Our responsibility in these times.

Giving presents at Christmas is a nice thing to do, but the greatest thing we can do to our little children, grand children, or great grandchildren is to share the story of Jesus' birth . It doesn't even matter whether Jesus was not born on December 25th, which He actually wasn't, but what does matter is that little ones will have the true story told to them. What comes straight into my mind is Proverbs ch. 22 v.6 which says :- 

 'Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it'.

This does not mean that they will not stray, for all have to be born again of God's Holy Spirit in order to learn God's ways, and in John ch. 3 vs 3-5 Jesus mentions  this:- 

' Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'

Nicodemus said unto Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God.'

All we as born again believers can be responsible for, regarding children at this time of the year, is to make sure that they not only get nice gifts - whatever they might be - but most importantly hear the story of Jesus' birth, so that they will know of it.

May the Lord Jesus be our strength in these trying times, and I pray for those who don't know Him to come to Him and seek His wisdom. God bless all who read with all the blessings He has for us.

Seeing the whole picture

 In a previous house we lived in we were having cavity wall insulation put in, there were two men doing the job and I had made them both a cup of coffee. They finished the drink and left the cups on the step outside the French doors.  In the meantime my husband was questioning one of the workmen on an issue to do with why a certain area of the cavity wall was not being treated. The man gave my husband an explanation and then carried on his work.  My husband did not quite understand what the man had said and so questioned him further.  The man said 'You don't believe me do you?' and proceeded to explain more fully why the particular area of the wall was not being treated.  Finally, when my husband had more information, and could see the whole picture, he was satisfied that the man was right in what he was saying.  Until he had all the information my husband had been making a judgment with the small amount of knowledge that he had on the subject.  Lack of understanding had caused suspicion.

Soon after, something else happened which reaffirmed this train of thought.  I had brought the coffee cups in from the doorstep to wash them.  I noticed that there was a crack around the base of one of the cups.  'Throw it out' said my husband.  'There's another one of those mugs that has a crack in it in the cupboard.'  I said, 'I'll throw that one out too.'  This I endeavoured to do.

As I threw the two cups into the kitchen bin I suddenly had a thought in my mind. What if one of the men wanted to throw something into the bin and spotted the two cups there, they could think that I had thrown the two cups that they had used into the bin simply because they had drunk from them, for all the mugs were the same. What an awful atmosphere that would create!

One part of my mind was telling me not to be so absurd, but the other part was pointing out the fact that my husband's limited knowledge had caused him to be suspicious about the reason the workmen were not insulating one particular area of the house, and that the same situation could happen with the mugs when they had not heard our conversation regarding them. So I decided that the easiest way of avoiding misunderstanding was to put the cups inside a carrier bag inside the kitchen bin.  I had been made aware of how easy it is to misjudge a situation by what we see and think we know, when we do not see the whole picture.

It is God alone Who sees all, and these kind of trials are given us so that we might learn to be patient and not to judge by the small amount we think we know by what we see.  

How do I tell them You love them

I would just like to share a poem and a song that I wrote some time back.

LIFE IS A GIFT  (poem)

Life is a gift of precious time

a lease of years untold

do we realize this naked truth                             

as our given days unfold

and should we not be listening                     

each moment of the day

to the Voice that's crying out to us                       

to walk the narrow way

One life we have upon this earth

to live just as we choose

a span of precious moments of time

a time that we must use

We find ourselves within a space

there are others there as well

and why they're brought across our path

God alone can tell

We're everyone each loved by Him

every woman, child and man

and the only thing He'll ask of us

is to do the best we can

And the only thing remaining

as we stand before God's Son

will be God's book of remembrance

and the deeds that we have done

HOW DO I TELL THEM YOU LOVE THEM   (song)

How do I tell them You love them

how can I show them You care

how can I tell them You died for them Lord

their sickness, their sins You did bear

How can I tell of salvation 

the path to the Father revealed

how can I say, if they call on Your name

the wounds from this world can be healed

Grant me the courage to tell them

anoint me with power from above

use me, my Lord, to go out in their midst

to tell them about Your great love

I want them to know about Jesus

the One with the power to save

the Holy One sent to release us from sin

the Son of God raised from the grave

I thank You, my Father, for Jesus

Who’s with You, sat at Your right hand

and I thank You, my Lord, that you answer my prayer

when I pray for the lost in this land

‘Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land, when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it    Psalm 37 v.34

‘‘ For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost ‘   Luke ch.19 v10

Springtime resurrection

I have been quite busy lately, and have not been able to put together a post I have in mind, so I thought I would re post one of the articles I wrote some time back, which speaks  about looking forward to both physical and spiritual brighter days.  I called it 'Springtime resurrection'.

 

 

Springtime!  What a perfect example of resurrection.  I look at the cherry tree in my garden at that time of year and see life that has lain hidden for months shoot forth in new form from the branches of the tree that has stood firm through Winter's harshness protecting all that lay within.  How clearly it reveals to me the protection of the Lord as I struggle to live the life of a Christian in this world, endeavouring to run and win the race that is set before me. 


I am being formed in Christ, being created in the image of the One within whom I rest, as I learn God's ways.  I am encouraged through all that I see in this example of nature's time of renewal as the branches start to sprout buds which in their turn become both leaves and blossom which will play their individual parts in the tree bearing fruit and reproducing, and I am captivated by the fact that the parent tree has given the protection from the elements that is essential before this new creation can emerge.
 

