THE OTHER SIDE OF CHRISTMAS

Philippians 2 - 3 

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,

but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

Christmas Day dawned crisp and clear.   There had been an overnight frost and the morning brought clear blue skies.   Celia was home alone but she had her precious memories of the past.   Christmas had long lost its significance for her in the melee.   She had never quite seen anything like the mad push and grab antics of a greedy society.   A small glimpse into how human nature would react in a catastrophe.

Christmas Eve she had watched Catherine Hardwicke's "The Nativity Story" very aware that the date of 25th December was inaccurate but nevertheless she loved the film with its attention to detail of life at that time and there was always a box of hankies at the ready for the realistic birth. 

Perhaps later she would make an evening meal but for now she was sitting in front of a roaring fire in her cosy cottage.   "Thank you Lord" she murmured "for your provision I have enough."   

A loud knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.  Jeff stood in the doorway.   "Merry Christmas Celia" he grinned "any chance of a cuppa and a mince pie"    "Of course you clown" she replied "come on in.   Have you had your Christmas dinner" she enquired.   "Hardly worth bothering just for me" he suggested.   "Right, you are to join me, there's enough for two"   He looked longingly at the roaring fire in the grate "gosh it's really cosy in here, much better than my modern flat"   

His eye caught sight of a wooden box sitting on top of a small chest of drawers.   "That's new" he commented "is it a Christmas present"   Celia smiled "yes, its from me to me, I have a whole heap of old vinyl albums I haven't played for years so I decided to buy this unit.   It was cheap, you can't expect quality sound but as I am profoundly deaf in one ear and going deaf in the other I am not going to nit pick.

"It so reminds me of the old record players" said Jeff as he picked up the arm, moved it backwards then forward onto the edge of the vinyl.   It was a tad scratchy and crackly.    "That particular record starts off quietly" said Celia.    Jeff reached for the album cover "good gracious" he laughed "its Chris Rea's The Road to Hell"

"It certainly is" said Celia smiling.   "He made that album in 1989 and I wonder what he would be thinking today.   A musical prophet that lad.   The next track is even truer "You must be evil"  They are corrupting this generation at every given opportunity. 

"Sit down Jeff" said Celia.  "Make yourself comfortable, dinner will be about an hour.   Fancy a brandy?" she enquired.   "That would be great lass" he replied grateful he didn't have to face an empty flat.   The album had now reached it's last track.   "Tell me there's a heaven"   Jeff listened quietly to the words.   "Do you believe there's a heaven Celia" he asked "Certainly do" she replied "some people are in a living hell on this earth but they are heading for Abraham's bosom (Luke 16-25)  

Eventually they sat down to the usual turkey and trimmings with a small glass of wine.   "That was absolutely gorgeous Celia" said Jeff "you're a great cook"   She blushed and considered she could never hold her wine "well I've had a lifetime to get it right but I will be back to basic simple living next week.  God is gracious, he has always provided for me."

"How long is it since William died" Jeff enquired gently.   "Fifteen years next February" she replied "Christmas is a sad time for so many people.   They miss those they have lost.  But I count my blessings.  Many people are homeless, some living on the streets, we seem to be going backwards as a society.   People don't really care as long as their boat floats.   Rather than buy expensive presents I have given money to charity.   My family and friends have more than enough.

"Do you prefer living alone" asked Jeff suddenly it was his turn to blush realising Celia might consider she was being propositioned.    "I am never alone" replied Celia "my faith sustained me when William died and what is left of my life is unto the Lord.   My focus is fixed on Yeshua.

"Wow" said Jeff "I didn't realise you were religious"  Celia face was positively glowing, she  considered she should not have had that second glass of wine.  "Don't ever call me religious Jeff that's an insult.   Yeshua hated the religious establishment and observing todays wonky shepherds not much has changed.   Remind me to tell you some time how I came to know the Lord but that's strong stuff for another day.

"Oh Elaine Page and Barbara Dickson - Chess" said Jeff eagerly sorting through the box of albums.   "Yes" said Celia "put that one on and we can join in the chorus"  Any passerby would have been amused by the highly enthusiastic pair as they gave it their all finally getting up to dance to "One night in Bangkok.  Not that either of them had the remotest idea what that was all about.

"I didn't expect to have such a lovely meal" said Jeff "especially as I only called for a cuppa."  

