STOP AT THE RED LIGHT

LUKE 21 (28)

Jesus said:

Now when these things begin to happen,

look up and lift up your heads,

because your redemption draws near.

NKJV*

The little high street was buzzing with Saturday night traffic eagerly making its way towards the pleasure domes, night clubs, pubs and dance halls.   Jim stood outside the local betting shop which was reasonably busy with punters, even at that late hour.    He was sandwiched between two boards carrying the wording "STOP AT THE RED LIGHT and REPENT" followed by the bible text John 14 - 21.

The local police were thin on the ground dealing with drug crime and domestic violence.   No one was concerned about the rather unkempt individual, and no one dared to meet his gaze.   Some hurled expletives, others grinned and spat at his feet.   Two young women smiled and said "Hi Jim" muttering as they passed by "poor bloke, he's finally lost the plot" and they giggled as they passed the local nail bar.

Where the rogue driver came from was difficult to ascertain.  Lately there had been a spate of cars deliberately targeting pedestrians.  Some trailing a remant of black cloth from the rear of the vehicle.

They didn't obey traffic law it was an unholy game of "chicken" and the carnage was increasing.

The driver of the speeding car enjoyed, positively revelled in the disgusted stares of senior citizens out for a short stroll before the long night ahead.   He was unaccountable to anyone, least of all Jim's so called God.   He raced through the stop sign on the road works.   Jim was walking past the warning traffic cones making his way to the local night shelter for a bowl of soup and a piece of bread.

Jim made it home that night.   His broken body lay smashed between the sandwich boards as he was unceremoniously loaded into the attendant ambulance.   He was a nobody and according to the local broadsheet considered mentally unstable.    His watchers were there ready to take his hand and lead him to the feet of his King.   Yeshua HaMashiach.   No doubt he heard the words "well done good and faithful servant"

The driver was never found.   A burnt out wreck was later discovered in a ditch near the local dual carriage way.  

STOP AT THE RED LIGHT

TIME TO REPENT before its too late.

It won't matter how much money you have accumulated - all gone.

It won't matter how beautiful your home and possessions - now just dust.

Your celebrity status - NOTHING - before a Holy God.   You will join the heap of human ash in the terrible Day of the Lord.

The corrupt apostate shepherds will receive their just reward for leading His sheep astray.

Evil dictators and governments will fall before the King of Kings.

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

As a young child I owned a small eraser and to my great relief with this tiny miracle I could rub out my error.   A wrong sentence or word and I could start again.  It removed my mistakes.

The apostate church in the U.K. needs to get down on its knees and pray forgiveness while it is still light.   Your enemy is within.  God will not be mocked and you will have to account for misleading the sheep.

Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) is the Saviour of this world.   ONLY HE can rub out - cancel your mistakes - however heinous - remove your filthy clothes and robe you in white.

There is only one FATHER - your FATHER in heaven.  HE can be reached in your quiet space, HIS mercy and forgiveness abounds.

STOP AND TURN the warning light shines in the darkness.

REPENT - for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

   Proverbs 3

  (32 - 35)

The perverse person is an abomination to the LORD,

But His secret counsel is with the upright.

The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, 

But He blesses the home of the just.

Surely he scorns the scornful,

But gives grace to the humble.

The wise shall inherit glory.

NKJV*

Every day I thank my God for true brothers and sisters in Christ and share their blessings.  All we can do  pray for those struggling without hope as the slaughter and mayhem increases.  His children are filled with His peace and hope for His kingdom is surely coming.

With one voice His children cry

Baruch ha ba b'shem Adonia.

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.

* NKJV - Spirit Filled Bible

Jack Hayford.

PRECIOUS AND PREFERRED

Matthew 18 1 - 4

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, 

and set him in the midst of them, and said,

"Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted 

and become as little children,

you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

"Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child

is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

"Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

NKJV

How do you get the message across  Gemma considered watching a young woman decked out like a christmas tree with an expensive push chair filled with hanging toys and a ribbon clad toddler pushing past the elderly woman dangling on the edge of the kerb.    

