All posts by L.L. Shelton

About L.L. Shelton

Bonnie is a Jesus Lover, and in light of the fact, loves His wonderful church. She is interested in many things and enjoys sharing her view of some of them on this blog. She is a poet and a singer of songs. She resides in Memphis, Tennessee, where she is a dedicated wife and the mother of seven children- five of whom she educates at home, as the eldest two have graduated homeschool and are pursuing their own interests. In her spare moments she may be found in her home office with a client, as she is a practicing Biblical Counselor and a Life Coach. She welcomes you to print and share her articles and poetry, and to quote freely from them with the understanding that she is to be acknowledged as the author. Mrs. Shelton does NOT OWN the copyright to the majority of the photos and other types of illustration used on this site!

The Story of Us As I Have Understood It

Poetry,

For Emily, Donald, Anna, Jonathan, Alexander, Jaxon, and Little Madelyn, with great and genuine affection

Man began before the ages,
Thought within Eternal Pages.
By stirrings of His mind was wrought,
A lover for Himself He sought…

My Love be mine, by me fashioned,
Will be brought to know my passion.
She, placed in Paradise to rule
Will meet The Serpent, come to woo.

The choice be hers to honor me,
She’ll fall into her destiny.
Convinced she is not truly free,
In selfishness she’ll flee from me.

Into her nature she’ll descend,
Still I to hers my soul will mend.
From dust to dawn I will transcend,
Myself in Christ will recommend,

Restoration through salvation,
Genesis to Revelation,
And though it cost me all, I Am.
I’ll be for her The Spotless Lamb.

I will buy back what once was mine,
Will burn away the dross- refine.
I will most purposefully die
Restoring luster to her eye.

In Hell I’ll stand to take her place
To earn for her redeeming grace.
Her true identity once lost,
She’ll find once more nailed to the cross.

Now in mine be One, gentle, wise,
Truth full, who sees with my own eyes;
Who’ll convict and comfort ever,
Who’ll from grace be severed-never!

Once lover of the world made wise
Will come her nature to despise.
My nature now she’ll learn to crave.
She will be mine beyond the grave!

Thus she will wander lost no more.
She will be with me as before.
All be mine by my own power-
Redemption be our finest hour!

©2011, L.L. Shelton

In Response to “Dawn” by Robert Bly

Poetry,

Who are you, Mr. Bly,
And what do you realize
When you ponder the things you see?

Do you know that
Those who realize The Baby
And then ponder the things they see

Are new forms of creation
And that too, for each of them
A glass ceiling has been destroyed?

Do you know, my friend,
Setting stars never disappear
That they only hide for an instant?

Will you understand the
Language you seek to recover
Has been recovered by the new?

And it is now sung
Throughout the universes
Known and unknown for all ages

And the stars which twinkle,
Hide and reappear once more
Are named and they sing the same song!

©2010, L.L. Shelton

“Dawn” by Robert Bly

For the Church

Poetry,

His Radiant Bride

Is this she, made to give her precious son
To mouth of beast, small body now undone;
Calm, serene, stands to sing His Word, far flung
Strains echoing today pushed from her tongue?

Is this she, His forgiveness still doth seek
For enemies who plot to make her weak,
Heart gladdened, mind made strong, thoughts gathered round
The Throne while body slumps beneath the mound;

Who dipped in boiling oil, her mind took flight
As joined with You she hoped, conspired to write
The story, draw the picture that depicts
The Final Word above The Crucifix;

Whose persecutors mocked her, caused her frown,
When preaching loud her Lord and by them found,
Proposed to murder her such as The Crown,
She rallied, Will you hang me upside down?

‘Tis she! Who burneth brightly whilst she sings,
Truth, Love, Light, Beauty founded by her King,
Established for eternity her thoughts
To bring Him glory by His Word was bought.

‘Tis she! Who smells the smoke of ugly zeal
Yet marches forward carrying His Will.
She shudders not as gazing on that hill,
Knows where her Master’s passion leadeth still.

Her head she places squarely on the block,
Surrenders up her self, blood smattered frock.
Small price is paid. Forever with His flock!
She reigns eternally upon The Rock.

Her heart emboldened, empowered to feel,
Her mind enlightened by His plan to heal,
His people to redeem, selfishness kill,
She glories on marked with His Holy Seal;

His Good Love never failing to inspire
In her the most magnificent desire
To see Him face to face, behold her Sire.
Let God be true and every man a liar!

