This weekend was family weekend. Who stole the show? Our three little stars! Guess who they are....
I have to admit that I am limited. It's getting hard which is why I'm so thankful for your words, for your thoughts, for your prayers. The Sunday morning Maplecrest service on line will sustain me for a long time. Thank you!
Why is Cinderella bad at soccer?
Because she runs away from the ball.
The story continues....
**********
Two months after I had my heaven encounter on Ravenhurst, Wilma and I were lying in bed – pillow talking – when I suddenly felt I needed to tell her about Jesus riding with me in my truck.
She sat up immediately – all thoughts of sleep gone! “You saw Jesus?”
She went ballistic, peppering me with questions. “What did he look like? What was he wearing? How long was he sitting there?”
Her response was a little surprising - this was obviously very important to her. I tried to answer her the best I could – feeling a little regret that I had chosen to tell her just as we were about to fall asleep.
She wasn't about to stop …. “What did you talk about?”
“We didn’t talk.”
“He was sitting beside you and you didn’t even ask him why he had come?”
“No.”
“Did he ask or say anything?”
“No.”
“Men! A moment above all moments and you don’t even discuss it!” she was truly exasperated.
Seeing it through her eyes, I had to rethink it all too – why hadn’t I?
But she didn’t let it rest there.
“Why did he come? And why you?”
I told her my first reaction – for reassurances - I suppose.
She nodded. “Of course. We all need reassurances but they can come in less dramatic ways. Why a visit – a personal visit?”
Her eyes were slit – and green. As long as I’ve known Wilma, she has always had a sizeable angel envy. She had been raised by a grandmother who had seen an angel - an angel of great importance, so the whole idea of encountering an angel had romanticized in her mind – was even writing a book about it.
And seeing Jesus… was apparently even more important than an angel.
Then her eyes studied mine. “Are you sure you really saw Jesus?”
The truth test.
“I could take a polygraph, if you like.” I smiled.
She sighed.
Somehow, we were able to settle down and sleep but the next morning and the next and the next – we would discuss it again and again.
Conclusions?
We know that angels are sent as messengers from God, to protect, to execute judgement, and to praise and worship God. Angels also minister to those who are hurt and need strength.
In my divine encounter, there was no message, no danger, no correction just quiet presence. Did I need sustenance? Not really -- not at that moment. I was flying high on all levels.
But this wasn't an angel, this was Jesus. Is an encounter with Jesus different than an angel?
Jesus comes to seek and save those who are lost and to restore them.
That didn’t fit my situation either. I knew exactly where I was - worshipping God in my mennocostal state. On one level I was already meeting Jesus every day. I was not physically or spiritually lost.
Lastly, according to the Bible, Jesus comes from glory to impart glory – which means imparting great praise, honor and recognition.
There was no one around – no witnesses. I was alone in my humble truck… no glory.
It begs the question - What was that all about?
Maybe time will tell….
One thing I noticed, Wilma took me more seriously... I was now a person of stature in her eyes. I had special status - like royalty. I had seen Jesus.
I have to admit that I am limited. It's getting hard which is why I'm so thankful for your words, for your thoughts, for your prayers. The Sunday morning Maplecrest service on line will sustain me for a long time. Thank you!
Why is Cinderella bad at soccer?
Because she runs away from the ball.
The story continues....
**********
Two months after I had my heaven encounter on Ravenhurst, Wilma and I were lying in bed – pillow talking – when I suddenly felt I needed to tell her about Jesus riding with me in my truck.
She sat up immediately – all thoughts of sleep gone! “You saw Jesus?”
She went ballistic, peppering me with questions. “What did he look like? What was he wearing? How long was he sitting there?”
Her response was a little surprising - this was obviously very important to her. I tried to answer her the best I could – feeling a little regret that I had chosen to tell her just as we were about to fall asleep.
She wasn't about to stop …. “What did you talk about?”
“We didn’t talk.”
“He was sitting beside you and you didn’t even ask him why he had come?”
“No.”
“Did he ask or say anything?”
“No.”
“Men! A moment above all moments and you don’t even discuss it!” she was truly exasperated.
Seeing it through her eyes, I had to rethink it all too – why hadn’t I?
But she didn’t let it rest there.
“Why did he come? And why you?”
I told her my first reaction – for reassurances - I suppose.
She nodded. “Of course. We all need reassurances but they can come in less dramatic ways. Why a visit – a personal visit?”
Her eyes were slit – and green. As long as I’ve known Wilma, she has always had a sizeable angel envy. She had been raised by a grandmother who had seen an angel - an angel of great importance, so the whole idea of encountering an angel had romanticized in her mind – was even writing a book about it.
And seeing Jesus… was apparently even more important than an angel.
Then her eyes studied mine. “Are you sure you really saw Jesus?”
The truth test.
“I could take a polygraph, if you like.” I smiled.
She sighed.
Somehow, we were able to settle down and sleep but the next morning and the next and the next – we would discuss it again and again.
Conclusions?
We know that angels are sent as messengers from God, to protect, to execute judgement, and to praise and worship God. Angels also minister to those who are hurt and need strength.
In my divine encounter, there was no message, no danger, no correction just quiet presence. Did I need sustenance? Not really -- not at that moment. I was flying high on all levels.
But this wasn't an angel, this was Jesus. Is an encounter with Jesus different than an angel?
Jesus comes to seek and save those who are lost and to restore them.
That didn’t fit my situation either. I knew exactly where I was - worshipping God in my mennocostal state. On one level I was already meeting Jesus every day. I was not physically or spiritually lost.
Lastly, according to the Bible, Jesus comes from glory to impart glory – which means imparting great praise, honor and recognition.
There was no one around – no witnesses. I was alone in my humble truck… no glory.
It begs the question - What was that all about?
Maybe time will tell….
One thing I noticed, Wilma took me more seriously... I was now a person of stature in her eyes. I had special status - like royalty. I had seen Jesus.
I don’t think you’ll ever be able to penetrate the mystery of God’s revelation in Jesus until it strikes you that the major part of Jesus’ life was hidden and that even the “public” years remained invisible as far as most people were concerned.
Whereas the way of the world is to insist on publicity, celebrity, popularity, and getting maximum exposure, God prefers to work in secret. You must let that mystery of God’s secrecy, God’s anonymity, sink deeply into your consciousness because, otherwise, you’re continually looking at it from the wrong point of view. In God’s sight the things that really matter seldom take place in public. . . .
Maybe, while we focus our whole attention on the VIPs and their movements, on peace conferences and protest demonstrations, it’s the totally unknown people, praying and working in silence, who make God save us yet again from destruction.
- Henri Nouwen
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