The Sun of Righteousness....

[OneAccord]

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

I woke up this morning with this verse on my mind. I believe the church is at a time of healing. I know... we look at all the division and we wonder if there is a Healer that can heal the wounds that have been inflicted on God's people. Well, I believe there is.... I believe the Sun of Righteousness is arising in peoples hearts to affect healing among His people. A new day is dawning, a day of healing of the wounds that have driven God's people apart. The 1st verse of Mal. 4 speaks of the day coming that will burn like fire. Elsewhere in the Book, we read that the Lords messenger will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and will purge the church as gold and silver. I don't know about you.... but I'm going for the gold. Malachi wrote (4:1) that the proud, the wicked will be burned to stubble. Well, I place my self on the altar and say, God, burn me. Burn my stubborn pride away that I might relect Your image. Don't let a root or branch of wickedness grow in my heart".

Yes, I believe there is healing for the Body of Christ. We may have to grow smaller, like a young calf... we may have to start over again at an altar of repentance.

Two weeks ago, out of the blue, I recieved a message from a family that, well, was like a family to me. I lived with them in my teenage years. But, as sometimes happens, a rift developed between us and we went our separate ways. Last Saturday nite I met for dinner with 3 of the sisters (and their husbands) that, well, were MY sisters. I had dinner with a family that WAS my family over 20 years ago. Later today, I'm meeting with some of them again... but this time their Dad....MY Dad... will be among them.

It is a time of healing. We are going to "tread down" (vs. 3) and "burn to ashes" the years that we have been divided. Verse 3 says this is the Lord's doing, and I believe what is happening today is the Lord's doing. Its a new day, a day of healing.

Im thinking now of a movie that I never saw. I think its called "Pay it Forward" or something like that. Seems like the premise was to do some random act of kindness and "pay it forward" to someone else. Maybe its time for all of us to think about extending an olive branch to someone we have a rift with. Maybe its time to allow the Lord to heal us of our hurts and wounds.

I know this thread won't mean anything to some, but if you just knew what this means for me, you'd understand. This is BIG. This is the Lord's doing, because, quite honestly, if God wasn't in it, this wouldn't be happening. Well, time to start my 150 mile round trip to close the distance between Brother John W. McCann and myself..

[Sam]

Thank you for that post.
It's not good to see divisions, splits, etc in families, in churches, and in the church as the Body of Christ.

One of the prayers I pray on a regular basis is the prayer of St. Francis.
The version I pray goes like this:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light
where there is division, unity,
and where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

[OneAccord]

Originally Posted by Sam

Thank you for that post.
It's not good to see divisions, splits, etc in families, in churches, and in the church as the Body of Christ.

One of the prayers I pray on a regular basis is the prayer of St. Francis.
The version I pray goes like this:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light
where there is division, unity,
and where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Thank you for posting that, Bro. Sam. And I believe God is answering your prayer. You've been an "instrument of peace" here for a long time, and its a priviledge knowing you. (Even though we've never met)

[Hoovie]

Wow - thanks for sharing OA!

[BeenThinkin]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

I woke up this morning with this verse on my mind. I believe the church is at a time of healing. I know... we look at all the division and we wonder if there is a Healer that can heal the wounds that have been inflicted on God's people. Well, I believe there is.... I believe the Sun of Righteousness is arising in peoples hearts to affect healing among His people. A new day is dawning, a day of healing of the wounds that have driven God's people apart. The 1st verse of Mal. 4 speaks of the day coming that will burn like fire. Elsewhere in the Book, we read that the Lords messenger will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and will purge the church as gold and silver. I don't know about you.... but I'm going for the gold. Malachi wrote (4:1) that the proud, the wicked will be burned to stubble. Well, I place my self on the altar and say, God, burn me. Burn my stubborn pride away that I might relect Your image. Don't let a root or branch of wickedness grow in my heart".

Yes, I believe there is healing for the Body of Christ. We may have to grow smaller, like a young calf... we may have to start over again at an altar of repentance.

Two weeks ago, out of the blue, I recieved a message from a family that, well, was like a family to me. I lived with them in my teenage years. But, as sometimes happens, a rift developed between us and we went our separate ways. Last Saturday nite I met for dinner with 3 of the sisters (and their husbands) that, well, were MY sisters. I had dinner with a family that WAS my family over 20 years ago. Later today, I'm meeting with some of them again... but this time their Dad....MY Dad... will be among them.

It is a time of healing. We are going to "tread down" (vs. 3) and "burn to ashes" the years that we have been divided. Verse 3 says this is the Lord's doing, and I believe what is happening today is the Lord's doing. Its a new day, a day of healing.

