http://gospeltranslations.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Lydia 2026-04-16T17:16:26Z Revision history for this page on the wiki MediaWiki 1.16alpha http://gospeltranslations.org/w/index.php?title=Lydia&diff=14490&oldid=prev 2008-10-13T13:06:10Z

<p>New page: {{info}}They called it Turkey Red along&lt;br&gt;The Lycus River bed. And strong&lt;br&gt;Men pushed their poles against the mud&lt;br&gt;To guide their boats and gather blood&lt;br&gt;Red cloth from Thyatira for...</p> <p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{info}}They called it Turkey Red along&lt;br&gt;The Lycus River bed. And strong&lt;br&gt;Men pushed their poles against the mud&lt;br&gt;To guide their boats and gather blood&lt;br&gt;Red cloth from Thyatira for&lt;br&gt;The fortune ships along the shore&lt;br&gt;At Smyrna to the South. The dye&lt;br&gt;Was rare, and Roman brass would buy&lt;br&gt;A thousand pounds with polished gold.&lt;br&gt;And even simple men, who rolled&lt;br&gt;The stones to crush the madder root&lt;br&gt;For tint, could fill a purple boot&lt;br&gt;With profits in a week or two.&lt;br&gt;And clever sellers in a few&lt;br&gt;Short years could be as rich as kings.&amp;nbsp;<br /> <br /> And such was Lydia. The rings&lt;br&gt;She wore were forged in Carthage near&lt;br&gt;The coast of Africa. The sheer&lt;br&gt;Silk veil was brought from India,&lt;br&gt;And made a gift to Lydia&lt;br&gt;Three weeks before her husband died.&lt;br&gt;She was a wealthy widow now. Beside&lt;br&gt;The wealth there was a little child,&lt;br&gt;Alert and just a little wild,&lt;br&gt;A daughter two years old. Her name&lt;br&gt;Was Syntyche which meant the same&lt;br&gt;As fortune, good success, or chance.&lt;br&gt;The widow never sought romance&lt;br&gt;Again. She married purple gold.&lt;br&gt;She sailed to distant ports and sold&lt;br&gt;Her cloth to Caesarean lords,&lt;br&gt;And gathered jewels and Spanish swords&lt;br&gt;And crystal balls and magic beans&lt;br&gt;And charms and astral figurines,&lt;br&gt;And brought them home for Syntyche. <br /> <br /> Ten years went by. The tapestry&lt;br&gt;Of Lydia was known throughout&lt;br&gt;The world. But no one knew about&lt;br&gt;The silent life of Syntyche.&lt;br&gt;She missed her mother terribly,&lt;br&gt;And sought her missing love in spells,&lt;br&gt;In psychic charms and wishing wells,&lt;br&gt;In magic moods and special tea,&lt;br&gt;With evil men and sorcery. <br /> <br /> When she was twelve she disappeared.&lt;br&gt;At first her mother mainly feared&lt;br&gt;A ransom note. And then she wept,&lt;br&gt;She wept the tears that she had kept&lt;br&gt;Inside for years and years, and lay&lt;br&gt;Face down alone day after day,&lt;br&gt;On Syntyche's small bed. She met&lt;br&gt;No one for business deals, and let&lt;br&gt;The boats depart, and ate no food,&lt;br&gt;Until at last she understood&lt;br&gt;What she must do. She rose and took&lt;br&gt;Her shawl and found the Kodesh Brook.&lt;br&gt;She walked across the narrow log,&lt;br&gt;And then straight to the synagogue.&lt;br&gt;She found an officer and said,&lt;br&gt;&quot;Perhaps my daughter is alive or dead,&lt;br&gt;But sir, could someone here teach me&lt;br&gt;Of God? I've cried to Him and He&lt;br&gt;Has led me here.&quot; And then she told&lt;br&gt;Him of her work and how she sold&lt;br&gt;Herself to gold and how she lost&lt;br&gt;Her fortune, Syntyche.