In the Court of Glory

The innocent cloak of gray was rent asunder, giving view to the fiery waters beneath. Inch by inch, flames reach to encircle the dome; beyond where they touch, the mantle is a pale, ethereal blue. Ribbons of fire ripple across the space where it was hottest; only there was no heat. As in relief I breathe the delicious air in long sighs, the aspect changes. It is no longer a river of threatening waters. In one place all the power seems to be collected; concentrated, but so strong that even the mountains are kissed with rose. I would call it Glory. The shimmering light seems to form a gateway; open, but my eyes have not the strength to see beyond. Through such intensity of beauty I almost expected to see "a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." (Rev 6:2) It was, to my earthly mind, fit for such an entrance. But soon, this too faded and just before the sun rose, all was serene. Only a gentle blush remained, as though the Painter's hand had calmed the storm of color, and He had said, "Peace, be still".

Late night Philosophy

Fuming destroys: not only happiness, but also the soul. Likewise, the sooner you forgive, the sooner you can live again; for harbored anger develops into bitterness; bitterness separates us from the love of God, and with out that Perfect Love, we cannot have joy, peace, strength, rest. And we cannot love. (Just what I happened to be thinking about at midnight while listening to Christmas carols in October. :P )

Challenge to love

Many places in the Bible are pretty straight forward in what our duties to the body are. Such as Matt. 5-7, 1Thess 5, which have long been some of my favorites. Now also Romans 12; especially the end of verse 8 and beginning of 9. "...He that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation..."
When we do our charity, so often it is because of selfish reasons; such as pride. We would not want to be seen as stingy. Or out of necessity, because we are commanded to take care of the helpless. Or we do it to be thanked, to feed our ego. I have heard many times of the joys of anonymous giving, though I have not done it in a personal way. When I say "anonymous giving", I do not mean through an organisation, for while it is helpful, it can just be a way to skirt around the pain and time and sacrifice it may take to really help someone.

And the second part; " Let love be without dissimulation".
DISSIMULATION, n. The act of dissembling; a hiding under a false appearance; a feigning; false pretension; hypocrisy. Dissimulation may be simply concealment of the opinions, sentiments or purpose; but it includes also the assuming of a false or counterfeit appearance which conceals the real opinions or purpose.

In that word is some very strong language. We are not to be showing love without truly and sincerely loving. Oh, how easy it is to just spit out the words, or go through the motions. So often, if I am somewhat preoccupied, I will just say "I love you" at the end of a phone call or as I say good bye, and It won't even register that I have said it! (can be very embarrassing.) :}

How do we love without dissimulation? Again, the Bible has it clearly mapped out. 1Cor. 13 is the first that comes to mind; very explanatory.
But also an important thought is why we should love as well as how.
"Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends," ~John 15:13

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down His live for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." ~1John 3:16

"A friend loveth at all times and a brother is born for adversity."
~Proverbs 17:17

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."
~1John 4:11

(So, in an attempt to wrap up such a deep and broad topic in one small post...) I offer a challenge to any who read this (and in the case that no one does, to myself) to be genuine in the love of the brethren, of their families, and ultimately their love of God. If it cause pain, to bare it willingly. If it cause sacrifice, to give all joyfully. In the day to day life, and even unto death.

In Christ alone,
Ceira

John 15

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
These things I command you, that ye love one another.
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Forgiveness Is a Balm of Gilead

I was a good grudge holder. I used to try to out last my brother in remembering offences. Many times I heard the saying "forgive and forget", but some how I could not let go of things until the offending party had thoroughly abased themselves. But it didn't come to mind that it takes two to have an argument. Forgiving does not come naturally; it must be cultivated, nurtured. A grudge can destroy a relationship, and part the closest of friends; but a forgiving and forbearing spirit can be a salve over wounds.

Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

2Cor 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

We are told many times in Scripture to forgive our brothers in the faith. God desires that His church be united and that cannot be if are ever ready to take offence and hate our brethren. We are also to forgive our enemies. Jesus did not break Satan's hold on the world by sheer might, but by the power of forgiveness and love.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Luke 23:34a Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. ...

And so, even as Christ did, so should we do. Let us apply the love of Christ to a hurting church, and a lost and sinful world.

* * * * *

“He who is devoid of the power to forgive, is devoid of the power to love.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

“There is no love without forgiveness, and there is no forgiveness without love.” Bryant H. McGill

“Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again.” Saint Augustine

“Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.” William Arthur Ward

“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” Mark Twain

“I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note - torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one.” Henry Ward Beecher