MY PASTOR

Exodus 16 

29-30

See the Lord has given you the Sabbath;

therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days.

Let every man remain in his place;

Let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

So the people rested on the seventh day.

(sunset Friday to sunset Saturday)

Whatever comment you hear from man or woman take it straight to God and read His word.

There was a recent video on "you tube" that suggested those who remain outside a church were rebellious.   That criticism is eagerly lobbed at these individuals by an 'inner circle' or 'clique' in any denomination.   Make them feel guilty and even worse damn them to hell.

The crippled and broken carry the yoke of condemnation inflicted on them by those who teach be it bible expositor, evangelist, clergy or laity but they need to take it to their Father in heaven.   The same Father who Yeshua assures us welcomed the prodigal son and daughter with open arms.

Jane is just one example of a young woman who is under such condemnation.   When she was fourteen years old she found herself with divided loyalties.   Her father and mother divorced and her hitherto uneventful materially comfortable life was turned upside down.

Like many teenagers unable or unwilling to accept their parents choices she went walk about and made mistakes which she now regrets.   Nevertheless she saw through the religious hypocrisy and for a while became like all the other kids enticed by worldly values.

The day finally arrived when the consequences of her lifestyle bore fruit.  A dreaded diagnosis, possible cancer and she was terrified.   She was a single parent and little Amy was now the centre of her universe.   Now what!!!!!!   Her gran had always warned her "God will let you take what you want, he won't stop you, but there are always consequences"

Now He had her attention and she was listening to the point where she was considering believers baptism after all she didn't want to go to hell.   Who had told her she was heading in that direction.   No one is beyond the reach of a merciful God.  

She eventually received the "all clear" with the codicil "we will keep a regular check on the situation".  Abnormal cells could indicate future problems.

Jane is now reading her bible but not as a result of any christian witness, (in fact she would have run swiftly in the opposite direction) but because she had faced her own mortality and needed to know her real Father.   What she needed was not condemnation or criticism but gentle shepherding and certainly not the bullying tactics of the "you're going to hell" fraternity of zealots.

Matthew 23 - 15
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte (convert someone) and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.   

Her real Father knows she has a gentle caring heart He is in charge and in His time He will touch her life, she will hear, see and understand.

Thinking about Jane and her storm tossed journey I came across a comment in my Jack Hayford NKJ - spirit filled study bible in a passage all about Joseph the dreamer.  A passage I had highlighted in the past.

Genesis 39 - 21

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prisons.

The text refers the reader to a study note - Kingdom Dynamics - regarding those who have prophetic dreams and visions.

Joseph held to the vision God gave him for his life.

He was RESTRAINED from sin.

REDEEMED from sorrow and RESTORED to honour by his holding on to the DREAMS from God."

If you have been blessed with prophetic dreams from God now is the time to hold fast. 

And the suggestion for so doing:-

Receive God's promises with child like faith.

Make the best of bad situations.

Stand with integrity in trials and temptations.

Walk with HUMILITY before God and man.

See everything from God's perspective.

Sincere thanks to the bible scholar who wrote those precious words.

AMEN TO THAT. 

RELIGION

Flinging wide the heavy doors

smooth and cold the marble floors.

Precious relics glisten,

frozen angels listen,

statues view the empty pews.

In finery and rank they move to their appointed place,

somewhere in the mace.

Bloody history whispers in the dark,

on this place it leaves it mark.

Outside in the dank and drizzle,

a small flame starts to fade and fizzle,

hidden by the pageantry.

In weather foul and fair,

seeking the broken, bruised and lonely,

their church the street, their faces unnoticed,

precious sons and daughters scatter seeds of love and hope,

reaching lost and hurting souls.

T. Hills

2003

Yet another bank holiday and the masses migrate to the sea/countryside choking the motor ways with metal maggots expecting the sunshine, receiving rain, lots of rain.

Many years ago with the sound of "are we there yet" ringing in my ears (long before the invention of an impatient donkey in the Shrek movie)  we decided not to venture abroad on Bank Holidays to merely sit in a traffic jam or press through a crowd of lemmings.  Multiply that with the volume of cars on the road today, the present population and the peace of my garden is more than desirable.

The skies were heavy laden, the rain continued well into the evening, so chores out of the way it was time to relax with a D.V.D. and I had decided to watch SHADOWLANDS that short excerpt from the life of Dr. C.S. Lewis.

Although I have quite a few of his books and with the exception of the Great Divorce find them a really hard read, the film shone a spotlight on some of his more easily understood teaching for the less academic amongst the population - and that includes myself.

An excellent site:  Shadowlands by William Nicholson.  www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3154690-shadowlands for those of us who can't actually get to grips with his books - keeps it just that - simple.

Self sufficiency is the enemy of salvation.

If you are self-sufficient, you have no need of God.

If you have no need of God, you do not seek Him.

If you do not seek Him, you will not find Him.

C.S.Lewis

Shadowlands.

