Gleams of the Golden Morning

For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matthew 24:27.
While all the world is plunged in darkness, there will be light in every dwelling of the saints. They will catch the first light of His second appearing.
Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man’s hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Saviour and which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man. In solemn silence they gaze upon it as it draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter and more glorious, until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire, and above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror. Not now a “man of sorrows,” to drink the bitter cup of shame and woe, He comes, victor in heaven and earth, to judge the living and the dead. “Faithful and True,” “in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” And “the armies which were in heaven” (Revelation 19:11, 14) follow Him. With anthems of celestial melody the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng, attend Him on His way. The firmament seems filled with radiant forms–“ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” No human pen can portray the scene; no mortal mind is adequate to conceive its splendor. “His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness was as the light.” Habakkuk 3:3, 4. As the living cloud comes still nearer, every eye beholds the Prince of life. No crown of thorns now mars that sacred head; but a diadem of glory rests on His holy brow. His countenance outshines the dazzling brightness of the noonday sun. “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” Revelation 19:16.
With uplifted heads, with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness shining upon them, with rejoicing that their redemption draweth nigh, they [the living saints], go forth to meet the Bridegroom, saying. “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us.”
Maranatha p. 288
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Prayer Requests
—-update—Enoch [the little boy who fell out of the third story window] is out of surgery on his femur. It went well. They are going to extubate him later today or early in the morning when the sedation wears off. Praise God!
—–I’m having trouble sending the devotional to the mailing list. Please pray that the problem resolves because I don’t know what to do. Rose
—–A young man we know died suddenly while working on his property. Please pray for his family and friends as they mourn his loss.
—–Please pray for the Olbekson family as they mourn the loss of their father/grandfather.
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Dear Friends
Many years ago, we lived in rural Pennsylvania. The view from our country home was beautiful. There was a river across the narrow road, and we were surrounded by the Nescopeck mountains Between us and our nearest neighbor, who about a fourth of a mile away, was a pasture with horses grazing on the lush, green grass. I loved it there.
One day as I was cleaning house, I heard a knock on the door. I thought that was strange because the neighbors were at work and this little community of five houses was fairly isolated. When I opened the door, there stood a man with a big smile on his face. I thought perhaps he was a door-to-door salesman, but it soon became apparent that he was not. Fingers of fear began to clutch me. I told myself that the fearful, creepy feeling was just my imagination and shoved the feeling into the back of my mind.
Just then, he asked if he could use the phone. I should have slammed the door in his face, but for some reason I let him in instead. The moment he stepped inside, I grabbed three-year-old Eileen by the hand and rushed outside.
Fear enveloped me as I saw that the man did not use the phone. Instead, he stood at the doorway and kept trying to coax me back inside. I refused. Even though I was standing outside, we were trapped. If we walked on the road, he could easily follow in his car and grab us. If we climbed up the mountain that was about forty feet from where I was standing, he would surely follow me. I looked across the narrow road at the river. I was not sure of its depth and I knew I could not swim and carry Eileen too. How I wished that we had two cars. I would have jumped in and drove away fast, but we were trapped. Eileen and I could do nothing but stand there in the sunshine, silently praying for protection, and waiting for him to leave.
The man was in no hurry. I continued my silent prayer that God would protect us and make that man leave. Still the man tried to coax me back inside. I continued to refuse
Finally, he gave up. He walked outside, stood on the porch, and tried to assure me that he was harmless. I didn’t believe that for even a minute! Soon, he walked toward me yard and talked to me. When he did that, I saw my chance. Moving little by little, I got positioned to where Eileen and I could slip past him, get into the house, and lock the door. Normally, I don’t move very fast, but that day I dashed to the door like lightening.
The man did not look pleased as he realized that there was a firmly locked door between him and me. After standing there awhile, he got into his car and drove away. How thankful I was for God’s protecting care!
How often the evil one comes to us as did that man. He desires nothing more than to destroy us. Paul tells us, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph 6:12 Praise God! We have a Saviour Who is more powerful than the devil! We can trust Him with our very lives. We can say as did David, ” I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Ps 16:8; 4:8 The wise man observed, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Prov 29:25
May God’s protecting care be with us today. May He lead and guide us away from the traps set by the evil one. May He walk by out side as we travel on the steep and narrow road to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose