IT'S A LONG LONG ROAD

1 Timothy 14
Do not neglect the gift that is in you,
which was given you by prophecy with the
laying on of the hands of the eldership.
NKJV - spirit filled bible.

The road is long, with many a winding turn, opening lyrics of that evergreen song "He ain't heavy" by that famous Manchester group the Hollies.    The lyrics of that particular song released in the U.K. on the 1st September 1969 are as relevant today as they were in the 60s.   Did the writers realise what an impact this would have on so many hearts and how if we could all learn to sing from our creator God's hymn sheet it would be a better world.    

Even more amazing is the source of that particular lyric "He ain't heavy.  He's my brother."
   

In 1884 James Well, Moderator of the United Free Church of Scotland in his book "The parables of Jesus" tells of a little girl carrying a big baby boy.   When someone suggested to the child how heavy the baby must have been for her to carry she replied "He's na (not) heavy.   He's mi (my) brother and the rest is history.   The finger of God inspires the artist and immortalises their gift.   Not literary excellence just a simple message for the common man performed by gifted musicians and singers.

Travel just a short distance from my home city and yet another young man, Gerry Marsden lead singer in Gerry and the Pacemakers recorded my favourite version of "You'll never walk alone"  Once again research led to the background of the lyricist.

Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II born in New York, U.S.A. to a Jewish father and a mother of Scottish/English parentage was the famous lyricist.    Richard Rodgers also born into a prosperous Jewish family in New York wrote the music for this beautiful song and together their aesthetically clean family movies loved by so many remain a positive encouragement for the road ahead.    

In 1839 Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer Lytton, first Baron of Lytton* in his play "Richelieu or Conspiracy wrote "the pen is mightier than the sword" his melodramatic style was considered "kitsch and risible.

The loud earth breathless!
Take away the sword
States can be saved without it.

Perhaps the simplest interpretation:
"it is said to emphasise that thinking and writing have more influence on people and events than the use of force or violence.*

Every gift, albeit singer, song or artist is heaven sent we are merely the instrument and those that remain humble and focused will weather whatever celebrity status brings with it.  

At the end of the day both pen and the internet can reach billions and be used to influence the mind for good or evil.    Man has free will.   Let's pray "good" prevails lest we invoke the wrath of God.
Nevertheless we go around in circles, never learning from past mistakes until the day we might all just disappear down that "giant sink hole" after all mother nature is clearly screaming revenge.

Its easy to hold on when the road is straight ahead but when tragedy strikes leaving you helpless and struggling to keep your head above water, then and only then you realise how deep or shallow your christian roots really are.   Like Peter we have to learn to keep our focus on Jesus and not the violent waves that surround our fragile craft.

There are many crippled christians, some victims of the prosperity preachers, never expecting their path to be anything but blessed, totally misunderstanding that any blessing is "spiritual" certainly not material.

The apostate church is synthetic and ritualistic.   The discerning  will never set foot over an earthly church threshold, their compass firmly fixed on the narrow gate and their shepherd's welcome home.   As they approach their final destination they will turn and as far as the eye can see the road behind them will be filled with fellow pilgrims from around the globe. 

When you know the Lord you follow Him, not the guy in the pulpit.   When you know your Lord you sing for Him.   Its not a performance or promotion of self, those are by products or sometimes the price paid for those in the spotlight.   Those that can handle the limelight know that their talent is a very special gift of God to be used for His glory.   God sees the heart and ambitions of man.   Nothing is hidden.   

Amos 5 - 21 - 23 - 24

I hate, I despise your feast days,

And I do not savor your sacred assemblies.

23 - Take away from Me the noise of your songs.

24 - But let justice run down like water, 

and righteousness like a mighty stream. 

When you hit potholes on the road, you can get dragged down.     We have to heave ourselves on to higher ground.   Somewhere in my study bible a text was explained as  "sometimes God will take a life rather than lose a soul."   Like the pilgrim Faithful** we get the short cut home.

