Poema 115

Do I really need to tell you?
If God has made you awesomely, what is my mortal word?
The sun shines no less brightly if I wear the darkest shades.
And, liberty not taken, neither hinders nor affords
Vicissitudes regarding you and all your splendid charms imbued
Inherently with autumn hues and scent of ambergris,
Of pine, and moss, and morning dew upon a dale so green
And whispering, ever faintly.

In the background of pure minds
Are all the things you are to Him whose smile you satisfy.
So be not bored my love, my friend, for truth is not denied.
I’ll wait for you, forever now; this love I cannot hide.

For God has placed it deep within and thrown away the key.
No mountain, sea, or ocean shall prevent our wedding day.
Sleep on, sun shining brightly; burn on to meet the night.
I know I need not tell you this, my honest pure delight.

In Christ you live and move and have your being all in Him.
To me you are a dream come true, forgiven, new, and free.
And so I find myself now highly favored to the core, and
Existing in His mind with you, one flesh forevermore.

© 2009 Brian L Hunter 

www.ministryofwritinghelps.com

#WritingHelps

Poema 113

Slipping, gripping, and dipping
Into the outer realms of sensuousness, you find
The honey-pot of enticing nastiness seems sweet
Until the bill comes due and you're left wanting wine.

But then, you say, your heart is good and sweet.
You're numb from being broken, lost, and crying.
You're dying breath by breath with no retreat.
And love, the dream, has left you deaf and blind.

But wait; your chariot is yet to come
And cart you off to lands before unseen,
Where you'll be safe from all your past mistakes
And love divine shall make you ever clean.

Oh sleep today, perchance to have this dream.
While dangers of the night predict your doom,
There is a Savior praying even now for you.
Accept and know He's right there in the room.

And so from wallowing in sinful pride,
The Lord's corrective lenses show the light.
Where thirsty travelers meet with living water,
And selfishness moves towards abundant life.

© 2009 Brian L Hunter 

www.anointedwritenow.com

#WritingHelps

To My Beloved Daughters #23

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug." (Isaiah 51:1 ESV)

To my beloved daughters, allow me to say this. No matter what anyone in this world communicates to you, never forget that you are as beautiful and desirable as the perfect and holy God who has created you in His image. Therefore, value yourself as we who are in Christ appraise that great and precious promise, the royal diadem (Isaiah 62:3) whose kingdom is without end (Luke 1:33) and of whom all the Law and the Prophets spake (Luke 16:16), aim and press to be high and lifted up (Isaiah 6:1) living and moving and having our being in Him (Acts 17:28). Hallelujah! May these temples be filled only with that which is holy, wholly imitating the Rock from whence we were hewn (Deuteronomy 32:4, Numbers 20:8, Psalms 95:1, Isaiah 28:16). Glory to our preeminently excellent El Elyon, our shield and our exceeding great reward (Genesis 15:1), The God Most High who laughs at those who would limit His infinite continuum of creative possibility to the dungeon of any one name! Hallelujah, oh great and mighty Father of all spirits, Earth, and all who dwell therein! Praise Him from whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below! Praise Him above ye heavenly host! Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! 

© 2009 Brian L Hunter 

www.ministryofwritinghelps.com

#WritingHelps

Poema 49

Static, isolation in the afterglow of glory.

I've been with Him again and felt the flow of life’s purest perfection.

In the rain of effervescent joy, propelled to praise and bliss so intimate,
I'm gleaning in the fullness of the light. God's presence?

Worship? Who can fully comprehend the infinite measure of love's perfection (1 John 4:8)?

Exhaustively? Intrinsically? I know. Convinced there's only one presence that caresses every fiber of my being.

Who should I be? Who have I been? How can I persist when today is just tomorrow’s yesterday?
Renewed, transformed, I contemplate the manner in which this moment within encompasses eternity like a magnificent hologram.

He looks at me, His countenance brighter than a thousand infant eyes.
I’ll never understand just what He sees in me.

