Beyond the Brightness of the Sun
T. P.
Acts xxii. 11
I was journeying in the noontide,
When His light shone o’er my road;
And I saw Him in that glory—
Saw Him—Jesus, Son of God.
All around, in noonday splendour,
Earthly scenes lay fair and bright;
But my eyes no more behold them
For the glory of that light.
Others in the summer sunshine
Wearily may journey on,
I have seen a light from heaven,
Past the brightness of the sun—
Light that knows no cloud, no waning,
Light wherein I see His Face,
All His love’s uncounted treasures,
All the riches of His grace:
All the wonders of His glory,
Deeper wonders of His love—
How for me He won, He keepeth
That high place in Heaven above;
Not a glimpse—the veil uplifted—
But within the veil to dwell,
Gazing on His Face for ever,
Hearing wrods unspeakable.
Marvel not that Christ in glory
All my inmost heart hath won;
Not a start to cheer my darkness,
But a light beyond the sun.
All below lies dark and shadowed,
Nothing there to claim my heart,
Save the lonely track of sorrow
Where of old He walked apart.
I have seen the Face of Jesus—
Tell me not of aught beside;
I have heard the Voice of Jesus—
All my soul is satisfied.
In the radiance of the glory
First I saw His blessed Face,
And for ever shall that glory
Be my home, my dwelling-place.
Sinners, it was not to Angels
All this woundrous love was given,
But to one who scorned, despised Him,
Scorned and hated Christ in heaven.
From the lowest depths of darkness
To His city’s radiant height,
Thus in me He told the measure
Of His love and His delight.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
A life for Christ / encouraging
The Widow's mite by Seth Barnes on 12/24/2007
The following story happened to me in 1991. I've written a book of stories like this one called "Revolution of the Broken Heart." One day maybe I'll publish it.
"Unless a seed�" John 12:24 Paradoxically, months after Fidel died, I found myself sitting beside another deathbed high in the Sierra Madre Mountains, in the village of El Derramadero. But this encounter left me uplifted as few other experiences ever have. The people of El Derramadero have a history of persecuting the church. Indeed, when our group first arrived in town, we were chased out by town people throwing stones at us. When we returned the next day, I was able to view the site where the proposed church was to go. The people who lived around the site supported the project. One of them, a woman whose name I now forget, but whose face remains indelibly printed on my memory, was the mother of thirteen children. When I walked into her front yard, the pigs and chickens scattered. She paused in the midst of her work and fixed a big smile on me. I explained why we were there and introduced her to my then six-year-old son, Seth Jr. Catching him quite by surprise, she grabbed his blonde head between her two weathered hands and squeezed his cheeks in delight. Seth Jr. just gazed up at her, wide-eyed, unsure of what to do.On the second day of the project, Beth Jacobson, an occupational therapist who was assisting me, walked up and exclaimed, "You've got to come meet this old lady I've been talking to. Her name is Petra, and I believe she's about 98 years old. She hasn't been able to eat for a month now and is dying. I've been praying for her, but she's been ministering to me even more. Come over and meet her."Petra's two-room adobe house was very dark inside except for the shaft of light that fell from the window to the bed where Petra lay. Beth and I pulled chairs up to the bed and greeted Petra. She looked to be about the oldest person I'd ever met. She peered up at me with wizened eyes. The work of living was an obvious moment-by-moment battle for her. She was frail, but oddly unbowed. An air of holy victory seemed to infuse her tortured breathing. Though I had no idea what she would say, when she began to speak, reverence was the only appropriate response."I am Petra," she said in whispered Spanish, pausing for a breath. "I am a servant of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ�.I have known His grace and His mercy for many years�.It has been my privilege to roam these hills preaching the good news that all those who call upon His name can be saved�.What a master I serve! He is altogether wonderful�.His name be praised and lifted up�.
