Greetings, dear friends. I trust my last letter was delivered to you. Many battles and narrow paths kept me from writing earlier. I have only a few moments to write now, but do not want to tarry any longer, lest you fear something troubling has happened to me.
I committed to share some lessons Abba our King has revealed, which are not new to many I’m sure, but were made more sure in my heart and mind when The King sent Word to me. I remember an awful shame, fear, and sadness coming over me in the Desert of Shame. I believe I mentioned this briefly in my first letter, but I did not elaborate as the letter was long enough and I needed to be on my way.
Do you recall reading the Ancient Scrolls, that Paul rejoiced when the Corinthian believers ”were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God…” (2 Cor 7:11, NASB)? It is a strange thing, I confess, to feel such sadness mixed with the deep conviction to wait upon The King for Word. Waiting is indeed a hard work. I tell you, it is much easier for me to take up arms against injustice than to wait!
Yet, sorrowful repentance and waiting are fertile ground for The King’s Counselor to plant Seeds of Truth. He changes us with Truth when our hearts are ready, causing us to become more like The Prince Himself! Can we attain to any higher goal than to become humble before The King, submitting fully and desperately seeking Him to teach us what ways in us must be abandoned? Did Jesus not humble Himself instead of considering equality with The King something to be grasped? I tell you with much passion, there are times when I cannot continue on my journey until He brings a Word that changes me – not because of a need for a great work or miracle, as some might say. May it never be! No, it is because I am nothing on my own and NEED His help to shed the old nature! Being nothing without Him, I am desperate for Him. He is my everything, as I pray He is to you.
I could go on and on, for I am convinced of the value of this sorrowful wait which leads to repentance, but I must prepare for the day’s travel. I leave you with a prayer and a fellow brother’s rewriting of 2 Corinthians 7:11-13 from the Ancient Truth. I felt them to fitting to share, for he captured what I wish deeply for you to know:
“And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter. My primary concern was not for the one who did the wrong or even the one wronged, but for you—that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God. That’s what happened—and we felt just great.” The Message Paraphrase
So, my friends in the faith, when times of sorrow come may we all remember to turn toward The King (not running from the sorrow, or fleeing in shame) and ask for wisdom to know if we face a time of sorrowful repentance (individually or collectively) or a time of evaluating our physical needs. I will write again one day soon with the last of my lessons learned in the Desert of Shame. I think of you often and will continue to lift you up in my prayers. May our King bless you with much grace and peace!
Most High King, my God, whom I serve for all of eternity: I humbly ask for wisdom, knowing You hold no favorites among people. Give us steady feet, teaching us how to embrace sorrow as a useful tool which teaches us repentance or unmet needs for our temporary bodies: Truly, we ask for mercy and grace, for the paths You’ve chosen us to walk are full of briars and thorns. Some paths have been cleared somewhat before us, and some trails are completely unblazed. Give us courage. Teach us to stand firm, for many fall away and choose to allow worries of this world to choke our any life You’ve offered. Open doors for us to shine the light of our Prince to the world around us. Show us needs that You desire us to meet and help us to walk with great confidence in your ability to help us in all matters. When my fellow knights have medical needs, I ask You to give doctors wisdom. Teach us to take care of our bodies, with nutrition, sleep – whatever we individually need. Give us clean hands and pure hearts. Let us not give our souls to another.Give us courage to rely on You every day, in every circumstance, giving thanks and praise continually. You are worthy or praise, holier than we comprehend, and more powerful than we often believe. In Christ Jesus’ name, we pray…
I could go on and on, for I am convinced of the value of this sorrowful wait which leads to repentance, but I must prepare for the day’s travel. I leave you with a prayer and a fellow brother’s rewriting of 2 Corinthians 7:11-13 from the Ancient Truth. I felt them to fitting to share, for he captured what I wish deeply for you to know:
“And now, isn’t it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You’re more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you’ve come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter. My primary concern was not for the one who did the wrong or even the one wronged, but for you—that you would realize and act upon the deep, deep ties between us before God. That’s what happened—and we felt just great.” The Message Paraphrase
So, my friends in the faith, when times of sorrow come may we all remember to turn toward The King (not running from the sorrow, or fleeing in shame) and ask for wisdom to know if we face a time of sorrowful repentance (individually or collectively) or a time of evaluating our physical needs. I will write again one day soon with the last of my lessons learned in the Desert of Shame. I think of you often and will continue to lift you up in my prayers. May our King bless you with much grace and peace!
Most High King, my God, whom I serve for all of eternity: I humbly ask for wisdom, knowing You hold no favorites among people. Give us steady feet, teaching us how to embrace sorrow as a useful tool which teaches us repentance or unmet needs for our temporary bodies: Truly, we ask for mercy and grace, for the paths You’ve chosen us to walk are full of briars and thorns. Some paths have been cleared somewhat before us, and some trails are completely unblazed. Give us courage. Teach us to stand firm, for many fall away and choose to allow worries of this world to choke our any life You’ve offered. Open doors for us to shine the light of our Prince to the world around us. Show us needs that You desire us to meet and help us to walk with great confidence in your ability to help us in all matters. When my fellow knights have medical needs, I ask You to give doctors wisdom. Teach us to take care of our bodies, with nutrition, sleep – whatever we individually need. Give us clean hands and pure hearts. Let us not give our souls to another.Give us courage to rely on You every day, in every circumstance, giving thanks and praise continually. You are worthy or praise, holier than we comprehend, and more powerful than we often believe. In Christ Jesus’ name, we pray…
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