Murph
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Post by Murph on Dec 24, 2007 7:26:49 GMT -6
12-24-07
Sixty-one years old today and it was time again to go on to Higher Ground. Praise the Lord and pass the ammo!
Been a long time since I sat in the cave on Higher Ground. Been out in the world looking around and haven’t had time to come to Higher Ground. But it seems to be time again.
My cave came about through a combination of things. A hymn titled “Higher Ground,” Elijah in his cave and David in his, and the Lord retreating to higher ground alone to pray. It has always struck me that Jesus prayed. Anyway, that is how the cave on Higher Ground came into existence in my imagination. Might say it is a place born in my mind that moved to my heart, my cave on Higher Ground.
My cave is a place to stop and reflect, be still and quiet. It has always been a very quiet place, not very big. There is a rug on the floor and a reading chair, an old roll top desk and chair the once belonged to my Dad. There is a small cot and warm blanket in the back. The walls are lined with bookcases full of books. There are piles of papers and such that I have saved for later or kept just ‘cause. There is no electricity. Don’t need any. No TV or even a radio. Don’t need them either nor do I want them. And there is definitely no telephone. I come here to be alone.
But from time to time people drop by to visit and say hello, mostly the brothers and sisters. We put a pot of cowboy coffee on the fire to brew and visit awhile. Not many come this way. You have to climb a mountain to get here to Higher Ground.
I have missed my cave, and the quiet, and the solitude.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Dec 24, 2007 7:28:46 GMT -6
Special thank you to Caretaker, Brother Drew, and to the Lord for inspiring the trip back to Higher Ground.
Amen.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Dec 24, 2007 7:30:52 GMT -6
I can recite “Higher Ground,” know it by heart. I sing it when I am alone. Wouldn’t inflict others with my singing voice unless I am in church. I sometimes think people sing louder to drown me out
I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining every day, Still praying as I’m onward bound, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay Where doubts arise and fears dismay. Though some may dwell where those abound, My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
I want to live above the world, Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled, For faith has caught the joyful sound, The song of saints on higher ground.
I want to scale the utmost height And catch a gleam of glory bright But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
Now here is the part I like the best, the refrain.
Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By faith, on Heaven’s table land, A higher plane than I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
And so my cave became my Higher Ground, A place in my heart and my heart belongs to Jesus.
Amen.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Dec 24, 2007 7:34:51 GMT -6
So Brother Keith, I hope you don’t mind that in the mountains somewhere east of Caretaker’s porch is a cave called Higher Ground, and putting it here in the Bible Forum. The Bible is a long letter to us from our Father direct from Higher Ground. I love my Father and the long letter He wrote. The cave is closer to Him than to the world.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Dec 24, 2007 7:38:34 GMT -6
It used to bother me that I am single. Once I was married, but that was long ago in another life. Didn’t work out and the reason why is not so important anymore. I thought for years God must have something against me and so sent no one else my way. I looked for someone but there just wasn’t anyone. After a while, I just gave up.
Time passed, and it seems quickly now, looking back. I worked and raised two children. Life was full of so many things that had to do with work, and family, and other things. One day would end with me falling into bed exhausted and the morning would dawn and we would start all over again. Days turned into weeks, and months, and finally years, and decades. The children, one by one, married and left home. One by one my parents died and one by one I buried them. One day kept turning into another. Time passed…
I hadn’t thought about being single for a long time. Then studying for a Sunday School lesson I discovered something. Being married or being single is a blessing from God. All that time I was blessed and didn’t know it. Had I been married I wouldn’t have gotten to do all the things I have done, or go the places I have been, or met the people I have met.
You see I went of sort of a journey like Solomon did. I didn’t have quite the budget that he had, and certainly not near the wisdom, but I managed to get into just about as much trouble. I discovered a lot about the world and what’s in it. I did a lot of things and went where ever I pleased whenever I pleased for the most part. Went way far afield.
But the Lord has a way of reining in even stubborn old dark hearted saints like me. Finally, the day came when I could go no further, was bone tired, filthy dirty, and just wanted to go home. Just like the story, my Father had been watching for me and ran out to meet me long before I got to the turnoff to home. He knew I would be back.. I had learned the same lesson as King Solomon. Life without the Lord God in it is worth nothing. So home I came and home I’ll stay.