Though I know my time is short and I can barely eat or drink, I thank Him for the life He has given me."Neither Beth nor I knew what to say. I felt somehow unclean and small. After a silence, I asked her more about her life. She obliged me with answers, but always she turned the conversation back to the One to whom she was devoted. Her life had so narrowed in focus that only one thing remained, and that was her relationship with Jesus. So often we hear sermons on the subject of completely abandoning ourselves to Christ. We live in the gap between the biblical ideal of holy living and our own guilty puttering in the well-worn ruts that comprise our lives. Yet here in flesh and blood before us lay one for whom no gap existed. She could say with Paul, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain."It was enough simply to sit in her presence, to glean from her communion with the Lord. At length we prayed for her. I can't remember if we prayed for her healing, but perhaps we should have prayed for our own healing. Here we crawl across this dark planet, half the time bumping into walls and not knowing what we've hit. We pray for spiritual sight, yet seem to be perpetually tapping our blind man's cane in front of us. Petra was seeing. Her physical eyesight had grown dim, but spiritually, her vision was acute.Both Beth and I were abashed by the holiness of the moment. Tears were the only appropriate response. When our prayers were done, we looked up and dried our eyes. Petra motioned for me to come close. Simultaneously, she struggled to sit up in bed, itself a Herculean task. As she sat up, I wondered what her intent was. Did she want to give me a hug? She began to fumble for something that hung around her neck beneath her blouse. She struggled to pull it out and show us.At last she pulled out a woven cloth amulet closed up with a small drawstring. She opened the amulet and began talking. "For much of my life, I have wanted to see a church built in our little village of El Derramadero�.Though most of my ministry has been outside this town, my heart's desire is that we would see a church built here�.I don't own much, but I have saved this coin and I wonder if you would use it to help build a church here." Having said this, Petra pulled a large, 5000-peso coin (worth about $3.50 at the time) from the amulet and placed it in my hands. What could I say but, "Yes, I will." Suddenly, it was as though I were transported to the first century A.D. Here before me was the widow contributing her mite to further the Kingdom. Anything I might give to the people of El Derramadero would pale in comparison.A few weeks later, Petra died, but not before the walls of the church she had prayed for all those years began to rise up out of the ground. Petra seemed to have walked with God so long that death was just a natural last step toward Him. What an example of one who has fought the good fight and finished the race so well! If Fidel's story was that of one cut down too soon, it is appropriate that his hometown should produce a woman like Petra. God is not willing that any should perish. As a seed must die to bring forth new life, so Petra's giving and dying brought the Kingdom nearer in her corner of Mexico.
The following story happened to me in 1991. I've written a book of stories like this one called "Revolution of the Broken Heart." One day maybe I'll publish it.
"Unless a seed�" John 12:24 Paradoxically, months after Fidel died, I found myself sitting beside another deathbed high in the Sierra Madre Mountains, in the village of El Derramadero. But this encounter left me uplifted as few other experiences ever have. The people of El Derramadero have a history of persecuting the church. Indeed, when our group first arrived in town, we were chased out by town people throwing stones at us. When we returned the next day, I was able to view the site where the proposed church was to go. The people who lived around the site supported the project. One of them, a woman whose name I now forget, but whose face remains indelibly printed on my memory, was the mother of thirteen children. When I walked into her front yard, the pigs and chickens scattered. She paused in the midst of her work and fixed a big smile on me. I explained why we were there and introduced her to my then six-year-old son, Seth Jr. Catching him quite by surprise, she grabbed his blonde head between her two weathered hands and squeezed his cheeks in delight. Seth Jr. just gazed up at her, wide-eyed, unsure of what to do.On the second day of the project, Beth Jacobson, an occupational therapist who was assisting me, walked up and exclaimed, "You've got to come meet this old lady I've been talking to. Her name is Petra, and I believe she's about 98 years old. She hasn't been able to eat for a month now and is dying. I've been praying for her, but she's been ministering to me even more. Come over and meet her."Petra's two-room adobe house was very dark inside except for the shaft of light that fell from the window to the bed where Petra lay. Beth and I pulled chairs up to the bed and greeted Petra. She looked to be about the oldest person I'd ever met. She peered up at me with wizened eyes. The work of living was an obvious moment-by-moment battle for her. She was frail, but oddly unbowed. An air of holy victory seemed to infuse her tortured breathing. Though I had no idea what she would say, when she began to speak, reverence was the only appropriate response."I am Petra," she said in whispered Spanish, pausing for a breath. "I am a servant of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ�.I have known His grace and His mercy for many years�.It has been my privilege to roam these hills preaching the good news that all those who call upon His name can be saved�.What a master I serve! He is altogether wonderful�.His name be praised and lifted up�.
