Immanuel's Land
RUTHERFORD

The sands of time are sinking,
The dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I've sighed for,
The fair, sweet morn awakes.
Dark, dark hath been the midnight,
But day-spring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth In Immanuel's land.

O Christ, He is the fountain,
The deep, sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I've tasted
More deep I'll drink above;
There, to an ocean fullness
His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth In Immanuel's land.

With mercy and with judgment
My web of time He wove,
And aye the dews of sorrow
Were lustered with His love.
I'll bless the hand that guided,
I'll bless the heart that planned,
When throned where glory dwelleth In Immanuel's land.

O I am my Beloved's,
And my Beloved's mine!
He brings a poor, vile sinner
Into His house of wine;
I stand upon His merit,
I know no other stand,
Not e'en where glory dwelleth In Immanuel's land.

The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory,
But on my King of grace:
Not at the crown He giveth,
But on His pierced hand:
The Lamb is all the glory Of Immanuel's land.

Lam 3:52 "I was trapped like a bird by enemies who had no cause to hate me.
Lam 3:53 They threw me alive into a pit and closed the opening with a stone.
Lam 3:54 Water began to close over me, and I thought death was near.
Lam 3:55 "From the bottom of the pit, O LORD, I cried out to you,

I often wonder if Hell is just the absence of feeling God's presence. At least that's what lead me to the LORD. In the middle of a divorce my wife said something to me that hit me like a lightning bolt. She said, "I begged you to love me when you had the chance, but now it's too late." I felt "like Hell." I thought maybe that's what hell is. A permanent broken relationship with the one you love. So immediately I thought this divorce was only temporal love that will pass. But what about as C.S. Lewis puts it, "The Great Divorce" occurs. I had to seek reconciliation with God. I found it in Jesus. That was 27 years ago. Now, as my life is shattered again. I'm trying to reconnect with God. I know the theology about Jesus never leaving or forsaking us. But I need to sense His presence, because I honestly don't want to go on with life without that. Not just because of the current painful circumstances. But "Without a vision the people perish," and I'm perishing.

As I walk so long "In the valley of the shadow of death," I am beginning to see that I was weak to begin with. I had a pathetically weak faith and just was cruising through life. I was shallow. Maybe my soul is getting deeper.

I want to get out of this. I went to a counselor who said I should see Jesus in the time of my pain. I didn't see Jesus. All I want is to feel His comfort or sense His presence. I'm in so much pain and terrified I might be abandoned by God. I led a pretty sloppy and careless life. I want to get out and I need a job. Pray for me.