Then face to face

 

Standing out here in Your presence, Father,
I sense glimpses of Your glory and power.
Suddenly lightning shatters the shrouded sky;
Thunder rumbles:  I know You are nigh.

“Abba Father, I see how little I really am;
“I’m just one small child in Your vast kingdom…”
Then I remember how much You love me,
And I fall down on my knees—it’s overwhelming--

Holy Ghost wind gusts earnestly on my face;
First a few drops, then rain pours down like grace.
In the midst of the storm Your peace arises:
“Thank You Lord--   Thank You Lord Jesus.”

Then one night I had a vision of The Lord as I slept--
He spoke The Truth to me, and afterward I wept:
Remember to study and stay in the Word of God, my child,
For in it you will see I AM the Way, the Truth and the life.

I recalled what I was taught when I was young and bored:
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.
The revelation of Jesus Christ hit me like lightning:
“Thank You! Thank You Jesus for letting me see.”

Then, faith in Acts combined with simple obedience;
God’s Word revealed to me shattered my traditions!
Receiving the Spirit of Christ has made me His son;
After I was baptized in Jesus’ Name:  I and my Father are one.

Thus my new exciting life in Christ Jesus had its genesis:
In a moment, my old taskmaster became my nemesis!
Frustrated and angry, the devil wanted me back;
So he gathered the powers of darkness and attacked.

Instantly out of nowhere crazy thoughts entered my mind:
Thoughts of suicide--and the most vile, violent kind--
“Ohhhh…. get out of my head!” I barked out loud;
The thoughts came in stronger. “Get out!  Get out!

Not knowing how to fight back, I dropped to my knees;
I covered my ears with my hands, bent over and screamed.
I called out, “Lord, please help me…Jesus… please…”
And just-like-that, the crazy thoughts ceased.

I had never known such peace when I served the world;
The peace that Jesus gives proves He keeps His word.
What a God!  What a wonderful Savior!  He’s my Dad;
The most amazing thing is He calls me His friend.

When life’s storms rage all around me,
I just smile because I know I am free.
Then praise builds up from deep within:
“I am free!  I am free from all my sin!”

Wave after wave of change transforms my life;
I’m growing up so fast—I’m no longer a child!
“Abba Father, I’m becoming an older son:
“What shall I do for You now?  ‘Your will be done.’”

As time and trials pass, God’s goal is perfection:
I am an adult in body, yielding to His correction.
Yet in my spirit I’m still just a child in the rain;
Soaking in my Father’s affection to ease life’s pain.

Adult problems; adult issues; yet the journey goes on,
I still love singing like a child when I hear that song--
It’s a reminder of how much my Father loves me:
“Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me…”

My Father showed me this world is not my home;
Some glorious day I will see Jesus on the throne.
Then I will join thousands and thousands of saints:
Worshipping the one true living God with praise!

Standing here in Your presence, Father,
You display Your full glory and power.
Suddenly lightning shatters the shrouded sky;
Thunder rumbles: I know You are nigh.

I look forward to being in the golden city of promise;
There will be no more pain or manmade malice.
Adulthood is crowned there in the kingdom of God;
Flowing like the River of Life full of His love.

Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
We will see and touch Jesus in that perfect place!
Now I know in part; Thank God I know where I’m going:
but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
The heart of charity-love is the act of giving--

But the greatest of these is charity:
Jesus is revealed.

 

+++

Reference:  1 Corinthians 13:11-13 (KJV)


--bro. tim pickl   
Friday July 31, 2009 A.D.

Originally posted on FaithWriters -- Check it out:
 
http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article-level3-previous.php?id=30854

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