"Well I couldn't have you sitting alone on Christmas Day now could I" she smiled.   "If we all loved our neighbour as ourself it would be a very different world wouldn't it?"    "Didn't your Jesus say something along those lines" said Jeff.    "He certainly did" replied Celia.    She handed him a small parcel.   "Now you can catch up on everything else he said"    

A quiet voice whispered "keep sowing" and she murmured "todah Adonai"

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REFLECTION 

It would be easy to fall into a pit of depression watching this decadent society no matter how strong your belief.   Encouragement and hope arrived as David Wilkerson's You.Tube video "GOD HAS NOT PASSED YOU BY" caught my attention.

Yes and Amen David - the Samuel Company is alive and well.  The corrupt state church has no hold over God's chosen, as in China the real bride is unseen, quietly awaiting her Lord.  

This great man of God still sends encouragement and hope to the battle weary thanks to modern technology even though he now walks with His Lord.  One positive side of the internet.  

This week one can only be truly ashamed of the state church in the U.K which appears to be reinventing dogma to neatly fit with the homosexual and lesbian fraternity. 

If you call yourself a Christian you follow Christ.   If you follow Christ your roots are in the Old Testament.  Exodus 3 - 6 "Moreover He said (to Moses) "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.   As a child and later as a rabbi Yeshua (Jesus) taught scripture and the Law.   

Matthew 5 - 17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (18) For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."

If you actually believe in God you would do well to keep his commandments.   If you are His supposed representative on earth then you stand condemned.   You will be called to account for the sheep you have led astray and dealt with more harshly than any unbeliever.

But it also says in John 3-3

Jesus answered and said to him "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

One can only presume those concerned are BLIND GUIDES.   

Yes, God is Love but reading through the Old Testament those concerned might like to consider the trail of His wrath poured out on a disobedient nation.   The church stands in filthy rags and those who truly know their Lord have abandoned a leadership that mocks the Word of God.

When you don't believe in any God other than self the results are self evident in the appalling stampede of pre.christmas greed and a deteriorating society.   Sadly most live for the day, they have no hope, empty hollow vessels that will not be able to cope when the rubber eventually hits the road and everything they value goes up in a puff of smoke.     

When a country ignores the commandments of God prepare to receive His wrath.   Those in power are not only corrupting the future generation but continue to bleed the poor whilst fueling their own extravagant life styles.   They stand condemned.

We are all equal before God but sadly some consider themselves more equal than others, but they will die as surely as the sun rises on a new day.   They will be judged and the fact that they consider their life ends with death will not alter their eternal destiny in the wrong place.

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I must ask Lord - where are you when they behead your servants.

He whispers "there"

I must ask Lord - where are you when that baby screams her last scream in the hands of those drug crazed animals from hell.

He whispers "there"

As they exit this world their REAL home, My Kingdom slips into view.  Death has no hold over them.

Hell will open her mouth to receive the murdering butchers along with the hirlings still clad in their robes of office the orgy they encouraged surrounding them for all eternity.

Sons and daughters of the living God ride with the armies of heaven a great tidal surge and evil is flushed down the plug hole to hell - forever.

Perhaps the study note in my Jack Hayford bible "Truth - Action" also speaks into every believer's heart.   DO NOT FEAR DEATH because being in heaven with Jesus will be wonderful.

Where ever you are on this fragile damaged planet walk with your head held high.   Children of a Holy God you are His precious jewels.   If they won't listen to your warning cries just keep running (like Christian in Pilgrims Progress) away from the cities and towns of sin, head for the hills and shelter under the shadow of His wings.    For the day approaches..................................................... 

Baruch ha ba b'shem Adonai.

SHALOM

SERVING NOT SELF SERVING

Matthew 20 - 23

So He said to them,

"You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the

baptism that I am baptized with;

but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give,

but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."

Did she have any idea what she was asking?    Her son James did indeed drink the Lord's cup.   He was the first disciple to be martyred.  Acts - 12-2

Isn't it always the way, proud mother seeks special position/place/acknowledgement for her sons/daughters, but Yeshua (Jesus) is quite clear "it is for those His Father chooses"  Nevertheless she had just requested their death warrant.

Jealousy and rivalry are twin sisters, a deadly human weakness.    It really doesn't matter that the last will be first and the first last.   For many are called, but few are chosen.  Matthew 20 - 16.