Perhaps if our brother/sister's welfare was our concern we wouldn't be in the unholy state in which we now find ourselves.   Many expressing a total lack of concern and accountability for their actions.   The appalling trail of blood and devastation evil men leave behind them is just another news report.     Now more than ever we need to turn back to the God most deny.

2 Chronicles 7 - 14
"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Slowly the stars of the 60s are going out one by one but when the finger of God inspires the lyrics, the singer and the song never die and that is reward enough.  

It is said this simple Irish blessing was written by St. Patrick.   The authorship is unimportant, but the message is eternal.

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind always be at your back,

May the sun shine warm against your face,

May the rains fall soft upon your fields,

And, until we meet again

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

*     Sir Edward George Earle Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron of Lytton.
       English novelist, playright, poet and politician. 

*     Cambridge advanced Learner's Dictionary and Thesauras.

**   John Bunyan's - Pilgrims Progress.

        

   

     

SHOUT TO THE WIND

EZEKIEL 33 - 11

Say to them 'As I live' says the Lord God  "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked,

but that the wicked turn from his way and live.

Turn, turn from your evil ways.   

For why should you die O house of Israel.*

In every work place and profession there are children of God, shining the light of their Saviour into the increasing darkness.   Often ridiculed, mocked and tempted.   Sometimes victim of an organised backlash as they stand on God's Word.   Many imprisoned, brutalised and butchered.

Jesus warned this would happen "John 14 - 30*

"I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world (Satan) is coming, and he has nothing in me.

There is an overwhelming tendency to assume when a man or woman reaches a position of power, albeit in the political, religious, legal or medical profession, that they are squeaky clean.   Sadly evil is alive and well in the church and political system.    Satan's cohorts are active everywhere indoctrinating the innocents, changing laws and encouraging the love of self.

Never consider dreams irrelevant.   Sometimes they don't make sense but often God uses dreams to illustrate his point or give warnings.   Many genuine christians around the globe are experiencing vivid dreams of global catastrophe.   In 2003 a modern day Josephine, minus a coat of many colours, had a short but vivid dream which at the time made little sense.   She was looking down on a barren desert landscape.   Out of a hole in the sand swarmed millions of creatures, a rolling sea of black spreading across the sand as far as the eye could see.   Twelve years on and that could only be ISIS.

In biblical history when God's chosen people went off the rails He raised their enemy.

Deuteronomy: 28 - 47*

Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything.

48 "therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, in need of everything and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.

49 - "The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand.

Of course this was directed at the Jewish people, but one can't help considering once christian nations that have turned away from God, removed Him from the school curriculum and teach a very different morality.

If you can believe a report in a U.K. broadsheet on the 24th January 2012 "Tel Aviv trumps New York to be named the world's best gay city.   In a You-tube report on the 11th July 2015 the Prime Minister of Israel is quoted as promising one day "the rocket risk south will become Israel's Las Vegas.    Heaven help them.

There is the last chance saloon.   When you meet your Saviour it is life changing and what the world needs now is peace.    But realistically Yeshua (Jesus) will have to return to "rule with a rod of iron"

Micah 4 - 2*

For out of Zion the law shall go forth,
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
And rebuke strong nations from afar off.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore.

In scripture when good Kings or leaders led the country there was relative peace.  In the mix good prophets and bad prophets and we all know the chaos they can bring.

Sadly the crimes of the political leaders in the West are comparable with the wicked Kings and are bringing a very unwelcome harvest, a suffering mass of displaced peoples, lives destroyed by their agenda.

In a godless society death is jokingly referred to as the "big sleep" and a popular song at the crematorium "I did it my way".   Perhaps they might give a second thought as to their eternal destination and exactly where they might end up.

Luke 16 - 32 *

And being in torment in Hades (abode of the dead) he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
The rich man was obviously taken by surprise.  He's not alone.   Many believe when you are dead that is it.  But may be Abraham would pass a message to his living relatives.   He didn't want them to end up in the same place.

