Tag Archives: Place of Testing

Here

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Night Sky 5

Night Sky 5 (Photo credit: dgrice)

Here, you dress me.

Here, I submit.

Here, I learn of my sins.

But

Here, I learn of Your mercy.

It was here that I found precious things;

The things that belong to You.

It was here that Your beauty shown in the darkness;

I came to understand lovely things.

Here, I find Grace.

Here, I find Mercy.

Here, my mind is become filled with the Hope that belongs to You.

And leaving Here, that hope becomes mine.

Thanks will roll from my lips forever

Because You were Here.

 

Thank You Lord, because You are Here.

By His Grace.  Amen.

Quizney Land. ( the place of testing)

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He spent his time here in this place enjoying what he could.

Some rides were scary, some not, all told the trip was good.

The last event was in a place where caring hands await.

To slow him down and wipe his brow before the exit gate.

“We hope our rides have brought you joy.  We really give our best.

And how shall you be paying sir?  You’ve been a wondrous  guest.”

” I have no money left my dear.  I am told this card will do.

Tis from the one I owe my all.  His purse you may well sue .”

“Oh yes sir this will do just fine.  Tis paid with priceless tears.

I see His angels have arrived to take you from these years.

Love Apparent to All

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Seasons

Seasons (Photo credit: *~Dawn~*)

What is this place we inhabit?  The seasons change in their faithfully instructed time, with variations, yet surely differing.  The stars remain steady enough to mark the faithful seasons.

Trees, flowers, mosses, and bushes remain after their own kind produce their fruits.  Snow is faithfully white, rain is always water.  The seas remain within their commanded boundaries.  Clouds appear, drift, and obey the command of the atmosphere.  So many aspects of creation to mention.

And why is all this about and within us?  Because God was pleased to create this “Place of Testing”.  It was sufficient to test the faithfulness of His Son Jesus.  And it is sufficient to test the faithfulness of His Son’s Bride.

Let us, therefore, consider what wonderful opportunity is upon us.  That we should be, by His Grace, counted as worthy to be refined through the same sufferings which fell upon His Son.  And let us consider His very great promises concerning such people.  Let us not perceive any hatred for those things which come against us.  Rather let us embrace each item, large or small, as if it were a kiss from the Holy Lord Most High who determined to love His creation into that perfect rest.

By His Grace.

The Carpet of Potential.

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White

Image by Tolka Rover via Flickr

Before me lay the day.  It is rolled out in front of me as a clean white carpet.  I have never stepped one foot on this new “place of possibilities”.  And as I look about me I perceive the carpet to extend in every direction for the distance of a day. 

Where shall I set my first step?  How shall I know which direction to begin?  And haven’t I been here before?  I remember the days like this from years and years past.  How they settle against me now.  They are like an army of days of darkness.  I walked about on their carpets as a blind man.  And now they have amassed against me as an army.  They hold in their hands weapons of regret.  They hold my potential hostage, and wait like lions in the bushes to grasp this day’s hope.

I know what I will do.  I will call upon the Lord of Life.  He has in His hand the days of eternity.  He knows the way of each day.  And has seen the end of things from ancient days before.  I will beg His Glory to guide my first step.  I will set my face in the direction of His Holy whisper.  And I will allow the wind of His Pure Flame to direct my strength upon that foot. 

From the beginning, His Son was slain.  He set the foundations of the world with the intent of sacrificing His Son for a people blind, naked, hopeless, and purposeless.  This is the God who now directs the steps I make on this pure carpet about me.  I will walk in the strength of my God.  And I will not be ashamed. 

Rail against me, you days of regret! 

Speak of my failings, go ahead! 

I walk these days without your help. 

For I rest on the Lord of Glory!

By His Grace.

Morning

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Twilight

The colors are almost here.  And the dew is suspended like a blanket.  Listen to the Robins praise the joy of the coming day.  “Eat!  We will eat and fly!  Ah, to fly again.  It is a day for us to soar.  Thanks to God for this beautiful morning!”

Stillness reigns at the advent of day.  The world is not yet awake.  Ponder, Saints!  Give that moment of marvelous joy a place to light.  For your day is nearly here.  He watched over your sleeping, though He left your dreams alone.  No message has been delivered while you rested your weary bones.  But now your eyes are open and your neck will crane to see.  sovereign Lord please help me to perceive what must certainly be.

Those whose faith has blossomed into a sort of knowing are so very blessed.  Though we can’t touch our desire, we are propelled into a hope beyond anything this world offers.  The longing becomes intense.  Yet the strength of what we don’t have is stronger than what man perceives.

Look!  We too can walk in places without feet.  We see what is, in a place of temporary colors.  This is the land of shadows.  But every shadow is cast by something of substance.  And every shadow lands on something of substance.  How unspeakably brilliant is the Glory of God to even cast a shadow in a land of darkness!

Glory to God Most High!  He is the Father of the Lord of Life!  May His will be done forever.

By His Grace.

A Difference of Destiny.

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Take your seat

Image by SFG via Flickr

The world believes Christians are wrong.  I won’t bother to mention the ways they use to voice this.  And the Christians know that the world is wrong.  I won’t bother to explain why in this post.  But the difference does exist and can not be denied.

But even in Christ, there is a difference in destiny.  I cannot appear before the Throne of God as Jesus can appear.  And I cannot appear there as the Apostle Paul will appear.  And, I suppose, there are many who will not be able to appear even as I might appear before the Throne.  In this, there is a difference in destiny.

What will make the difference between appearing before the Father?  The answer has to be found in obedience to Jesus’ commands.  For how we love Him is made known by how we obey Him.  “. . .  “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me” (John 14: 23 and 24).

Each of us will be given assigned seats before the Almighty God, by virtue of how much we allowed ourselves to love Him in this Place of Testing.  Do not be fooled.  A man reaps what he sows.  And the Light of Eternity will show us our seat.   It will be nothing like the one who shines a dim flashlight in a theater to show us our seat.  It will be the blazing fire of the Holy God who will show us to our seat.  And we will not have to ask anyone to move from it.

By His Grace.