"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Job 38:4-7
In these familiar verses above, I see God beckoning Job to remember back ...... to remember back when Job as a son of God and part of the Heavenly Godhead took part in laying out the glorious purpose of creation through Christ Jesus. Surely in the eternal realm of our being, which bookends and even envelops our time on earth we knew before hand our part ...... our personal part, in God's plan, that we would play here on earth.
For sometime now, I have felt that there is at our physical death a gulf where our ignorance in the framework of time and space is swallowed up by our remembrance of our pre-existence and the laying of the worldly foundation along with our appointed place in it. With our passing our boundaries of time sets as eternity dawns when we move through the chasm spanning heaven and earth. Here where eternity meets time all the details of our earthly life pass before us and are given clear remembrance. Oh, yes there is great regret taken for certain frames of our life before the glass darkly is wiped clean by our Christ. This regret is part of the lake of fire experience and the working of the cross. And yes, I believe it works on both sides of the grave. I know I have experience it many times in my life, where it seemed I was caught in a time warp of sorts. I was taken back to view a part of my life that was lacking and I have wept in my regret. And when I was torn, broken and completely undone by the review of my horrendous foibles God would reach down in love and assure me I could never have done differently and my sin was remedied even before the foundation of the world was laid. Oh how wondrous is the comfort of His hand in such places. This is surely that which Agape love is made of and I am ever so relieved and beyond grateful to have experienced it.
But alas, as mentioned, the glass clears and we see we could have done nothing different as all was purposed and planned even before the ages. And we shall shout and sing Christ's praise as we did before. We sing with joy because we have come to realize our Spirit in Christ never left the eternal realm but we have carried a soul back from our sojourn as the Father's love has been increased. The earth that we were and the spirit we have always been is now become Heaven and earth met, the flesh has been made spirit and a New Creation has been begotten.
This is a portion of my view of how the Cross of Christ works it's grace in Hades. This is Jesus come to set the captives free (1Pet 3:19) and I can sometimes hear a recently departed son of God and morning star added to the chorus of Jesus proclamation. "it is finished!" Oh, the wonders of this Christ and His Cross that breaketh all asunder and knows no bounds.
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The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev 7:17 & 21:4
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And sometimes when I am real still I can hear the heavenly chorus sing of Christ and His Cross. This morning I sensed another voice added to the great cloud of witnesses as they sang their sweet refrain of Christ Jesus. That voice is of Lee Wood, whom a number of us knew from the forums. Lee was taken suddenly last week in an automobile accident. With his departure I am reminded of this little metaphor by T.L.Haines as I know the Master has plucked another flower to grace Heaven's throne.
‘Who plucked that flower?’ cried the gardener, as he walked through the garden. His fellow servant answered, ‘The Master.’ And the gardener held his peace.
When I first ran across Lee on the old Kingdomtalk forum I addressed him as soldier and it seemed that endeared me to him. I was about the same age and I knew his type. He was one of those that had been scarred as young men, by the rigors and horrors of the Viet Nam War.
This giant of man carried a number of ailments in his body because of the chemical defoliants sprayed over many of the areas he fought in. Where many that shared his war experience became hardened Lee instead carried a passion and steel for God mixed with a rare tenderness toward his fellow man. Often times, even the old curmudgeon I am, would wince as he got after a forum participant that was attempting to pervert the gospel. These times were outweighed and softened by the occurrences when I wept as I read some other Lee Wood messages. I often would witness a beautiful anointing when this tough man would reach down and comfort the heart of another hurting soul. Such was this old message (below) I saved in a file. Here Lee lends empathy and comfort to a woman who had recently lost a young son. Lee was also renown for his disdain of the spell check function on forums. This one had to be the rare exception to the no spell check rule. I pray you feel the essence of this man so many of us grew to love.
I think in your sorrow, dear Love, the Lord has opened up some real windows for you.This speaks to me of the Spirit. The name it claim it is a great deception upon the nominal church today.There is a principle where by giving we will receive.But putting up earthen treasures comes into the picture too.Wrong hearts desire.Thy will be done, will always bring about the Kingdom of God within a much needed creation who groans in need.
Losing your son, seems so unfair and painful, it's hard to speak of, for fear of causing more hurt.When it's important to grasp the fullness of Christ and know that death is no longer what it seems, for threw Christ all are made alive.He is both the God of the living and the dead it is said.
I am convinced that young children who's lives are cut short are truly given to those who hold them dear as special messengers from God.I first saw that when reading a small book written by the famous cowgirl star and singer Dell Evens called ANGELS UNAWARES.She and Roy Rogers were very much lovers of Christ and lost a young child.They took in many children before and afterwards who had special needs.But she really was given some insight in her grieving experience.
Yes blessed angels(messengers) bringing their loved ones and others they touch a special message, only you can know.I see that message coming threw in your words and touching the body of Christ........so in that I guess we would have to say it's a message for all.The Christed one has spoken threw a chosen vessel.
We're lucky the Father sees us all as little children, for it's them he holds dear to his heart with the greatest of LOVE, I believe.I made my mother very happy as a small child, but very sad as a teenager as a young man I gave her gray hairs and many worries even till the day she died.Yet she loved me, mothers have the heart of GOD and are so very special.Dear mother you are loved and know your little one is in the cloud of witnesses that surround the body of Christ in anticipation of a final day of Glory for ALL.
You Are LOVED!
lee
Lee who loved the mountains was also a blacksmith and a bee keeper. I imagine much of his wisdom was derived from these two passions. In closing this epitaph to a treasured brother, I'll leave you with the other message written by Lee that I saved. I am sure there is a hidden message somewhere in this for us all.
"I remember there was a blacksmiths grave, with a big old anvil as his headstone. It read the smith that beats cold Iron goes to hell and this smith never once hit upon iron not red from the coals. I'm a blacksmith now by passion and recieved some of my first influance from this fine gentleman......in that my hammer never strikes on iron turned black." Lee Wood
In Our Sweet Lord Jesus,
Jack and Joian
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(above)Lee is in the hat with his brothers Stacy and Doug (right) Lee is in the middle.
Stacy Wood who is also recently departed
was a well known Kingdom minister.
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"One has the most gallant and trustworthy escort when he passes from this world through the portal we call death -- the Morning Star, the Dawn of the Ages, the Guiding Light -- Jesus Christ, the Captain of souls. He breaks the chains of carnal bondage, sets the imprisoned spirit free, closes the toilsome career of frustration, opens the door of immortal happiness, and returns the soul to its own, original, and glorious home, to go out no more forever."
Haines
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