Chapter 1 - The Cross Of The Yoke

God reigns over His universe, yet reveals Himself to humankind on a personal basis. His singular life pulsates through His total creation, yet He chose personally to manifest Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ, born in a body of human flesh. God was born a person for all people, exposing His identity to each of us as individuals.

An Inner Vision

I would like to share with you a personal vision given to me in 1977. Inspiration from that vision has since nurtured consistent growth and deeper spiritual understanding of faith and prayer.

In the fall of that year, I had been told that I had but a few months to live because of cancer in my body. I elected to deal with my situation through nutritional methods. I soon lost weight and became gray in color. Had I allowed it, negative thought could have destroyed my hopes and dreams of continuing to serve God and humanity.

I was awakened very early one morning with a strange, yet refreshing picture etched clearly in my inner mind's eye. Although at 2:30 a.m. my body was not yet fully awake, I saw through my inner awareness a cross that I had never seen before, different and challenging. And, so real!

I could hear many messages of Scripture; positive and comforting. For several minutes I lay pondering all of that, listening from within for more information or explanation. The shape of the cross was new and revolutionary to me. Moonlight flooded our bedroom. The quest for meaning from all of it was electrifying.

Fresh, unprecedented realization continued to fill my thoughts as I quietly listened. Slipping from bed to avoid waking my wife, I made my way to the study. There I frantically secured my startling new awareness on paper.

The living Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, continued to speak to me: "Take My yoke upon you, Kay, and learn of Me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest in your soul. Relax. Your body is being purified and regenerated; all is well."

I knew that it was not my faith or understanding that was causing this breakthrough of awareness and insight.

The cross I saw in the vision was unlike any I had ever seen before. The shape resembled a capital "T." Several long holes penetrated both the vertical and horizontal sections. I could see clearly through the large openings. I saw faces of persons I recognized, and faces of persons unknown with various skin colors.

Scriptural truth was becoming even more revealing to me. "Take My Yoke upon you, learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul." (Matthew 11:29) "I am the vine, you are the branch." (John 15) "Kay, you and I are one life!"

"Christ in you, the hope of Glory!" (Colossians 1:27) "For He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will, according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him ... things in heaven, and things on earth." (Ephesians 1:9-10)

Each of the following thoughts that came to me, when fully contemplated, provided new food for my inner being.