You are, and have been our God through all this trial. You have loved us and provided our every need. We have lacked nothing. You have brought us closer to our own selves, closer to our loved ones. And, through this, closer to You. When circumstances grew too great for us to carry alone, You sent brothers and sisters in Christ to bear the weight with us. The burdens have been lifted as if by magic—one moment such great heaviness as to smother—the next, joy! What a mystery—the grace of God’s family… Burden Bearers.

BURDEN BEARERS

It is as if
stumbling deep within dense forest,
fear rising with the stepping up of the wind,
we peer through darkness; longing for blindness.
Forms loom. Black, quite untreelike…
stumpy and listing among the branches.
Terror presses upon us.
Is there no end to the enemy?
We fall. Shame rushes to claim her prize.
Where is our God?

The moon escapes its cover.
Shame slinks into the shadows to wait.
The forms take meaning.

Warriors? Allied. A thousand, thousand…
standing watch around our stumbling place…
We’ve fallen among our own.

Apprehended, the moon is returned to its quarters;
yet, the forms retain their detail,
Our mind now discerning the sillouhettes—
gentle faces, lips whispering in intercession,
hands clasped…in prayer…then, lifting—
in praise to their Captain.
Our Captain.

Wait!
The moon moves not;
Yet, Light sheds abroad in our hearts.
The eyes of our understanding are opened
and, suddenly we see—
Forces. Innumerable.
Beyond. Beside. Between.
The skies are made up, it seems
of heavenly creatures!
Majestic! Glorious!
Swords raised in defense of their charges.
Purveyors of the Promises,
beckoned by the prayers of the Saints in our behalf.
They await now the orders.

“Protect!”
“Deliver!”
“Defend!”

And, we know…
as if submerged in the waters of Truth
This meeting of spirits in the darkness.
is not Chance.
All are summoned by One Voice.
Each position securely guarded.
Our Captain—a Warrior Himself.

Ah, but now, The Question.
Our orders?

The Anwer is confusing.
A relief, true.
But, tainted by suspician.

“Rest.”

Is that all? What does it mean?
The war is here.
Now.
We touch it without moving an inch.
Gifts are not given in wartime.
Every resource is used for battle.

Guarded, protected by these great troops,
Our orders are to rest?
While others continue to stand ready?
We do—
Nothing?

We grasp for comprehension.
Our understanding grappling with the Wisdom.
Why? How? How long?
Are you sure?

We attempt to counter; but,
Any argument is weak.
We have none.
The orders are right.
The Captain knows our hearts.
We have little—
no, nothing—to offer.
Today.

We lie back in the midst of them—
flesh and spirit.
A pebble surrounded by great mountains;
whose shadows once so misperceived,
descend now—
a down-filled coverlet for our souls.

Our dreaming man finds meaning
as we slip into this feathered bed
still half-unwilling thieves…
“Rest? Do Nothing?” we ask.
“Oh, no!” he replies softly.
“Rest is quite active, really.
You can do no better, this day.
To rest is to Trust…
Whether sleeping, or Standing.
All orders are the same.”

His words are right.
“Sleep is not earned or purchased.”
We do not steal—we obey.

And, so
without Shame,
we sleep.

Terri Krause

The best is yet to be...

T2,

Good timing!

I agree with this! I just want to rest in trust!

Blessings to you my sister!!!!

John Trevino

t2 ( Terri_
That is so beautiful and is a spiritual gem. I'm copying it to read again. Reminds me of the scripture" and having done all, stand." talking about putting on the full armor of God. You have a nice talent.

Hmmm...Pax. Hadn't thought of that Scripture in a while. Standing isn't moving, is it? Seems sometimes, my mind feels like if I'm not moving, I'm sinning. I'm reading a book called Sacred Romance. If you ever have time, it's a wonderful book on our position in Christ, the love of God for us, and the tactics the enemy uses against us. I've been trying to learn to rest in Christ...it's not my forté. This board helps alot. Sometimes, I read what you have written, and I truly feel I'm in good hands. I can lay back for a bit and sleep. I'm safe...You have me covered Thanks for being there! Ter

The best is yet to be...

This morning when I was reading my Bible it opened to 2 Chron. 1. Solomon has assumed the throne and is beginning the construction of the temple (the house of God). It says there were 153,000 strangers in Israel (aliens) and that of those Solomon appointed 70,000 as "burden bearers." Isn't that amazing? We are strangers and aliens in this land, and those of us who are called to intercession are the burden bearers for the building of the temple. What a privilege! Ter

The best is yet to be...

Amen!!

May the Lord continue to shed his light on your path. May your walk with the Lord continue to grow may he give you all you need!!!!


Praise The Lord T2!!!!!!!

God is Good all the time!!!!

John Trevino

t2
thanks for sharing that. I vaguely remember hearing or reading that. So your message was devinely inspired!

Is it coincidence that the news keeps referring to the 70,000 Iraqi troops?

The best is yet to be...