Daily Dying
Occupying a prominent position on the small kitchen table in the breakfast room of the old and somewhat delapidated house where my Dad spent his last years of this life was this picture. The caption, scrawled on the reverse in the almost illegible hand of this wonderful man, explains it all, except possibly that he had very carefully added the white tape in the shape of a cross. This was his hiding place – at the foot of the cross. He died here daily until God called him into the next life.
What an example………
A Grandfather’s Prayer
As I was going through the things of my Dad after his death, I came across these three pictures and my eyes welled up with tears.
These photos – all of the same statute of Abraham and Isaac just before the impending sacrifice - were all taken in the little cemetary in Virginia Beach where Dad spent so much time praying. It’s a beautiful statute in a pleasant setting but that was not the reason for my tears.
As I gathered these up to set them aside and move on through the mountain of paperwork, I turned them face-down on the table. A single word, written in Dad’s famous scrawl, caught my eye. On the top of the back of one was written, “Daniel” – the name of my oldest son.
Turning to the next one, I found, “Rob”.
“Jon” was written on the third.
My precious father, used these pictures and this statute to pray for my children. As Abraham of old prayed over his beloved son – the son of promise – and committed him to God, my sons were prayed over and for and committed into God’s hands on a daily basis.
I sat there staring at these pictures and weeping until the images swam before me. The magnitude of the mantle passed to me upon my father’s death was realized afresh. My children are precious gifts of God. I daily lift them to the Throne and plead God’s protection and blessing upon their lives. With Dad in Heaven now, I’ll have to double up – a task I readily accept.
Jesus, The King
On the grounds of a hospital in the Tidewater area of Virginia, there is a cemetary. Just as he did at the Mountain View Cemetary in Danville, Dad would spend his days in that quiet place in prayer. These were precious times of communion and fellowship between my father and his Heavenly Father. His letters to me would report of tracing the footpaths of this quiet spot for hours on end while he cried out to God on behalf of our family and countless others for whom he was burdened.
As he walked and prayed, he would pass this marble statue of Christ. He would carry a small camera along and take pictures of this rendering of his Lord. Following are the quotes from the reverse of some of these.
“Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” -Titus 2:13-15
“The King is Coming!! He is the Answer! Hebrews 9:28″ (so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.)
“If I go away, I will come again…” -John 14
“Any hour!
Any minute!
The building behind is a hospital! I was with one of our ladys when she died. Her son (52) got saved and hasn’t missed church – an usher – is joining the church!
The King is coming!
Ephesians 1:19-23!!!!!!!!!”
(…and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power for us who believe, according to the working of His great power. God put this power to work in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but in the age to come. And He has put all things under His feet and has made Him head over all things for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all.)
“When you begin to see these things come to pass, look up for your redemption draweth nigh!!”
He’s coming soon! Let’s pray together for a last days church revival!
*I had to kneel with elbows on the ground to get this shot - getting in practice for when I see Him for the first time!”
On another occasion and on another picture, Dad wrote:
“I had to get down on my knees to get this shot – Armistead Avenue with fast moving traffic goes by near this site – I got some attention but they just don’t know…! Phillipians 2:10: ‘That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth…’ The King is coming!”
“I had to get on my knees and nearly on my face to get this pic of Jesus in the clouds – minus the buildings and the trees.When I see Him for the first time, again, I will be on my knees – THE KING IS COMING!!!
EVEN SO, COME QUICKLY, LORD JESUS”
I believe that shortly after six o’clock Eastern time on the 5th day of May, 2008, my precious father was indeed on his knees in front of his Saviour. He has had the best month of his life in this place where time means nothing and all focus is on God and His Son.
The Crucifixion Tree
This tree stands in the middle of a cemetary, not far from the high school where I spent those tumultuous years of my life. Years later, after his own life had been torn apart by addiction, my dad found solice and communion with God in this quiet and holy place.
Through the years of his solitude in Danville, he took pictures of this tree. On the reverse of each picture he would write and those words I share with you now:
“Crucifixion Tree – I’ll be down there this week – river in the distance – GW to the right. This is Holy Ground.”
“Galatians 2:20. A sacred place where I ’die daily’ to the human and surrender to the Spiritual: ‘In my hands no price I bring, simply to the cross I cling.’”
As my brother and I entered his home mere hours after his death, this picture, onto which he had fashioned a cross with white tape, was displayed prominently upon his kitchen table. And on the reverse are the words that speak volumes of this weonderful man of God – this prayer warrior – who is my Dad:
“I hang on this tree and quote Galatians 2:20 before I start walking and praying.”
“and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” -Galatians 2:20
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