Friday, November 30, 2018

Tower


One day our world was different. 

A tower stood on the Earth. It looked like a fortress made from rock, carved, it seemed, by the hand of God. It was surrounded by an army of similar stone columns, each above the world and not of it, out of reach, away. On it sat a mysterious structure, a building perhaps. The people of that day were curious about these sites. Why were they there? But no one wanted to venture up because they had all that they needed below. 

She had all she needed too, but curiosity stirred her to reach for the top. She set out, using mortal hands to climb, stretching her legs and not looking down. Forever extended up toward the clouds, and eventually, the distance down was forever too. For a while, she remained in that place, still like the palace at the top. It rested. She waited. But when it was time, she began to climb again, lifting with now stronger arms and patience. She met her destination with relief. There before her was a building that had not been entered in one thousand years.  

Everything remained as it had been. No dust settled on our fair Earth anymore. There were no ruins, only what had been before, exactly as it had been. 

She was met with an elaborately carved wooden door frame, artwork, stone and wood together. Human hands had built this place! The door had been propped open with a rock. Had it been there for a thousand years too or had someone come ahead of her? She went inside. 

Realizing this was a place of worship, she pulled a long scarf from her bag to cover her head. It was an unusual tradition for her, but seemed to convey respect which she was eager to do. Frescoes on the wall showed people, Saints probably, and at least one surrounded by rays of light. 

Light didn't behave that way anymore. It was no longer coming or going. It remained, always and everywhere. There was no where to shine into, all was lit, all was seen. The Earth was light, the ground beneath and the sky above, inside this church and outside, all were beaming, all were vibrant. She was struck by that part of the painting, light that moved separately from other things. One person had it, but another did not. It was not so in her day. She could not even imagine darkness. 

After all of this, she saw the child in a painting by the door. She knew him instinctively and smiled and understood that she was indeed in a place of worship. He looked so small and young there, hidden away in the quiet places where the faithful had once worshiped in secret. But it was not that way now. Now he lived among them, with them, and all the world was a high place.


For he says, I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you. Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation! 
2 Corinthians 6:2

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

I'll Fly Away

Some glad morning, when this life is o'er
I'll fly away
To that home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away

I'll fly away, O glory
I'll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah bye and bye
I'll fly away

When the shadows of this life have flown
I'll fly away
Like a bird from prison bars has flown
I'll fly away

I'll fly away, O glory
I'll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah bye and bye
I'll fly away

Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joys shall never end
I'll fly away


I'll fly away, O glory
I'll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah bye and bye
I'll fly away...

Thursday, November 22, 2018

1 John 1:2-4


The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 
We write this to make our joy complete.


Sunday, November 18, 2018

"Rabbi, I want to see."


Bartimaeus is Thankful. 

I read a post yesterday with this simple title. It really struck me how wonderful it would be to be remembered this way. What if, after all you or I have done or said or accomplished or failed at, this is what was said of us?

Mark 10:46-52

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, 

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 

Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. 

The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 

“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.



Thursday, November 15, 2018

Free







Unforgiveness
ferments
in the soul
and
destroys lives.


Forgiveness
frees
a soul
from 
the depths.







Friday, November 9, 2018

Eagles


Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, 
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and 
his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and 
increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, 
and young men stumble and fall; 
but those who hope in the Lord 
will renew their strength. 
They will soar on wings like eagles; 
they will run and not grow weary, 
they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Mercy Seat

In the darkness
Where everything is unknown
I faced the power of sin on my own
I did not know of a place I could go
Where I could find a way to
Heal my wounded soul

He said that I could come into
His presence without fear
Into the holy place where
His mercy hovers near

I'm running, I'm running
I'm running to the mercy seat
Where Jesus is calling He said
His grace would cover me
His blood will flow freely
It will provide the healing
Come running to the mercy seat
I'm running to the mercy seat

Are you living where hope has not been?
You're lost in the curse of a
Lifetime of sin
Lovely illusions they never
Come true I know where there's a place
Of mercy for you


He said that you could come into His
Presence without fear
Into this holy place
Where his presence hovers near


Come running, come running
Come running to the mercy seat
Where Jesus is calling He said his
Grace would cover you. 
His blood
Will flow freely it will provide the healing
Come running to the mercy seat
I'm running to the mercy seat
He said that you could come into his presence
Without fear into the holy place
Where his mercy hovers near

Vicki Yohe

Saturday, November 3, 2018

Greater Awakening


The world wakes up
More than before
More than yesterday
Not just an awakening
Maybe the greatest
Certainly greater
I don't think we have been here before
We are at the top of a rollercoaster