Now here is the part that amazes me still. Though my Father had been waiting all the while I was out on the world, everywhere I went, and everything I did, both good and bad…Jesus was always there. Sometimes at some of the most inoppertune moments He would remind me He was there. Always and forever there.
I am older now and maybe just a tad bit wiser and just went all around the barn to say, thank you Lord for bringing me home to my Father’s house and family again.
And thank you for the blessing of being single and for the solitude and quiet of it.
From the cave on Higher Ground, Amen.
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Post by Keith on Dec 24, 2007 9:15:13 GMT -6
No, I don't mind at all...
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Post by Steve on Dec 25, 2007 8:28:00 GMT -6
Wow, the cave. I haven't been here since I was on...well...another board. Quite an echo in here....
Hello!...Hello...Hello...Hello...Hello...
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Dec 27, 2007 20:55:36 GMT -6
Come anytime Steve...always a light on and coffee brewing. MountainBoy, remember him? posted a picture of a cave over ta the ole home place, that looked just like I had pictured Higher Ground in my imagination. It was beautiful and I still remember it.
So many brothers and sisters, we have all met over the years. About the time I begin to wonder if there are any left in the world, one or two show up. Lord still has some people in this city, and 7000 and true who have not bowed to baal or kissed him on the lips.
Went out on a walk with my dogs this evening. Love walking at night. Cool outside so bundled up to go for our walk. Every time I look up at the stars in the sky I think of Abraham without fail. He was an old man, nearly 100 and had no children. Sarah, his wife, was almost 100 also. God told Abraham that he would have off-spring as many as the stars in the sky. True to His word God sent to Abraham and Sara, Issac.
We are some of those off-spring...the spiritual seed of Abraham. I have even met some of his biological off-spring who are also spiritual off-spring. Messanic Jews and that has been a blessing...to know them.
Rae and Larry are their names and they are members of my church. They are also the children of Italian immigrants. Imagine that...they moved to Virginia and found little Alton Baptist Church just like I did only I came less a distance to find it. That is another story all by itself...how I came to be a member of Alton Baptist.
When you have dinner at Larry and Rae's house you don't always know what you are eating but it is always Italian and always great eating! They will tell us when we ask, but I still don't know because it is in Italian.
They know all the traditions and feast and have educated us to them all. They have explained so much to us about how different things forshadow Jesus. Always makes us sad. The Jews Messiah has come already and they missed Him.
But if they had not rejected Jesus the door would not have been opened for the Gentiles to come thru...and that brings us back to Abraham the all those glorious stars...all of us.
Praise the Lord! Pass the ammo!
From a Cave on Higher Ground Amen.
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Post by Caretaker on Dec 27, 2007 22:00:41 GMT -6
God bless you Sis;
What a marvelous haven of reflection and prayer, surrounded by the gems of written thought, and enveloped in His Grace.
Sweetly Resting Mary James, 1875
In the rifted Rock I’m resting; Safely sheltered, I abide. There no foes nor storms molest me, While within the cleft I hide.
Refrain
Now I’m resting, sweetly resting, In the cleft once made for me. Jesus, blessèd Rock of Ages, I will hide myself in Thee.
Long pursued by sin and Satan, Weary, sad, I longed for rest. Then I found this heav’nly shelter, Opened in my Savior’s breast.
Refrain
Peace which passeth understanding, Joy the world can never give, Now in Jesus I am finding; In His smiles of love I live.
Refrain
In the rifted Rock I’ll hide me Till the storms of life are past; All secure in this blest refuge, Heeding not the fiercest blast.
Refrain
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Dec 31, 2007 9:46:58 GMT -6
Thanks Caretaker for coming to visit and for leaving that wonderful Hymn. Gonna frame it and hang it from the wall next to "Higher Ground."
Visits remind me of a little tune from Girl Scout days.
"Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold."
Was taking down Christmas decorations tonight. When I am on call I like to do busy work so I don’t think about it too much, so was taking down Christmas decoration. Rain is falling for a change. Haven’t had much lately and the sound of it hitting the tin roof is pure music.