&quot; &quot;High cost&lt;br&gt;For cloth,&quot; the teacher said. &quot;I know.&lt;br&gt;But is there hope for one as low&lt;br&gt;as I?&quot; &quot;You do need teaching ma'am.&lt;br&gt;The gracious God of Abraham&lt;br&gt;Gives hope to only such as you.&lt;br&gt;Now listen, here's what you must do.&lt;br&gt;Submit now to the law of God,&lt;br&gt;And it may be that Moses' rod&lt;br&gt;Will rise again and point the way&lt;br&gt;To Syntyche, if you today&lt;br&gt;Will burn the charms and figurines&lt;br&gt;And crystal balls and magic beans.&lt;br&gt;Shall man inquire with pea and pod,&lt;br&gt;And not consult the holy God?&quot; <br /> <br /> So Lydia began to fear&lt;br&gt;The Lord. Then one long empty year&lt;br&gt;Went by. She worshipped week by week,&lt;br&gt;But every time she tried to seek&lt;br&gt;The face of God it was as though&lt;br&gt;A voice would gently say, &quot;I know&lt;br&gt;You Lydia, but you do not know me.&quot;&lt;br&gt;Then once she asked, &quot;Lord, what&lt;br&gt;More may I see, and, Lord, where fly&lt;br&gt;To Thee?&quot; And God said, &quot;Philippi.&quot;&lt;br&gt;Her mouth fell open at the word.&lt;br&gt;&quot;Could I,&quot; she thought, &quot;have really heard&lt;br&gt;The voice of God?&quot; And then the doubts&lt;br&gt;Were gone. And so was she.&lt;br&gt;The routes to Philippi were common fare&lt;br&gt;For Lydia. Her business there&lt;br&gt;Was good. She owned an ample home&lt;br&gt;And often on the way to Rome&lt;br&gt;Would stay the night. <br /> <br /> This time one thought&lt;br&gt;Alone was in her mind, &quot;God brought&lt;br&gt;Me here to Philippi to see his face&lt;br&gt;And that is all I need.&quot; The place&lt;br&gt;Was well kept by a Jewish maid&lt;br&gt;Who secretly for years had prayed&lt;br&gt;That Lydia would know the King&lt;br&gt;Of heav'n. Euodia would sing&lt;br&gt;At night. And Lydia had ears.&lt;br&gt;The songs of faith for many years&lt;br&gt;Had done more than she knew. <br /> <br /> Once more&lt;br&gt;She came, and, entering the door,&lt;br&gt;Knelt down before her maid and pled,&lt;br&gt;&quot;Euodia, one time you said&lt;br&gt;That every Sabbath day you go&lt;br&gt;Somewhere to pray. I want to know&lt;br&gt;Your God. Tomorrow may I go&lt;br&gt;With you? It may be God will show&lt;br&gt;Us both our deep desire.&quot; <br /> <br /> At dawn&lt;br&gt;The river lay like glass, and on&lt;br&gt;The surface was a blazing fire&lt;br&gt;As though God made a liquid pyre&lt;br&gt;To burn the incense of the prayer&lt;br&gt;That holy women offered there.&lt;br&gt;And as they prayed a band of men&lt;br&gt;Approached and knelt in silence. Then&lt;br&gt;The one named Paul began to plead&lt;br&gt;That God would satisfy the need&lt;br&gt;Of her whose back had felt the rod&lt;br&gt;Of his rebuke and wanted God&lt;br&gt;More than a hundred laden ships&lt;br&gt;Of purple dye. At this the lips&lt;br&gt;Of Lydia fell open wide. <br /> <br /> &quot;He knows my heart,&quot; she thought, &quot;my pride,&lt;br&gt;My shame. This is a prophet sent&lt;br&gt;From God. O, let him now present&lt;br&gt;The power of your holy Word,&lt;br&gt;And show the glory of the Lord.&quot;&lt;br&gt;She opened up her eyes, and all&lt;br&gt;The men were fixed on her. Then Paul&lt;br&gt;Opened his mouth and said, &quot;The Son&lt;br&gt;Of God, the long expected One,&lt;br&gt;Has come. His name is Jesus Christ.