"SANDSTONE DUST"
St. John's Episcopal Church. Brownwood, Texas
©Ray Waugh, Jr.
Solomon had all the stones for the Temple hewn before they arrived at the assembly site. The Scripture says,
There was neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building. 1 Kings 6:7
How different we are!
The Lord wants us to keep our eyes, minds, and hearts fixed on things in Heaven every moment of everyday and during every circumstance of life.
The Lord wants to hew us moment by moment until one day, by His grace, we will be conformed to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Rock of our Salvation was perfectly hewn to fit the will of the Father.
Therefore, since we have been
justified through faith,
We have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Through whom we have gained access
by faith into His grace
in which we now stand.
And we rejoice in the hope
of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we also
rejoice in our suffering,
Because we know that suffering
produces perseverance;
Perseverance, character;
And character, hope.
And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out
His love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
whom He has given us. Romans 5
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A look in the flower beds around St. John's reveals sandstone chips. The walls of St. John's must have been hewn and fitted at the building site. |
| Even at 4:00 a.m. St. John's is the same . . .
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Even though it is cold, the Lord is just as close as a thought.
The hanging candle is not burning tonight, sharing its warmth and light.
The Psalmist asks in Psalm 139,
Where can I go to escape the warmth of His Spirit?
How then can his followers expect to do, to say, or to go without the Lord's presence being brought alive?
I just now wondered,
What time of the night the Lord called Samuel.
It would be good if I would say,"Yes, Lord, here am I," at all times of day and night.
I need to study His Word. The Holy Spirit is ready to make known the revealed things of Christ, if I am receptive.
The winter cold is causing the roof to pop and crack.
When relationships or people are cold, we hurt. However, we are different than St. John's — WE HAVE GOD'S ASSURANCE:
God is our shelter and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not be afraid, even if
the earth is shaken
and the mountains fall into the ocean depths;
even if the seas roar and rage,
and the hills are shaken by the violence . . .
The Lord Almighty is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Psalm 46
Note: St. John's was and still may be, a church which always left the doors open. Anyone was able to go in. Sit awhile. Meditate a while. Pray a while. During the winter it was always cold. And during the summer it was always hot. St. John's was and is a special place of refuge. See Rebecca S. Moss
Written October 15, 1974