I could have been who I thought I was. But now, progressively more conformed to His image (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18) despite myself, and looking desperately into the perfect law of liberty (James 1:5), I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, whose love has rescued me (2 Corinthians 5:21).

© 2009 Brian L Hunter 

www.anointedwritenow.com

#WritingHelps

Beware the Humanist, Hip Hop, "New Grace Flavor in Your Ear" Prosperity Gospel of the Princedom

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (Proverbs 18:21)

If you allow me to walk unwarned into clear and present danger, how does your silent indifference prove that you love me? Should liberty lead to a cessation of life? Nay! I have judged that Russian roulette endangers life and the giver of life has condemned suicide and all murderous acts from the beginning. Such reasoning makes me a legalistic preacher of the law in the eyes of new gospel wolves in sheep's clothing. However, by the compass of God’s Word I have judged and chosen this day whom I will serve (Joshua 24:15). http://www.anointedwritenow.com

I will not spare the rod and spoil the child of God (Proverbs 13:24). I would prefer that my hands remain free of innocent blood. And, lest I act ignorant of God’s will and His righteous ways, I would rather be counted among those who have trusted God’s benevolent fatherhood, stood upon His gracious Word, and decidedly obeyed His irrevocable command to be holy because He is holy (1 Peter 1:13-16). Go ahead and call me a hater if you will. Name calling is what people on the low road do first and foremost, and, hell is enlarging itself daily by way of people with a limited understanding of another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). In all our getting of bestselling books, television ministries, and conferences, please let us get a full measure of the full gospel illustrated throughout sixty-six full books which facilitates mature understanding (Proverbs 4:7).

© 2013 Brian L Hunter

The Sound

“The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2)

Sound helps us to focus and has been taken advantage of for this purpose throughout antiquity. Evidenced by Isaiah 55:12 and Isaiah 44:23, pure sound preceded language as a component of worship. The syllable om from Sanskrit, the original language of India, considered sacred and centrally important in various Dharmic religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, has been included in mantras repeated to aid concentration on various aspects of the divine during meditation since ancient times. Why then should I, having tasted the sincere milk of the Word and experienced proof that the Lord is gracious (1 Peter 2:2-3), let the cat have my tongue and let the Ancient of Days find me silent? No rock will ever need to cry out in my stead (Luke 19:40), for I shall not be silent regarding the Lord’s infinite goodness. Hallelujah!

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” (Psalm 34:1-2)

If you don’t hear me giving the Lord praise, I must be asleep. Hallelujah! If you don’t hear me singing a song of gratitude or adoration, please check my pulse. Praise God! If you pass my space and fail to hear the resounding tone of a drum or sustain from a high sounding cymbal, please pray that I am either in prayer (Matthew 6:6), studying to show myself approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15), or resting in the bosom of my Father who art in heaven (John 1:18). For now, as annoying as it is to God’s enemies, I shall continue to make a joyful noise! Hallelujah! “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” (Psalm 150:6)

© 2013 Brian L Hunter
http://www.anointedwritenow.com

Expect Discouragement

"Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me." (Nehemiah 6:14)

The most extreme opposition and discouragement does not come until the light at the end of the tunnel has come into our vision. When deceit and distraction failed to hinder the work of Nehemiah, condemnation and threats followed. The enemy of God’s purpose uses no new tricks today as he, the father of all lies, seeks to abort the gifts and tasks our Lord and Savior has given us. Note that the lying workers of iniquity against Nehemiah were quite comfortable in the religious places, even taking unto themselves titles of prophetess and prophet. Yes. Remember this. Discern the work of God.

