Tag: verse

Little Flock

James HoganLeave a comment

So just reading some fantastic verses here – Luke 12 is really a great chapter! I’m not even done with it yet, but so many good parts – I’ll just excerpt the following:

‘But seek His kingdom, and these things will be
added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for
your Father has chosen gladly to give you the
kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity;
make yourselves money belts which do not wear out,
an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief
comes near nor moth destroys. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.’
-Jesus Christ, Luke 12:32-34

I could quote a lot more, but you’ll just have to read for yourselves! Anyway, just good to ponder these things, especially living in a city and culture consumed by the longing to make itself happier by the gaining of material possessions. Truly, these things matter so little – when we know our Lord Jehovah is coming back someday soon, how can we be so enthralled by the things of this world? I know not, but it is good for us to remind ourselves how important it is to dwell on the things of God instead, and to follow His commandments and to love as He has loved us.

And now I say – I did not mean to write so much, but I will not take it back now! I am currently sitting here at Beans Cafe Coffeehouse…in Houston, Texas. Because yes, I am truly moved back to America and I am no longer in Aberdeen, my friends. I must confess – this coffeehouse is only a mile away from my apartment, yet I drove here! I was going to walk, but it was raining and so…yeah, I crumbled. Oh well, guess no Saturday morning walk for me.

And this place is fantastic, even if it’s no Books and Beans! It’s only one floor, and it’s much smaller than Books and Beans, but it looks like it offers lunch too, which makes me happy. I’ve already read a bit and posted some pictures on facebook and now I think it’s time to read some emails from some dear friends and respond to those. Maybe I’ll write more here later?

We’ll see. For now, farewell, my friends. Farewell from Houston.

Market Street

James HoganLeave a comment

About time for a sandwich this gorgeous Saturday morning(sunny, blue skies, crisp and not-freezing air!) but thought I’d write a few words first. Am still a little bit sleepy despite the copious amounts of sugar I’ve been consuming via my raspberry mocha, but the fun times last night with John and Ruth and Zara were very much worth the sleepiness today.

So now…well, I thought I’d try and write a short poem or story or something at least mildly literary, but my muse has fled and I’m hungry and I can think of some words far better than any I could craft…

And we know that the
Son of God has come,
and has given us understanding
so that we may know Him who is true;
and we are in Him who is true,
in His Son
Jesus Christ.
This is the true God and eternal life.

Little children, guard yourselves from idols.
-1 John 5:20-21

How true and lovely these words are!! As we have been made pure and holy in the sight of God Himself, how much more should our love overflow and our hearts long to stay free of the snares of this world and our songs rise e’er higher to our Father and our God! May our praise mingle sweetly with the music of the glorious stars above and the roaring seas below as all things created worship the Creator! May all things – both visible and invisible, both weak and strong, the mighty and the humble, both old and young and the wise and the simple and both fey and common and the low and the glorious- may all things praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Ruhamah

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Just finished the book of Hosea at church tonight. Can’t express in words how lovely that book is and how it has blessed my soul…just read the below verses and linger in the gorgeous music of the heavens…

Then I saw a new heaven and a
new earth; for the first heaven
and the first earth passed away, and
there is no longer any sea. And I saw
the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming
down out of heaven from God, made
ready as a bride adorned for her
husband. And I heard a loud voice from
the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle
of God is among men, and He
will dwell among them, and they shall
be His people, and
God Himself
will be among them,
and He will wipe away every tear
from their eyes;
and there will no longer be any death;
there will no longer be any mourning,
or crying, or pain;
the first things have passed away.”

And He who sits on the throne said,
“Behold, I am making all things new.”
And He said, “Write, for these words
are faithful and true.”
Then He said to me, “It is done. I am
the Alpha and the Omega,
the beginning and the end.
I will give to the one who thirsts
from the spring of the water of life
without cost.
He who overcomes will inherit these things,
and I will be his God
and He will be My son.”
-Revelation 21:1-7

Coffee Time

James HoganLeave a comment

And my heart is full this evening as I sip my coffee and slowly prepare for another week to begin. Soon, soon – I must go off to bed and drift away on a tide of dreams so I am not too weary at work tomorrow, but for now…I just sit on my bed and ponder what blessings are mine…in abundance. And my heart longs to exult in words and song and sweet poetry what joy is mine, but alas, I’m not sure if my head is up to the task. Shall I write? Or shall I just rest this night, rejoicing in the purest wonder of knowing my Lord Jesus Christ?

