How long will I stand
In this world of undreams,
Where only the shadows
Are what they seem?
Left brain overwhelmed,
Right mind seeing ‘round,
Let me write or draw or paint,
I must remember thoughts I think.
Copyright 2023. L.L. Shelton.
All posts by L.L. Shelton
In View of Narnia
Life is nothing if not comical,
Most certainly it’s truly tragic.
Our dilemma’s astronomical;
We need a special brand of magic.
Enter Aslan: ONE TRUE KING,
His mighty roar salvation brings!
Copyright 2023. L.L. Shelton.
Armchair Traveler
If traveling would make of me
One who’d ever wander,
Harming hearts and failing minds
And tearing things asunder;
Thanks be to God who keeps me home,
Allowing me to wonder,
O’re color in the flower’s frame
And rolling of the thunder.
Copyright 2023. L.L. Shelton.
We Rest Our Case
For Lemona Elliott & Ladonna Elliott Daniel
In the quiet,
six foot depth,
we gravely laid
your case to rest.
Daughter sighed,
mother wept,
children round
softly crept.
By grace alone
you stood your ground,
and in Christ
new freedom found.
Away with you,
our faithful plea,
fly to Him
your soul to keep!
Until your case
be once more raised;
The Judge shouts, “You-
come forth be saved;”
Your shell will linger,
decompose,
over it green
grasses grow.
But on That Day,
in That Hour,
be resurrected
by His power;
Then running and leaping
and praising God,
o’re soil our feet
this day hath trod.
Copyright 2023. L.L. Shelton.
My Soul To Keep
Allow that I know
My safety is in You alone;
That I am safe because
You keep me safe,
That there is no need
For any other but You.
Do fill me up with You,
Wash me daily in Your Word;
Surround my soul
Within Your Essence,
Keep me safe,
Safe and sound.
Amen.
Copyright 2023. L.L. Shelton.
On Revival
What is revival in a religious or spiritual sense? First, a revival by this definition is a renewal of something and/or a return to it with new fervor. What is revival in a Biblical sense? Simply put, it is a renewed and conscious focus on my First Love, coupled with a sincere longing for His Holiness in my life; a desire for my sanctification. This is a different work than justification; that is my initial coming to Jesus, The Christ, beseeching Him to save me from my sin and become my Lord and Master. Justification is the saving event that begins my journey as a Christian, literally a little Christ. Sanctification is the continual process of being saved by my cooperation with The Holy Spirit of God who now indwells me, guiding and directing me in my new life with my Lord, and who has sealed me for the day of the final phase- my glorification. Yet, in some sense all three phases are continual. Salvation, like the trinity, is three-in-one.
When the people of God (Christ’s body the church) are functioning appropriately, according to instruction from The Word of God, cooperating with their sanctification- others from outside the body and imposters residing inside the body will be justified. People will be delivered from their sin and spiritually healed. Prayers of praise and thanksgiving will be plentiful. There will be a hunger for Scripture and an active interest in and emphasis on its application in our lives.
Revival may occur corporately in the sense that many people are experiencing personal revival together, in other words, a group of people in congregation are having separate personal revival as individuals. This may be what is now occurring on the campuses of Asbury College, Lee University, and other American institutions of higher education. As my Granny was fond of saying, “the proof is in the pudding.” We shall see if this has been the case by the fruit (See Matthew 13: 18-30).
If you are unable to be a part of a corporate revival event, but are experiencing an intense desire for God to do a new work in your life, pray for personal revival. I have done it and have experienced it.
The elements of personal revival are simply outlined for us in The Word of God. Apply them now:
- Prayer: Offered In sincerity and humility, requesting that God make known to me my specific sin or pattern of sin (Ps. 139:23-24).
- Confession: With discretion, of that particular sin or pattern of sin to another Christian or Christians (James 5:16).
- Atonement: With discernment and in compassion, seek forgiveness of anyone directly offended by me due to that sin or pattern of sin (Matthew 5:23-24).
- Repentance: An obvious turning away from that sin or pattern of sin to live apart from (separated from) that sin or sin pattern (Acts 3:19).
- Witness: Become a living testimony to the power of the event in your life, to The Saving Gospel of Jesus Christ; to the continual saving power of God’s Word actively lived, to sanctification in the life of a Believer (Ephesians 5:25-27).
May GOD bless us as we continue the journey of our salvation- saved and being saved and ultimately saved by His great love, mercy, and grace!
Copyright 2023. L. L. Shelton
Folly’s Field
I wish to see the tulips
In their splendor testify,
Your beauty is reality
Not some shell you hide behind.
Friendship is a solemn gift
Not given by the blind.
Is there something more you seek?
There is no more to find.
All are fools but for His Love,
No other story matters;
I have no greater gift to give,
Though see your heart in tatters.
An idol’s not a thing that lasts,
Broken bent and battered,
It’s buried deep beneath the earth,
With its subjects shattered.
Copyright 2023. L.L Shelton.
Rodeo Drive
Nothing to see,
Nothing to do,
All the world over
Nothing is new.
Empty faces,
Worn-out places,
Life is lost and
Leaves no traces.
Bitterness breaks
It down to the races,
Rich or poor
Everyman braces,
For final hour;
Where there is
No power
In self.
Copyright 2023. L.L. Shelton.
Litmus Test
Characteristics of The People of The Way: The Way of Love and Light and of Jesus Christ, Son of God:
- They are devoted to The Scriptural Truth.
- They love one another and have a habit of meeting regularly together.
- Their life’s emphasis will remain on Jesus Christ and sharing the message of hope they have found in Him, their Lord and Savior.
- They want all that is good and right, and they actively seek it.
- They do not wish for hidden things, or for things to remain hidden.
- They move in light rather than darkness, and are given to and practice truth rather than lies.
- They will consistently, though imperfectly, display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
- They revere all life.
- They are kind to the earth- recognizing it as a gift from The Creator, while knowing that a created thing must never be worshipped, as worship is due The Creator alone.
- They recognize sin and evil coming from within and oppressing from without, and desire to be delivered from it.
- They are discreet and they are authentic- come what may.
- They have loved and they long for The Day of His Appearing.
Copyright 2023. L.L. Shelton.
Birds of Prey
At the hands of the law
Men choose to crawl,
To live work and play.
As night follows day,
As saints kneel to pray,
The mighty will tumble.
By Grace they fly free,
See from the trees,
Live His bidding to do.
Their shadows will fall
Ore the rotting cabal’s
Strange odorous flesh,
Adorned by Glory
To fulfill the story,
On His signal alight.
Tongues are not pleading;
Chords do the screaming.
Fierce claws rip the eyes out.
For evil so flagrant,
Justice is fragrant.
The unrighteous must pay.
Copyright 2023. L.L. Shelton.