©2011, L.L. Shelton

Who I Am

Living the Word

I have been pondering for some time on this subject. The title to the page was suggested with the site, as was the idea that I should display some biographical information. Of course, any of you who know me are aware that a request of this nature will suggest to me a pause for deeper consideration… and so the site has been up awhile as I have been attempting to formulate a thoughtful response.

Also, those of you who know me personally are aware that I am a dedicated wife and a homeschooling mother of seven. But this will be news to those readers with whom I am not acquainted. Our children range in age from twenty-three and graduated from college, to three and in the nursery. I genuinely love my friends and my family, and I attempt to live as a good citizen within my various societies, great and small. But… who am I?

I considered simply typing in my written testimony of salvation, self-published in nineteen ninety-four, but that seemed to be a bit of a cop out on the opportunity presented. I mean, only cyberspace people would actually arrange for this type of intimate assessment of one’s self, impose no deadline, and make available the medium for the world to observe the outcome. Maybe I should explore this inquiry- Who am I? – in depth, present a truly well contemplated answer…

First, a few words about who I was:  I was she who ate the fruit.  I was the blind beggar, unable to know what caused my foot to stumble.  I was the paralytic…  the woman at the well…  the leper…  the one overcome with fear of the storm.  I was the one with a dreaded disease.  I was the one sick and unable to heal myself-  or to find The One to heal me.  I was the one lost and alone with no knowledge of how to escape my personal hell on earth.  I was the one dead- unaware.

Then…  Jesus found me.  He revealed to me Himself, in all His loveliness, in all His purity, in all His perfection.  He showed me that He is The Way and The Truth and The Life, leading to Light and Love.   He displayed to me His generosity of Spirit, and His wisdom.  He made plain to me the will of The Father, which is His Holy Word.

And I became no one.  I am nothing.   Apart from my Savior, I have no good thing.  I…

I am hopefully dying a bit each day as He transforms my mind-my self into His mind-His self; molding me and making me the self He originally designed me to be, but whom I would never have embraced before He made me His own.

Who am I? I am His.

And the question ever begging to be asked is:  Who is He?

It Was For Me A Song

Poetry,

You came and kissed the earth

With lips so soft and sweet,

To grant mankind new birth

That we would worship at your feet.

Eternal optimism now within my heart aflame

For You have beckoned to me-

You have called my soul by Name!

And I will mourn my passing never-

Won’t sing as one who has no hope!

To own You be my sure endeavor,

It was for me the world You spoke.

©2010, L.L. Shelton

You Can’t Legislate Morality and Other Fallacies

Politics, ,

Does anyone else remember this catch phrase- you can’t legislate morality?  I heard it often.  I didn’t think about it as often.  I’m really thinking about it now.

America, not only can we legislate morality, but we do it everyday up there in DC, and in every voting booth around this country.  May  I submit to you that we’ve been a bit confused regarding the difference between morality and true spirituality?

Morality is a set of standards put forth, by which a society or an individual agrees to be governed.  Spirituality is something else altogether, it may imply a moral code, but only if that code is felt or believed to be necessary by the person possessing his spirituality.

Again, I urge that we Christians take our place in the governing of society wherever and whenever possible.  Of course, it is understood that we belong in church government and in the pulpits, but we belong everywhere!  We are to live in this world! We are not to be like those who take their places among the unbelievers, but we are to take our places among the unbelievers…our places.

True Christians have the opportunity to legislate morality in this nation.  Scripture makes it clear that while we cannot legislate true spirituality, we may be given the opportunity to legislate morality. We are America! As of today, we have that opportunity! This great and imperfect nation needs True Christian leadership at every level.  Let’s stop allowing the world to intimidate us, and get to work!

BTW- For those of you who read my posts consistently, there is no contradiction here.  You can love someone without wanting him to be your President (or your preacher).  And,  President Carter, no disrespect intended, according to Scripture, neither being black nor being a woman is being involved in a lifestyle that is declared by God in Scripture to be offensive to Himself.

A Note to The Westboro Baptists and to All Who May Have Misunderstood Christmas

Bible Talk, Church Culture, Living the Word, Politics, , , ,

While I may not be compelled to label you as goats, as you are and will be labeled appropriately by One greater than us all, I do stand with Danny Akin and others who have considered the possibility.

