Lord's visitation

As I remember the past, I have to admit bedtime reads with mom have consistently been the source of the most memorable and impactful childhood lessons I learned.  Mom loved to read and she had a unique way of fascinating us with her latest newfound faith heroes.  

 

Mom was first to introduce me to the many devout women that continue to inspire me today.  One of which was Vera Kushnir.  

 

Vera authored hundreds of Christian literatures, mainly poems out of her small, humble, Beverly Hills home in California.  Most of which later become songs, and timeless classics amongst the slavic congregations.  

 

Vera often attributed her conversion to a pivotal moment of her life.  Just prior to her family’s departure to the United States, her world turned upside down with the sudden death of both her toddler children.  

 

Vera was devasted.  In her desperation she began to call on God.  And one dark night, in an open field, alone with God, she claims she had her first heartfelt experience.   

 

Only later, Vera came to recognize that her then overwhelming circumstances had forever changed the course of her life.  And it was none other than God himself that allowed these dire circumstances to do such a work in her heart.  

 

The Bible refers to it as the “day of your visitation”.  

 
When enduring sorrow and suffering we are quick to assume our trial has somehow slipped the sovereign eye of God.  Surely, he has no part in this.  And so, fail to recognize “the day of his visitation”.
 

 …you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God. (Luke 19:44 BSB)

 

The prophet Amos explains…

 

What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light.  It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear… (Amos 5:19 BSB)

 

In other words when God is dealing with you or a loved one you have long prayed for, it will seem like things are worsening before they look better.  As the lion and the bear, you may have been praying for a prodigal but now that prodigal is facing the harshest of circumstances.  You had one problem, but now you have two. Only time reveals the result of that circumstance.

 

For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (Heb. 12:11 ASB)

 

The Lord’s visitation is often viewed as being harshly disciplined with the rod. But in truth, it is most like the skillful physician that uses carefully selected instruments, to cure his patient.  
 

 

Supporting text 

My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. (Pr. 3:12 NIV)

 

Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? (Job 2:10 NIV)

 

 

My Favorite Vera Kushnir poem in Russian: 

Ты мне близок, словно берег морю,
Ты мне дорог, словно детям мать,
Ты пришел, чтоб сладким сделать горе,
Ты пришел, чтобы, простив, обнять.


Без Тебя и жизни мне не надо,
Без Тебя я только что дышу...
Ты Один мне в жизни здесь услада,
Будь всегда моим, Тебя прошу.


Там, где небо встретится с землею,
Чтоб принять из рук её меня,
Там впервые встречусь я с Тобою,
И глаза мои узрят Тебя.

А теперь надеждою живою
Я живу, пока в свой час умру...
Ты мне ближе, чем песок прибою,
И дороже, чем вода в жару.