VEILED

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part: but then shall I know even as also I am known."  ~I Corinthians 13:12~

      This morning was a good drive with clear roads and visibility until we crested the hill that climbs out of the Missouri River valley near Chamberlain, and we began to encounter fog and reduced visibility. We left the interstate at our exit, and we faced the northern buttes behind which Lower Brule lies tucked. The buttes were shrouded in fog and fine swirling snow. Where, oh, where did the sunshine go?

    Ray spoke a little this morning about the Mary at the tomb of Christ; and he examined some reasons that she did not recognize Jesus, as she thought He was the gardener. Ray mentioned that one of the reasons she might not have recognized Jesus was the fact that her eyes were filled with tears from weeping at the grave, and he stated that we sometimes might not recognize Jesus in our lives when we have been weeping. I thought of the veiled buttes, and the fact that I only recognized them because I knew they were there from other Sundays when we have driven that road. Sometimes I do not recognize the working of Christ when my eyes have been blinded by sorrow and pain, and I plead for mercy and revelation as did Mary at the garden tomb. The healing for my sorrow is there in the person of Jesus, but I blindly keep reaching and weeping. I will seek to recognize the working of Jesus Christ in my life, and to rest and trust when sorrow and pain come.

    We were so encouraged when a lady came to church this morning who has not come since we have been working at Lower Brule. She has had many physical struggles, and God has helped her numberless times when she has been at a low ebb. She seemed happy to be there, and her beautiful smile is infectious.

    Thank you for praying for the people of Lower Brule, and for the little church on the corner. May God bless you as you look beyond the veil of the tomb and see the Christ!

 

He washed my eyes with tears that I might see

The broken heart I had was good for me.

He tore it all apart and looked inside,

He found it full of fears and foolish pride.

He swept away the things that made me blind,

And then I saw the clouds were silver-lined!

And, now, I understand 'twas best for me

He washed my eyes with tears that I might see!

 

He washed my eyes with tears that I might see

The glory of Himself revealed to me.

I did not know that He had wounded hands

I saw the blood He spilt upon the sand.

I saw the marks of shame and wept and cried!

He was my substitute, for me He died!

And, now I understand 'twas best for me

He washed my eyes with tears

That I might see!

~gospel song~



  



Come, Come Spring!!

   Sometimes I am impatient. I just have trouble waiting.  I will confess to being anxious for spring to come to South Dakota. We needed the moisture that the snow brought to us, but I am ready to have rain now. One cloudy and snowy day, I decided to plant some bulbs that I had saved back when planting in the fall for this very moment. I stuck them in some soil and moisture, and... wala! Forced flowers!! They will not be as nice as the same variety when they bloom outside, but it surely will do for the time being! Come, Come Spring!
    We are happy that we were able to go over to Lower Brule this Sunday to hold Sunday morning church service and Sunday School in the afternoon. The weather has been holding us home from Sunday services every so often this winter, but it seems to be breaking a little. We ran into a little snow on our way back home, and more is coming. We sighed and said, "Well, we got to have Worship and Sunday School today!" :) We would appreciate prayer for one lady who is connected with the church who is struggling physically. The EMT's were at her house trying to help her today while we were having church.

   We love the children who come to Sunday School. They were very enthusiatic this afternoon when they came dashing in through the door of the church., bursting with excitement. They were so quiet and respectful while I gave them their Bible Story. They had a good time doing a little bead work in the basement after the story, and they went home with some very pretty creations.

   We took the bus back over and left it in the area so that we wouldn't have to be driving it back and forth every week. It takes lots of gas, and it is less than comfortable to ride in; so we were happy to leave it there with friends. With the weather warming a little, it shouldn't be so hard to start on Sunday mornings.

   Thank you for your prayer and encouragement to Ray and I. We love the people of Lower Brule and pray that God will use something we do or say to help them in their lives.

JOY IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

 Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together.

Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord. ~Psalm 122:1-4

    This morning was good as we drove over to Lower Brule. The sun was warm and promising, though it hid behind some clouds and seemed a bit threatening later in the day. The drive sometimes feels a little longer when we drive the bus, but it is certainly worth the effort.

   The children were somewhat subdued and quieter than usual, and I left Sunday School feeling better than I sometimes feel on the drive back home. They seemed to enjoy the singing, the Bible story and the beading craft during the Sunday School hour. We certainly appreciate the families of the children who allow them to come, and sometimes they even bring them to church.

   During the quiet time before church, I often like to play the old hymns that I learned as a child. Those old hymns speak to me-both in my memory and in my daily life. I have discovered that some of those old hymns are no longer in the song books that we use today; and this saddens me. I especially love to hear those hymns on the organ, as an organ seems to 'feel' the message of them. Some of the hymns that were especially in my mind this morning were those that spoke of God as being our Heavenly Father, and His loving care of us as His children. One that has been speaking to me for several weeks is  the following:

 

Zion StandsWith Hills Surrounded

Zion stands with hills surrounded, Zion kept by power divine;

All her foes shall be confounded,

Tho' the world in arms combine:

Happy Zion, What a favored lot is thine!

 

Every human tie may perish: Friend to friend unfaithful prove;

Mothers cease their own to cherish;

Heav'n and earth at last remove--

But no changes Can attend Jehovah's love.

 

In the furnace God may prove thee, Thence to bring thee forth more bright,

But can never cease to love thee;

Thou art precious in his sight:

God is with thee, God, thine everlasting light.

 

May God, thine everlasting light, be with you this week!