Obedient to the Invitation

A Short Story

Based on a Dream

In fact, this was the dream

By Ann Marie Grumm

I

He could make anything brilliant out of any piece of material.

She had had a piece of fabric for the longest time.

For just that purpose.

To be made into something beautiful.  A dress.

Flowing and summery, yet long sleeve, mid-calf.

II

Her friends had taken her to see him,

Admiring all his creations.

As soon as she saw the brightly colored dresses,

She fell in love.

He was just the person to construct the dress she had in mind.

III

He would be able to fashion it just so.

He would do it perfectly.

Perhaps he would add his own embellishments.

She considered thoughtfully, was she worthy? 

He was certain to appreciate the beautiful fine material.

IV

She was sure it was worthy of his handiwork.  

Cautiously, she neared the raised platform.

Indomitable, he was.  She feared him.

He instructed her to bring the material.

Immediately, she returned,

V

Arms laden with carefully folded, creamy white linen.

“I cannot make this dress for you,” he said.

Afflicted of heart.  He was sure to recognize such fine quality.

"This would be your wedding dress.”

“You never accepted my offer."

see revelation 19:7,8 7Let us rejoice and be overjoyed and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has arrived and his wife has prepared herself.8Yes, it has been granted to her to be clothed with bright, clean, fine linen—for the fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the holy ones.”

Posssessions : A Penn Station Story

Truly, Truly

 I was in my early twenties

I was getting off the amtrack from having been staying with relatives in a suburb just outside of washingon D.C.

I had to take out my bible in order to put my childhood squishy pillow inside my suitcase.

In penn station, my suitcase was stolen.

In my despair, I sat at the top of a stairway of a long island railroad train.

I opened my bible.

The very first thing I read was “why worry about your clothes” and it mentioned how God so cares for the field lilies !!!!

With that, I was able to board the train and return home without my clothes !!!

Possessions : The Downsizing

The task of getting rid of the unecessary has been quite daunting !!

The downsizing

I am in constant prayer and pleading each day

I am reading carefully both morning and evening

I keep asking Jehovah to speak to me through his word, the bible.

This experience that I am about to relate to you is soooo very similar to an experience I had with the bible in my early twenties !!!!!

This morning, I returned to the account in Genesis in which Joseph was revealing himself to his brothers.

Joseph’s brothers were going to bring their father back with them in order for the entire family to live in the land of Goshen.  Pharoah sent them with carts to transport the women and children, as well as, Jacob, Joseph’s aged father.  Pharoah told Joseph to instruct his brothers “Do not worry about your belongings”

Gen 45:20

Abuse of Power

A Typical High School Theme in YA Novels

You may be familiar with Robert Cormier's "The Chocolate War," a very disturbing read that illustates many of the bleak realities in this world's wicked system of things.  A tragic ending causes one to double guess himself.  The essay question assigned to my son when he was in the ninth grade was something like this: Would you conform to the prevailing standards, agreements, practices, of the greater majority in order to fit in?  Though it goes against the fibers of your being, would you compromise in the face of peer pressure ?  What about threats and the possibility of death ?

A similar theme, 'Abuse of Power Leads To Loss of Authority,' is found in God's word, the bible.  This brief account not only comes to an agreeable denouement, it is an upbuilding, faith strengthening study.  However brief, ISAIAH 22:15-22, this short story requires some research.

Shebna's position was that of a steward, he was “in charge of the house,” likely the house of King Hezekiah. His position was second only to the king, and much was expected of him.

Instead of giving first attention to the affairs of the nation and caring for the needs of the people, he exalts himself.  He prepares a sepulcher in the anticipation of a grand interment. His actions prove unfaithful to 'him that appointed him.' Thus, a pronouncement is made that he will be condemned to suffer the disgrace of being replaced.

Shebna most likely acknowledged his folly and accepted the discipline, as he is later mentioned at Isaiah 36:2,22.  He continues in the king's service and accompanies the newly appointed steward (his replacement) on a potentially dangerous mission.

This account not only serves as a warning for us, should we be entrusted with authority, it demonstrates the wisdom in responding favorably to discipline, as opposed to deadly bitterness and resentment.

Essay question: How could Shebna have used his authority to help others?

Symbolisms
Key : authority, government, power
Shoulder :  to assume responsibility

The implication for today:  A faithful steward class has been appointed to replace those negligent in their authority over Jesus' household.



____________________________________________________________________________
Isaiah's Prophecy : Light for all mankind, vol. 1., 238-243.  Brooklyn:Watch Tower and Tract
                     Society, c2000. Print, 238-243.

SimonPeter

We had such a great bible study tonight

We read about Peter denying knowing Jesus three times before the cock crowed  . .

We spent some time discussing how peter must have felt when jesus' eyes met peter's just after Peter adamantly denied knowing Jesus that third time !!

The mood in the room was so somber . . We all considered how horrible peter must have felt . .

But then we read on

Peter didn't go and isolate !!  He caught up with his buddies and they too were feeling horrible. They were able to bring a measure of comfort to each other !!!

The text that we were reading brought out the following scriptures :

Proverbs 18:1
Whoever isolates himself pursues his own selfish desires;He rejects all practical wisdom

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works,  25 not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another . .


The account begins at Mark 14:27
See Luke 22:60

From the reading, "Imitate their faith"the second chapter of Peter, paragraph 20

"Peter showed genuine faith by gathering with his brothers despite his low spirits. When one is burdened by sadness or regret, isolation is tempting but dangerous. (Prov. 18:1) The wise course is to stay close to fellow believers and regain spiritual strength.—Heb. 10:24, 25."

Also from paragraph 20 from the last chapter of the book, the seconfd chapter of Peter in 'Imitate their Faith'

"When a servant of God falls, what matters most is not the depth of his fall but the strength of his determination to get up again, to set matters right. (Read Proverbs 24:16)."

Presumptuously Presumptuous

• Proverbs 16:18  Pride is before a crash,  and a haughty spirit before stumbling.
• Luke 14:8, 9    “When you are invited by someone to a marriage feast, do not recline in the most prominent place. Perhaps someone more distinguished than you may also have been invited.  Then the one who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Let this man have your place.’ Then you will proceed with shame to take the lowest place.
  • 1 Kings 1:5  Meanwhile, Ad·o·niʹjah the son of Hagʹgith was exalting himself, saying: “I am going to be king!” He had a chariot made for himself with horsemen and 50 men to run before him.

  • Proverbs 11:2  When presumptuousness comes, dishonor will follow,
  • • But wisdom is with the modest ones.

Antithesis

Anti - prefix

Antithesis is a figure of speech which refers to the juxtaposition of opposing or contrasting ideas. It involves the bringing out of a contrast in the ideas by an obvious contrast in the words, clauses, or sentences, within a parallel grammatical structure.