be done? Yes it's uncomfortable.  Jesus was forever putting his disciples in uncomfortable situations.  He was also forever showing them He was the answer to their every need. A huge mob of people without enough food to eat? I got this! A severe storm and you're in a small boat? I got this! Jesus calmed the storm and his disciples at the same time. A demon infested man - naked and stark raving mad? I got this! A service without a sermon? I got this! 

Instead of centering the Service on "The Word" - The Logos - The written Word, center it around Jesus Himself "The Word made Flesh"! Amen! He will bring forth the Word, by speaking it, through prophecy.  Hallelujah!

Instead of the old saying "What Would Jesus Do?", we need to ask "What is Jesus Doing?" "What is Jesus Saying?"  Because whatever he's doing and saying is what The Father's doing or saying and THAT'S what we need to be doing and saying, praise God!

Certainties in life

 

When you think you've "looked everywhere" for whatever it is you've lost - you haven't. 

The third wheel in any action movie or TV show (Star Trek is famous for this) who isn't one of the stars is the one who's gonna die.

If you're in a hurry and desperately need an elevator  - all the elevators will be on the floor furthest from you. And they'll stop at every floor before they get to you.

Similarly,  9 times out of 10 you'll have plenty of time to go through the Drive-thru - and you'll zip through quickly BUT on the 10th time, when you're really in a hurry - it will take forever to get your order. And the only time you forget to check your order, it will be wrong.

No matter what a President says or does, the other Party will hate it and resist it - up to and incĺuding walking on water.

Your spouse will always be hot when you are cold and cold when you are hot. 

Your wife will win every argument you have with her, eventually.  Stop trying.

Every alien throughout the Universe  - every god-like being too - will, fortunately for us, speak English. 

The sun will rise tomorrow and set tomorrow evening  but you may not be there to see it. No man knows the day or hour his soul will be required of him.