John 14 - 2
In my Father's house are many mansions:
if it were no so I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
KJV
"Our seat" thought Betty sinking back into the soft leather sofa, "our little retreat from a busy world,
a warm shelter from the wind and the rain. How will I ever make it without you"
Her thoughts were interrupted as Bethany was virtually blown in the cafe doorway. "Heavens above its wild out there" she exclaimed.
One glance at Betty's face said it all "Oh my poor love" she whispered clutching Betty in a fierce embrace. "Don't worry, you know Lee is safe with our Lord, we will all be together again. How are you coping?" she enquired anxiously.
"On auto pilot mostly" replied Betty "one dreary day after another. I can't seem to lift my head above the grey clouds and the continual rain. I have never felt so alone, even in a crowd. The emptiness is crushing but I have to get a grip and press on, thankful for what we had. It was just the suddenness and that was a blessing for him, but I so wanted to grow old with him."
"You will make it Betty" said Beth "what is coming will be terrible and it will be every man to the oars, stormy waters ahead but the Lord can use you mightily."
"How is everyone" asked Betty more than ready to change the subject. "We are fine" replied Beth "although Mum is getting a little absent minded. She complained she is shattered after the weekly shopping expeditions and just trying to remember where she put things. She left her card in the pin machine. I think she got flustered because she was trying to pack her shopping with a large queue behind her and she moved away from the till as quickly as she could toward the doorway when a kind shop assistant shouted "you've left your card" but worse than that she hadn't put her numbers in - so to all intent and purpose she was leaving the store with a trolley full without paying. How embarrassing was that for her. Fortunately it was her local store and they knew how old she was (even though she certainly doesn't look her age) and that it was a dreaded "senior moment" but the shop assistant herself must have been distracted by someone for this to have happened.
Mum said "honestly Beth my guardian angel must be really looking forward to his retirement"
"Yes" I replied "he must be fed up carrying that robe around - and mine's on prozac"
The two women had a fit of giggles and for Betty it was warm oil poured over her aching heart.
"Here comes the soup, I've ordered your favourite" Betty announced as Dan approached their table.
"Mmmh this is lovely" said Beth "and just what I needed."
"Beth did you see the programme on R.T. about the Siberian Apostles sect." Betty enquired. "Yes, I did" replied Beth "it was very interesting but really you were none the wiser as to the man behind it all. And of course you would have to have a considerable sum of money to move to that idyllic situation at the foot of the mountain.
One might question why their leader would only answer previously given questions. I seriously doubt he would answer mine. And it was a tad suspicious that we never saw his residence - the second in command's place was splendid enough. Was it just a case of getting out of the rat race for these people, or did they seriously believe he was Christ, because if so they were terribly misguided.
Matthew 24 - 5
For many shall come in My name saying I am the Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24 - 27
For as the lightening cometh out of the east and shineth even unto the west; so shall also be the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24 - 30
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Matthew 24 - 23 - 25
Then if a man shall say unto you Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shew great signs and wonders; insomuchthat, if it were possible, they shall deceive even the very elect. See I have told you beforehand.
Matthew 24 - 26
Therefore if they say to you look he is in the desert do not go out.........
(or in their case - "do not go up the mountain - obviously
) Nevertheless the man won't be the first to gain a following of those with absolutely no discernment - by their fruits.
How many warnings do people need. Does this cult believe the scriptures. If they think he is the Christ then they must have some knowledge of the bible.
Jesus had nowhere to lay his head. We certainly weren't privy to where this man laid his head or his lifestyle. Jesus had a crowd of 5,000 followers but eventually got down to just twelve, and even one of those was a bad apple. He spoke the truth - people don't want the truth its a really good way to lose friends and make enemies. I speak from experience here.
Joel made me laugh the other day. We were watching the film Ice Age with the children.
It came to the bit where the mini slothes were worshipping Sid who they had pronounced as their Sun King. Joel commented "someone must have been on the trail of the modern church circuit evangelists to have written that bit" And what excellent teaching for kids is Scrat. Chasing after that illusive "acorn" and eventually finding the height of his desire - that golden acorn - only to be dragged back down into his disappointed body. Lost it. What a brilliant sense of humour those guys have. I laughed till I cried."
"According to Max Keiser" said Betty "everyone is about to lose their stash. All gone. Nobody appears to be listening either - he considers they would just comment "right, I am just going to watch dancing with the stars" or words to that effect. But in reality when it happens they will squeal like stuffed pigs. If life has taught me anything it's that those that have do not like parting with it. That is how they got it in the first place. Of course there are exceptions - my own grandfather was such a generous man and freely helped where ever he could."
Last week I looked at the A.W. Tozer site on You Tube. Heavens, what a wonderful man, it's happening just as he said it would. I happened to notice Sid Roth's video on homosexuality. He was interviewing a guy called Dr. Michael Brown who has written a book called "A queer thing happened to America" and not one Christian publisher would touch it. Amazing.
"Actually" commented Beth "I was really impressed with Putin's stance on the subject. He told the lobbyists to "leave the children alone" God bless him. We are truly sick of having their agenda forced upon us, no way are they pushing us into a closet. "And my kids" here Beth was in warrior mode
"no one is teaching my kids that is normal."