JUST BE GRATEFUL THAT YOU STAND IN HIS QUEUE BY THE NARROW GATE - THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERED WORTHY TO PASS THROUGH.

If you truly follow the Lord you will have a heart for those society rejects.   Those imprisoned by their addictions, bodies rotting away, lost, hopeless.  Those who have succumbed to the deadly drip of porn and the permissive dictates of a rotten godless society.   All damaged and in need of a Saviour.   

I remember well a young man called Stephen.   He sat huddled on the pavement in the posh part of the city.   He wasn't begging.   He didn't ask for help.   The mother of the street boys arrived with her two large trollies filled with soup, tea, coffee and biscuits.   Large bread rolls filled with ham, eggs, cheese and pickles were carried in her companion's trolley along with toilet requisites, clean underwear and socks.

Stephen wanted none of it.    He was just another rejected boy.   He couldn't accept his new father-in-law and only his sister had no idea of his plight as she lived on the other side of the globe.    He turned to drugs.      

How could I tell him Jesus loved him.   Yeah, yeah - one look said it all -  they all say that.   How I wanted to take him in my arms and give him shelter, food and the love I gave my own two children.   All he would accept was a plastic cup of tea and a packet of biscuits.  It was time to move on to the next victim.

That night I had to do something.    I phoned the Salvation Army surprised they excluded those on drugs and drink from their night shelters.    I phoned the police.   "Sorry" said an officer "we can only pick him up if he collapses and then we'll get him into rehab.    "I don't think you will have to wait long" I replied "he is literally skin and bone" and I gave them Stephen's location.

That night I prayed "Lord - please let them take Stephen off the street.   There is such potential in this young man but he needs to know he is loved, that Your love is unconditional regardless of his habit, that You will walk with him through detox.   I phoned a local Christian station.    "Please pray for Stephen, he's in a bad way" and I gave a brief outline of his situation.   

The last report I had regarding this young man was that he was free of his habit and studying at college to get the necessary qualifications to work on computers.   I pray to God he has employment and has found the grace to forgive those who caused his pain.   Thank you Lord for answered prayer. 

There are people out there working to bring hope to the hopeless and often they are on the receiving end of abuse but they continue to reach out knowing time is short.

Six years ago I was blessed with a trip to the Holy Land.   Someone in our coach party suggested a book I might like to read when I got back to the U.K.   Not wishing to breach copyright I would merely say it was all about a town under siege.

The pastor and his wife were getting hit time and time again by demonic forces.   The pastor's little flock were frightened by the supernatural activity.   An elderly housebound woman knew exactly what was "going down" and she battled prayers of protection over the young people.  In this book the battle weary christians of that town won the fight along with considerable angelic support.

From which ever direction it comes sincere prayer will reach the throne.   However humble the request it will be heard.   It will be heard, but will it be answered?

The mother struggling with her grief at the loss of a child will find that a bitter pill to swallow, likewise the wife of the voluntary worker brutally murdered by an evil psychopath.  For those suffering souls hell is right here on earth.

As I gazed down at the face of the only man I had ever loved as he lay cold and lifeless gone so suddenly out of my life I knew there was only one prayer left.    THY WILL BE DONE.      One day the veil will be lifted and we will understand.  

2 Corinthians 18  
while we do not look at things which are seen, but at things that are not seen.  For the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are not seen are eternal. 

There was another example of hopelessness.   He was just a grumpy old man she passed in the street most days.  He was so full of misery and angst.   Deep in his heart he knew the end was near.   That's it.   Everything he treasured and coveted useless.   The devil will be dancing as his possessions burnt.   Yet still he denied God - "its a load of rubbish" he sneered at the local child of God.   "There's nothing, religion is load of rubbish, end of"   The child of God smiled "it has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with a relationship with Jesus the son of the living God.   The old man continued to sneer and walked on his way.

How sad the painful emptiness that fills his miserable existence.  He has backed the wrong horse all his life.   "Just give him a dream about hell - that should do it" considered the child of God.   

She prayed for his enlightenment, sooner rather than later because his time was running out fast.   Perhaps his final nightmare will be opening his eyes and realising he is still conscious of self facing    eternity in the biggest sink hole imaginable shared with every conceivable evil the devil and man are capable of.

Psalm 11 - 4 - 7

The Lord is in His holy temple,

The Lord's throne is in heaven;

His eyes behold,

His eyelids test the sons of men.

