Hope of all the blood-bought throng

It's the title, isn't it?  They're lyrics!!

It's from a song we used to sing - "Maranatha, Maranatha! Hope of all the blood bought throng... Maranatha, Maranatha! Is the theme of this our song.  Coming soon! the Savior whom we long to see... Maranatha chimes keep ringing melody."

We sang it at a place ~ Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference.  It means "the Lord is coming soon".  I grew up going to this place each summer.  My dad went there as a child.  My uncle committed himself into the ministry in the dunes of Maranatha.

What is this place? Where is this place?              


and...

So much of my childhood - my memories - is tied up with this place.  So many fun and happy times.  

Jan waving in the door of our cottage. circa 1985

We were so silly there.  Laughing. Always laughing!!  Playing tricks on one another. We ate well and enjoyed good conversations with good friends.  We made new friends - and saw them again, year after year.  But mostly I remember this wood plaque that was attached to the pulpit in the tabernacle.  It said "Let go and Let God"

Let go!

Let God!!

What issue, situation, or circumstance am I still trying to manage, to funnel, to control? I've become sick with fear and anxiety.  I've let these problems become my focus.  I remember one of my parents' pastors saying that when a problem becomes all we think about - all we talk about - all we want to ponder.  It's time to completely take our eyes off of it and put our eyes on the Savior.  Think about and talk about the Lord Jesus Christ until He is all we want to ponder.  Then, when we do get back to looking at our problem, we can see it through the lens of our Lord.

Let go!

Let God!!

What is He wanting to do in my life, in this situation, in the lives of those affected.  He will be glorified, and I hope my heart and mind is able to respond in such a way that this life, my life, glorifies Him as well. 

"Coming soon, the Savior, whom we long to see..."

What will my life say when He returns? What sort of legacy will I have left? It starts now.  

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Hebrews 12:1-3

I broke the window

When I was growing up we had a playhouse.  My dad built this playhouse the spring of 1977 - this thing was perfect.  Candy cane striped paint.  A window box full of flowers.  Green carpet with a "full kitchen" and a table.  There were even screened in windows that would open.  We even had a peeked, shingled roof.  It was perfect.


One summer Sunday morning, I was playing outside - which was not a very good choice in my Sunday go-to-meeting clothes completely with pipi longstocking braids.  But! There I was - saving the known world in my backyard.  As circumstances would dictate, to escape the clutches of the evil-doer, I needed to climb out the window of the playhouse, i.e. evil lair.  So I removed the screen and pushed the window open.  As soon as I climbed through the window, it broke into a hundred pieces in the grass on the ground.

I ended up surrounded by glass in the grass - in my bare feet -

I was terrified to call for my dad because I knew I'd be in trouble for disobeying - but in desperation, I sent my little sister to "go get dad".  I had decided it would be better to be face the wrath of dad (and possibly mom) then to cut my foot or worse.  I looked up to see him coming down the hill - and he was coming fast.  He came running - as if the only thought on his mind was to get to me as fast as he could.  He scooped me up in his arms and carried me to safety.  "Are you hurt?" as he checked me everywhere for pieces of glass stuck in me.

Once he knew I was sufficiently safe ~ he gave me this huge bear hug and said "get in the car. It's time for church"  That was it.  No disapproving look even.  I don't even know when he went back to clean up the glass.  They never spoke of it again.  But remember standing there dumbfounded.  Relief overwhelmed me.  In that moment he became my rescuer, my hero.

That is JUST how God is - and that is how we are.  We don't turn to Him when we've messed up because we're afraid of His reaction.  But He is just ready to scoop us up and carry us through it.  He wants us to call out to Him.  I've needed this reminder.  God is our rescuer, our Savior.