&lt;br&gt;He lived in love and sacrificed&lt;br&gt;Himself for sin and rose again&lt;br&gt;To live and reign. Five hundred men&lt;br&gt;Can testify that he's alive.&lt;br&gt;And now with all his might we strive&lt;br&gt;To tell the world that everyone&lt;br&gt;Who turns from sin and trusts the Son&lt;br&gt;Will be forgiven every wrong,&lt;br&gt;And sing an everlasting song.&lt;br&gt;If God did not withhold the King,&lt;br&gt;Will he not give us everything?&quot; <br /> <br /> When Paul had done his human part,&lt;br&gt;The Lord himself opened her heart,&lt;br&gt;And Lydia believed. They stayed&lt;br&gt;The day with her and taught and prayed&lt;br&gt;'Til well into the night, then slept&lt;br&gt;For free in stately rooms once kept&lt;br&gt;For monied merchants and their gold.&lt;br&gt;Next morning Lydia was bold&lt;br&gt;To ask the men if she could go&lt;br&gt;Along to pray. &quot;I think I'd grow&lt;br&gt;If I could watch God's power in you.&quot;&lt;br&gt;So Paul agreed. &quot;I think that's true,&quot;&lt;br&gt;He said, &quot;I sense that we should take&lt;br&gt;The market path and slowly make&lt;br&gt;Our way down to the place of prayer.&quot;&lt;br&gt;But half way through the market square&lt;br&gt;A slave girl used for sorcery&lt;br&gt;And owned by wicked men broke free.&lt;br&gt;And with a rasping voice she screamed:&lt;br&gt;&quot;These are the holy men I dreamed&lt;br&gt;About. They save your soul. They curse&lt;br&gt;Your gold and take away your purse.&lt;br&gt;These are the servants of the Most&lt;br&gt;High God. Beware! Beware! You host&lt;br&gt;Of hell.&quot; They tried to seize their prize&lt;br&gt;And pull her back, too late. Their eyes&lt;br&gt;Had met. The demon child was frozen in&lt;br&gt;The gaze of Lydia. Her chin&lt;br&gt;Was locked in speechlessness, a gash&lt;br&gt;Was healed along her wrist, a sash&lt;br&gt;Of purple cloth held rags around&lt;br&gt;Her waist. Her arms and neck were bound&lt;br&gt;With bands of charms and magic beans.&lt;br&gt;And little astral figurines&lt;br&gt;Were pierced through both her ears.&lt;br&gt;And Lydia, through burning tears,&lt;br&gt;Could see that she was very thin;&lt;br&gt;Her eyes were sunken deep within&lt;br&gt;Her face as dark and fierce as they&lt;br&gt;Could be. Her cheeks were hollow clay,&lt;br&gt;And there were bruises everywhere,&lt;br&gt;And tiny razors in her hair.&lt;br&gt;&quot;O, Syntyche, what have I done?&lt;br&gt;What can I do? Where can I run&lt;br&gt;To bring you back? O, God above . . .&quot;&lt;br&gt;At that the demon tried to shove&lt;br&gt;Her mother down, but Paul cried, &quot;NO!&lt;br&gt;In Jesus' Name be still. Now go!&lt;br&gt;Come out of her you fiendish power.&lt;br&gt;And mark, that from this very hour&lt;br&gt;You shall not torment Syntyche&lt;br&gt;Again.&quot; The power of sorcery&lt;br&gt;Was gone. The girl fell at the feet&lt;br&gt;Of Lydia. Her face was sweet,&lt;br&gt;Her eyes were soft, her voice like dew:&lt;br&gt;&quot;Mommy, can I come home with you?&quot; <br /> <br /> The light of candle four is plain,&lt;br&gt;It has its part of peace and pain:&lt;br&gt;A selfish soul can soon destroy&lt;br&gt;A little girl or little boy.&lt;br&gt;But Christ can open selfish hearts&lt;br&gt;And nullify demonic arts.</div>

Greetje