At least, before I go…

For I am convinced that
neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other created thing,
will be able to separate us
from the love of God,
which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.

Spoonful of sweetest coffee,
a pillow laced full of dreams,
liquid eyes gaze heavenward,
and song of love spirals up.

No more writing this night. Just thinking and praying. Peace, y’all.

Music of the Heart

James HoganLeave a comment

Just a few words…oh so beautiful!

When my heart was embittered
and I was pierced within,
then I was senseless and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.

Nevertheless I am continually with You.
You have taken hold of my right hand.
With Your counsel You will guide me,
and afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart
and my portion
forever.

And now as my heart is full and my tongue has no more words…I will return to my delicately crafted spinach salad and rejoice this night. Farewell, y’all!

Love and peace.

Life Eternal

James HoganLeave a comment

And I am oh so weary this Tuesday evening. But…I need not be downcast. Truly – “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” True that!! A thousand times yes. And thus I sit back in my chair and relax in the peace that comes with knowing my God. My God.

And now, about time for my meatloaf and potato dinner. Another blessing that we don’t often consider enough – that we have such delicious and plentiful food. Truly, let us be thankful!

Farewell, my friends. Grace and peace.

Haste the Day

James HoganLeave a comment

How blessed is the man
who has made the Lord his trust,
and has not turned to the proud,
nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

Many, O Lord my God,
are the wonders
which You have done,
and Your thoughts
toward us;
there is none to compare
with You.
If I would declare
and speak of them,
they would be too numerous to count.
-Psalm 40:4-5

Bliss. (Also, all of Psalm 40…love it so)

Grace Eternal

James HoganLeave a comment

We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and the love which you have for all the saints;
because of the hope laid up for you in heaven,
of which you previously heard in the word of truth,
the gospel which has come to you,
just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing,
even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it
and understood
the grace of God
in truth.

This Mountain

James HoganLeave a comment

Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;
but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him
shall never thirst;
but the water that I give him will become in him
a well of water springing up to eternal life.
-Jesus Christ

John 4 is one of my favorite passages ever…just saying. You all should read it now – may it enliven your soul as much as it has done mine this morn.

Dreams of love

James HoganLeave a comment

And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
The Son of God, who has eyes like
a flame of fire, and His feet are like
burnished bronze, says this:
‘I know your deeds, and your love
and faith and service and perseverance,
and that your deeds of late are greater
than at first. But I have this against
you, that you tolerate the woman
Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess,
and she teaches and leads My bondservants
astray so that they commit
acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed
to idols. I gave her time to
repent, and she does not want to repent
of her immorality. Behold, I will
throw her on a bed of sickness, and
those who commit adultery with her
into great tribulation, unless they repent
of her deeds. And I will kill her children
with pestilence, and all the
churches will know that I am He who
searches the minds and hearts; and I
will give to each one of you according
to your deeds. But I say to you, the
rest who are in Thyatira, who do not
hold this teaching, who have not known
the deep things of Satan, as they call
them- I place no other burden on you.

Nevertheless, what you have, hold
fast until I come. He who overcomes,
and he who keeps My deeds
until the end, to Him I will give
authority over the nations; and he
shall rule them with a rod of iron, as
the vessels of the potter are broken to
pieces, as I also have received authority
from My Father; and I will give him
the morning star. He who has an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches.’

Oh what sweet words!! Something that’s really hit me hard lately…how can we compartmentalize our lives so, and be so self-satisfied in our own accomplishments. How can we so easily tolerate and even praise the evils of this world? Oh let us overcome. Let us hold fast to the the words of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord. And let us praise His most glorious name! He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.