How true is that?   When you watch that car hit your child even the hardened atheist shouts "Oh my God"  Many years ago my own child ambled in front of an oncoming car focused only on reaching the other side of the road to collect more shells off the beach.    The woman driver was quite shocked "Oh I am sorry is he hurt, he just stepped in front of my car"   "He is fine" I replied "just a few broken shells in his pocket" More irritated than hurt my son wailed "she broke my shells".

In one section of the film Harry Harrington (who appears to be a cleric) cheerfully announces "and God hears your prayer, doesn't He.   We hear Joy's (his wife suffering from terminal cancer) getting better.

C.S. Lewis replies:

That's not why I pray Harry.

I pray because I'm helpless.

I pray because the need flows out of me all the time-waking and sleeping.

It doesn't change God, it changes me.

This very sad film reminded me that life is far from "a piece of cake" for those of us who follow Yeshua.    Sacrifice is required.   John Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress (another hard read) shows the pitfalls that we have to confront in the weakness of our humanity.

When you shout out "God help me" and He answers, you realise how truly unworthy you are of His help but seeking Him you surrender your will.    That means NO to this world and whatever obstacles you will surely face as He refines you FIT FOR PURPOSE FOR HIS KINGDOM TO COME.  It will be painful.   He will remove idols.   (Any one or any thing you covert)  He will bring you down on your knees.   The dross must be burnt away.   OBEDIENCE is the key word.   This has nothing to do with church attendance.   There is absolutely nothing in the commandments that says you should go to a church of any denomination, on their set day.   The Lord did say you were to REST from your work.   He was obviously advising work twenty four seven and you will burn yourself out.   Time to rest body and soul and reflect on His blessings gratefully received.

The world has created its own Kings and religious leaders.   Mere men, mere mortals, a privileged elite

who covert and cover their needs,  but death comes to every single human, if you have been selfish in this life who knows your final destiny.    But one thing is certain you will not escape the grim reaper.

We should all learn from our mistakes but a Christian who shows no change in his/her agenda and actions needs to repent and get back on track.    Our attitude towards others should reflect his love for the blind and deaf.   We all understand this means those who reject the Word of God, the scriptures and His very existence.   We shouldn't have any difficulty loving our neighbour regardless of class, colour, creed.    What a very different world it could be. 

Early in my Christian walk I read a comment "they are not going to believe in God until he turns up" sadly that is true for many.

The world is in an unholy mess.   It's time to shout "God help me"  and He will.   He will not remove your messy financial affairs, debt, failed business, sickness, these are all part of man's greed and his rape and abuse of this planet.   But He will give you peace, the strength to endure and hope in His Kingdom to come.

SHALOM  

WORTHY

Matthew 5 - 48
Yeshua said

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Do you consider yourself worthy to stand before YHVH - the creator and designer of universe and beyond.   If you do you need a serious service and full over haul.   Only when you realise how truly unworthy you are, dirty, disgusting, clothed in rags, are you really in a right place.

There are saints but they are unaware of their status.   We all know them because they shine and their love for others regardless of colour, creed or race is evident for all to see.  Their behaviour reflects the teaching of their Master.  They don't judge, but reach out to all with His love and they consider themselves unworthy of His great love for them.   They practice what they preach.    Matthew 5 - 46-48 

Have you met the grumpy old man?   Full of the joys of spring - hardly.   His cup running over with misery.    Time's running out and he knows it.   HE HAS NO HOPE.

One such pensioner just loves renovating old cars.   It's a man thing, mucking about in oily overalls, dreaming of the days when cars were few and how his "Emily" yes, she had a name, became his idol and now the old girl is a rust bucket but still he replaces this section or part that has dropped off.

Rather like life, there comes a time when its all medical appointments, clinics, deteriorating vision, false teeth.   But for those without hope it is dreaded.   How long before the breakers yard.   The day Emily is loaded on to the back of a low loader and the garage door remains shut forever.  HE HAS NO HOPE.

"Do you know what" the grumpy old man complained  "my neighbour suggested I get rid of her and apply for a car off Social Services, they've all got them round here and there's nothing wrong with any of them, they are fitter than me.    They all shop miles away so they don't get caught by the Social Service spies. 

An elderly woman walking slowly past with a stick paused and joined in the conversation.   She said "then they must have lied filling in the forms and must have provided false financial and medical information.  Surely G.P.'s are not complicit in this fraudulent behaviour?   I couldn't do that, I am a christian.

The grumpy old man turned to face the intruder, his face red with anger "don't talk to me about christians they are as bad as anyone else.   Sadly his comments had foundation.   A recent video on You Tube exposed those who had chosen abortion at an American clinic despite the efforts of a fellow christian who sat outside that clinic determined to at least have a last ditch attempt to turn them around.

God bless him.   

