I CLOSE MY EYES. . . AND SEE BILLIONS OF STARS —galaxy after galaxy swirling to the edge of the universe and perhaps universe after universe stretching on and on into endless and unfathomable space. A Voice reverberates and echoes through those light years of space and eternity. Like the sound of many waters He cries out: “I AM! I AM! I AM!”

What fool refuses to acknowledge His Voice? What prideful fears will not risk the choice to believe? The great heart of the Almighty cries out His existence to all creation. Yet, we go our way ignoring the Voice. So preoccupied with the idols of our own making that we will not listen. It is His face, His hands, His form in the starry sky, in the brilliant hues of the sunset, in the early morning dawn. He glistens in the dew. His magnificence is reflected in the tranquil mountain lake. We see Him in the snow-capped mountains and in the lush green valleys. He brushes our faces in the wind, the rain, and rays of sun.

“I AM! I AM! I AM!” is written across the blazing sky, and in the desert sand, and upon every hill and in every blossom and every creature that breathes upon the face of the whole earth. He is the indescribable One who dwells in unapproachable light. Yet, He came to us in the form of a servant—becoming like us so we could know and experience His existence with us. He cries out over every tribe and nation, every city, every home and single person: “I AM! I AM! I AM!

I believe! By His power and grace He awakens our spirits to His existence and loving presence to worship Him. As endless as space and eternity, our gratitude will go on and on and on!

PRAYER FOR LOST LAMBS

My Lord and my God, I come to Your throne
Rejoicing to think that You call us Your own.
Yet I grieve o’er the willful, proud heart of man,
So unyielding to You and Your pierced, guiding hand.

If only we knew the deep love and the grace,
That waits—even longs to bless each one’s place
Far beyond every thought or what we could seek,
We never would plant our two stubborn feet,
Or ever would say, “I won’t!” or cry, “No!”
As such naughty children who so foolishly go.

We think it is best if we choose our own way,
So we follow the voices that lead us astray,
And fall into thickets of invulnerable inclusions,
Thinking we’re safe from life’s painful intrusions.

We hide in these places where ol’e Darkness reigns.
We feel safe but we’re bound by sharp, thorny chains,
And exist in these hedges of our willful creation,
Pulling ourselves into dark isolation.
How then can You reach us? The devil has won!
His deceptions have turned us away from God’s Son.

My child, My child, do not now despair,
I’m the God of all hope for each captive there.
What I’ve begun I will finish with time.
My name is Redeemer and the victory is Mine!

The love of the Father is pursuing each hour,
As I seek and I save from deception’s power.
Those who were bought by My blood are secure,
And will be presented as faultless and pure.
For no thickets can seize and no thorns can withstand
The Shepherd who seeks that bleating lost lamb.

(© 9/1999 MarJean S. Peters)

Jesus replies to the Pharisees: “If I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.” (His Story NLT p86,87)