He walks with me, and He talks with me

   I visited my friend James in the hospital Sunday, where he reminded me of a wonderful hymn from our youth. He had the first verse written down from memory, but I told him I believed there were more verses, and that I would research it. The lyrics follow:

In The Garden, 1912
C. Austin Miles

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
Refrain
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
Refrain

   Miles was an American, trained in college for a career in pharmacy. He abandoned that career to a call as a song writer at age 24. He served as manager and editor at Hall-Mack Publishing for 37 years. I found the following Internet passage about Miles' song, "In the Garden:"

   "I read…the sto­ry of the great­est morn in his­to­ry: “The first day of the week com­eth Ma­ry Mag­da­lene ear­ly, while it was yet ve­ry dark, unto the se­pul­cher.” In­stant­ly, com­plet­ely, there un­fold­ed in my mind the scenes of the gar­den of Jo­seph….Out of the mists of the gar­den comes a form, halt­ing, he­si­tat­ing, tear­ful, seek­ing, turn­ing from side to side in be­wil­der­ing amaze­ment. Fal­ter­ing­ly, bear­ing grief in ev­e­ry ac­cent, with tear-dimmed eyes, she whis­pers, “If thou hast borne him hence”… “He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their sing­ing.” Je­sus said to her, “Mary!” Just one word from his lips, and for­got­ten the heart­aches, the long drea­ry hours….all the past blot­ted out in the pre­sence of the Liv­ing Pre­sent and the Eter­nal Fu­ture."

    Even though I heard the truth clearly as a boy, I did not fully grasp the reality that my Lord "walks with me, and talks with me." This is not a relationship the Father offered only "back then in Bible times!" He was, is and will always be the same: the Creator in love with His children. He is the perfect Father, and His desire is that we would fully embrace His gift of constant, eternal relationship.

Reject passivity

    One of the most rewarding gifts of fellowship granted to me in recent years is a weekly men's group initiated in part out of recognition that "iron sharpens iron." (Proverbs 27:17) On occasion, I have journaled during or following our evening sessions. The following is a partial entry from 2006:

    "Don't believe the enemy's lies, especially in regard to God's character. He charges: 'You are only...' while God tells us: 'I love you and desire relationship with you for eternity'." (John 3:16)

    "I am a precious son of the Creator, a member of the royal priesthood. (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6) I am a unique, beloved creature of the one and only God. He has given me talents, and my responsibility is to 'invest' them, NOT to bury them out of fear that He is a harsh master. His love and grace are limitless." (Luke 19:11)

    "Worship and glorify the Father. Step out. Be bold, a warrior battling with the prince of the earth, armed with the awesome knowledge that He/we have already won! If God be for us, who can be against us? (Isaiah 41:11-16) What do we have to fear when we have the gift of grace, the promise of life eternal?"

Incredible news for believers

    I was reminded again last night of an incredible New Testament Scripture that I had promised myself I would commit to memory. You will understand why I singled it out as a promise worth memorizing:
Romans 8:14-17
"...because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are co-heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory."

To God, all honor and glory

The Great Physician

Just a week ago, I was among a group of men privileged to offer intercessory prayer on behalf of a 9-month-old baby, the daughter of one of those in our fathers group. This sweet little girl was born with three holes in her heart ... not an imminent threat to her life, but obviously an ongoing source of concern. Last week we prayed yet another among countless "persistent prayers" offered up over months on behalf of Maryn and her parents. On Wednesday, Josh and Malinda took their precious child for another checkup at Children's Hospital. I encourage you to click on the following link to read Malinda's blog regarding the report they heard from their doctor on Wednesday, May 5, 2010.
 http://holyrollerbrand.blogspot.com/

Life and death

The other day my morning began at 6 a.m. with a group of Christian brothers focused on their roles as fathers. I met in the evening with another group of men who have gathered weekly for more than five years, with an ever-flexible "agenda" that includes a mix of Bible study, sharing, worship and prayer.

This message has been expressed in many ways over the centuries, but yesterday God impressed it upon me in this way:
"There is no more important a conversation two men can have than to discuss what to do about this man Jesus Christ."

Romans 3:23
"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."

Rom 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

John 1:7
"The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe."

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Ephesians 2:8
"For it is by grace we are saved, through faith, and this not from ourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, lest any man boast."

Faith and forgiveness

All who study the life of Jesus are familiar with the incredible first words he spoke from the cross:
"Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

As believers, we know that when we surrender our lives to Him, we are "crucified with Christ" ... and Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20). We are called to model our lives after His, including the expression of forgiveness.

Even so, I found it striking this week to read the following story about a sister in Christ who has chosen to forgive in the wake of tragedy:

By RAY LANE, SEATTLE PI ONLINE, AND KOMO STAFF

PUYALLUP -- Family and friends of the victim who was killed in a home invasion robbery expressed relief Tuesday (May 4, 2010) that three of four suspects have been captured. Two of the suspects were captured in California over the weekend, and a third surrendered to police on Tuesday.

Jim Sanders was shot to death at his home after letting in a group of people who said they were considering purchasing a diamond ring he had listed on the Craigslist website. Tuesday, Sanders' widow called her husband a hero for protecting them.

"I had a gun to the back of my head, with a countdown... three, two... and I was screaming and my kids were standing there," said Charlene Sanders. "I said, 'Please, God, don't let them kill me in front of my kids, don't let them kill me in front of my kids'."

After that night of horror, Charlene Sanders says she's blessed that she and her two sons are still alive. She says her husband, Jim, was killed defending his family in their home.

"They took the love of my life, my future," Charlene Sanders said. "They ripped my home apart."

But with the capture of three of the suspects, she says there's a new layer of comfort. She's deeply religious, and so was her husband. Now, in the wake of unimaginable tragedy, she relies on her faith more than ever.

"If I want to be forgiven, I have to forgive," she said. "That's a tough one. But that's where I have to look to, eternity."

Charlene hopes something good will happen in the wake of her family's turmoil.

"I have to believe I can turn this into victory," she said. "And if people can come to Christ from this, it was worth it. It was worth my husband's sacrifice."

I thank you, Father, for saving the lives of Charlene Sanders and her children. I pray, Holy Spirit, that you will comfort and heal the family of Jim Sanders, victim of hatred and greed. I give thanks for the gift of faith that inspires his widow to choose forgiveness over the alternative expressions that come so quickly to mind. I ask your blessing on Charlene, her children and extended family as they walk out their faith in the wake of this crime. May she see the victory she desires to see, even as the family and followers of Jesus Christ saw the eternal victory accomplished in His death and resurrection.