Are you unaware of the Absolute Truth and Authority of Scripture? Is it possible that you do not consider the entire Word?

Have you considered the Word of The Lord in Matthew 2:8, 9:4, and 12:25? God knows your thoughts! Are you as angry with yourself for your own evil thoughts, as you are at the openly homosexual for his? Have you considered the Word of The Lord in Luke 5:22, Luke 6:8, 9:47? Have you thought about His Word in Mark 2:8, 8:17, and 12:15? How about John 2:23?

Is one man’s sexual offense greater than that of another? I am sure from Scripture that God hates fornication, adultery, homosexuality, pedophilia, and the like. He also hates gossip, envy, and divorce. God hates sin because He loves man and sin destroys man.

Is one man’s thoughtful or behavioral response to any temptation weighed differently in heaven than another’s? Is one man’s illegitimate desire or action more offensive to God than that of another? I submit to you that the answer is no.

And so we have Christmas! God came as Christ to be with man, so that the man who is with Christ will no longer be ultimately destroyed by his sin! Hallelujah! God with us!

I do believe there is Scriptural evidence to support our understanding that heavenly rewards may be adjusted according to our record here, and there is tremendous empirical evidence to support the fact that the natural consequences of sin vary greatly and are certainly destructive according to the degree of depravity displayed in the offense.

However, whatever the natural consequences of sin, our mandate as individual Christians is to love in Christ, all of humanity; and to call one another to account as well as others, in The Spirit of Love. (Luke 6:27-36)

Of course, we must consider that it is NOT loving not to call ourselves and one another to account when we are obviously offending God, according to His Word; as then we would be helping ourselves and one another along the path to evil, to compounded sin, or to hell.

This is why it is so important for each of us to remember that we are unable to effectively call another to repentance when we have sin that we have failed to forsake in our own lives, thus we must daily confess our obvious and secret sin, seeking forgiveness for all that is in us that has offended God and then receive that forgiveness. Only then, may we be ready to assist the next man. (Luke 6:39-42)

And one conspicuous way to assist each other is to meet the need we all share as human beings for love, grace, encouragement, companionship, and tenderness.  Some say that we cannot offer these things to those outside the church because we are not to fellowship with the unbeliever. If you are one of them, I submit to you that we have a tendency to misunderstand the term “fellowship” in this instance, as it is intended to imply that we must not engage in those things that are an offense to Our Wonderful God no matter our company or our circumstance, however we are encouraged by the example of Scripture to engage any human being in the love of Christ Jesus Our Lord.

Furthermore, we can offer these things to one another more readily without falling into sin ourselves if we are keeping up the spiritual disciplines in our own lives! My friend, and brother in Christ, Dr. Don Whitney, has written a most excellent and readable guide for today’s Christian called Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. It has been a benefit to me and I highly recommend it to all.

May God help us this Christmas and always to remember that Christ is Christmas! And may He assist us in our attempts to aid one another in His Almighty Love!

Gay Marriage Has Another Day in Court

Politics

CA Proposition Eight is in court. This is as good a day as any to reconsider our position on this subject, as the church. For Love is a many-splendored thing, and an often misunderstood thing.

Where do we, as a church, get our definition of Love? It must come from The Great Lover, Himself. Where may He be found? In His Holy Word, in His Holy Spirit which is indwelling the true church, and in His Father- He is found.

By His definition, it appears that to love does not mean to tolerate my sin or the sin of another, nor does it mean to persecute my self or another, because of the sin inherent in self. But, rather Love calls for a new way. He calls for us to willingly and in the Spirit of grace, acknowledge our sin and that of others and to call one another to repentance, a turning away from sin, that we may truly LIVE.

Is it loving, to realize that one is walking directly into the path of a speeding train, and to simply pat that one on the back, as you watch him move steadily toward his physical death, and tell him how amazing he is for having triumphed in finding his own way? Is it loving to watch a child play in the middle of a busy intersection and congratulate yourself for being liberal enough to tolerate his independence?

The mandate from His Holy Word is plain: We, as the true church, are to indiscriminately love all of humanity. But it is obviously past time for us to reconsider what it means to genuinely LOVE.

