22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
...I haven't been blogging much; but I have been writing! I've been writing the young man who used to live in my home but is now in service to his country. I've been writing letters of encouragement, humor, remember when's, love and prayers. I guess that's what Mom's do, especially since his dog can't.
One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.
Isaiah 28:5
In that day the LORD of hosts will become a beautiful crown And a glorious diadem to the remnant of His people;
Isaiah 33:17
Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will behold a far-distant land.
"The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection". (Michelangelo)
I'm pretty sure there's no one in America who doesn't know a solar eclipse is coming tomorrow. I won't be looking, though, because I don't have the glasses! That's okay, I'm sure I'll see the coverage of it. I wonder what God thinks of all the excitement over one star in his creation. I pray that we will be considering the Creator tomorrow as well as his creation. Dominion and awe belong to Him.
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore,
“they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’[a]
nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’[b]
‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’[c]”
I've had some moments this past week of feeling wretchedly poor. It's been good for me to consider the day Jesus rode the lowly donkey into Jerusalem and the hope that He brought with Him. If I was there I'd likely belong to the camp laying down palm fronds expecting immediate gratification from this Prophet and King. Of course He didn't come for the temporal but for the eternal and that is ever so much better. I know it is, I do; but my desire for a present relief remains. My Jesus, who rode that borrowed and uncomfortable donkey, understands. Blessed is He who came in the name of the Lord!