Sadly that bitter grumpy old man will surely die without hope because of the example set by those who profess His precious name.   The elderly woman sensed a lost cause and walked slowly by.     It's  perhaps human nature that unbelievers will readily criticize focusing on the negative whilst happily ignoring the positive and their view is most certainly coloured by their experience at the hands of the clerics and pharisees.  

Matthew 23 - 13

But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

When christian clerics and laity hand their palaces, vicarages and spare rooms over to the homeless and start to really care about God's people that litter the streets of the cities then one could say they truly follow their Master.     For those who keep his precepts and daily struggle to survive,  the Lord knows your poverty.   His Kingdom will surely come.  

The Lord knows His own:

Revelation 2 - 9

I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews (perhaps we could insert christians for the purpose of this page) and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Yes the devil is the Father of Lies.

The grumpy old man has a wife but one day he may find himself very alone.   Then he will realise how a society that no longer obeys the commandments of God treats its elderly.   The system already locks vulnerable elderly people in their homes albeit with an army of faceless care workers and they lose contact with the outside world.     Many children have long gone to other lands with employment, many don't even care about the parents who sacrificed throughout their working lives to provide them with a better start in life than they had.  Apart from an occasional visit they are truly alone.    We can only pray they will find the Lord for therein lies the peace that covers and hopefully their final destiny.

SHALOM

    

STORMS

ISAIAH 

4 - 6

And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime

from the heat, for a place of refuge,

and for a shelter from storm and rain.

The word storm is listed eight times in my Concordance and all the relevant texts are in the Old Testament.   Not that surprising, it was a very violent period in time and it looks as though we are heading right back into the maelstrom - (scene of confusion)

Christians are either well off track following comfortable denominations that accept their life choices and preach an ear tickling doctrine far from the Truth.   Others held in the grip of that dreadful vice spiritual pride, whilst the insecure remain crushed by the wickedness that is endemic in a society based on materialism and self.  

The christian buzz word is "keep looking up" eagerly anticipating the return of Jesus to their particular patch.   I remember well a pastor shouting "we've got God here he's not with them"  Where can the devil tempt so successfully as in a church.    Sorry pastor, you can't claim preferential attendance.   He is everywhere but more likely to be with the sick, imprisoned, prostitute and beggar than amongst the religious hypocrites.

Isaiah 2 - 11
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled,
The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down,
And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.   

The good, bad and downright ugly appear side by side on the internet.   Any one can watch the brutal horrendous arena of slaughter,  government agenda fueling "an eye for an eye"   Some watch their computer screens day and night caught like a mouse in the stare of a predatory snake.   They are captive neither realising or acknowledging the addiction that has taken over their very lives.  Know your enemy.

The crushing continues but they eagerly await that bolt from the blue, the terrifying scenario when Hashem will once again move in power and deal with a disobedient people.  Did they even attempt to obey the commandments?    Did they love others as they loved themselves?   Or did they think they could hide under an umbrella of grace whilst feeding their own desires.   Do they even know they will tremble before His Holiness?  

Matthew 22 - 39
Yeshua said to him "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.   This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it;  'you shall love your neighbour as yourself.'   And there was no codicil that is if he agrees with your opinion.   The instruction was given but man continues to war.
          

Isaiah 17 - 7-8

In that day a man will look to his Maker,

And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel.

He will not look to altars,

The work of his hands;

He will not respect what his fingers have made,

Nor the wooden images nor the incense altars.

Any church that teaches replacement theology is denying scripture so who exactly are they following? 

Matthew 7 - 14

Yeshua (Jesus)  warned "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."   

I was recently blessed with a visit from a true child of God and dear sister in Christ.   She has no personal agenda.   Freely she has been given, and freely she gives of herself.   She weeps for the lost and prays for those who are in constant danger working in the harvest field.   As we discussed the deteriorating situation she said "the Lord has told me to keep my focus on Him and not on the world" sound advice for those who are burnt out, suffering mental fatigue and depression.   She has a deep peace knowing Yeshua's (Jesus) supreme authority in all the universe will be revealed.   We all need to remember who is in control.  She is an enormous encouragement to any struggling soul.    We agreed we must be headed in a right direction we are getting so much flack.

Matthew 14 - 31

When Peter took his eyes off the Lord and looked at the raging sea he began to sink.   Yeshua stretched out his hand and caught him and said to him "O you of little faith, why did you doubt."

We agreed there is a very real need to pray protection over the men of God who speak the truth against the apostate church.    The knives are out - the wolves are baying for blood - but the Father knows His witnesses and His children and their future is assured.   Perhaps it is only human to prefer a peaceful exit and safe passage to His courts.    

Patience is a virtue I sadly lack, even as a child I wanted to know how that story would end, that bad people would be dealt with and the good live happily ever after.     Hashem is outside time as we know it but His Wrath will fall on the hirlings and the false prophets who mislead His sheep.
    

The encouragement is there for those who teach scripture and speak His Truth.

REVELATION 3 - 10

Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

SHALOM.      

Recommended: 

Jacob Prasch - You Tube - The flies in our lives.