That “sense” of Him

“Though you do not see Him, you love Him” (1 Pet 1:8)

If we were to explain why we love Jesus, we might begin with what good things He has provided us. But as our explanation grew more authentic, it would have to enter those areas we have never seen…His attributes, His majesty, that sense we carry of Him of the loving, sacrificial Savior.

For, we have not seen Him. The love that penetrates this lack of sight is very strong. Its strength has been able to hold up believers in the most dire of situations.

“and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1:8). Considering this….

“A total of fourteen years in prison passed for me. During all this time I never saw a Bible or any other book. I had forgotten how to write. Because of the great hunger, doping and tortures, I had forgotten the Holy Scriptures.

“God is ‘the Truth.’ The Bible is the ‘truth about the Truth.’ Theology is the ‘truth about the truth about the truth.’ Fundamentalism is the ‘truth about the truth about the truth about the Truth.’…Hungry, beaten and doped, we had forgotten the ‘truths about the Truth,’ therefore we lived in the ‘the Truth.’…We could not think any more. In our darkest hours of torture the Son of man came to us, making the prison walls shine like diamonds and filling the cells with light. Somewhere, far away, were the torturers below us in the sphere of the body. But the spirit rejoiced in the Lord. We would not have given up this joy for that of kingly palaces.”

The time of that indestructible love is now. In this time of no sight, let us love Him even more deeply!———————-
(Quote by Richard Wurmbrand)
 

“…encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, Who called you into His Kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12)

What can we hope from each other? What can we give and receive from one other that will aid our walk on this narrow path? Although we will give account for our own lives, relationships offer much that can propel us onto the Kingdom.

Paul gives us three ways his love directed him in helping his beloved friends. He ENCOURAGED. Giving encouragement provides new strength and confidence to use what we have. We are affirmed that what we have makes a difference.

He COMFORTED. Much weakness prevails upon us. We’re sensitive and easily get distracted by various suspicions and worries. Sin is prevalent. The comfort and acceptance of another often provides just the salve we need to get up again and try.

He URGED. Because so much is at stake, urgency is demanded. Healthy exhortation must have a place for being given and received. Truly loving each other means we will urge others to continuously follow hard after Jesus.

TOGETHER we can served as the needed aid in keeping each other pursuing worthy lives for His glory. “Speaking the truth in love we will in all things grow up into Him” (Eph 4:15).

Hi. I am currently updating this site. I see it has been four years!! Until I can do more uploading, please refer to http://www.geocities.com/ransome/whispers/whispers.htmlfor a more extensive catalog of my writings!!

Writing as a way of life began for me in my early twenties. At that time I was in a two-year apprenticeship furthering my studies in painting as I had completed a BFA in that area. The instructor, a devout, godly man, also deepened my awareness of other art forms encouraging me towards the journaling/writings I’d begun. My relationship with Jesus Christ was five years old. The monastic-type environment was instrumental in providing the springboard for the future. I also worked part-time with a counselor. The grave needs made me learn to pray as I never had. Writing down my prayers became very helpful in releasing the burdens to the Lord. I met and married my husband, Ed, within the the last year of this mentorship. We both sensed a call to pastoral ministry and soon had relocated to Pasadena, CA where Ed attended Fuller Theological Seminary. I spent those three years working him through, able to sharpen communication skills as a writer for World Vision US Office, then located in Monrovia, in their Donor Correspondence Department. We returned to Ohio in 1987 with a five-month old baby boy, Philip, in our love and care.

A year later we undertook the pastoring of a church in Canton, OH near to each of our hometowns where we served for a decade. Our second son Kyle was born during this time. Both our sons are a joy to our lives. We were then blessed in a Friends congregation in Marysville, Ohio for 13 years. It is there that a recognition both from others and within myself came to a destined call of intercession.

In recent years, this call to prayer and changes in life partly caused me to put the creative zeal to develop writings aside. Although I still journal continually, the follow-through, I believe, was confirmed in Eph 6:17-18. A word, sweet with fresh faith as the honeycomb, is received by His loving choice through His Word (most always). Whereby the inspiration of it earlier lead to journaling it over and over until something like a devotional emerged, it now most often finds its desired interaction and glorious creative effort by praying far and wide for all in the domain of life and society. Most of the devotionals you will read will, therefore, have been initially penned years earlier and edited for the present.

Cathy Vinson, 2011