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

© 2013 Brian L Hunter
http://www.anointedwritenow.com/

Miracle of Faith

“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17)

I am saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yes! The work is in what I labor zealously to believe, not in what I do with anything other than my heart and mind. This work does not save me and yet this work is more than worthwhile. Hallelujah! Reverence is work. Fervent prayer is work. Obedience is work. Believing is work. Money cannot buy me love. Love is work. Confession is work (Romans 10:9-10). The entire full gospel is all about the work God is doing in those and through those who have opted to believe the good news that Jesus’ blood and righteousness are sufficient to atone for their sin. All things therefore work together for their good (Romans 8:28). Oh yes. “Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:4) Work with the Lord, saints. “The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.” (Proverbs 20:4)

Yield and allow the Lord to work His miracle of faith in you once you have surrendered to do the work which pleases the Ancient of Days and pays the dividend of peace eternally. “Jesus, the Messiah, is the same yesterday and today—and forever!” (Hebrews 13:8) Jesus, the Word who became flesh and made His dwelling among us (John 1:14), God Almighty, changes not (Malachi 3:6, Hebrew 13:8). I stand by His Word and not by the clever ramblings of today’s bestselling authors seeking filthy lucre (1 Timothy 3:3).

I don’t know much and I may understand even less. I am alright with the fact that God’s thoughts and ways are infinitely higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9). I acknowledge that God is an infinite continuum of possibility who must speak baby-talk in order to communicate anything to my comparatively miniscule, finite human mind. Where my understanding ends, faith picks up the baton and looks unto Jesus as the author and finisher of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). Hallelujah! Who and what am I that this talking God who parted the Red Sea should cause all things to work together for my good? Bless His holy name forever and ever!

© 2013 Brian L Hunter
www.ministryofwritinghelps.com

All or Nothing Gospel

“But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing." So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.” (2 Samuel 24:24 NLT)

Many are being wooed away from the Old Testament altogether by the enticing words of man’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:4) reducing the multidimensional God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob down to a one dimensional God who consists only of pleasing aspects such as grace, peace, love, prosperity, and forgiveness without repentance. Such a god pleases the flesh because such an unrighteous deity requires nothing of the flesh. Such antiquated concepts as obedience fall by the wayside and are condemned by the new warm and fuzzy gospel best sellers with perfect hair. The new school theologians say that Jesus abolished the Law and therefore, today, the gospel is all about grace and nothing more. Coincidentally, it is common practice now to lead lost sheep to slaughter and simultaneously grow our own kingdom by selling millions of books to those we have successfully beguiled.

There is such a thing as a full gospel of Jesus Christ which begins with the Book of Genesis. The father of all lies grins with satisfaction every time orthodoxy is annulled. I will therefore gladly pay the price for orthodoxy and endure the ridicule. I will believe the truth of the entire canon of Scripture, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I know that God’s wrath and perfect judgment are every bit as holy as the love, grace, and mercy He sovereignly administers. He is not a god of man’s making. I will surrender to the chastening as well as to the goodness and the blessing. God is an infinite continuum of creative possibility. “Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” (Romans 11:33)

Inasmuch as tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes are graceful, I concede that responsible exegesis of Scripture in conjunction with a prayerfully systematic examination of nature shall prove that sometimes God’s grace is most evident in His unfathomable justice. Repentance comes at a price. The chastening of the Lord is not fun (Hebrews 12:6). Perhaps this is why His love is so much more advantageous than the love we find in a Harlequin romance novel. I will not condemn the passages of Scripture my flesh disagrees with and I will not close my eyes when it rains simply because I prefer to go outside and play forever in the sunshine. A life of submission to God’s will is going to require a faith that survives the hard sayings (John 6:60) and the harsh realities of life, embracing the good, the bad, and the ugly business of picking up my cross daily and following Jesus (Luke 9:23), who, “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Can my eyes be so fixed upon Jesus as the author and finisher of my faith that I can ignore each new fad and fashionable gospel that blows in on ever new winds of doctrine?

