[Faith-talk] Daily Thought for Thursday, March 13, 2014

[Paul]

Hello and good day to you all.  I hope that, by God's matchless grace and His providential care, that you are all doing well.

The people who receive these messages locally, namely Pastor Jason Meyerson, Michelle and Beverley, don't have to be told that, at least as of this writing, it is still very windy which is producing bitter cold if one ventures outside.  As for the rest of you, I don't know what kind of weather you're experiencing, but I hope it is more pleasant than ours.

Anyone here ever heard of someone named C. David Hay before? Perhaps not.  However he graces our screens and Braille displays today with his short but insightful poem entitled "Country Chapel," rendered as follows:

The little white church in the valley
Serves the faithful well,
And if it had a voice,
The stories it could tell.

Tales of life's beginning and end
And the joy and tears in between
Echo still within its walls
>From all that it has seen.

The steeple bell is weathered dull
But its peal is loud and clear;
And it summons all to prayer
As it has for many a year.

The pews are worn from worship,
The cross still gleams in the light
Of altar candles dancing
Like angels in the night.

Row on row the flock does rest
Beneath the hallowed sod,
In the shadow of their church
While tended by God.

And there you have it for today.  Now I know that, at the very least, some of you may recall having worshipped in such a structure.  If you have, I'd like to invite you to share your memories, if you so desire, not only with the undersigned but with the wider world of people out there who probably have never known the simplicity of worshipping in a country chapel, with undoubtedly an old parlor or pump organ providing the music.

And now may the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob just keep us safe, individually and collectively, in these last days in which we live.  Lord willing, tomorrow there will be another Daily Thought message for you.  Your Christian friend and brother, Paul