Related post: Prop 8

In Thanksgiving for the Gift

Poetry, , , ,

Plymouth RockTo The Christian Patriot:

Brothers! Raise your eyes and see
The plain great cost of your liberty!
Price t’was not paid in blood alone,
But laid in each foundation stone

That marks where pilgrim feet have trod
As onward toward the goal did plod
Eyes on the prize, His Word to prod,
To save, to keep thoughts up on God;

That marks where colonists did spend
The lives of sons and fellowmen
To stand opposed kinship with those
Who looked to king to end all woes,

Plymouth Rock

For kings of earth, in death’s repose
Must lay humanity exposed.
As sorrows deeply interposed
O’re ages spent and now disclosed,

Had taught that freedom’s sincere bent
Is anchored in the hearts He sent,
United in ideals perceived,
First rooted, in True Liberty;

Whose Author, though man may not know,
Stirs yearnings deep within the soul!
The Patron, though by most unseen,
Ignites in us eternal dream.

He makes of us who stand to sing,
Our anthem of the bold to bring,
His Song: Let Truth and Freedom Ring!
Decree no wrong- no abject thing!

He volunteered, did pledge to die
To lead the forward battle cry;
To end oppression, crush the head
Of him who’d leave mankind as dead!

America! For truly free,
A haven may you ever be!
Allow all those who disembark
To stand with us on this our Ark,

Behold Beloved Patriarch
Who keeps our foot from stifling dark!
Refuse we evermore to stand
With tyranny, offer our hand.

Instead its forces we disband!
Allow it never rule our land!
Oppression be our only foe;
Against such ever strike the blow!

©2010, L.L. Shelton

The Christian Critic

Living the Word, ,

Some who read this title  may immediately feel that these terms are contradictory:  Christian and critic.  I would answer- may it never be!

We Christians are called to examine first of all ourselves, not to the point of morbid introspection, but to the point of getting at the Truth.  Secondly, we are instructed to adopt the view that Christ in God takes of the world, and this includes all things in and of it.  Now, this would necessitate the application of our critical thinking skills at whatever level that we are able to employ them.

I am certainly not suggesting that we behave in a manner that is unbecoming of Christians; harping on the negative, maintaining a harshness of spirit, cultivating a divisive attitude.  I am suggesting that we carefully consider our own character, and that of the church, to determine moment by moment whether or not it is in keeping with the character of God in Christ.

We cannot expect from the world anything other than a life lived in sympathy with sin.  Those who do not live within the Faith, will live outside of it.  They will live according to the standard dictated by their own nature to sin.  They will make decisions based upon their own rule of truth, which is the dictate of the sin nature.  When they do good, it will be based in their own idea of good- in other words, their motives will be some other than the glorification and enjoyment of God (i.e.,  in obeying a law of traffic, I may do so because I do not wish to die or to injure another, but only due to reasons pertaining to my own convenience to self).

However, from ourselves and from our brothers and sisters, we can and should expect a great deal more.  We are The Bride of Christ! We are never to live in sympathy with our sin nature.  Instead, we are to live in triumph over it! Now this will not be the case in every moment; as we are being sanctified, as we are struggling in our physical constraints, we will stumble on occasion, and it is then that we must in the spirit of Christian criticism call one another to account.

And we should welcome that calling to account, as it is our path home! It is our way out of our flesh and back into His Spirit! Now, this is not to say that His spirit is ever separated from us, once saved.  We are able though, to quell His Spirit within us by our nature to sin- still present, but dominated most often by His Spirit.  Truly, one great and compelling evidence of our own salvation is the immediate desire to return home, once we are confronted and are made to acknowledge the error of our ways.

The one who is lost- is really lost.  He has not merely stumbled and slipped off the right path for a momentary excursion into pleasuring self, and is then able to be shaken out of his stupor to be set right again, rather he is completely misguided and may even believe himself to be on the most direct route to where ever it is he considers himself to be going.  Thus, an awful struggle will many times ensue as an attempt is made to convince this one that he is quickly traveling the road to his own demise.

Yes! I believe we should all be Christian critics, and yet in the Spirit, thus in the prevailing attitude of loving consideration for God Our Father, for brother, and for sister.  Most importantly, we should begin with ourselves, with our own motives, and we should be delighted if other members of the body love us enough to question our lives.