Grace on a silver platter and a bowl of cherries happily ever after is not what the whole counsel of God’s Word illustrates. There is a cost for right relationship with God. The cost is the sum total of repentance which entails brokenness (Psalm 34:18, Psalm 51:17), submission which involves loving obedience to God’s Word (John 14:15), and perseverance in steadfast love which equals freedom (John 8:31-32). “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” (2 Timothy 3:16) All means all, not half. The whole roll (Ezekiel 3:1-3) may be tight. However, it is the whole roll and not merely part which is right. The new gospels, other gospels as Paul labeled them (2 Corinthians 11:4, Galatians 1:8-9) sound appealing because they allow us to reign instead of Christ. This is humanism of the highest world order. Don’t stake your eternal destiny upon perfect hair, a professional stage and light show, and a best-selling book. That 2003 comedy starring Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, and Will Ferrell was onto something. Sometimes old school really is the best school.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are personal journal entries of Brian Hunter and are in no way endorsed by any church, fellowship, or ministry with which Brian Hunter is affiliated officially or unofficially. The author has not sought to place any argument or opinion above God's (Romans 3:4). Peaceful discourse is only possible where the fruit of the Spirit resides. Thereby is doctrine proven to be sound and God, who is peace, is lovingly glorified. 

© 2013 Brian L Hunter
http://www.anointedwritenow.com/

Passion as Persuasion

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

What we are thinking about reveals the truth of what and who we believe. If we argue to justify ourselves and our ideology rather than to exalt God’s sovereign omnipotence, shame on us and our passions. Passion can lead to segregation, hatred, and murder when the object of passion is anyone or anything other than God (1 John 3:15). “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Is our treasure earning interest today, dependent upon the political and economic systems of this world? Are we more passionate about our rights than we are about God’s Word and the prayer Jesus prayed for unity in John 17:21-26? Are we more passionate about our possessions and prosperity than we are about who and what Jesus represents to mankind (Hebrews 1:3)? Help us to make You the center of our lives, Almighty God. Help us to make You our passion in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Passion persuades.” ~ Anita Roddick (1942-2007) English entrepreneur and activist founder of The Body Shop

© 2013 Brian L Hunter

Silence My Mind

“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.” (Proverbs 18:2 ESV)

Lord, help me to be constrained by Your perfect love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13) so that I may bridle my tongue (James 1:26) on this worship holiday. Let me close my ears to the things of this world just now and magnify You far above all principalities and political powers (Ephesians 6:12).

England Dan and John Ford Coley said in their 1976 hit “I'd Really Love to See You Tonight,”

“I'm not talking 'bout moving in,
And I don't want to change your life.
But there's a warm wind blowing,
The stars are out, and I'd really love to see you tonight.”

Oh, that I could see You tonight and every night, Almighty God! Thou hast created the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and there is nothing too hard for Thee (Jeremiah 32:17). I desire that You renew and forever transform my life through Your Word instead of allowing me to be conformed to the thinking of this world, oh God. You have created all things, the sun, moon, stars, and the wind. I would really like to see Your face right now. The only topic on the daily news which exalts Your glory instead of man’s shame is the weather. Help me to keep my mind stayed therefore upon You today in consecration. If never again I open my eyes to the things of this world, Lord, help me be able to say that on this day I did not fail to speak as though the good news of Your sovereign omnipotence actually outweighed all the bad news in world events. Thank You for eclipsing every lesser light and concern with the immeasurable weight of Your glory both now and forever. Hallelujah! Draw me nearer and help me to remain silent, Almighty God. Help me to shut up and dissolve into You, Blessed Redeemer.

If Nineveh is in ruins and someone must mourn for her, need it be me, Lord? Need it be now? I am a man of unclean lips, I stutter, and many are angered by my every word. Some would have You, Heavenly Father, choose sides and alienate a portion of those for whom You gave Your only begotten Son’s life. Help me to remain silent about the crimes committed against You while the conversation rages on, focused on the infinitely lesser crimes of man against man as though You were not sovereign. Help me to brace myself for the hatred and isolation that accompanies exalting Your name above all else in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 © 2013 Brian L Hunter
http://www.anointedwritenow.com/