Wednesday, April 1, 2020

The Pond by the Wood

I hiked to the pond early Friday morn
through rain and mist and woods forlorn,
for the winter had torn limbs here and there,
and a heaviness clung to the morning air.

I stood on the bank by the meadow bleak
with my head hung low, sad and weak,
for what have I done to deserve great love
from Jesus, the Son of God, above?

Then circles spun sweet on the water’s face
when raindrops fell softly to their place,
and clouds swirled free in the pool’s dark depths
as winds encircled from Heaven’s steps.

There on dark water, sunlight reflected.
His words of love to me perfected.
In a pledge through oaks as the sky turned blue,
I learned the grandeur of all things new.

What grace shines upon the pond by the wood!
What joy restored and understood!
A power comes from His heart to mine
to lift my soul to forever fine.



To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:3



The Pond by the Wood

Spring rains have come. When a raindrop falls in a puddle or pond, a rippling circle vibrates out from the point of contact. We know our Creator God designed this. I’m thinking He likes circles, not that He opposes squares. But, there they are—circles on the water. And the joints in our bodies are round. We know we are made in His eternal image.

But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luke 21:18

Promises, like circles, are forever. We can’t see the beginning or the end of a circle. It just goes on and on. We can trust God in His powerful word which also goes on and on. When He says not a hair on our head will perish, we can trust that. Through it all, we depend on His promises. Through it all, we depend on His Word. Remember that beautiful song Through It All written by Mr. Andrea Crouch? It’s a great song!

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
1 Peter 1:25

God is powerful. I know we already know. But sometimes, we need to hear it again. God created the world by speaking it into existence. He sent the flood. He empowered Moses. He reversed the earth’s rotation in response to Hezekiah’s prayer for good health. He answered Hannah’s prayer request for a child. He waited 700 years after going to Micah to prophesy about the Bethlehem birthplace of the ruler from everlasting who would come unto Him. He touched Mary’s womb, creating inside her Jesus, that ruler from everlasting. All is calculated. All is planned. All is in God’s control.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:38

Mary declared herself a handmaid of the Lord. A handmaid is a servant. We are servants of the Lord in good and bad times. There are others in the Bible who were declared servants of God by God himself. If we believe, then we are in service to Him.

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Luke 17:12-13

In Mary’s day, leprosy ran rampant and people were quarantined. Lepers lived in caves and places far away from the public. Disease has been around. But so has God. He’s still greater! Let us be crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus healed all ten but only one returned to say thank you. Have we thanked Jesus, the Son of God, lately?

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121: 1-2

A servant of God prays. Our help comes from God. Prayer can affect a change. Here in Veery Glade, we keep praying. The covid-19 virus has upset the world and its impact has reached our woods. Family and friends are lifted in prayer. Measures are taken to help not get it or spread it to others. We are praying for doctors, nurses, police, businesses and more. We are the Lord’s servants. Not praying is not an option. Prayer is the option because God cares and listens to those who ask. 

In your patience possess ye your souls.
Luke 21:19

There will be blessings amidst the turmoil. Look for them in your patience.

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