This world is all about self.   Some will brush a few crumbs to the needy, but as Gemma's father once announced "it's easy to be generous when you have, but the greater reward will be to those who have not, but give regardless".

Her father fearlessly challenged the charity canvasser on the main high street.  "And exactly where were you when baby P was battered to death."    "Oh well" replied the amiable young man "there are cases that slip through the net, would you consider a donation to help with our work."   "Yes" her father replied "when I actually see you are achieving results.   Trouble with this Nanny state is it appears to pick on the innocent and avoid the genuinely serious reports like the plague" he concluded.

Gemma walked into the bathroom that night to replace towels as her eight year old daughter was having her bath.   She flinched observing legs covered in bruises from thigh to ankle.   "What on earth" she exclaimed "where did you get those bruises" she enquired.   Her daughter replied "the kids at school kick my legs under the dinner table"   

The following day Gemma hurtled towards the door marked Head Mistress.   "Could you tell me why my daughter is being kicked by the other kids when she is sitting at the dining table.   I have counted exactly 30 bruises on them.  Obviously this is going on under the table and unnoticed by the dinner ladies.   She was met with a blank stare followed by a look of incredulous denial.   "Oh I don't think so"   "You don't" replied Gemma "well if this doesn't stop I will remove my daughter from your school."    In today's world the headmistress would have reported the mother to social services and Gemma herself would have been under interrogation.

The days are long gone when there was a sense of community.   The local policeman was respected and free to administer a sharp slap as he apprehended the kid who was brazenly climbing up his neighbour's drain pipe totally impervious to the fact that he was in danger of breaking his neck. 

Nanna kept a watchful eye on the kids playing in the street, not afraid to reprimand with a gentle mix of authority and love.  Thanks to the so called permissive society most of today's children are not afraid of anything or anyone and quite happily lie threatening both their parents and teachers.   They don't fear God, the police or what we laughingly call "the justice system"  They are the future of this country, God help us all.  

Of course there are always parents who try to teach their children a moral code and sound values, but their kids are usually the target of the bullies and some actually commit suicide.      Is there a future?  God isn't even in the equation for most.   It's the rule of the con man and the thug.  The blank stare and the hard heart.    

Children are simply beautiful but they do get things a tad twisted.   One child is reported as saying "do it to others before they do it to you" quoting the author as Jesus when what he meant to say was 

"do for others as you would have them do for you"  They are very aware of the hypocrisy and injustice of the powers that be and intend making the best of things.  After all if they can do it, so can we.  We should be leading by example, and the example is terrible.   Yes this is Britain 2015.   Drive past, don't see, it's all about me.

Perhaps the saddest song belongs to the elderly.  Trapped in ever weakening bodies that just refuse to cooperate, in a society that has little respect for their wisdom, perhaps contemplating whether to support  the drive to ditch this particular burden on the state budget.

They have much to contribute but for the most part live out the rest of their lives in little boxes watching the constant stream of drivel that emanates twenty four seven from the television in the corner of their cage.    Gemma asked Lisa "why do you have the television on all day watching those awfully boring chat shows" Lisa replied sadly "oh it's just company when you're on your own."  Hey lads and lassies it is written Moses was eighty years old before God called him to lead His people.   There's time for you to rise up and make a difference.     There's always the rebel, the odd one out protesting alongside the young activists, and the local widow who made history abseiling on her 100th birthday.   Her smiling face alongside the headline in the local paper.   

If we simply 'cared' for one another, helped one another, shared the burden along the way,  we could make a real difference.  

The frightened hostile child that has been carefully taught everyone is dangerous hides her face and fears the dark.   But there is always the innocent exuberant loving child who spontaneously smiles at all she meets. Her laughter is infectious, her name is Hope and she brightens every dark corner.    

"May heaven be filled with such as these"

Nanna

In a world that doesn't care, she is there.

Time is running out, 

but she still has clout.

Nobody great,

insignificant and small,

many a time

her back to the wall.

