The Son and the Moon


Man cannot look at the Son without wincing.

But delight is found in the early morning moon.

For He was born in the fires of summer.

While the moon reflects His Glory forever.

Let the world find its place of shade.

Let His people bask in His majesty.

They can tear at reflection from their darkness of sleep.

But He they will never touch again!

By His Grace

A Time of Clarity


This picture shows an instance of the Sun’s “lifetime”.  That flare will soon be swallowed back into its place of origin.  Yet, the picture is proof of a moment extraordinary.  It is the same with man.  There are moments of clarity and beauty rarely matched in his lifetime.

How beautiful is the Lord Jesus.  For He gives portions to men.  “Portions of what”, you may ask.  Jesus gives portions of heavenly understanding to men.  Who has seen the Lord?  Who has entered the throne of the Glorious Father of Light?  And who of those have returned to speak of that encounter?  In the lives of men, the Lord quickens the heart and mind to understand His ways.  And I know that there was a place where He did that for me.

I give the Lord Jesus Glory for His gentle kindness, to allow me to see for a time.   I was shown understandings of the nature of man and God the Father.  It was the Lord who bathed me in mercy that I might perceive things of salvation.  Thank you Lord for that moment in my life.  May Your Holy Will be done forever.  And may Your people praise you with exceeding great joy!

Amen.

What do I Know of the Night Sky?


The oldest star of our Galaxy: HE 1523-0901

Image via Wikipedia

I step out early while the stars proclaim the season.  The Sun will soon take their place.  There are noises of night that the day does not hear.  Few move.  Most are sleeping.  What an awesome time of reflection.

Note how the stars move.  Silent in their position and obedient to the Lord to shine for billions of years.  They do not care that I see them.  They take no notice of the cycle of day and night here.  God has placed them where He saw fit.  And He has not given man any more information as to why.  He told us that they are placed in their positions to help us note the seasons.  And while men speculate regarding other planets where life like ours might exist, speculation is all man has about the stars.

I come inside to ponder what I saw.  What of life on other planets?  I shrug my spiritual shoulders.  “What is that to me?”  I live here on this blue marble.  Even at this moment I have no concern regarding life on any other planet.  My concern ends at the limit of my ability to do something about my concern.  The work I have to do is limited to the skin I wear.  And study of things “other” is fascinating, but relatively useless.  I am forced to admit that I don’t even know how to read the stars positions for the purpose God told us He created them.  I can’t tell the position of the stars for summer anymore than I can tell them for winter.  They appear to be in the same place to me.  But I believe what God has told us regarding their purpose.

So I turn my mind to what I can understand.  And apply myself to things I am able to do.  I can pray.  I can witness to the things I know.  I can testify regarding the Lord of Glory.  And I can trust that He is able to fill in the gaps, both for my understanding and the understanding of others.

Billions of years?  I’m concerned with the next 20 minutes.  How limited is man.  And God has done this.  Adam lived hundreds of years.  And so did many who lived at the beginning of man’s war with God.  I have lived less than 60.  What do I know of the night sky?  And if those people knew something of value, there is no record of their wisdom passed to us.  They are dead now.  And we are left to ponder such things without their help.  Does this make us less?  No.  For, even in their time, men died both old and young.  The amassing of wisdom is not the key to life’s meaning.  Nor is the gaining of knowledge regarding the world and the universe.  For when we die we come face to face to He who made all this.

My task is to try to notice His hand in everything I see and experience.  And I am to prepare myself to receive His instruction every moment of every day.  So the stars become a curious quandary to me.  A puzzle I have no way of putting together.  Though I admire their beauty in this pitch black sky, I am left to ponder the approaching moment of the Sun.  For the people will wake.  They will go about this world in a frenzied attack untill the moment of the Sun is passed.  And, again, the night lights of God will reign over man.

By the Lord Jesus I make my way in this Place of Testing.  And by the Lord Jesus I testify to His Glory.  This is the sum of my encounter with the stars in the early morning darkness.

Prepare me, Father, to receive the tasks which rightfully belong to a slave of Righteousness.  I am Yours by the Blood of Your Son.  Speak by Your wisdom.  Guide by Your eternal and powerful hand.  Your servant is listening.  May the peace you had before the foundation of the world return to You.  And may your servants worship you with that certain peace of knowing.  Praise the Lord God of all creation, all you saints of Glory.  For He is worthy of praise.

By His Grace.