Metanoeite LIX

"The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the word,
but the worries of this world choke the word."

I moderated a meeting intended to honor You but it did not because we tried to do the business of the church before worshiping You; forgetting the blessings come down as the praises go up.

"Apart from Me, you can do nothing righteous."

"God inhabits the praises of His people."

Metanoeite LVIII

"Let us not neglect our worshiping together, as some people do, but encourage and warn
each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near."

I was thinking church membership has got to mean more than an obituarial reference; so should we keep people on the roll who are able but don't come to worship and support ministries with their thoughts, time, talents, and treasures?

"If you have to ask,..."

"Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged...And
anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire."

Metanoeite LVII

"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever
rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse."

Harold cautioned, "The most dangerous man is the one who has no shame."

"Fear."

"Fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Metanoeite LVI

"The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart."

Some folks have a dark cloud for every silver lining.

"I've done My best."

"Let heaven fill your thoughts."

Metanoeite LV

"These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren't in it."

He was a nakedly candid and crusty old professor who assaulted our eggheads when I asked if he liked teaching us because we were so smart, "I have no patience for ineffectual intellectuals who talk of what they never intend to do."

"Salt stings to heal."

"God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense."

Metanoeite LIV

"How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!"

We sat, prayed, and talked; reminiscing relationships as they rebirthed.

"I'm waiting."

"Recover your dear early love."

Metanoeite LIII

"I have lived too long with those who hate peace."

He wrote, "In a world of dragons, He has not given permission to breathe fire."

"You are not an exception to the rule."

"Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good."

Metanoeite LII

"You elders should aim not at being 'little tin gods' but examples of Christian living
in the eyes of the flock committed to your charge."

Unmasking the imposter who contended with his witness to You as enfleshed in Jesus and explained in the Bible, he wrote, "I apologize for the inconvenience; for this message was written only for Christians."

"Fruitful or fruitless, it comes down to faith."

"The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good;
and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil."

Metanoeite LI

"Although I was eager to write you about our common salvation, I found it necessary
to write and exhort you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints
once for all.
For certain men,
who were designated for this judgment long ago,
have come in by stealth;
they are ungodly,
turning the grace of our God into promiscuity
and
denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ."

Shaken and befuddled, she called from a meeting which I didn't attend to ask how anyone couldn't affirm ordination promises made years before; and I answered, "Some didn't understand the questions, some lied at the chancel steps, and some have changed their minds but lack integrity to demit."

"Some children like to play with fire."

"But let no one dispute; let no one argue, for My case is against you priests...
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I will reject you
from serving
as
My priest."

Metanoeite L

"Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord's hand...Suddenly Babylon fell and was shattered...
We tried to heal Babylon, but she could not be healed."

I may be wrong, but I think things are getting worse because of the ignorant who don't know what's going on, apathetic who don't care about what's going on, apostate who've caused what's going on, and faithful who are outnumbered by the others.

"I'll be the judge of that."

"Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me
to repay each person according to what He has done."

Metanoeite XLIX

"What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field
and go after the lost one until he finds it?"

It really bothers me to lose something.

"You're a breath away from understanding your mission."

"There is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents...He was lost and is found."

Metanoeite XLVIII

"Teach us to number our days carefully."

He said, "Preach every sermon as if it is your last."

"Time is entrusted to you for Me."

"The time for my departure is near.
I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith."

Metanoeite XLVII

"You are one in Christ Jesus."

Well, Lord, it's another successful separation of pastor from parish with safeguards against more woundings and war.

"My bleeding never stops."

"If my head were water, my eyes a fountain of tears,
I would weep day and night
over the slain of my
dear people."

Metanoeite XLVI

"God saw all that He had made, and it was very good."

Bathing in the beauty of an autumn Maple's golden leaves tinged with rusty red at dawn's rays begging brimming brilliance, another of Your seasonal serendipities interrupted hurry.

"Selah!"

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers...
Your Name echoes..."

Metanoeite XLV

"Is that you, you troubler of Israel?"

Enfleshing peace, unity, and purity is inhibited by infections of increasing antipathies, antagonisms, and accommodated apostasies.

"Intimacy with Me is the antidote."

"I have made no trouble. You are the troublemakers.
You have abandoned the Lord's commandments
and followed the Baals."

Metanoeite XLIV

"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him
produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me."

They don't see the connection between obedience and Your favor in and after time.

"Obviously."

"There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land.
That is why your land is not producing.
It is filled with sadness,
and all living things
are becoming
sick and
dying."

Metanoeite XLIII

"If someone says, 'I love God,' and is hating his brother, he is a phony."

I don't understand how so many of Your people who say they love You so much can hit, hurt, and hate.

"Why do you keep saying My people?"

"The time will come when many people will gather around and say,
'L-o-ord, oh L-o-ord, we sure did preach in Your name,
didn't we?
And in Your name we gave the devil a run for his money,
didn't we?
We did all kinds of stunts in Your name,
didn't we?
Then I'll admit right in front of everybody,
'I've never known you. Get away from Me, you wicked religious racketeers.'"