Suffering to come,

will decide her fate.

When the chips were down,

empty her plate.

And from the four winds,

the angels will come,

she's part of the harvest,

her work is now done.

T.Hills

2015   

  

Dedicated to my grandparents who were my rock and my shelter,

 and the constant in my life.

  

RAISE UP A MAN

MATTHEW 5 - 9
Blessed are the peacemakers
For they shall be called sons of God.
NKJV

My prayer over the last few years has been that the Lord would raise up a man of integrity and honesty to lead this once proud christian country.    Sadly due to the fact that many people voted for UKIP along with considerable voting apathy (most considering labour were a paler shade of the same) the country has to endure another term of a conservative government.

"Tut, tut" said the local church elder "we are supposed to pray for our leaders"  she then went on to pontificate "we must pray God would guide them".    She obviously doesn't know her enemy and how very active the adversary is in this world.

My reply "Oh I do - I pray my God will dump them in the Middle East and let them live in the derelict cities hearing forever the weeping of the widows and orphans.  The innocents of any waring country.

Now I have to pray for the new labour leader hoping everything that has been said about him being an "honest man of integrity" is true.   Evil men in places of power are devious.   He should avoid lone walks near heavily wooded areas!!!   He will need divine protection regardless. 

There have been quite a few patronising and derogatory remarks from men who clearly show their lack of maturity and spiteful natures.    The British public recognise "mud slinging" and realise you can't believe anything you read in a press mostly controlled by threats from government.   The hysterical comment by a former labour leader was to say the least 'mind blowing' considering he was part of the unholy mob that gave us the ongoing situation in the Middle East.

Perhaps the effect of watching a televised report of a small child standing in the rubble of his home in Afganistan was inspiration enough and that year my Christmas cards pointed out the fact that there was little peace or goodwill to all men.   Nevertheless it was inspired comment on what was to come and happens when young people of any country are "hot wired" and used by evil men.   

The Enemy Within

War Lords arise,

politicians loudly proclaim the western world as civilized,

yet we produce and sell the weapons of mass destruction.

Megalomaniacs 'hot wire' the idealistic fervour of young men and women educated in the western world, take aim, and the innocent die in the mayhem.

Yet in our darkest hour there are heroes, those who regardless of personal risk die in an attempt to save others.

Men of power move quickly to the safety of their underground bunkers and worried citizens rush to buy gas masks and protective clothing in a frenzy of self-preservation as the world press reports retribution.

An innocent child stands in the broken shell of his home,  a single wall remains standing.

Christian aid has been withdrawn, cold and hungry he listens as his parents talk of the coming winter and threatened war.

The western child sits in a room crammed with the trappings of over indulgence, watching his television, proudly waving the national flag, cheering as the war machine rolls out.

There can be no winners here, only losers.

Father forgive us.

T.Hills

(comment on effects of war in Afganistan)

T.Hills.

1998

Matthew 5 - 43 - 44-45

"YOU HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS SAID 'You shall love your neighbour and hate your enem

BUT I SAY TO YOU, "love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;

Regardless of any religious belief simple compassion for a fellow human being should speak against killing anyone.   What kind of beast enjoys murdering a baby?   Beheading a charity worker?

rejoicing at the sight of body parts littering the streets.   It's the ugly face of evil.   Even men following the authority and dictate of their commanders in the battlefield are mentally scared for the rest of their lives unless of course they are a paranoid schizophrenic or a drug crazed manic.   The buck rests with men at the top who lead, or incite that kind of behaviour.

Perhaps we could all learn from the documentary on R.T. showing an American service man returning to the killing fields in Vietnam.  He asks for forgiveness.

The Vietnamese man concerned said "it is not your fault, you were only carrying out orders" (paraphased because I can't remember the actual words).   A kind of absolution for the ex.soldier from a  man who had probably lost everything in a war that resulted in the loss of millions of his countrymen yet still he was able to forgive.