Abraham replied "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead"*

TIME TO HEAD FOR THE LAST CHANCE SALOON.    

FOCUS

I'm not listening any more,

their machinations by the score.

I come to you my Lord and King,

My Hope, my peace, my everything.

The safest place is at your feet,

when fear takes hold and leaves me weak.

Satan roars, evil abounds,

the blood of martyrs soaks the ground.

The world I see holds no appeal,

Your Kingdom come salvation's seal.

T.Hills

2015

* NKJV New Spirit Filled Bible

FAITH, TRUST, HOPE

Matthew 10 - 14

And whoever will not receive you, nor heard your words,

when you depart from that house or city, shake the dust from your feet

Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of 

Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

A true child of God must always turn to His Word and listen for His voice - NO OTHER and TRUST.   When the Lord opens a door and requires you move from your comfort zone and end up a stranger in a strange place that is when you learn to pray night and day for the courage and strength to endure whatever lies ahead.

********************************

"Okay Lord" Megan prayed silently "HELP - I am facing a big upheaval here, couldn't I just take the short cut home to be with You"   But there was no answer.  

Megan was used to flitting from one place to another.   Her gypsy gene soon got bored with familiar surroundings.  She pondered the many times she had packed her belongings to move home, sometimes a step up the property ladder, latterly down, or with a new job.   Now stuck firmly in a rut and using age as her latest excuse, it would have been easier to stay put in familiar surroundings.

Megan's constant companion, a small intelligent furry bundle of affection anticipating her every emotion anxiously observed as the contents of their shared home disappeared into large cardboard boxes.   Why the Lord had opened a door in that particular place?  she had no idea.   Very strange.   But often she was lost to understand exactly His purpose, but knew she had to accept His will.

Everything went according to plan but she then found herself in silence.   No phone, no computer and interference on radio stations due to poor reception.  She was hardly a "spring chicken" and the move left her exhausted, she needed to rest and recover and deal with the technicalities later.

Megan always thanked the Lord for a sense of humour which seemed to bring any issues sharply into focus but now she was dangerously close to the Slough of Despond.*   Walking through the village one morning her gift momentarily returned as she considered this place had much in common with the village in a well known Disney classic a "little town, full of little people, waking up to say bon jour"

On the street most people smiled and said "good morning" to the stranger in town.   The shop keepers offered a warm welcome but there the comparison ended as a rather jaded senior wandered round the wrong corner trying to find her way back to her new abode which still felt very strange.    

When everything seemed to go wrong "heavens above" was her frequent frustrated cry.   She was rapidly turning into a certain Victor Meldrew and yes - she certainly had one foot in the grave.  The pity pit opened its yawning mouth ready to swallow her.   She wanted to run, feeling an incredible restlessness.  Had she got it wrong yet again, always the expert at reading sign posts, prone to gallop off in the wrong direction.   Her daughter encouraged.   "Mum, this is just a stepping stone, the Lord works in mysterious ways"   Megan had to agree.   

It was in her darkest hour that the Lord opened her eyes to the beauty of a small National Trust Wildlife Reserve nearby.   It was now early spring and the trees were budding.   The winter winds had been cruel but whatever the weather her quadruped needed daily exercise.   It was a case of wrap up and get out there.

A stream swelled with the heavy rains rushed down the valley and through the wood refreshing the small lakes that lay in its path.   The birds sang, the sun shone through the branches of the ancient woodland, for a brief moment heaven invaded earth and she gave thanks to her God for this place, a refuge for quiet reflection.

She had little contact with the outside world on arrival.  Her computer simply refused to work,  a technical glitch which would remain unsolved for months.   She had long discarded any need for a television and its corrupting influence.  

Perhaps the answer to her prayer for help took longer than expected.   After all patience was not one of her virtues, it was sadly lacking, but she kept pestering her Lord.   Could he open another door, take her home at last, either way, she felt like a wild rabbit trapped in a snare. 