Though I know my time is short and I can barely eat or drink, I thank Him for the life He has given me."Neither Beth nor I knew what to say. I felt somehow unclean and small. After a silence, I asked her more about her life. She obliged me with answers, but always she turned the conversation back to the One to whom she was devoted. Her life had so narrowed in focus that only one thing remained, and that was her relationship with Jesus. So often we hear sermons on the subject of completely abandoning ourselves to Christ. We live in the gap between the biblical ideal of holy living and our own guilty puttering in the well-worn ruts that comprise our lives. Yet here in flesh and blood before us lay one for whom no gap existed. She could say with Paul, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain."It was enough simply to sit in her presence, to glean from her communion with the Lord. At length we prayed for her. I can't remember if we prayed for her healing, but perhaps we should have prayed for our own healing. Here we crawl across this dark planet, half the time bumping into walls and not knowing what we've hit. We pray for spiritual sight, yet seem to be perpetually tapping our blind man's cane in front of us. Petra was seeing. Her physical eyesight had grown dim, but spiritually, her vision was acute.Both Beth and I were abashed by the holiness of the moment. Tears were the only appropriate response. When our prayers were done, we looked up and dried our eyes. Petra motioned for me to come close. Simultaneously, she struggled to sit up in bed, itself a Herculean task. As she sat up, I wondered what her intent was. Did she want to give me a hug? She began to fumble for something that hung around her neck beneath her blouse. She struggled to pull it out and show us.At last she pulled out a woven cloth amulet closed up with a small drawstring. She opened the amulet and began talking. "For much of my life, I have wanted to see a church built in our little village of El Derramadero�.Though most of my ministry has been outside this town, my heart's desire is that we would see a church built here�.I don't own much, but I have saved this coin and I wonder if you would use it to help build a church here." Having said this, Petra pulled a large, 5000-peso coin (worth about $3.50 at the time) from the amulet and placed it in my hands. What could I say but, "Yes, I will." Suddenly, it was as though I were transported to the first century A.D. Here before me was the widow contributing her mite to further the Kingdom. Anything I might give to the people of El Derramadero would pale in comparison.A few weeks later, Petra died, but not before the walls of the church she had prayed for all those years began to rise up out of the ground. Petra seemed to have walked with God so long that death was just a natural last step toward Him. What an example of one who has fought the good fight and finished the race so well! If Fidel's story was that of one cut down too soon, it is appropriate that his hometown should produce a woman like Petra. God is not willing that any should perish. As a seed must die to bring forth new life, so Petra's giving and dying brought the Kingdom nearer in her corner of Mexico.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Summer, Mosquitoes
Well it has been a long time since I have been on here. Now that the squadrons of mosquitoes have arrived it has chased many inside in retreat. The Lord in His gracious providings has one so thankful for such a God, and such a Saviour. I have begun reading in the book of Mark and in particular to see there the Lord as the perfect servant to His Father. There are a couple of key verses that realy show the Lord Jesus character in His service, and the character of a worshiper.
But Jesus called them [to him], and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mar 10:42-45
and then
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living.
Mar 12:42-44
In both cases we see that ALL was intrusted to God, the Lord when he gave up his life said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:" Luk 23:46
We see in the poor widows life that character, she intrusted all she had unto Him, even all her living.
what a great principal we have, and how the lord can say "What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?" Isa 5:4
Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.Mar 12:6,7
If we only new the inheritance that is ours with accepting Gods well beloved Son, rather than killing Him to try and get it by our own efforts....
There is a great moral lesson here other than the gospel message in this. We can strive in the flesh to try and serve the Lord, but the reward is in doing His bidding.
How great is the God that loves us........
I just wanted to share that, as I realy enjoyed it for myself. May the Lord by His grace make these characters a reality in my and your lives.
Have a wonderful day, in Christ
But Jesus called them [to him], and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mar 10:42-45
and then
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living.
Mar 12:42-44
In both cases we see that ALL was intrusted to God, the Lord when he gave up his life said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:" Luk 23:46
We see in the poor widows life that character, she intrusted all she had unto Him, even all her living.
what a great principal we have, and how the lord can say "What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?" Isa 5:4
Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.Mar 12:6,7
If we only new the inheritance that is ours with accepting Gods well beloved Son, rather than killing Him to try and get it by our own efforts....
There is a great moral lesson here other than the gospel message in this. We can strive in the flesh to try and serve the Lord, but the reward is in doing His bidding.
How great is the God that loves us........
I just wanted to share that, as I realy enjoyed it for myself. May the Lord by His grace make these characters a reality in my and your lives.
Have a wonderful day, in Christ
Saturday, March 29, 2008
"Don't try to love the Lord anymore than you do, just stop and think of how much He loves you !"
