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Lenten Journey – Day 14
Biblical Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-3, 13-19
Open Invitation to Join Terri from
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6-Mar-12: Hebrews 11:1-3, 13-19
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
13 All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,
14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
“…….and you say there is lots more gold in that city we cannot see just yet?”
“Where did that glint go? Why didn’t you grab up that crown?
Old Spottedy Goat mumbled at Cross-Eyed Sheepdog.
“Why, don’t you keen a singley thing, you mottled fallen down?
“Did not you see Old Crow wave that glint away in fog?”
“Yes, dear goatly friend, dear crossly dog, ye not to see now,
Ye not to live now with gold, oh no, ’tis not the time in these rocks.”
Did Old Crow, with Ugly Bird and Bluesy Fly, just behind in tow,
Croak out the promise of cities golden so high, in yet-to-be docks.
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granbee 
Mar 07, 2012 @ 09:10:17
Oh, no! Cross-Eyed! I haven’t heard that term in ages.
I don’t like the sound of that not living in gold and it not being the time bit. I wanna live good like Mitt Romney and not know what it feels like to fly coach.
Mar 08, 2012 @ 02:10:28
We—ee–eel, oh Impatient One: you just MAY have to wait and listen and look a little bit! Tots, what WOULD we do without you? I tell you what, if you start riding around like the Mittens, I will definitely hide behind those very large rocks we have been climbing around. I would NOT want to be tied to the roof of one of your Cadillacs!
Mar 07, 2012 @ 14:19:42
@totsymae – you made me laugh out loud!
@granbee – again, such fabulous characters. I think you could pull together a children’s book on grace using these folks and teach them about the love of God. They are so good.
Mar 08, 2012 @ 02:11:54
Yes, Terri, I am working on a series of books, only they are for all ages! They are allegorical and include more complicated side plots than I am posting here! Bless you for your daily encouragement on this terriffic Lenten Journey!
Mar 08, 2012 @ 03:33:17
I have a friend of a friend (smile) who did a series of books that appeal to adult and child and open the way for conversations around values, etc., on many levels. I think it is a great idea and can lead to multi-generational Sunday School classes.
Mar 08, 2012 @ 03:54:14
Not only Sunday School classes, but groups of children in remote villages all around the world! I am NOT thinking small, am I?
Mar 08, 2012 @ 04:58:14
Rock on!!! Well, I think some of the hardest people to get moving are our own people. 🙂
Mar 08, 2012 @ 05:49:18
You hit THAt nail on the head, Terri! Our own people think they already know it all—and they don’t have a clue, in many cases!
Mar 07, 2012 @ 16:33:18
“… and you say there’s lot more gold in than city we cannot see just yet”. Is this message to me? It has put me in deep thoughts granbee and by thorough soul searching maybe, just maybe i will find answers. Thank you!
Mar 08, 2012 @ 02:12:45
Oh, Nita, you have just answered one of my prayers for this series of posts! To put readers into deeper thought, including myself, is a very large part of the purpose of these posts! Bless you, dear girl!
Mar 07, 2012 @ 20:00:29
One of my favorite biblical passages… Faith is the knowledge of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…
Mar 08, 2012 @ 02:13:52
Yes, I do so love this passage! What eyes have not seen and ears have not heard, you know! I can tell from your own poems that your mind and spirit contemplate these spiritual truths daily!
Mar 08, 2012 @ 10:01:16
“Yes, dear goatly friend, dear crossly dog, ye not to see now,
Ye not to live now with gold, oh no, ’tis not the time in these rocks.”
Love that! Who hopes for what they already have? Walk by faith…
Mar 09, 2012 @ 01:39:32
Bless you many times over for your MOST encourgaging comments here, writinggomer! You always seem to pick up on the very lines about which I had some lingering doubts as to wording and just pick me right up about them! Hope, indeed, is all about things not yet seen! Amen!
Mar 09, 2012 @ 22:51:05
I like the names of your characters and this is so well written.
Ciao, Francina 🙂
Mar 10, 2012 @ 02:17:50
Bless you, dear Francina, for your encouragement here of my goofy names! And it would be impossible to thank you properly for saying “this is so well written.” I guess all the decades of study and scribbling eventually paid off, huh?
Mar 10, 2012 @ 03:06:48
your welcome, Rose, and they sure paid off!
Mar 10, 2012 @ 03:13:42
Thank you so much again and again, dear Francina! Now I will never, ever lift my nose from the grindstone again!
Mar 10, 2012 @ 10:37:15
The last stanza, with goatly friend and crossly dog in the rocks, while Old Crow and the flying ones “Croak out the promise of cities golden so high, in yet-to-be docks.” engaging in deep prophecy, is not only Biblical, but human in the way the world works: So many walking through fields of rocks while the seers see the gold citie on the hill in the distance–if only you can keep walking in the right direction.
Mar 10, 2012 @ 23:41:17
Yes, Thomas, walking in the “right direction” is the key factor here. Temporarily get caught up in “the rocks” of our lives WILL happend, won’t it? You are right: there are a few among us who are seers. Let us pray the Holy Spirit shows them to us, so that we may follow more effectively!
Mar 10, 2012 @ 11:14:20
“Ye not to live now with gold, oh no, ’tis not the time in these rocks.” Rose, this exemplifies such a charming way of faith’s definition…believing in that which is unseen~I’m on to the next leg of our journey!
Mar 10, 2012 @ 23:42:21
“In things not yet seen” is absolutely the core of our faith, dear Lauren, So pleased you are champing at the bit to be off on the next leg of our quest! Hooray and giddyup!
Mar 17, 2012 @ 15:27:35
Not for gold to wear…but the spirit to glow and glitter!
Mar 17, 2012 @ 22:41:00
You are so right, dear bardess–gold for the soul, this is! So much light to reflect back out to others, with whom HE wishes for us to connet and love in peace and goodwill!