Part I
"My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine; For Thee all the follies of sin I resign; My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou; If ever I loved Thee, My Jesus 'tis now. I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me, And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree; I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow; If ever I loved Thee, My Jesus 'tis now."
Reprinted July 11, 1983. The Bright Side, First Baptist - Guilford Columbia, MD.
Oh, Just to See His Precious Face
Written by Lainie Dowell
"I just want to see Jesus's face." How many times have you heard somebody say those words? Perhaps you even remember saying them yourself. But have you stopped to think about what you would do, if the opportunity presented itself? Would you be frightened? Would you be shocked? Would you be elated? And, after having seen Jesus's face, how would you feel? Disbelieving? Crazy? Embarrassed? Ashamed to tell anyone that you had, indeed, seen Jesus's face ~~ at least as He revealed Himself to you? God is good. And in His wisdom, He has given me the opportunity to tell Guilford that Jesus is real. He watches and knows our hearts. How do I know? On June 28, 1983, at 8:45 p.m., I was driving my seven-year-old daughter, Shannon, to the clinic. We were silent. My eyes were fixed on the road when, suddenly, my gaze shifted upward to the sky. At first, what I was seeing frightened me. Next, I was shocked! Then a feeling of elation and peaceful calm came over me, and the message went through my mind that I did not have any worries. That nothing could hurt me.
What did I see?
LOOK AT THAT FACE!!!
"Look at that face! Look at that face!"
The words just screamed hysterically from my mouth as I thought how much that face looked like pictures I have seen of Jesus. I could not believe what I was seeing, because I have known for years that no man has seen Jesus's face. We all know that it is just a picture that some man has conjured up from his own imagination. But there He was! Just sitting so high up in the sky looking not at me nor seeming to look at anything. It was as if someone had a movie projector and pointed it upwards with the sky as the screen. I grabbed my steering wheel and my head went down. I wanted to cry but the tears wouldn't come. I looked at Shannon and she had put her fingers in her ears and looked frightened. She was turned in my direction looking at me instead of where I was pointing up in the sky, because I had suddenly yelled out. For some reason, I did not stop the car. I was sure that when we turned the corner, I would still be able to show Shannon what I had seen. But when we turned the corner and I pointed to the place, the image had started to break up.
I did not even doubt, because I knew that what I had seen was real. Ever since that day, my life has changed. More positive things have occurred than I can tell in this forum. Now, how is it possible for you, as members of Guilford, to share in my very personal experience with God? Think back. Do you remember the June 15, 1983, Communion Sunday church bulletin? Do you still have your copy? Take a look at it and tell me what you see? Is this just an image that man conjured up? Who is the artist that captured this peaceful expression of Jesus? And, now, please tell me how this very same image could appear in the sky two weeks later? Yes, this is the image I saw that day.
Now, I ask you ~~ suppose you had seen this vision? Would you keep it to yourself out of fear that someone might think you are crazy or just imagining things? I thank God that I saw that precious face. And I have to tell everyone I meet. Members and friends of First Baptist Church of Guilford, it is out of love for you that I ask you to consider what you would really do if, and when, you see Jesus's precious face.
PART II
"I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath. And say when the death dew lies cold on my brows, If ever I loved Thee, My jesus, 'tis now. In mansions of glory and endless delight, I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright; I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow; If ever I loved Thee, My Jesus, 'tis now." *
*Song: "My Jesus I Love Thee," Written by A.J. Gordon ©
Reprinted by Lainie Dowell, July 11, 1983 The Bright Side, First Baptist-Guilford, Columbia, Md.
Update: Many did not believe me. Many mocked, scoffed, sneered. taunted, rejected my testimony and do until this day of July 9, 2011. "Father, forgive them for they [do know] what they do."
MEET REV. LED DOWELL
http://www.voiceink.blogspot.com/2008/08/meet-rev-lainie-dowell.html
REV. LED DOWELL
Publications: http://www.blurb.com/user/store/clergywomen
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