FACE TO FACE

Quote of the day  

“Just like a groom who knows the face of his soon to be bride, God knows the face of His church. Of which He shall soon see face to face.” By Chaplain Kevin J. T. Santucci

Text for the day: And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. Exodus 33:11

Our Devotional

When Carrie E. Breck and Grant C. Tullar wrote the song Face to Face in 1898, “Who would have dreamed it would survive the passing of time to still stand as a testament of the power of God.” The story goes, “During a series of busy evangelistic meetings in 1898, several faithful and hungry workers were gathered in a pastor's home to grab a snack between sessions. Among the crowd was musician Grant Tullar. As an almost empty jar of jelly was being passed around, the pastor and his wife, knowing how much Tullar liked the jelly, and handed it over to him. Their thankful guest grinned and said 'So, this is all for me, is it?' As the words came out of his mouth, Tullar was inspired to go to the piano. The bantering words about the jelly became the beginning of a beautiful song.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Tullar composed a beautiful melody to accompany the words All for me the Savior suffered, all for me He bled and died.. The pastor encouraged Tullar to sing the hymn during that evenings service, but Tullar knew the song was not quite finished. The next day, Tullar received a letter from Carrie Beck. A mother of five small children, Beck would write poetry as she sat rocking one or more of her children. She wrote more than 2,000 poems during her lifetime. Beck was tone deaf, but several of her poems were set to music by various musicians. In her letter to Tullar, Beck asked him to compose a tune for a poem she had recently written.

The meter and sentiment of the poem fit the melody Tullar had written the night before. God had brought together writer and musician; words and music to become a song that was destined for many a hymnbook; and to bring many a blessing.”  The song was entitled Face to face. The first stanza reads, “Face to face with Christ, my Savior, Face to face, what will it be, When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ Who died for me?
Refrain:
Face to face I shall behold Him, Far beyond the starry sky; Face to face in all His glory; I shall see Him by and by!” After the transgression of Israel in making the golden calf, Moses was summon back to the top of Mount Sinai to plead with God in behalf of his people....  The sin that was committed was great and it would take only a loving God full of mercy to fulfill them. As Moses approaches the presence of the Lord, He reads the sincerity and unselfish purpose of the heart of His servant and condescends to commune with this feeble mortal, face to face, as a man speaks with a friend. Moses casts himself and all his burdens fully upon God and freely pours out his soul before Him. The Lord does not reprove His servant, but stoops to listen to his supplications....

The answer comes: “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” But Moses does not feel that he can stop here. He has gained much, but he longs to come still nearer to God, to obtain a stronger assurance of His abiding presence. He has carried the burden of Israel; he has borne an overwhelming weight of responsibility; when the people sinned, he suffered keen remorse, as though he himself were guilty; and now there presses upon his soul a sense of the terrible results should God leave Israel to hardness and impenitence of heart.... Moses presses his petition with such earnestness and fervency that the answer comes: I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.”

Now, indeed, we would expect the prophet to cease pleading; but no, emboldened by his success, he ventures to come still nearer to God, with a holy familiarity which is almost beyond our comprehension. He now makes a request which no human being ever made before: “I beseech thee, show me thy glory.” What a petition to come from finite, mortal man! But is he repulsed? Does God reprove him for presumption? No; we hear the gracious words: “I will make all my goodness pass before thee.” Exodus 33:18-19. Like Moses what intimate communion with God will the redeemed of the earth have one day. The Apostle Paul said, “Now we see but a poor reflection, then we shall see face to face.” 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Carrie E. Breck and Grant C. Tullar was right when they composed the song Face to Face; “Only faintly now I see Him, With the darkened veil between, But a bless'd day is coming, When His glory shall be seen. Refrain: Face to face, oh, blissful moment! Face to face, to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ Who loves me so. This is the privilege of all men to enjoy.

What rejoicing in His presence, When are banished grief and pain; When the crooked ways are straightened, And the dark things shall be plain. Refrain: Face to face, oh, blissful moment! Face to face, to see and know; Face to face with my Redeemer, Jesus Christ Who loves me so. This is the privilege of all men to enjoy now and in a perfect sense when Jesus comes.

If you would like to put forth a comment to our series, send it to TucciGardenMinistry@gmail.com , all comments will be viewed then posted. If you don’t wish your comment to be posted just let us know.

This letter was written by Chaplain Kevin J. T. Santucci

Click on to the song of the day: 

Ø Today is Deep Reflection Day.

Our Prayer for today:

Is that God will give you a face to face relationship with Himself like that of His servant Moses.

Prayer Request

Community / International Prayer

Ø  I am asking for the prayer for my wife Karon today as her loving Brother Dee Evans who was very sick has just passed away today. 

Ø  Remember my daughter Kevina Santucci who is due to have an operation at John Hopkins on Thursday.

Ø   Remember in prayer the family of the late Mr Derek Eugene Russell beloved son of Earl 'Townsey' Russell and the late Alice Russell (Dyer), loving father to Patrick and Alicia Russell, brother to Dale (Melody), Michael, Jacqulyn, Roseanne Russell, Patricia Dill (Shervin), Kristy Trott (Eric) and the late Deborah Bean, grandfather to Rio and Rae Russell of 41 Cedar Hill, Warwick Bermuda. 

Ø  THIS IS AN URGENT REQUEST. Sis. Brenda Watson needs our prayers...like NEVER before... She is in need of a liver transplant. Please pray for her, for a liver, and for the family... MY GREATEST DESIRE is that she trusts GOD and BELIEVE HIM. Please...do NOT contact the family..JUST PRAY, PLEASE!!

World Events:

Ø  Let us Pray for all countries at war and their leaders. 

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Do You Have a Prayer Need?

Submit your prayer requests to: tuccigardenministry@gmail.com

Our prayer network team comes together every day around the world to pray for your needs of healing, comfort, straight, and other needs that come in them.

Remember that the true meaning of ASAP is: "Always Say a Prayer"

A person, who loves the Bible, will also love to pray, and a person who loves to pray will delight themselves in the Bible.

Why not send Garden Ministry your Testimony, remarks, or share your prayer request with our network of intercessors.

Contact us at: tuccigardenministry@gmail.com

Go to our side bar. You may find something for your health, latest Bible studies, good music and many other things.

Today is a great day to praise the LORD for the things He is doing around the world through all types of ministries. Although the work of spreading the gospel in different countries is moving ahead by human hands, it is not advancing as it should. Yet, that which has been accomplished affords reason for gratitude and grounds for encouragement.

Garden ministries propose is to aid in the great work of finishing the work of God in this generation. But we need your help; more and more people are seeking for Garden Ministry to be translated into their language. If you would like to translate this devotional into your language and send it off to your friends in different parts of the world, please do so.

If possible, share with us your response of the people through your sharing of this Devotional.

Garden Ministry is a Devotional by Chaplain Kevin Santucci of Bermuda.

Join us next time for another ray of sunshine from Garden Ministry.