Good Morning!
Something to think about.
Last night I had a dream. I saw bunches of grapes in a vineyard. (I have never been associated with grapes or wine-making) so I woke up wondering what it was all about.
Today in Australia our senses are once again assailed by images of war and conflict and the sacrifices of millions of lives. In our nation we remember it as the 1914-1918 war that ‘birthed our nation’. Anzac Day also remembers the lives of the fallen and the grief experienced by families, small towns and even long ago animals that waited in vain for the young to return home. On this day I too remember with respect, all the suffering and dying and sacrifice of all the folk all round the world. It is and has been the story of life from recorded beginnings. So, what are the grapes about?
Scripturally, some things I knew came into clearer perspective but I will write of them more deeply on my website http/:www.sacredmusings.com The two most powerful scriptural images I researched and prayed about are John 17:30 where Christ on the Cross said, “It is finished!‘ and his shed blood poured down on the cross and over the ground. We are told to remember Him by sharing in Bread, ‘I am the Bread of Life; and wine symbolic of His Blood. Grapes are squashed flattened pulped into ‘nothing’ to make wine. Jesus was pulped, broken, to fulfill a Promise from ages past as a sacrifice. (like the innocent sacrifices of millions of lambs etc). But….It is FINISHED!. No more sacrifices to be close to God are necessary.) He came to live and die and rose again to be with us and IN us until the end of time. (even on battle grounds and all the violence of human warfare…..for ALL those who believe). There are incredible stories of Christian tenacity and unbelievable courage because of their faith in all major wars and conflicts.
Revelation 14:18 ..…Indeed three chapters speak about grapes and wine like blood and then the Grapes of Wrath……..God’s Judgment on the world at the end of time. Once poured out “It is finished”.
Shed blood over everything at Armageddon but all the redeemed in Christ are ‘covered over by His Blood’.
This was not the gentle blog I was intending BUT ………It is powerful in my mind today. There is ONE SAVIOUR, ONE LORD. HIS Kingdom will come.
A pop artist, Hanna McClure has written a song ‘YOU ARE MY ONE THING’. It is a passionate reminder of her life and how she returned from ‘other’ focusses and every time she sings the song, I read, she finds she looks UPWARD…..Beyond the suffering and all the strife and sees, GLORY.
Today, dear ones, Let’s all LOOK UPWARDS…..With gratitude for past sorrows remembered, but ever looking towards the HOPE in Eternity.
‘Come unto ME all you who labour and are heavy laden and I, I will give you rest’Matt11:28 ‘
PASSIONATE CREATIVE CHRISTIAN 
Faye, your phrase “with gratitude for past sorrows remembered,” brought to mind something I read recently, “Let the minister of memory have its way.” Can you elaborate on your insight into gratitude for past sorrows?
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Gratitude for past sorrows. Personally I have lost among my friends and family several folk who were close to me. I am grateful for the memories God gives me of the people – their smiles, their laughter, their contributions to the flow of life and living. Special Days to remember war dead are good and this is honouring……..but in my heart there is a but……..I do not believe that year after year replaying the horrific tragedy of the way they died is beneficial to this or the next generation (unless,…… and this is often in 2018 not done……God and His Grace is honored in their lives as well.).
Loved ones surrendered into the keeping of a merciful and just God should be remembered for their humanity not simply their often youthful and tragic ‘sacrifice’. A dear friend of mine died after a quite lengthy and many times difficult battle with cancer. God reminds me often of her and the beauty and love of her life. I’m so thankful He does not remind me in graphic details the battle of her death. Yes Praise God for His Gift of Memory. May we never be allowed to forget gratitude to the people but also to the God who was with them in past sorrows.
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Thank you, Faye, for going into detail for me.
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