"Woah" said Dan "approaching their table with a big grin on his face. "That's fighting talk they'll find something to pin on you and you'll finish up inside." "That's okay" said Beth "I will be following in the footsteps of Jesus's apostles." "Yes sweetheart" replied Betty "but you have two children and these people are in the social services and the courts, just blend into the background for this moment in time and leave it to those who can take it further. Who don't have responsibilities." "Is that a yes to coffee and cake then" suggested Dan smiling.
"Yes please Dan" said Beth "the colour slowly subsiding in her cheeks. "I just wish people would wake up and smell the smoke. No one wants to hear about the dangers of sin, hell and damnation, they don't even believe in Satan and his little helpers. And that is precisely where he is winning, for now.
Matthew 10 - 28
And fear not them that which kill the body,
but are not able to kill the soul:
but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
KJV
As they enjoyed their coffee and cheesecake Beth raised the question about Betty's plans for the foreseeable future. "Are you going to do a "Marigold Hotel" she said smiling. "Hardly" replied Betty "you know I actually bought the D.V.D. because it was supposed to be funny and a feel good movie and I needed something cheerful. Actually I found it incredibly sad. Maggie Smith was excellent as usual but the package of a possible divorce, two prospecting gold diggers and a sudden death of a homosexual judge with the group watching a funeral pyre well alight was a step too far for me. I preferred Quartet. Andrew Sachs was absolutely brilliant, his script was small, but his face said it all. Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins would brighten any dull day and Maggie Smith's portrayal of a retired diva was superb, and lets not forget the supporting cast of retired musicians still happily playing their way to THE big orchestra.
Any further conversation was interrupted by a commotion in the street. A thin disheveled looking man in a fit of rage lunged towards a cowering woman who already had a black eye from a previous encounter. She ducked out of his way standing in the middle of the busy road.
Dan quickly dialed 999 and hurried out of the cafe to intervene. Foul expletives poured from the crazed man. He screamed "it none of your ...... business she's my ....... wife followed by a further torrent of verbal abuse. "No" said Dan firmly "you shouldn't be treating her like that" At this point the man changed his focus and lurched towards Dan, but Dan had the advantage. He was taller, broader and any attempt by the man to head butt a new target was going nowhere.
"Right Jim" said the police officer slapping on the cuffs "you're coming with us" The silent onlookers moved off, show over. They were used to this display of violence, and no one had ever tried to help Lizzy.
"Thanks Dan" said the police officer as he bundled the now pathetic figure into the police car. "That's what a call a swift response" said Dan grinning. "We were cruising the area when the call came in, can I leave you to help the woman" said the officer. "You sure can" said Dan. "Come on Lizzy" said Dan stretching his hand towards the pathetic figure standing in a rain soaked coat. "Let's get you warmed up with some soup and bread rolls. You are coming home with us when we close the cafe. Is that okay with you babe". He gestured towards the woman serving behind the counter. She nodded her approval.
"You know he wasn't always like that" Lizzy cried as she burst into tears "when we first met he was kind and loving and then he starting hanging around with Alvin and his dealer friends and that was it.
Dan looked at her sadly "you know if he won't go into re.hab he is heading for an early grave but we will pray for him. "Come on ladies - we need to do this now." There was a whispered holy huddle of prayer.
Later Dan returned with steaming hot chocolate and a plate of biscuits. "On the house girls" he said "sorry about the disturbance" then he moved to sit with Lizzy who was slowly recovering from her ordeal.
"You know I feel such a fraud" said Beth "here Dan is right in the thick of it, just like the Lord and Joel and I are in our hideaway"
"Your time will come Beth" said Betty "but right now you have your hands filled with the little ones and everything that the shelter will become. One by one the Lord will send people to you. As for me, He will use me right here alongside the Dan's of this world and our own little group.
A noisy thud announced the arrival of Joel his cheeks bright red from the cold air. "A quick coffee and then we'll have to push off, the weather is closing in and they have forecast heavy snow. We can't leave Mum with the kids too long, she tires easily. She says its not physical tiredness so much as having to be alert to whatever mischief they decide to plan." He grinned at his wife "they must take after you Beth, okay, put the plate down."
"Oh" moaned Beth "we really don't want to leave you"
"Yes" replied Betty "you must go now"
Dan crossed the cafe and stood by Betty's side. "She is safe with us" he said "we'll keep an eye on her" Beth paused to wave at the diminutive figure standing next to a Dan and considered there was a man who was truly following His Lord.
"Why is it" she questioned "people just can't discern true followers of Jesus from the hirlings and fraudsters.
"Well" said Joel "its a bit like the mini slothes isn't it. They are attracted by something, charisma, whatever and it builds from there, and we can't say we weren't warned."
That night Betty prayed for her young friends and for Jim and Lizzy. She knew it would take a revelation of God to turn the drug addict around. She fell into a deep sleep exhausted by grief and the events of the day. But God is gracious and Lee came in her dream and sat beside her, just like he used to do. In the morning he was gone but the feeling of comfort stayed. One night she would take his outstretched hand and without a backward glance she would leave for a better place.
Psalm 17 - 15
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