It was one of the precious things the Lord had for my soul at the Richmond conference. As the week has flown swiftly by there seems hardly time to stop and meditate(absorb) that which the Lord has fed us with at the conference. Let us be as those we read of in the book of Nehemiah, "So the people went forth, and brought [them], and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house.....And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so." Neh 8:16,17 May the thought of Gods intimate love for each of His people, for all people cause us to find time to focus on the Word of God, both individually, and collectively. So then let us "delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee.." Isa 58:14 How do we delight ourselves in the Lord? We "grow in the knowledge and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ", we trust that "God is faithful" and as we prove the goodness of God to ourselves it will cause our faith to increase, and our joy to be full. "The joy of the Lord is yor strength" Neh 8:10
What a privilege to enjoy the labour of love shown to us by a few of His own durring conference time, may it be to the glory of God. "things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them." Hbr 6:9-12
"Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious:" 1Pe 2:7
Let the love of God cause us each to ask that God would continue to search our hearts, and see if there be any evil there.
Hymn #84 Little Flock
One there is above all others — O how He loves!
His is love beyond a brother's — O how He loves!
Earthly friends may fail or leave us,One day soothe, the next day grieve us,But this Friend will ne'er deceive us — O how He loves!
Joy and peace it is to know Him — O how He loves!
Think, O think how much we owe Him — O how He loves!
With His precious blood He bought us,In the wilderness He sought us,To His loved ones safely brought us — O how He loves!
We have found a friend in Jesus — O how He loves!'
Tis His great delight to bless us — O how He loves!
How our hearts delight to hear HimBid us dwell in safely near Him — Why should we distrust or fear Him?O how He loves!
Through His name we are forgiven — O how He loves!
Backward shall our foes be driven,O how He loves!
Best of blessings He'll provide us,Naught but good shall e'er betide us,Safe to glory He will guide us — O how He loves!
It was one of the precious things the Lord had for my soul at the Richmond conference. As the week has flown swiftly by there seems hardly time to stop and meditate(absorb) that which the Lord has fed us with at the conference. Let us be as those we read of in the book of Nehemiah, "So the people went forth, and brought [them], and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house.....And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so." Neh 8:16,17 May the thought of Gods intimate love for each of His people, for all people cause us to find time to focus on the Word of God, both individually, and collectively. So then let us "delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee.." Isa 58:14 How do we delight ourselves in the Lord? We "grow in the knowledge and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ", we trust that "God is faithful" and as we prove the goodness of God to ourselves it will cause our faith to increase, and our joy to be full. "The joy of the Lord is yor strength" Neh 8:10
What a privilege to enjoy the labour of love shown to us by a few of His own durring conference time, may it be to the glory of God. "things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them." Hbr 6:9-12
"Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious:" 1Pe 2:7
Let the love of God cause us each to ask that God would continue to search our hearts, and see if there be any evil there.
Hymn #84 Little Flock
One there is above all others — O how He loves!
His is love beyond a brother's — O how He loves!
Earthly friends may fail or leave us,One day soothe, the next day grieve us,But this Friend will ne'er deceive us — O how He loves!
Joy and peace it is to know Him — O how He loves!
Think, O think how much we owe Him — O how He loves!
With His precious blood He bought us,In the wilderness He sought us,To His loved ones safely brought us — O how He loves!
We have found a friend in Jesus — O how He loves!'
Tis His great delight to bless us — O how He loves!
How our hearts delight to hear HimBid us dwell in safely near Him — Why should we distrust or fear Him?O how He loves!
Through His name we are forgiven — O how He loves!
Backward shall our foes be driven,O how He loves!
Best of blessings He'll provide us,Naught but good shall e'er betide us,Safe to glory He will guide us — O how He loves!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday Feb.24th 2008
A bright and sunny Lords-day afternoon. I was enjoying a lovely quiet ride to Winnipeg for "fellowship tea", followed by a gospel meeting.
As I was zooomming along in my mazda, LOL, I remembered our brother "W" wanting a picture of this 1 room schoolhouse he saw while visiting on my move to Manitoba.
I had just finished stopping to pay a visit to some of the local wildlife. There has been a great deal around this winter, seeing as many as 40 to 50 at once at various times.
Well the fellowship and the dinner were great, and the gospel refreshing, especially nice to see visitor's there also.
Time to go, my prayers are with you............. Marlin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
