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You enter a small, but beautiful chapel. Rows of pews line the middle, at the head of the church is a raised dias on which sits a pulpit with an intricately carved cross on the front. Right before that sits a low table with a large Bible resting open on it. You look down and see this passage highlighted:
As you finish reading the Book, you notice that people are slowly filing into the chapel. Among the people is Lady Poca herself. She sits in the very first pew, a smaller version of the book from the front sitting in her lap. Perhaps it's time you took a seat to see what draws the people to this little chapel.
An elderly man dressed in a white robe walks to the front of the small room and smiles at all gathered. He begins with a short prayer, requesting that God watch over the sermon of the day. Then he opens a book and recites a poem from it:
One night a man had a dream.
He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand;
One belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
He looked back at the footprints in the sand.
He noticed that many times along the path of his life,
there was only one set of footprints.
He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
And saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times
in my life there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed you most,
you would leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one
set of footprints in the sand,
it was then that I carried you."
The minister looks at everyone for a time, then speaks again. "There comes a time in everyone's life when we feel like we are all alone. We feel like there is no one who understands, and no one who cares. However, there is Someone who cares a great deal. Someone who loved us so much that He laid down His life for us. He cared so much that he suffered through beatings, ridicule, and a painful death, just to save us. Do you think that someone who went through all of that would do so, just to abandon us? Never. He is with us always. We should not despair, for no matter what the circumstances, no matter what we have done, or had done to us, God will be with us."
As you sit listening to this sermon, you are awed by the feeling of another Presence in the room. It's not a seen Presence, but it is there nonetheless. It's almost as if it's emanating from the hearts of the people gathered here, and it's obvious in the voice of the speaker. Could it be this God he is talking about? The Christian God that so many in Gaultheria obviously believe in?
The service ends, and people begin filing out. You sit, rooted to your seat with unanswered questions. Then you stand and go forward, kneeling before the large Book. You look longingly at its pages, wondering if it might hold the answers to the questions you are asking. The kind old gentleman comes and kneels beside you, a smaller version of the Book in his hand.
"My child, if you are looking for answers, this is the book to look to. You may have it. I've marked several pages which may be of interest to you in your search. I know you'll find the answers to your questions in here. But if you need help, I'm always available, and I'm certain Lady Poca is as well. She'd love nothing more than to help you."
You open to the first marker and read:
Other marked pages include Luke 22:30 - 24:12 which have written alongside them: Jesus died for all of us, and He rose again to show us that He has power over death.
For more spiritual guidance, you can visit:
World Wide Study Bible
Christian Answers Network
IPoint
Gospelcom
Christian Classics Ethereal Library
GOSHEN Christian Search Engine and Directory
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