Research regarding the loss of life in Vietnam is freely available on the internet.   The Vietnamese government claimed that 400,000 people were killed or maimed by Agent Orange and that 500,000 children were born with birth defects.   One air force captain referring to the two napalm bombs dropped on an unsuspecting population said "it just fried everything that was left, women, children usually in their mother's arms and so many old people".  He is also quoted as saying "it was the epitome of immorality"

Perhaps the world needs to listen to the peacemakers 

because as sure as the sun will rise on a new day

mankind faces a volatile future,

until the Prince of Peace, Son of the living God returns.

Baruch ha ba b'shem Adonai.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

SHALOM 

   

DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER

MICAH 6 - 8

He has shown you, O man, what is good;

And what does the Lord require of you,

But to do justly,

To love mercy,

And to walk humbly,

WITH YOUR GOD?
NKJV 

Judy poked her head between the bed sheets flapping on the washing line in the September sunshine.   "Hi Megan" she called.  "Have a coffee break, the girls are coming at 11.00 unless of course you are busy.

"No" replied Megan "its a rest day after fighting the mob in the supermarket, shopping is a necessity not a pleasure for me.    I'll walk Skipper and then I'll be glad of a sit down for an hour.   Skipper hearing his name obligingly found his lead.   "You are one intelligent dog" said Megan proudly.   "Come on lets hit the trail"

In his D.V.D.  Greater abominations will happen* (first recorded in 2014) Jacob Prasch stresses the urgency for genuine followers of their Lord and Saviour to meet in fellowship and support one another because it is going to get much worse.   

Megan had already taken one pastor to task over his leadership and was politely told that she was the one with the problem.   Oh dear "critical spirit" status again.   Mind you he was probably part of the new wave philosophy.    Fish them in, and then Jesus will clean them up, meanwhile you contaminate the pond and baby fish might well shove off in another direction.

"First" said Megan rapidly losing her cool with the said pastor   "Repentance, then a genuine desire to break free from the sin that has them in bondage.   Physical signs of change. 

"So where to now Lord" Megan prayed, but there was nowhere to go.   Same sex marriage was just one of the abominations fully accepted in most churches, and she found the meeting with kindred spirits always healing and encouraging.   

"Oooh that coffee is good" said Megan as the doorbell announced the girls had arrived discussing the latest activities offered by their local church.   "Weight watchers"   

"Heavens above" said Jackie laughing "we won't have to worry about our weight, we'll be blessed if we can find something to eat the way things are going".

"Isn't it wrong for us not to trust that the Lord will look after his children" said Paula.
   

"So why did Joseph have to explain the warning dream to Pharaoh - Genesis 41 - 17-21 of plenty and followed by famine.  I think He expects us to be discerning, read the signs of the time and keep a good stock of basic dry and tinned food and water, that is not dependable on a fridge or freezer" said Jackie.    

"Who can find the quote about not being able to buy a loaf of bread with a bar of gold" enquired Ruth.   Groans all round.   She continued "although actually I think that was my Mum's version made simply so that a child could understand.

Ezekiel 7 - 19

They will throw their silver into the streets,

And their gold will be like refuse;

Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them

In the day of the wrath of the LORD;

They will not satisfy their souls,

Nor fill their stomachs,

Because it became their stumbling block of iniquity. 

     

"And what on earth is Zumba?" asked Janet giggling.   "Have no idea" replied Sue "but count me out it takes me all my time to do the gardening these days"    

"Sounds a bit like African tribal stuff to me" said Judy "just exactly where is the respect and awe for the house of God.   Prayer, sound teaching, reflection, meditation.   All gone in the soup of modern music.  

"Right girls we have the You-tube video by Jacob Prasch.    It's only 50 minutes, we have enough time."  Judy pushed in a rewarding tea trolley laden with sandwiches and cream cakes.

"Well" said Paula realising the title of the teaching video "that doesn't go well with cream doughnuts and coffee."

"We have to be ready for anything" said Megan.   Perhaps then we will get our priorities right.   Bye bye to nail bars, coloured hair, botox and tats.   Get out the old carbolic soap, stock up on woollies and wrap Nanna in a thermal blanket."   

