The Man and The Well

One clear, crisp evening the farmer heard a voice - a soft voice - it echoed throughout the valley and among the freshly packed bails of hay. It even swam throughout the barnhouse and across the pond. He heard it singing a sweet melody, a song more beautiful than anything he ever heard. It was so beautiful, in fact, he nearly wept at the ringing of each note. The farmer was not bothered by the music, but he welcomed it as any kind farmer would. Although he did grow quite curious as to where the music was coming from. When it was three days past the first night he encountered the lovely music; the farmer decided to investigate it's origins. So the farmer began following the sweet voice like a string of beautiful clues leading him towards heaven itself. The farmer heard the sounds getting louder and more intense each step of the way. He began weeping uncontrollably. He did not weep tears of pain and sorrow, but of joy and happiness, for the music was more beautiful than any sound which had ever touched his ears. The man finally reached what he believed to be the source of the beautiful voice. And he came upon a well. The same well he drew water from each morning. It was an old well made of flat grey rocks chipped and weathered from extensive rainfall and bitter-cold-winters. The rocks were aged and covered in a strange vine accompanied by dried, dead moss. The bucket was nearly rusted and had several holes which prevented the farmer from extracting a considerable amount of water from the well. The rope which lowered and lifted the bucket up each time was tethered and peeling like an old shoelace. The farmer saw nothing of value in the well itself. He even planned to build a new one very soon. But it was what was inside of the well which brought life; the water, of course. Now, the water was singing to him the most beautiful song he had ever heard. He lowered the bucket into the water, and began to fill it up. Then he slowly began to raise the bucket up inch by inch. When the bucket reached the top of the well the farmer saw something glimmering. The moonlight was striking a shiny object in the bucket. He dipped his hand into the water of the bucket and pulled out a golden key. It was no ordinary key, but one covered in fine gems and jewels - rubies, sapphires, cobalt, diamonds. The farmer gazed in awestruck wonder at the prize which he had found. The key was magnificient. He began shouting for joy and dancing in amazement. "How could such a beautiful prize come out of such an old, worthless well?" he asked himself. He ran quickly back to his room to view it in better light. The farmer pulled out his magnifying glass and discovered a fine printing on the side of the key. It read "This key is no ordinary key. It belongs to the King. Whoever finds this must use it wisely. He may not use it to open any ordinary door, but only the one appointed by the King. Do this and you will live." The farmer became very confused and even grew a little nervous at the reading of this. He set the key down but never took his eye off of it. He began pacing back and forth attempting to figure out the meaning of the fine printing on the side of the key. When, at last, he noticed the tip of the key, it's particular shape. He had seen the shape before. It was very familiar to him. "No, it can't be" he thought to himself. "Is it really?" he asked himself. The farmer began to quickly pull his shirt off, and there, in the middle of his chest, exactly in the center of his own heart, was a hole. This hole had been there from his birth, and the farmer never knew why he had it. He was always ashamed of it because none of the other farmers nearby had a hole like it. The farmer picked up the key. His palms began to sweat and his hand jittered a bit. He reluctantly moved the key closer to his chest. And, all at once, he plunged the key into the hole. He screamed loudly for it was very painful, but he did not remove the key. Instead, he turned it three times to the right. Each time he let out loud cries for it was terribly painful. But, upon the final click of the last turn, the man's eyes lit aglow and his mouth dropped wide open. Bright beams of light began to pour out of his fingertips and toes, and loud music, the same music he heard coming from the well, flowed forth from the man's voice. It was a symphony, a chorus of the most beautiful melodies and songs ever played. The trees, the birds, the grass, the stars, and the moon all began to weep tears of joy at the sound of the man's voice. The earth and everything in it melted with joy at the song whose theme is redeeming love. (To be continued . . .)

The King Alone Can Bring

Is there one shred of obedience which my hand alone can bring?


Nothing, my dear, nothing at all.


Is
there
due
tribute
to
render
the
King?


Nothing, my child, nothing at all.


Is there a tear, one drop, to move Him to pity?


Nothing, my son, nothing at all.


Is there no song? No pleasing theme to sing?


Nothing, my dear; nothing, nothing.


Then what shall I do? If I can bring nothing? What shall I render? If I can offer nothing? Surely I am doomed.


And I heard these words which tasted like honey:


"The King, the King alone can bring,
what rightly he demands - yet, he alone is pleased,
with what he alone can bring,
no work which you can do,
can make Him crack a smile.
The tribute which you offer,
can never Him beguile.
The tears which flow like fountains,
though they be sincere and salty,
will never emote His pardon nor grant a look of favor,
A song could not incline His ear,
to listen to your plea,
though beautiful and sweetly played,
Wrath alone kindles upon the striking of the notes,
But the obedience He requires,
He offers it himself,
In perfect life and death surrendered,
A tribute of love and grace,
The wailing and the flowing,
of tears and blood and wrath,
Compose a song of sweet redemption,
A chorus of mercy,
In the death of the King."

Ah Mooseknuckle . . .

I went and saw Death Cab on Friday.


It was a pretty sweet concert.


Man, I wanna be in a band :(


They played one of my favorite songs, however.


Here's the video on Youtube:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV4Vt2yb7MQ

Ugggghhhh . . . I can't sleep!