While taking down ornaments from the tree I got to remembering the past and the people in my life now gone, either because they have moved on, or because they have gone on to one place or the other. The ornaments are from 4 generations of Christmas trees so there are lots of good and some bad memories. Traveling down those roads so often will make us sad and at 61, I was feeling kind of old. Then I started to think about Caleb, faithful Caleb. He started an incredible journey the night the Hebrews left Egypt. It covered a wilderness and spanned a generation. He and Joshua saw some incredible things, and knew some incredible people, buried a whole generation in the wilderness. No matter what happened, regardless of what anyone else was doing, they always followed the Lord...
and when it was all said and done they were the only two people who started out on the journey and finished that journey. But it wasn’t over yet. Somewhere along the way God had made Caleb a promise and when Caleb got to Canaan at the ripe old age of 84, he asked the Lord to keep that promise. The only other person alive who would have remembered was Joshua who, about that time, had his hands full. He took Moses’ place and led the Hebrews across the Jordan into the Promised Land. Some pretty hard fought battles ensued, but like the Lord had said so many years before, He meant the land for the Hebrews.
Finally, at the age of 84 Caleb stood in front of the mountain God had promised to him and asked God to keep that promise. Because God had told Caleb he could have it Caleb knew, even at his age, he could take it and proceeded to do exactly that…giants and all.
One of my favorite Chapters in the Bible is Joshua 1. Some say it was meant just for the Jews but don’t you believe it. Every word written in the Bible was meant for us all to read, and to love, and to learn from…every word.
Basically, one of the things that Chapter tells us is exactly what Caleb knew all along. God has made certain promises to us and He will keep them. But like Caleb also knew there are some things we have to do. God picks up where we leave off and does the things we can’t do. It is a very workable situation I think. Lord leads I follow. He has promised me everlasting life with the Lord Jesus in Heaven some day, but first I got this mountain God has promised, so at the ripe age on 61, a mere kid compared to Caleb…I will go take a mountain…or two.
Giants and all…
Now the Christmas decorations are put away for another year, and the Lord willing, I will be putting them all back up again about 12 months from now…or not, as the Lord allows.
From a cave on Higher Ground, Amen.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Dec 31, 2007 10:45:28 GMT -6
Hee hee...had a flashback memory Steve. You always liked to come to the Cave and shout to hear the echo...
Some good memories of old friends...and we are still traveling along together today. New friends have joined us...pilgrims going to the promised land.
"There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it...God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof...For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven...And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." From Job 28
Job was a gentile...don't know why it went that way. Had planned to go another. Opened my fingers to type and that is what came out.
This is what I planned to type...
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
"In my Father's House"
Like Caleb in his day, we haven't seen it, but we know it is there.
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Post by Caretaker on Dec 31, 2007 17:06:54 GMT -6
God bless you Sis;
Your cave is such a comfort, a refuge of warmth and quiet contemplation.
We have been through three home-goings of the elder generation in the last three weeks. I made the comment to my brother-in-law that we are now our parents. We are years older than they were when Jan and I were first married and began raising our own children. We are now the elders with the gray in our beards and the burdens of leadership upon the shoulders. We see our children becoming ourselves in their 30's, and stepping in to continue the family legacy's.
My computer sits on a small desk surrounded on three sides by six foot shelves of books and reference materials. It is a zone of clutter, but also of the path I have walked. On the top shelves are old photo albums, Bibles, ledgers, schoolbooks dating back to the 1800's. In one of the ledgers is a receipt for $12.00 for the rental of a horse-drawn hearse, from a local livery stable. This was for my Grandmother's brother, Winifred who died of influenza. This is the faces and lives of those who have gone before.
As Joshua, Caleb, and the younger Children of Israel carried the Law, and the legacy of faith into the Land of Promise, we carry the legacy into the New Year of promise.
I deeply appreciate your sharing your cave, and reflections from the heart, with each of us. May this New Year bring each of us a deeper walk of faith, and into ever closer fellowship with one another, according to the Master's perfect will and eternal love for His precious children.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Dec 31, 2007 19:39:08 GMT -6
So glad you come to visit Caretaker and I have enjoyed the rocking chairs on your porch and the stories...I am afraid I am about to rock ruts in your porch. Some of the stories are real rockers.
