Through Human Eyes

May I tell you a story ?
Years ago , living in a city neighborhood that was more like a small town ,
My wife worked for a local store .
Everyone knew each other or at least if you where local or not .
You knew the Catholics , the Methodists , the restaurant staffs , the doctors ,
the non-denominational , whatever ... You just kind of knew people and talked with them .
Well , Father Ben , from the Catholic Church was a very respected and godly man
in the community . He loved people . He would pray for you or with you .
You knew he cared .
One day , after saying hello to Father Ben on the way into the store , My wife stopped me .
She leaned over and said , " He's a sweet man , but I think he has a drinking problem ."
" What ? " as I was a bit confused .
" Yes , It's always late but he's always in here for a certain bottle of wine ."
And I probably said something stupid like , " Well , you know how Catholics are ."
A week or so went by . Then one evening , My wife came through the door .
" I feel so stupid , I am just the idiot ."
"What , what are you talking about ? " , I mean when your wife is calling herself stupid ,
you just have to know .
Father Ben came by the store tonight . He stopped and talked for a while .
He asked how we were doing and if he could pray for anything . Then he told me why he was there .
Why he comes in for wine at night . Robin , he gives 'Last Rites' for the dioceses .
All those bottles of wine were for dieing people and that sweet man stays with them as long as he can .

I tell this true narrative to say this , Yes , for many people Alcohol is very dangerous .
I am a transformed by God addict myself .
I know you can hit the concordances yourself so :
We are kings and priests before Christ . Old Testament or New ,
kings and priests are not advised to drink .
And yes , wine is a mocker , Strong drink a raging .

I hope I am connecting the dots here .
But the real point is ,
" Love ye one another , as I have loved you , so love ye one another . "
Jesus Christ
And love covers a multitude of sin ,
love will heal the addict , the alcoholic and many others .
One of the things I have seen in evangelism is ,
if you focus on the sin to long , you get side tracked .
Focus on the One who saves the sinner and
watch God move .

Sincerely in Christ , Robin

" Therefore every scribe ( writer )who has become a Disciple of the Kingdom of Heaven is like a head of a household, who brings forth out of his treasure things new and old ", Jesus Christ Matthew 13:52

http://saviorsknee.blogspot.com/

Rivers of This New Decade

All the gifts are no longer 
Under the lights of the Christmas tree

The resonance of Highland songs
Reverb I have never heard before

Will this new decade be
The parting of the Red Sea
Or the Jordan River

Shall this Time prove
The Stones of Stephen
Or Day of Pentecost Outpouring

And the Hope of the Voice within me
Softly request to seek the Presence
Of the Lord of Host
The Ear of the Ancient of Days

One desire I seek to have
To follow the feet of this Risen Savior
Though I be weak by nature
A heart burns to touch the Hem of His Garment

" I go to the Rock "

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
 Psalms 61 : 2
I sat upon this rock with my children and viewed God's work in nature .
I sat upon this rock and prayed .
I sang on this rock and realized ,
'Jesus loves me this I know ,
because the Bible tells me so ',
is one of the greatest songs ever written .

And as I sat there that Sunday afternoon ,
This phrase took root in me ,
The greatest apologetic term there is ,
" But the Bible says ..."
For God Himself will prove it .


( photo by Alyssa Quinn )

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas Boone , Hopefully a Wonderful Thanksgiving  .    Robin

Heartbeat

'Heartbeat'

Do I feel any less
since we haven't talked yet
is my heartbeat OK
since we've already met

my eyes soon will meet yours
though I need to stay here awhile
But when they finally meet
it will be with a smile

I already know your voice
and so does God above
I can't wait to hold your hand
I know the warmth of your love

So please keep me safe
and take care of yourself
I can hardly wait
to see you myself

Gravestone Angel

Grant me the peace
of a gravestone angel
When the storm clouds
roam across a mountainside

Grant me the grace
of the angel's wings
as troubled winds
begin to rise

     How many times have I fallen
     How many times will my spirit stand

Grant me the peace
of a gravestone angel
When tears run
from my eyes

Grant me the grace
of the angel's wings
When my voice
begins to cry

   How many times have I fallen
   How many times will my spirit stand

Grant me the peace
of a gravestone angel
Weathered but true
all the days of my life

Grant me the grace
of the angel's wings
'Til Heaven's view
the Glory of His Light


("Thomas Wolfe's Angel," now at Oakdale Cemetery in Hendersonville, North Carolina. )

They once walked with God

What is the first name you think of when you hear this statement
 ' They really heard from God but they walked away from their calling . '


 -pause-

Write the name down on this page .

-pause-

A Sunday school teacher and deacon was teaching one Sunday morning. As he spoke he began to talk about a church homecoming, how his mother had notes in the margin of her bible with the initials of a particular pastor beside the quotations. Then he made these comments, ' I really don't understand how this happens but he (the pastor) walked away from the pulpit and drinks now. So when it became his turn to speak (among the previous pastors) we did not care about what he was saying. As these words were spoken this teacher seemed to have little concern for this fallen man of God. This truly breaks the heart of God.

There have been those that were not only called of God, but chosen by His own Hand that have walked away or fallen. They fell by church politics, by the selfish nature of so-called leaders who need prayer and God's mercy, by attacks of darkness, BY FINDING THEIR SELF STANDING ALONE IN THIS BATTLEFIELD THEIR BANNER OF LOVE BROKEN, and yes, of a broken heart. This not only destroys the servant of the Lord, but his or her marriage, family and children. As servants of a LOVING King we can not, we MUST not leave them wounded, alone on the battlefield.

There was a man, a servant of Christ, who was broken, many thought broken beyond redemption. That man, an evangelist had utterly given-up, not only in God, but on life itself. But a man in a wheelchair who had learned of this victim PRAYED. The man in the wheelchair would call his brother, ' I miss you, you can come by if you want,' and 'You know there is always an open invitation here.' The man in the wheelchair DID NOT GIVE-UP.
He touched the hem of the Savior's garment. the months past by, he did not give-up. Then one Sunday night as the man in the wheelchair sat in church waiting for service to begin a man walked up, knelt beside the wheelchair, ' Thank you Rick for not giving up on me, I thought no one cared.'

So in the quiet pray for the fallen, reach out gently. take the hurt on your own heart, ask their forgiveness. For if judgment first begin at the House of God, so must His Love.

So in the quiet, gather your leadership and teach them to reach for the hem of His garment and pray for the fallen. In the quiet this next year do not give up. Speak softly that Christ has not given up. Add name by name from the list of the fallen to those who know they are loved. And from those who know they are loved to those who stand before Him day and night in His Holy Presence.