Theo_the_bard's Page

There He (Jesus) was transfigured before them. His Face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. ~ Matthew 17:2

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We've heard the true Christian saying, "There is no crown that does not go through the Cross." A similar concept belongs to the transfiguration. There is no supernatural transmigration to the mountaintop of transfiguration: it must be trudged uphill after you are saved. For Jesus, that "uphill" did not begin at the bottom of the literal mountain. It began… Continue

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7

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I'd like to engage a metaphor: volleyball. A volleyball player volleys the received ball either to a teammate or to the opposing player over the net. Jesus, in essence, tells us to volley all to Him.

Illustration: I remember that, some years ago, I was receiving an inordinate amount of criticism in attempting to live my Christian faith in a secular situation, and it was bothering me. I had a heart-to-Heart talk with our L… Continue

Jesus: I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ~ Luke 12:49

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Here is the kindle we need. John had prophesied it: "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire" (Matthew 3:11). Therefore, on the Day of Pentecost, God made sure He gave confirmation: "They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them" (Acts 2:3). It is a an empowering fire, a cleansing fire, a consuming fire, a purging fire. It is a fire… Continue

Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of Your judgments. ~ Psalm 48:11

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This goes against the grain of our natural thinking. Who is joyful about God's judgments? If we have any sense of God's holiness (if we believe in Him at all), we think, trembling, that his judgments are terrible and sure. However, let's think through this.

Firstly, if you have given your life to Jesus, "condemnation" was taken by Him on the Cross, and you need not fear that final Judgment: "Theref… Continue

While He (Jesus) was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His Head. ~ Mark 14:3

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For days, months, years, it may have sat on a shelf, in a chest, under a bed. On its exterior, could there have been dust from disuse? But Mary remembered it, in the jar, very precious and very expensive. Now was the time. She would reveal its c… Continue