A special thanks to Presbytera Candace for this testimony…
The dye has been cast.
The decision has been made.
I have stepped over the line.
I won't look back, let up, slow down, or back away.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future secure.
I'm done with low living, sight walking, small planning, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions or popularity.
I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.
I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, live by prayer and labor with power.
My face is set, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The dye has been cast.The decision has been made.
I have stepped over the line.
I won't look back, let up, slow down, or back away.
My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future secure.
I'm done with low living, sight walking, small planning, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions or popularity.
I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.
I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, live by prayer and labor with power.
My face is set, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and spoken up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
—Written in Africa by a man imprisoned for his faith
who was later martyred
who was later martyred
Romanos,
ReplyDeleteWe have quite similar thoughts.I posted a similar item on the 28th October which I have included as a comment below.I called it 'Fellowship of the unashamed'. It is a bit longer but many of the sentiments are the same. Feel free to delete if you don't want it duplicated. Neverthless it is the powerful prayer of a man who has no love for the world.
You may or may not be familiar with the following letter written some time ago.It was written by a young pastor in Zimbabwe who was later martyred for his faith: Again this will challenge us regarding our passion for God. Are we willing to die for Christ? It was certainly an everyday reality for Christians during the first three centuries. It is still the same for many Christians in many parts of the world today. Click on the Open Doors link on my fav. websites which will tell you how you can become involved with the suffering church.
'I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made—I’m a disciple of his. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colourless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals
I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits,
or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on his presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labour with power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must keep going until he comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until he stops me. And, when he comes for his own, he will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear'
Yes, Andrew, this is probably a fuller version of the one I posted, sent me by my friend in Alaska, who is the presbytera of the Greek Orthodox church in Anchorage (her husband is presbyter Leo Schefe).
ReplyDeleteThough we don't face (earthly-)life threatening situations every day, the followers of Jesus, you and me, DO face soul threatening situations every day. And why is that? Doesn't the Lord care for, protect and provide for us? Yes, indeed He does. But it wasn't the Father abandoning His Son when that Son went to His voluntary and life-giving Death. The Father didn't fail to do His will, which is always unalterably and unquestionably righteous, when the Lord Jesus suffered. Neither does the Lord our God abandon us in any way whatsoever, especially when we choose to follow His Son into the world where we, along with Him, go daily to suffer and die with Him, even if the death is less than bodily.
This could be any of us, and indeed it is, now, and till the end of time.