It is a time of the year that we look back but several things have come together that have caused me to look forward this year, not really looking back so much as forward. Every Christmas Eve morning, because I was born on Christmas Eve, I make the journey down to the cemetary where my parents and grandparents are burried and have my first cup of coffee with them. Least that is how I think of it. They were there on my first Christmans Eve and every one after that till they went home, so I go there.
While I was sitting there I looked around and so many of my parents friends are also now buried in the little cemetary. I though, "I know almost as many people buried here as I do people still living." Then I read Keith's piece on leaving messages for people after the Rapture so they will know the truth about where we have gone and with Who.
Those two things converged and out came some thoughts. My parents and grandparents aren't in that cemetary. They are in Heaven now. The instant we hear the shout we will probably already be on our way to meet Jesus in the clouds and I will see all of them again. I know this because the Bible tells me so and I take it on faith that it is so because I believe the Lord and every word He said.
This life is all I have known so sometimes it is hard to imagine going somewhere else. I know I will die and leave here or if the Shout comes, will just leave here...but still it is hard to imagine what it will be like. I was feeling some regret at the thought of leaving and paused to try to figure out why. It is because of all those who don't believe, among them so many of our family and friends.
So, I look forward and not back this year. I am praying for a blessed New Year for us all. For renewed efforts to tell our families and friends about Jesus, and when the roll is called up yonder we'll all be there.
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Post by Caretaker on Dec 31, 2007 20:24:05 GMT -6
God bless you Sis;
A precious way to honor those who have brought you life, to share a cup of coffee in their memory. Memory is the treasure-chest of the soul, wherein we place those special gems of moments, to be polished into brilliance by the sands of time. We can take-out those gems in the future and they fill our hearts with love's light.
This year we bought some little 2' artificial Christmas trees, and decorated with tiny garlands, little glass balls, and tinsel. We placed one at Jan's Mom's grave, my Dad's grave, and both of my grandparent's graves. We will pick them up on the 2nd of January. It added a bit of color at the grave-sites and was just a way to remember those who have gone home.
I tried to figure how to carry all four, and then it struck me, and I slipped each little tree into a five-gallon bucket. None of the decorations was dislodged, and they rode fine in the back seat. I staked them down with a cut-off steel post driven into the ground and an electrical wire slip-tie to lasso them in place.
It will be a tradition which we can maybe pass-on to our children. There are many graves decorated each Christmas.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Dec 31, 2007 20:51:24 GMT -6
Happy New Year my new old friend and brother. Guess we are the only two old folks here tonight. Rest are out somewhere or like my sister, who lives in Northern Va. rented a movie, and popped corn, and are in for the night.
What a beautiful tradition to pass on to your children and grandchildren. I make wreaths from greens that come from my home, Danview. My parents never saw Danview. I moved out of town and here about 10 years ago. My Dad's younger brother, John always enjoyed riding out to my house to sit on the front porch. He was in his 70's by then and I kept a white rocking chair on the porch just for him. He was the only brother my Dad had and my Mom was an only child. My Aunt and Dad both died unexpectly in the same year. My Mom died 3 years later, also unexpected. That just left my Uncle John so it was always a treat when he came to visit.
I have well water so he always asked for a glass of cold water and went out to sit on the proch. He died a couple of years ago and one evening after he died I was sitting out on the proch. A neighbor from down the road stopped by on his way from feeding his cows to chat. My next door neighbor stopped by to ask if I had seen his dog. Then the neighbors down the road stopped on their evening walk to sit and have a glass of lemonade.
After they had all gone and the sun was setting I realized why my Uncle John liked to come to Danview and sit on the porch in that big white rocking chair. It reminded him of days gone by in the little town we both had grown up in. The rocking chair is still on the porch and in the spring and summer I go sit and visit with the neighbors as they go by to and from...
I thank the Lord very often for leading me to Danview. I am now 61 and Danview is 176 years old. Sheltered and been home to many and is, at least for the time being, my home.
