Before The Throne

Top questions asked on a daily basis at el castillo:

- do you take American dollars?

-which clan was Braveheart in?

- can I have 'real' money (aka English notes)?

- do the international stamps go to America?

- have you heard if the rain'll clear up by this afternoon?

All of the above are obviously answered with a due sense of understanding and grace.

The music we listen to in the shop is limited in style and Scottish in variety. One of the songs which comes round on a regular basis is one called 'When the Pipers Play'. The words fit with the limited style, all about piping and Scotland and leaving (all Scottish songs involved people leaving. It's a wonder there's anyone left in the place).
However, what I love about this particular song is that it is set to the tune of the hymn 'Before The Throne Of God Above '. What a hymn:

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

What a privilege it is to be reminded of this amazing message on a regular basis as I wander round the shop. It is a real and regular temptation to despair. Awareness of sin and guilt. That we can look upward from this mire and see our God who accepts and forgives because of Jesus. That my life is now hid with Him. Flip. What a message. I wish these actually were the words that were being proclaimed around the shop every hour. However, I hope that the way that I speak and live will proclaim this message loud and clear to all those around. To HIS glory!