Holy Ground

a thin place where heaven and earth intersect

a place to be in God’s presence

a place of sacrifice to honor God.

Holy Ground: Mount Moriah

where Abraham climbed to sacrifice his son Isaac, but the Lord provided a ram
(Gen. 22)

which David purchased to offer sacrifices for his sins so that

God would stop a plague and save his people (2 Sam. 24)

where Solomon built “the house of the LORD” so that

God would meet his people who came to offer sacrifices for their sins.
(2 Chron. 3)

Holy Ground: Calvary

500 yards to the west, two thousand years after Abraham,

where The Father offered His only son as a sacrifice for the sins of

Abraham, David, Solomon, and all of us

through God’s mercy and grace

through Jesus’ blood, sweat, and death

a final sacrifice as Abraham prophesied

“In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.” (Gen. 22:14)

Holy Ground: Nicodemus’ Tomb

In a nearby hillside, three days later

sealed with a stone, guarded by soldiers

where the women, then the disciples, saw that His body was gone

and Jesus asked Mary Magdelene, “Why do you weep?”

and she proclaimed, “I have seen the Lord!”

Holy Ground: Pentecost

an upper room, Jesus’ followers hiding, frightened, alone

where wind and living flame came down from heaven

Paraclete, Advocate, helper, Holy Spirit (Luke 24, Acts 2)

God tabernacled in man

so that, in His power, they could say and do things

they had never imagined were possible. (Acts 11:24)

Holy Ground

Is no longer a place

but a person, a life, a soul, a broken and repentant heart

in which, by invitation, the Holy Spirit resides. (Psalm 51:17)

Holy Ground

Is where we are, where we offer our sacrifice of praise

our bodies (Romans 12:1-2)

our mouths, the fruit of lips giving praise to his name (Hebrews 13:15)

our actions of love and obedience. (Hebrews 13:16)

Holy Ground

Is where two or three are gathered (Matthew 18:20)

His church, His bride. (Matthew 21:9, Revelation 21:9)

We are His temple, His holy ground

living alters on which we offer our true praise and worship. (Romans 12:2)

We believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

We believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy corporate church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

~Kathleen Evenhouse, September 2018