Cornerstone

Genesis 3:1-13 (9)

  [9] And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Responding to an alarm, police arrived to see a man running out the back door. The suspect got away, but he dropped his cell phone.  The police searched the list of contacts on the phone and called one labeled “Ma.”  Ma told them her son’s name. 

Below, the first and last stanzas of Francis Thompson’s poem “The Hound of Heaven” eloquently express how God calls us when we are hiding behind the misty curtain of sin.                                          

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;

  I fled Him, down the arches of the years;

I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways

  Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears

I hid from Him, and under running laughter.

                  Up vistaed hopes I sped;

                  And shot, precipitated,

Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,

From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.

                  But with unhurrying chase,

                  And unperturbèd pace,

                Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,

                  They beat–and a Voice beat

                  More instant than the Feet–

                “All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.” . . . 

  Halts by me that footfall;

  Is my gloom, after all,

Shade of His hand, outstreched caressingly?

  “Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,

  I am He Whom thou seekest!

Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me.”

by Dr. Gayle Woods

Micah 4:1-5 (5) “For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.”

Our family owned a large dog. She was a mix between a German Shepherd and a Chow. She was very big and very playful. It was almost dangerous to step into our backyard. You can expect to be mauled by a loving canine who wanted to play.

It was my responsibility to walk the dog when I got home from work. I walked her on a tight leash. I kept her close to my left leg. I didn’t allow her to move ahead.

When we first began each walk she was full of energy. She bounded. She pulled. She was strong. It was difficult to restrain her. I insisted by holding her back. As we continued to walk she soon would become accustomed to the restraint. She settled into a relaxed walk at my side and we both enjoyed the time.

There are many times in our walk with the Lord that we feel that He is moving to slowly. We think that we have ways that we should go and ministries that we should accomplish. We think that we have methods that need to be tried in His work. If we will submit to His restrain, however, and walk closely by His side we will find pleasure in walking with God. We will reach our destination in His time and according to His will. We will accomplish what is best for His kingdom because of His direction and wisdom.

Dr. Gayle Woods