When you persist (Luke 18) the Lord moves.    Megan can't remember exactly when this happened but suddenly her battle was over and she was filled with His incredible peace.   She had to trust, wait on the Lord and leave everything in His hands.   

There is nothing amazing about Megan's story.    She is just one of His sheep blessed to have received the gift of faith, saved by the blood of Christ, trusting in His Word longing for His return.

Megan has a passion for the lost sheep and her Lord's teaching.   Perhaps you might say she became a sheep watcher.

The good sheep raises her lambs, feeds and protects them and then has to let them go.
Then there are the sheep who abandon their young.   If they are lucky the farmer will hand feed them, if they wander away they can starve.
And sadly the trapped sheep.

Megan remembered the large pregnant ewe she found trapped in a shallow ditch, the more the sheep struggled the tighter the brambles wrapped around her neck and body.   Safely tethering her dogs at a distance she took off her plastic mac and wrapped the sleeve around one hand using the body of the mac as best she could to protect the other hand.   The brambles didn't want to let go of their victim.

It was hard work and the struggling ewe made matters worse.   The thorns penetrated the thin plastic mac and by the time she had tugged at the last bramble the ewe pulled free and ran across the field to find the flock.  

Later that night she prayed for the captives struggling with addiction, victims of people trafficking,
those imprisoned for their witness, ordinary men and women suffering at the hands of greedy employers struggling to feed their families.  Those who through no fault of their own were suffering diseases inflicted by pollution others with self inflicted wounds.  The list was endless.    A suffering mass of humanity that needs to respond to the shepherd's call.

John 10 - 9
I AM THE DOOR.   IF ANYONE ENTERS BY ME, HE WILL BE SAVED, AND WILL GO IN AND OUT AND FIND PASTURE.

When you speak His Truth you offend.

When you stand on His Truth often you lose the love of family and friends who happily dance to the  music of this world.  You are considered opinionated and merely tolerated at social events.

BUT FOR A GENUINE CHRISTIAN THERE IS NO COMPROMISE.
Eternity in a right place is their goal.   

Those who ridicule and scoff are in a very dangerous place.   They refuse to see the warning signs so vividly prophesied in historical hebrew scripture their heads firmly buried in the sand of blissful ignorance.   They have all they will ever need and more so why worry about a sick and dying world in the control of a greedy few.

The God of the Old Testament never suggested to any of His people that killing your enemies was justified.   In the ten commandments He said "thou shalt not slay" (correct translation).   Genesis 4 - 10 And He said "What have you done?  The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.

The son of God instructed His followers in Matthew 5 - 43 - You have heard that it was said "You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.  But I say to you "love your enemies and bless those who curse you.   Megan knew with absolute certainty that her God is mighty and He could wipe every living creature off the planet should He so desire.

Until we learn to live in peace with our neighbour and take serious responsibility as guardians of the earth the future looks bleak and judgement will surely come. 

Matthew 13.30
Yeshua (Jesus) spoke this parable.

Let them both grow together until the harvest,
and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers,
"First gather the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them,
but gather the wheat into my barn."

Sadly not many people take the time to study prophecy, much less the fact that Jesus spoke in parables and hyperboles. (Exaggerated examples to stress the urgency)  but put simply this means His children and the sons/daughters of the Evil One live together in human society until the end.

Hopefully Megan and her brothers and sisters in Christ will see His Kingdom come.

Megan's Prayer

Thank you Lord for each blessing,

every moment this child moves closer to her eternal destiny.

Thank you Lord for a glimpse of eternity,

how truly blessed am I.

A gift more precious than any this world can offer

that brings with it Your peace in a world rapidly falling apart.

Thank you Abba (Father) for forgiving my human weaknesses,

picking me up every time I stumble,

often a result of my struggle through the quagmire of this life.

Your cleansing healing touch renews my spirit each day,

truly unworthy my heart fills with joy.

Use me in the days that remain,

then in Your gracious mercy guide this little boat safely to harbour.

SHEMA KOLENU

(Hear my prayer)  

*  Pilgrims Progress - John Bunyan.