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Post by Caretaker on Jan 3, 2008 16:48:53 GMT -6
God bless you Sis; A truly marvelous home in which to sojourn. Cold well water truly quenches the thirst. It was the quiet rest on the porch, and the family time which was so special for your Uncle John, and quenched a different thirst. It is so precious to have a home in such a place, and to be a part of a national treasure, "the small hometown". Brother Keith mentioned Mayberry in the 60's thread, and I can sure relate to that. Dusty barefoot boys with fishin poles over their shoulder, little girls giving their dolls a swing under the old oak tree, hound dogs sleeping under the front porch, grandma snapping beans in the old porch swing. I was remembering sitting on the edge of the front step with grandpa, who just said, "Wet yer whistle boy", and handed me a cold quarter-slice of fresh water-melon, spitting seeds and rubbing bare-feet in the grass. Our little town close by, (Council Grove about 15 miles north), is about 2300, and dates back to 1825 as a jumping-off point on the Santa Fe Trail. The Hayes House restaurant has been continuously operated since 1857. Its small town with shaded trees and quiet lanes. It emphasizes its history, with historic tours, but is quiet and peaceful. The Saddlerock Cafe has breakfast specials for $3-4, with bisquits and gravy, and Tom's Bar and Grill has a variety of Burgers with Fries, onion rings, etc. The burgers are about 8" in diameter and barely fit in the baskets for about $4. This is where all the cowboys eat, right off the ranch many with their spurs still on. www.city-data.com/city/Council-Grove-Kansas.htmlI was visiting with one of our cabin owners the other day. He said he was in Tom's for lunch, and one of the cowboys asked if that "John Wayne" feller was still down there running the lake. Mark said yep, I was still there. It kind of got a chuckle.
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jan 3, 2008 17:14:57 GMT -6
Oh Caretaker! What a wonderful place to grow up. Thanks for the pictures... Maybe one of these days I will come out for one of those hamburgers. Made my mouth water. Biscuits and gravy sound mighty good too. I agree with Brother Keith. I want Mayberry back. Wanted to share my hometown website with you too. The Courthouse pictured at the top is where I work. My house is way out in the country on the Dan River. www.oldhalifax.com/If you go to Halifax Talk on the menu on the left, you can see our little hometown MB. The Duck here and the Duck there is the same ole fowl Duck, typin' the Gospel message for all I am worth which "ain't" much at times... BTW Brother Keith, we have hit and passed 10,000 hits! Amen!!! Yeah!
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jan 3, 2008 17:21:04 GMT -6
The little village of Halifax is where I grew up...
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Post by Caretaker on Jan 3, 2008 23:21:08 GMT -6
God bless you Sis; WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Southern mansions, family lineage to the Revolutionary War, to walk the footpaths of history. Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! To actually work in a courthouse dating from 1838, is a magnificent honor and such a heritage. I truly savored the warm breezes, the sweet fragrance of magnolia blossoms, the twittering of birds from the century old trees which shelter the paths of the walking tour. Up on my heirloom shelf I have a sterling silver award which was given to my grandmothers uncle, as one of the stonemasons on the Chase County Courthouse. It was built in 1873 out of native limestone. Here are some pictures: www.skyways.org/towns/CottonwoodFalls/photos/index.html
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Murph
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Post by Murph on Jan 4, 2008 7:06:50 GMT -6
Wonderful old Courthouse and it reminds me of some of the buildings in Williamsburg, Va. It is great fun sharing pictures of our hometowns and stories of our families.
That is one of the problems with our mobile society today. It has no roots. There is a great disconnect from the past.
Woke up today thinking about my son Reece. My eldest child is 41 today. I can still see him playing with his tonka trucks in the sandpile. I can see the big eyed excitment and wonderment when he ran out on the beach when he was a child. I can see he and his Grandfather getting ready to go hunting or working together out in the yard.
Today he drives 18 wheelers cross country and when he is not doing that he operates those big cranes lifting whole houses into place or apartments or office buildings. His favorite place, like his mother's, is the ocean and his eyes still sparkle and dance when he walks out onto the beach. He still loves to hunt and goes into the woods for hours on end but without his beloved Big Daddy now. My Dad has gone home.
I love my son but, I know you know that Lord, because I know that you loved your Son and gave Him to us and for us...I pray with all my heart, my mother's heart, the same prayer as I always pray, that my son will come to know that and to know you and love you even more than I do.
That is my birthday prayer for my son Reece.
I ask it in Your Son's Name, Amen.
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