Prayer Bracelets

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:5

If any man loves God, the same is known by him.
1 Corinthians 8:3

I came to these verses tonight adorning myself with them in prayer as bracelets on my left wrist and on the right. Hands raised, they catch the light and ring as Sanctus Bells at the presentation of the Eucharist, "Holy, Holy, Holy".

I am celebrating the life of a teacher, a son, a warrior. I am celebrating honesty and sacrifice and endurance. I am celebrating, before God, a soul I have no firsthand knowledge of. I see him through his mother's eyes and know him only as "K" the hero of many of the stories Marsha publishes and shares on her blog. Marsha who deserves a "V" for valor.

Women don't seem to need a lot of introductions. Two women on an elevator for a few floors emerge knowing all kinds of information about one another. Marsha opens the elevator doors and I get on. Sometimes we go up. Sometimes we go to the basement. I am always the better for the ride.

Marsha's son has some questions. His journey has been hard. He has been to war, health wise, and he has worn his armor a long time. The weight of it is exhausting. Mom isn't sending care packages long distance, she has been riding shotgun on the Hummer as machine gunner and medic. That too is wearying.

"K" has really been suffering (see link below) and, understandably, has voiced concerns that maybe God does not really know or care about his situation. He identifies with that "pelican in the wilderness". A state God understands and Jesus felt firsthand.

Comfort comes in those prayer bracelets. Those lovely, strengthening and revealing verses that describe God's relationship to us when we are beset.

With the bracelet on the right hand, God covers us in His sacred tent. The Greek informs us that His hiding of us, His covering, is what one does with treasure. He protects us and preserves us as having great worth to Him. He hides the treasure (us) in a tent that is in a conspicuous place, if I am reading the footnotes correctly.

He intends for our enemies to know He is hiding us! Hear the Lord calling to our distress, " I have precious treasure here. The dearest in all the world and you cannot get to his (her) heart. See this tent? See whose colors fly above it? Mine!" (I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. John 17:15)

The bracelet on the left hand is the man (woman) who loves God being known by God. God is not telegraphing His love. This is face to face beholding the beloved. Help Notes puts it like this: The Greek, ginṓskō means to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance). To "experientially know" is used for example in Luke 1:34, "And Mary [a virgin] said to the angel, 'How will this be since I do not know ginṓskō = sexual intimacy) a man?'"

We may have questions. We may have more doubts than answers. The word is reassuring, if we love God we will experience intimacy with God, first-hand. God wants this and even if all the answers don't come in this lifetime we can trust the love, trust that His heart towards us is good. Christ won't object to a hand in His side as more tangible proof.

So. Tonight I am not begging or pleading. I am approaching the Lord for Marsha's son the way the Lord had me approach Him for my own son in difficult circumstances, I am celebrating life and courage and relationship. I am freshening up the tapestries in the tent. Spreading fragrant rushes on the floor. Lighting welcoming candles. Sending prayers to rise as incense. Pouring honey into the wine. Smoothing the cushions for "K" and Marsha.

I am agreeing with another son's mother when she plants her faith between her family and despair and makes her boast in the Lord even as I can hear her heart breaking:

"Nevertheless, here is my real hope and my honest conviction. God is bigger than my son's doubts. He is stronger than my sorrow. He is greater than the sum of our fears and disappointments."

Join me. Agree with me for good for our family even if we have never met them. One bright day we shall, when the elevator goes all the way to the penthouse and the doors open to glory and we all cry, "Holy".

-Kat

Crash of tempest, roll of thunder,
lightning flash from pole to pole,
but the storm of love is stronger,
brighter flashes in the soul,
While the peace of Christ the Bridegroom
holds you still and keeps you whole.
From the Breviary

Read Marsha's heartfelt blog here and read a blessing.
http://spotsandwrinkles.blogspot.com/2012/05/honest-doubts.html