Im thinking now of a movie that I never saw. I think its called "Pay it Forward" or something like that. Seems like the premise was to do some random act of kindness and "pay it forward" to someone else. Maybe its time for all of us to think about extending an olive branch to someone we have a rift with. Maybe its time to allow the Lord to heal us of our hurts and wounds.

I know this thread won't mean anything to some, but if you just knew what this means for me, you'd understand. This is BIG. This is the Lord's doing, because, quite honestly, if God wasn't in it, this wouldn't be happening. Well, time to start my 150 mile round trip to close the distance between Brother John W. McCann and myself..

OneAccord..... wow, you've got the right name it seems! Some way I'm not surprised at your post here. I think it speaks of who you "really are!" God bless you for your openness. We all need some. And you know I think it might work for all of the AFFers and how we respond and feel towards each other. Be safe on your journey and may God's peace overwhelm you and your family.

Been Thinkin

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Mal 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

I woke up this morning with this verse on my mind. I believe the church is at a time of healing. I know... we look at all the division and we wonder if there is a Healer that can heal the wounds that have been inflicted on God's people. Well, I believe there is.... I believe the Sun of Righteousness is arising in peoples hearts to affect healing among His people. A new day is dawning, a day of healing of the wounds that have driven God's people apart. The 1st verse of Mal. 4 speaks of the day coming that will burn like fire. Elsewhere in the Book, we read that the Lords messenger will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and will purge the church as gold and silver. I don't know about you.... but I'm going for the gold. Malachi wrote (4:1) that the proud, the wicked will be burned to stubble. Well, I place my self on the altar and say, God, burn me. Burn my stubborn pride away that I might relect Your image. Don't let a root or branch of wickedness grow in my heart".

Yes, I believe there is healing for the Body of Christ. We may have to grow smaller, like a young calf... we may have to start over again at an altar of repentance.

Two weeks ago, out of the blue, I recieved a message from a family that, well, was like a family to me. I lived with them in my teenage years. But, as sometimes happens, a rift developed between us and we went our separate ways. Last Saturday nite I met for dinner with 3 of the sisters (and their husbands) that, well, were MY sisters. I had dinner with a family that WAS my family over 20 years ago. Later today, I'm meeting with some of them again... but this time their Dad....MY Dad... will be among them.

It is a time of healing. We are going to "tread down" (vs. 3) and "burn to ashes" the years that we have been divided. Verse 3 says this is the Lord's doing, and I believe what is happening today is the Lord's doing. Its a new day, a day of healing.

Im thinking now of a movie that I never saw. I think its called "Pay it Forward" or something like that. Seems like the premise was to do some random act of kindness and "pay it forward" to someone else. Maybe its time for all of us to think about extending an olive branch to someone we have a rift with. Maybe its time to allow the Lord to heal us of our hurts and wounds.

I know this thread won't mean anything to some, but if you just knew what this means for me, you'd understand. This is BIG. This is the Lord's doing, because, quite honestly, if God wasn't in it, this wouldn't be happening. Well, time to start my 150 mile round trip to close the distance between Brother John W. McCann and myself..

Bro. OneAccord,
All I can say is this is Beautiful! God bless you on your journey, in Jesus Name!

Blessings,

Falla39

[OneAccord]

Well, I'm back home and the meeting exceeded all expectations and dreams. I've longed for this for a number of years. We went out to dinner and had a great time of renewed fellowship. It was so starnge to be back in a home and in a church that I thought I'd never enter before. Bro. McCann is almost blind now (will be 80 in September) and when someone told him I was here, he had them lead him to me. When he walked up, we just grabbed one another and hugged and cried. After a minute, he needed to return to the pulpit, so I asked for the priviledge of leading him. I cried every step of the way. My heart was overflowing, especially when Julia Ann (Bro, Mccanns deaf daughter came runninbg to me after service saying, "Brotha, Brotha." I'll never forget today, And thank you AFFers for bearing me

[houston]

Where is RKS when you need him?

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

Well, I'm back home and the meeting exceeded all expectations and dreams. I've longed for this for a number of years. We went out to dinner and had a great time of renewed fellowship. It was so starnge to be back in a home and in a church that I thought I'd never enter before. Bro. McCann is almost blind now (will be 80 in September) and when someone told him I was here, he had them lead him to me. When he walked up, we just grabbed one another and hugged and cried. After a minute, he needed to return to the pulpit, so I asked for the priviledge of leading him. I cried every step of the way. My heart was overflowing, especially when Julia Ann (Bro, Mccanns deaf daughter came runninbg to me after service saying, "Brotha, Brotha." I'll never forget today, And thank you AFFers for bearing me

Bro. OneAccord,
I am reminded of a passage in Psalma133:1-3. KJV


Psalm 133
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Blessings,

Falla39