*****THERE IS NO NEED TO RESPOND TO THIS… …JUST PONDER WHEN YOU HAVE THE TIME*****

DT: Just after sunrise…Tuesday…September 19, 2000

FR: Wes

RE: Reflect with me…

Good morning…

This household is just beginning to stir today. Yesterday had some very burdensome moments. But in the many paradoxes of living with a wild and wonderful Triune God, I awoke this morning with some real burderns lifted.

Also running through my mind (and you have to remember, I am a non-musician) was a song that caused me to slip out of bed and not awaken Judy. I looked through every CD we own to find the song. Then I crept quietly down into our basement and even dug out a large box of old cassettes (some of you younger saints may not remember what those are) and found what I was looking for.

On a 1983 cassette of Sandi Patti’s I found the song that I firmly believe our Lord had retrieved from my memory and gave me as a gift for this day as I slumbered awake. The song? We Shall Behold Him. Though not written in today’s tempos and styles…it is a grand reminder in the thick and thin of life that there is coming a day when our Lord and Savious, Jesus Christ, will be returning for us.

Often when I get up in the early morning and sit with Him in the quiet of my home office and watch the sunrise, the scriptures drift through my mind that He will return in the east…and in splendor and glory. Sunrises are not only full of promise that His mercies ARE new every morning…but I often wonder…will today be the day that we get to see Him?

Well…I didn’t first crawl up the stairs into my office this morning, but after locating this song and listening to it I went out for the morning paper…and whoa! There was another momentary painting of God’s grace and mercy spread across the sky.

Remembering yesterday…looking forward to walking with Him in all His resurrection power today…another “old” song exploded in my mind. Then I was compelled to go up to the office and retrieve a hymnal to read all the words again…while watching the spectacular colors fade into the ordinary blue sky of the day.

The hymn? When Morning Gilds The Skies. An old German hymn. And I chuckled. I’ve been in Germany enough that no wonder the writer of these words explodes in praise. Just like in Oregon and Washington and BC…when the sun does shine through the clouds…and when one doesn’t often get spoiled with tremendous sunrises, like we do here in Colorado…I can just imagine the joy of the heart at what the eye can see.

This is a song of the heart. It is poetry. It is praise. I invite you to worship Him with me…no matter what your own circumstances may have been yesterday…what they will be today…or what they may be tomorrow.

Thankfully, our Redeemer is the same in all the moments of our lives. He loves us with a love that is greater than we can imagine. And you can trust Him.

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When morning gilds the skies, My heart awaking cries, May Jesus Christ be praised! Alike at work and prayer To Jesus I repair, May Jesus Christ be praised!

Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find, May Jesus Christ be praise! Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this, May Jesus Christ be praised!

The night becomes as day When from the heart we say, May Jesus Christ be praised! The powers of darkness fear When this sweet chant they hear, May Jesus Christ be praised!

Ye nations of mankind In this your oneness find, May Jesus Christ be praised! Let all the earth around Ring joyous with the sound, May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine, My canticle devine, May Jesus Christ be praised! Be this th’eternal song Through all the ages long, May Jesus Christ be praised!

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Amen?

Amen and amen…!