From A Pure Stand

Jesus, God’s Son, suffered,
like what falls from a pure stand,
with all majesty stripped and beauty no more, 
bearing sin, hurts and a whipping strand—
the punishment He bore.

Jesus, our Lord, perished,
like what dies low on the ground,
left to waste and decay where graves take back,
cast away and disowned but not making a sound—
obedience, no lack.

Jesus, the Christ, descended,
like what goes under the floor,
where there is no esteem in shadows laid,
smitten and stricken, in sorrow more—
the price for us paid.


He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces 
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 53:3                                                      


From A Pure Stand

The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
Psalm 99:1-3

Creation speaks the Creator's holy name. Even the trees stand for righteousness! A wooded area that is not mixed with any other type of tree is said to be a ‘pure stand’. In splendid groves of tamarack, spruce, fir and maple, one can be reminded of the holiness of our God.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1

Faith is being sure of what you believe. Pray for faith sustenance! Vibia Perpetua was martyred for her faith on March 7th in AD 203. This brave twenty-two year old young mother took a stand for her belief in Jesus Christ. She faced the wild beasts in an arena in Carthage (modern Tunisia). Her death would be entertainment in front of a mob for a birthday party for the emperor’s son. When asked, she didn't denounce her Christian faith.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4

Martyrs made a stand with their lives for God. John the Baptist was beheaded and those on a dreadful beach who were also beheaded because of their belief. God remembers. We can be encouraged by martyrs to keep the faith. Call on God to help. Let us promote our recognition of the holy Creator in the human flesh of Jesus Christ because, like the martyrs, we also believe that:

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5

Like Advent for Christmas, Lent for Easter has begun. We prepare for that coming day, remembering how Jesus willingly went to the cross and bore our sin on it. He could have called a thousand angels to His side. Instead, He obeyed, even to death on the cross, knowing not everyone would believe in Him. When Jesus returns, as the Bible declares, He will not come as the sacrificial Lamb but the reigning Lion. Prepare for that coming day, too!

We have bare ground here in Veery Glade thanks to warming weather and rain! March is that unpredictable month where there could be deep places of snow in the woods and more coming due to a spring blizzard or, mild, as it is now. Overhead, geese have flown. Red-wing blackbirds are back and even the robins arrived just a few days ago!

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
1 Timothy 1:16


Remember to keep praying for strength to endure hardships because Jesus loves us very much. Stand with beautiful feet in a pure stand. In the pattern set before us, speak salvation with displayed patience.