This past week I have been sick with the flu. I haven’t been able to do much physical work, but I believe that the Lord has used my weakness as a blessing. Let me explain:

I’ve had an idea to take the words of “Tears from a Lonely God” and combine them with music and photos to make a slideshow. I’d been putting it off for some time, but this past week, when I was sick, it really was an opportunity to give this idea a try.

And, to make a long story short, I was amazed at how (relatively) easy this was, and how much more dramatic the words became. Here’s a look at the first chapter: (Music is by Kevin MacLeod)

Also, I’ve added a new section to the main TFALG site, entitled Video Slideshows.

People often ask me how they can have a closer walk with the Lord. It’s really very simple: a little less I, and a little more HIM.

But I wrote something tonight to help express this more fully, which I call: “Count the Cost.” I hope this gives you a little closer walk with Jesus.

Count the Cost

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” -Luke 14:28

Beloved, you seek Me, but you do not always find Me.

You are My child, and yet you do not always know Me as a father.

You are of the household of God, and yet you are sometimes as a foreigner.

Oh! why is it that you seek Me, but that you cannot find Me?

Have I said that I would hide myself from those that I love? No, but rather the contrary: I will reveal Myself to those that I love, and to those that love Me.

And yet, why can you still not find Me? Why do you still fall away? Why do you still wander? What is the meaning of this?

It is because you seek Me casually. You seek me part-time. You seek Me half-heartedly. You seek Me not truly believing that I will be found, nor that I am worthy to be found.

Have you not read: “No man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24)? And yet you still cling to your old life. Let there be no confusion: I desire your whole heart. I desire every part of your life.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” -Galatians 2:20

Beloved, I have so much to give to you. I have so many things to share with you in divine fellowship. It is not out of reach. It is not unobtainable for you.

Have you not counted the cost of this new life? You can believe in Me onto salvation, or you can believe in Me onto salvation and also complete victory and spiritual companionship. It is all a matter of how much you give: your all, or less than your all.

You can believe on Me to avoid hellfire only, but the trying fire will one day burn up everything else beside. Friend, why not believe on Me not only for deliverance from hellfire, but also for an everlasting friend?

You say that you want this new life, but have you truly counted the cost? Do not let Satan sideline your thoughts: My life is full-time. It costs everything. I was serious when I said: “thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Beloved, this was not meant to be a love of spoken words and prayers! It is a love of actions and of doings.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” -John 14:15

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” -1 John 3:18

Do not let the comfort and familiarity of this world fool or deceive you: I desire your full devotion. The world is set at complete and polar opposite to My kingdom. The world is satisfied with half-heartedness, I am not. The devil is happy with your neutrality and indecision, yet it grieves Me. Love the good, and hate the bad. Cling to Me, and forsake the way of wickedness.

Beloved, you cannot find Me simply by desiring Me. You must count the cost, and be prepared to pay it. You desire Me, and you do well, but how shall I then bless you when your hands are full of garbage? How shall I give you a glass of water when the cup is filled with your own vomit?

Will you be quenched and satisfied simply by holding out your glass for Me to fill? Beloved, count the cost, and empty from your life the things which offend. Take from your heart the things which defile. Make clean the cup, and count the cost, and then you shall truly receive the blessing that I long to pour out to you.