Thursday, July 20, 2006
Flame
By Ramone - July 19, 2006
While riding the subway underground, I prayed for a place in Osaka and for her people: "Lord, let Your light shine there, however long it takes. Jesus, You died for them & thought of them (and me!) from the Cross. Thank You, Jesus."
I saw this picture in my mind as I finished praying, and drew it later that night. Not knowing what else to call it, I'm calling it "Flame", and somehow it's beautiful in a way, knowing He's there. After settling on that name, I kept thinking of this hymn by Charles Wesley, so I looked it up... and now I'm just staggered and fall on my face before You, Lord, at Your awesome wonder and promise for us and the people there!
See how great a flame aspires,
Kindled by a spark of grace!
Jesus' love the nations fires,
Sets the kingdoms on a blaze:
To bring fire on earth He came;
Kindled in some hearts it is:
O that all might catch the flame,
All partake the glorious bliss!
When He first the work begun,
Small and feeble was His day:
Now the word doth swiftly run;
Now it wins its widening way:
More and more it spread and grows,
Ever mighty to prevail;
Sin's strongholds it now o'erthrows,
Shakes the trembling gates of hell.
Sons of God, your Savior praise!
He the door hath opened wide!
He hath given the word of grace,
Jesus' word is glorified;
Jesus, mighty to redeem,
He alone the work hath wrought;
Worthy is the work of Him,
Him Who spake a world from naught.
Saw ye not the cloud arise,
Little as a human hand?
Now it spreads along the skies,
Hangs o'er all the thirsty land:
Lo! the promise of a shower
Drops already from above;
But the Lord will shortly pour
All the spirit of His love.
- by Charles Wesley, 1746
Comfort! (Stretch!)
By Ramone - March 1, 2006
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."
- Paul, from his second letter to the Corinthians (1:3-7)
