I love that verse in the Gospel of Mark where it says that Jesus got up early each morning and went to a quiet, secluded place where He would pray. [Ever wonder what HE asked for from the Father? I think the prayer recorded in John 17 may give us some insights]. Anyway, this verse [Mark 1;35] reminds me of an old gospel song that was written 101 years ago [March , 1912], when a music publisher asked C. Austin Miles to write a hymn text [and tune] that would give "hope to the hopeless" and "rest for the weary." Here are the words to the first stanza and refrain. [I suspect many of you will recognize the song]:
I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.
I've been thinking about that song today, especially earlier this morning when I loaded Sadie into my car and we headed about three miles north to Lake Wanahoo. I have been taking advantage of the beautiful summer weather we have been enjoying here in eastern Nebraska the last couple of weeks. Sadie and I have been doing this routine every weekday morning. We like walking along the west side of the lake - where the campgrounds are located. Usually almost all of the campsites are unoccupied, so I will often let Sadie off-leash as we walk along the lakeside [serenaded occasionally by the croaking of a bullfrog or two].
Sometimes, I am reminded how the Lord graced Win and me with the incredible privilege of visiting Israel three times from 1998-2009. One of our favorite places on each trip has been our overnight stay in Tiberius, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Each time we have been there we have awakened long before dawn the next morning and walked down to the water's edge to watch a few fishermen coming in with their catch of the day, and to see the sun rise over the Golan Heights on the eastern side of the lake. So, it is easy for me, while Sadie and I are walking along the shore of Lake Wanahoo, and watching the sun rise in the eastern Nebraska sky, to imagine Jesus on His early morning walks along the Galilee - perhaps on the northern shore in Capernaum [another place Win and I visited], where Peter and Andrew lived.
My walk is a prayer walk. Every day I pray for everyone who worships with us at New Hope Bible Church - and for just about everyone else I know in Wahoo, Nebraska. [Of course, I pray for my Bride, our boys, and our extended family, as well as all of our dear friends all over the world]. It is such a cleansing, refreshing, spiritually-invigorating time. [I highly recommend it . . . and, by the way -so does Jesus]. :-)
This past Sunday I began a series of sermons on the life of King Hezekiah - the seventh of eight good kings in Judah during the period of the "divided" kingdom. [The prophet Isaiah was one of Hezekiah's contemporaries]. This coming Sunday we will continue our study of the "wholehearted" way in which Hezekiah "sought the Lord" [i.e. His WORSHIP of the Lord]. Then, Lord willing, next week we will focus our attention on how he "served the Lord" [i.e., His WORK for the Lord]. And, by the way, we will discover that when it came to His work for the Lord, Hezekiah definitely had something in common with Jesus . . . and, dare I say it? Also, with ME! [Hint: It has something to do with when one awakes in the morning!]. Last Sunday's message 8.21.13] has already been uploaded, and can be found at http://sermon.net/
Running my race with all my heart,
Joe "PJ" Lombardi
August 22, 2013
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| My "Sadie" girl - w/UNL "Cornhusker" Bandana @ Lake Wanahoo, NE on 8-21-2013 |