It's pretty late, and I can't seem to fall asleep! I've been tossing and turning all night! Ugh . . . it is very frustrating I must say. I don't know what it is. I'm sitting at my computer drinking some oj (the drink not the Simpson). I would've picked milk only I don't like milk unless it's chocolate. But we don't have any chocolate. Mom told me we had ovaltine, but all I could find was this funny old box of "Cocoa" that looked like it was manufactured in 1973. I read the label and it said I could make hot chocolate or hot-fudge squares. So I decided to go with oj (the drink not the Simpson). Man, oh man, am I killing time or what. I do have quite a bit on my mind, however.

I've been thinking a lot about my heart (that is the things which motivate me, drive me, etc). I know my heart is wicked. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" -Jeremiah 17:9. There are many things which the Lord is revealing to me which I need to think about and repent of most definitely. I see how certain things which my flesh craves run and control my life. I am driven by the things which my heart desires, and these things easily become idols which I blindly and rebelliously worship and treasure more than the Lord. I hate it. I really do. Therefore, I need Jesus. I am in such desperate need of Him every moment of the day, and my heart aches to be with Him in heaven that I might experience what it means to have sin totally eradicated from my body. I long to dwell in the Heavenly City, the New Jerusalem, where my allegiance will never be compromised by the foolish things of this broken, fallen, sinful world. But my agenda would be solely that of the King, and my desire would be wholly and distinctly for Him alone.

I can't blame the things which the Lord has created and declared "good" as cause for my frustration and rebellion. James writes "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" -James 1:13-15. Oh the heinousness and deceitfulness of sin! How it sneaks up on me like a thief, and robs me of the worship and allegiance I owe to King Jesus! Now I see why Christ was always exhorting his disciples to "Stay on their guard." And as the author of Hebrews writes: "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." - Hebrews 3:12-13.

I need my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, people who care more about my sanctification than they do about offending or creating conflict with me to exhort, rebuke, correct, and bear patiently with me that I may die more and more unto sin and live wholly unto righteousness in every area of my life. Paul Tripp writes: "It is a sweet grace when we are surrounded by people who love us enough to confront us - who are unwilling to let us stay lost, blind, confused, rebellious, and wandering away. It is a sign of God's covenant faithfulness when he sends people to help us see and repent." I am so grateful for the people (the best friends I'll ever have because they are united to the King along with myself) in my life who aren't afraid to rebuke me in love, tenderness, and with encouraging spirits about them. I know I haven't been this kind of friend to people I care about. Then again, do I REALLY care about them? Or do I exalt my own desires of comfort, ease, and for people to "like" me above the best interest of the person? Is my reputation and appearance weightier than that of a man's eternity?

I know I don't relate to people the way I should because I am a sinner, but the Lord reminds me to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance." Although I know I will fail miserably at how I deal with my sin; it is my duty, nevertheless, to deal with it because I have been commanded to and because it is the path to life. "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" -Romans 8:12-14. What a wonderful plan of redemption the Father has revealed in the Son by his eternal Spirit! And what a joy it is to lay down my agenda and pick up his! What greater gift could a man receive than the gift of Christ and of being conformed and transformed unto his image? Now I am tired. I think I shall go to bed and rest awhile now. But I leave with this:

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For
the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the
sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if
you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:
sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord,
jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom
of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ
Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each
other" -Galatians 5:16-26.

Goodnite.

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To Be Alone With Me You Went Up On The Tree

I long to be with Christ more than anything in this world. He is my Treasure. He is my King. He is my Husband (strange for a man to say, I know). He is my first love, and the one I adore and cherish above all things. Because He first loved me and called me to Himself, who is the greatest gift of all, I desperately ache to be near Him and with Him every second of my existence. My union, my marriage with Christ will endure for eternity because it has been set on His terms. It is his covenant which has bound me to Himself. And the Lord is no liar, no promise-breaker, and no deceiver. The Lord is faithful always. The Lord is Supreme, and Excellent, and Sufficient in all things. He is Supreme above all things. He is Excellent in and through all things. And He is Sufficient for all things. Only the Lord can satisfy this thirst I have for Him because I was created to worship Him alone. My God is a jealous God, and His heart burns for his bride.

"And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me 'My Husband,' . . . And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD . . . I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one. 'I will say to those called 'Not my people, 'You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.' " - Hosea 2

I am so thankful that I will stand with all of the redeemed children of God on that great day, when He either returns or raises us from the dead, to make all things new and all things right. I'm very thankful that so many others, whom I deeply care for, will be present with me at the most glorious wedding day and at the most excellent wedding feast in all eternity.

"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " -Revelation 19

And again:

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." - Revelation 21

What a bright future lies ahead for the Lord's people because of the love of Christ and because of what he has done and secured on our behalf! He said, "I am the light of the world." And as Paul says:

"Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." - Romans 13

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. Jesus, the light of the world, is reigning now and will continue to reign forever as he always has. The light of the Gospel is illuminating to us, by the Holy Spirit, the way things are and how they ought to be. The light of the word is transforming our once darkened, foolish hearts and minds to know and taste what it means to be truly human. And we only see this revealed in the true and holy words of our King, who demonstrated with uttermost perfection, what it means to be a human being through his perfect life, death, and resurrection. Very soon, we will see things as they really are and experience them as they really ought to be experienced. "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known" -1 Corinthians 13:12. And we shall see Him face to face. Therefore, let us walk in the light because He is in the light. Because Jesus is our greatest treasure. "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." -1 John 1:7




-Isaac

This is my first time. Please do not laugh at me.

Hooray!