The Lord tests the righteous,

But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

Upon the wicked He will rain coals;

Fire and brimstone and a burning wind

Shall be the portion of their cup.

For the Lord is righteous,

He loves righteousness;

His countenance beholds the upright.

Raui ata Adon Yeshua

Raui ata Malkenu.

HIS TIME

Revelation 1 - 3

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy,

and keep those things which are written in it;

for the time is near.

The two elderly widows sat enjoying a cup of coffee watching the spectacular sunset.   Despite the onset of winter the birds still sang in the garden content with the ready supply of food.  The youngsters  chattered quietly in the tall branches, summer had extended into the autumn, now they faced their first winter.

The conversation turned to aches and pains, deteriorating mobility and how the days were flying past at an alarming rate.    Judy's relatives were rather like buses, they came in threes followed by months of silence.  Now the two women were for the most part housebound their lives consisting of frequent medical appointments, the daily struggle to cope with simple chores, nevertheless remaining fiercely independent.  "Hard to believe how we raced through our lives, giving our all, but this time is my time"

declared Judy.   

She was sure she heard a voice say "No - it isn't"  but Mavis appeared to have nodded off.   "Right" Judy murmured "now I'm hearing things, how long before they decide I have dementia.    Not that anyone would know until I was found wandering around the streets in the middle of the night" 

As she observed her snoring companion she considered the many times in life she had misread the sign posts only to shoot off in a wrong direction and her stubborn refusal to see what was blatantly obvious until God removed the object of her desire or the log jam of self.   She had to learn God won't play second fiddle to our ego, ambition or comfort zone.   Now more than ever Judy knew it was a case of  "Thy Will be done"   That in these last days she was called to pray, stand and patiently wait.

She was a prayer warrior waiting for the final curtain but when ever the opportunity arose she would witness to a hurting world knowing full well her Saviour was never far from that wrecked life, the sick, disadvantaged, persecuted and lost sheep.

Those who considered themselves intelligent and superior to other mere mortals were the hardest nuts to crack.   They didn't need anything other than their own exalted opinion and worldly status.   Soon her Saviour would return and He would deal with the pharisees, hirelings and those who feathered their own nests along with those who scoff and mock. 

THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL BE TERRIBLE.   Hades will receive her fill.   It will be too late for many their place lost forever.   Evil will not be allowed to contaminate His Kingdom.

Judy knew most didn't believe in either heaven or hell, their dreams filled with that lottery win and the desire for celebrity status.   They actually preferred their hellish existence.  It mattered little that greed was rapidly turning this once beautiful planet into a living scrap yard of metal structures and dirty contaminated pools of sludge.   How long before that enforced injection became a lethal injection.  She shuddered at the future her grandchildren might face if the downslide continued.   And yet people were amused when she suggested they take a long hard look at their lives before its too late, that God will  always hear a cry of repentance, His arms open wide to receive a prodigal son or daughter.

P               That is the PROMISE.

E               For EACH and every soul.

A              ABSOLUTE and eternal.

C              Through CHRIST - the door to salvation.

E               ETERNAL life in His Kingdom come. 

Mavis awoke with a grunt.   "How long have I been asleep" she enquired.   "Not long" Judy replied.  "Sorry about that" said Mavis "I just hate the long dark evenings, I am ready for bed at four o'clock perhaps we should all hibernate until the spring"

Judy laughed "now there's positive thinking, the way America is pushing Russia do you think we will see another spring?"    "Only God knows" replied Mavis "but I thank Him for my slot in time, and just pray I'm heaven bound before it all kicks off."

That night Judy had a dream that she would cling to in the dark days ahead.

She was a mere observer standing on the edge of a scene that left her breathless.   The building was huge with a forecourt leading down into beautiful gardens.   Massive white columns in the hall had the appearance of marble, cool to the touch.   People were walking in and out of the building.  The atmosphere was one of amazing joy and peace.  They were laughing and talking excitedly crowding around a young man in uniform.    They were completely unaware they were being observed.  Suddenly the man saw Judy and moved towards her.   He kissed her gently on the cheek.  The crowd swelled around him and she felt abandoned and alone waking suddenly in her room.  

She knew without a shadow of doubt her time would come, blessed with a glimpse of her future home, encouragement for the dark days ahead that would light her way to the finish line.        

Baruch ha ba b'shem Adonai

SHALOM