Giggles all round.

"By the way Jenny was seven last week" said Megan.   "She loves minions and said "Mummy can I send up for a lipstick tazer on Amazon.  She considers Amazon sell just about everything.    She had been watching Despicable 2 and decided it was perhaps a good idea to have one in case someone tried to arrest her Daddy for being a christian and saying something THEY didn't like.   I wouldn't want to kill anyone Mummy that's wrong, but that might make them go way"

"I positively weep for the kids that don't know the Lord" said Megan.   One boy laughed at Jenny's witness and said "that's a load of rubbish he was just a guy on pot."

"My Mum intends running the opposition over with her mobility scooter.   She never wanted to drive a car but she's lethal with that thing" exclaimed Judy.

"The guys are positively anesthetized now the football season is back" sighed Sue.     They wouldn't even realise we had disappeared in God's giant vacuum until they realised they were hungry and protested "where's the wife gone"

It's just another example of modern idol worship"" said Megan.  Football is just a game, I enjoyed kicking a ball around with my brothers,  but like everything else its out of control and worshipped by millions.

"Okay - tell it as it is Jacob" interrupted Ruth as they gathered round the computer.   Fifty minutes later  a sober silence descended on the group as they digested the contents.  

"It's a miracle Jacob is still alive" Judy exclaimed "I am sure he has many enemies in the church baying for his blood"

"That's nothing new" replied Paula.   "They shoot the messenger.   Be it "whistle blower" or simply men standing against the train wreck of a state church.   Men of conscience.    We go round and round in circles.   

"Look what the English did to William Wallace" replied Sue "do you know I am proud of my Scottish/Irish genes.  I would quite happily emigrate to Scotland for the next "independence vote"  

"But it would be thermals for most of the year darling" said Judy.    

"Small price to pay" replied Sue "I am just miffed, the independence vote was fiddled if anything ever was.   Frighten people with the thought that their bank balance might be at risk, that they might just lose something.   As usual it was not about country, it was all about SELF.  I could have wept for the youngsters who were so convinced it was in the bag.   The dark Lord had his finger in the mix.

"Lies and propaganda" said Megan "but it is coming to us all, how long before THEY say you can only have £50 out this week.

"Well" Sue replied "it will only affect those that have anyway.   We don't have holidays any more.   Dan's on a bike.   Aldi is just down the road.   We walk.

"Shall we now encourage ourselves in His precious name" said Judy.

Daniel 12 - 3

Those who are wise shall shine

Like the brightness of the firmament,

And those who turn many to righteousness

Like the stars forever and ever.

And just consider the advice the Lord gave to Daniel - 12 - 13

But you, go your way till the end;

for you shall rest, and will arise to

your inheritance at the end of days.

"Can someone please help me arise" exclaimed Ruth "I have been sitting far too long and I'm as stiff as a board.

By the way I found a really funny snippet when I was researching the prophet Elijah last week on Bible.org by a man called Bob Deffinbaugh commenting on christians who expect reward for their service.

It was about two men arriving at heaven's gate.  One a pastor of 43 years and a cab driver.   The pastor expected a much higher crown but his was smaller with fewer stars so he challenged Peter.   "I served you for 43 years - how come my reward was less".

And the punch line.

Peter said "Well your reward is based upon the result of your ministry.   While you preached, people slept.   While he drove, people prayed.    

Thank you Bob - what a great sense of humour.   The study was on the prophet Elijah and how the people of the time had turned to Baal and the worship of idols and it fits neatly in with our modern world.   Watch out. 

You do realise God is going to ask us "what did you do with your time on earth".   Right now all I could say is "sorry Lord I've had a bad case of sloth.   Time to get organised.   Go to it girls.  Remember God has a sense of humour after all He loves us warts and all"  and with that Ruth disappeared down the lane on her mobility scooter  

* NJKV - Spirit Filled Bible.

**  Abominations still to come - Jacob Prasch.  (2014)  You-Tube.  

  

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.