ONLY ONE PLACE TO BE
August 18, 2007
by Ernie Knoll
www.4hispeople.com
Last night I did not mention
to Becky that I was feeling discouraged due to some “spears and arrows” that
had come my way and needed encouragement and affirmation from God about my
dreams. All afternoon and even after going to bed I had been silently praying
and sharing with God how I felt. I was pleading that He would somehow give me
affirmation again about my dreams. I know God gave me this dream to show not
just me but all of His people.
In my dream, Becky and I are
in a small church. It has one aisle up the middle. There are a few windows and
the ceiling is not that high. I notice the light fixtures look almost like small chandeliers. The
church has very few empty pews. There are only three men on the platform. I
know two are elders and the one who sits in the middle is the pastor. The
pastor is an elderly man, not very tall but smiles all the time and has a peace
about him. Behind the three men is a mural with Christ when He was kneeling at
the rock in Gethsemane.
One of the elders gets up to
introduce the special music, Brother D and Sister M. I watch as they walk to
the piano. Brother D is in a pure white suit with a white shirt and white necktie.
Sister M is in an old-fashioned long, white dress with long sleeves.
Brother D speaks to the
congregation. He starts by saying that sometimes we all feel like we are
walking on a beach alone. Sometimes we all feel like we are walking a country
path alone. Sometimes we all feel like we are walking a rocky mountain trail
alone. Sister M says that even though we toil in our thoughts and feel
discouraged when we have harsh words thrown at us, even though we have fingers
pointed and accusations rumored about us…. Brother D says that we all have a
path we must walk, a rocky trail to climb. Sister M says we all can listen as
cross words are spoken and harmful gossip is spread. Brother D then says that
there is but only one place we need to be.
Sister M now invites the
congregation to turn in the hymnal that is in the pew in front of them and to
follow along as we all strive to be “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” As Brother D
begins to play the piano and Sister M, the violin, a quiet reverence is felt in
the sanctuary. Many pick up the hymnal and start to follow along as they play.
As they start into the second verse, many quietly fold the hymnal and return it
to the seat back. Then they kneel in prayer while the music plays. Many who
wrestle with that close walk with God are crying while in prayer.
NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE
Nearer,
my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee.
Refrain:
Nearer, my God, to thee,
nearer to thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God to thee. Refrain
There let the way appear, steps unto heav'n;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to thee. Refrain
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
so by my woes to be nearer, my God, to thee. Refrain
Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I'll fly,
still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to thee. Refrain
There in my Father's home, safe and at rest,
there in my Savior's love, perfectly blest;
age after age to be, nearer my God to thee. Refrain
Sometimes we all feel like we
are walking on a beach alone.
Sometimes we all feel like we
are walking a country path alone.
Sometimes we all feel like we
are walking a rocky mountain trail alone.
Even though we toil in our
thoughts and feel discouraged when we have harsh words thrown at us, even
though we have fingers pointed and accusations rumored about us….
We all have a path we must
walk, a rocky trail to climb.
We all can listen as cross
words are spoken and harmful gossip is spread.
There is but only one place
we need to be.
Please turn in the hymnal that is in the pew in front of you and follow along as we all strive to be “Nearer, My God, to Thee.”