 

Just as the new life began to form in the darkest season, so too did Jesus enter into my life at its darkest time.  Just as the life of the tree is within  the new creation that it will form and the new creation lies within  the tree at its most vulnerable stage in Winter, and even when Spring arrives must stay connected to live, so too a Christian must hide in Christ at a very young age and stay connected, even when mature, to live.  
 

 

In the book of John, ch.11 v.25 Jesus says that He is the resurrection and the life, and it is belief in Him that causes one to have that 'life'.  In the same way that the tree contains every thing within itself to protect and bring forth its own new life, Jesus has within Himself, through the Word of God, everything that will protect us from the world's destructive influence, and that will conform us to His image.


If God is for me

If God is for me who can be my foe?
that the Master loves me is all I need to know
Can tribulation, trial and fear
make me give up hope when my Lord is near
can worldly woes and misery
keep me tightly bound when I've been set free?
No, God the Father heard my cry

long ago He sent His Son to die
The perfect, spotless lamb was slain
to free man from sin's filth and pain
and now this sin - my enemy
always crouching at my door
at Jesus' name must bow the knee
and trouble me no more

 

 

Throughout the Winter, though the elements may pound against my cherry tree, the forming of the new branches that will appear in the Spring goes on within.  So too if I remain within the protection of Christ the tree of life, being nurtured by His substance, I shall attain that resurrection from the death of my sinful state and be conformed into His sinless image, just as my loving Heavenly Father has desired.


I say a prayer to Jesus

I say a prayer to Jesus 

to the One who always hears
to the Holy One of Isra-el 
who wipes away all tears
Great reader of hearts 
and Spirit of truth
guide us dear Lord 
in our days of youth
My prayer is for wisdom 
to know what is right
Oh send us the fire 
to lighten our night

Make our pathways straight Lord
teach us to lean on You 
lead us by Your Spirit Lord
with Your word so pure and true
We love You Lord as children
who love a Father dear
we cry to You to comfort us and know that You will hear
We know the world is treacherous in this the evil day
so guide our feet dear Father along the narrow way
One thing we've known for certain from the day of our rebirth
is that He who lives within us is greater than he that is on this earth


  'I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.   He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes that it will be even more fruitful.   You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.   Remain in me, as I also remain in you.   No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.   Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.   I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;  apart from me you can do nothing.    If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.   If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.    This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.'     John ch. 15 vs.1-8

I've found all I need in what You are

If I could have one hundred crowns

all decked with precious stones

if ten thousand queens of Sheba

brought me presents from afar                                                 

If I lived in perfect luxury 

with gold to flesh my bones

Lord these things could never make me

what You are

I could have the world's great scholars

with their intellect and fame

they'd teach me logic, they'd teach me science

they'd teach me how the flowers grow

I would have the best position

with wages I could name

but they could never teach me what You know

There's only one crown that I want

it's not decked with fancy jewels

no fine important persons

bring me presents from afar                                                           

I may live in humble dwellings

surrounded by life's fools

but I've found all I need in what You are

I've found the finest teacher                           

God sent You from above

and it's not with Earthly wisdom                   

that I'm taught

for I'm learning patience, kindness            

I'm learning tolerance and love

and with all the gold on Earth

that can't be bought

I could climb the highest mountains

search the heavens high above

I could sail the world's great seas

from shore to shore

never finding what I'm looking for

that sanctuary of love

For it's in God's house

and Jesus - You're the door

Time is passing by

I Just feel to re post this post that I put up about seven years ago when I lived in Wales, as time means nothing to the Lord.  The booklet that I speak about in the older post has now been finished:-  

 For some time now I have felt that I want to put a little booklet together, but never seem to be able to make the time to do it.  I have created  several small booklets with my desk top publishing programmes in the past, some articles of which I have used in posts on my blog, and feel a strong urge to write another one.   So this may be the last post I will write for a while as I will not be able to spend so much time on blogging, although I will enjoy visiting other blogs to catch up on my reading now and again, and if I feel the urge to put up a post, will do so.   I thoroughly enjoy interacting with other bloggers, and thank other bloggers for interacting with me.  However, I  know there is a time for everything and do not want to miss the moment as time passes by quickly and I believe that the Holy Spirit is encouraging me to write this booklet, for whatever reason, and that I must respond to that encouragement to be in the will of the Lord. 

'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens'

Ecclesiastes ch.3 v.1

Two days ago I went to  a nature park with my sister to have a reunion with two old school friends.   I had visited this place before and taken some lovely pics of the swans there one Summer, so it was nice to re-visit it in Winter.

All things are passing by

There is a season for all things a time and purpose too

for God has fashioned every day that we must travel through

There is a season to be strong, a season to be weak

a time to give opinion and a time we should not speak

And whether things be good or bad, all things are passing by

for this world is a testing place to perfect both you and I

So do not worry if some days all things do not go right

just be yourself - maintain your ways, be honest in God's sight

And if today you need more strength or patience to endure

just call upon the Saviour's name, His counselling is pure

'Tis He alone who understands the 'wherefore's' and the 'why's'

and nothing in this world of man is hidden from His eyes

So seek instruction from the One who watches from above

for every word that comes from Him is blessed with grace and love     

     

'Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will defend my own ways before Him.  He also shall be my salvation: for a hypocrite shall not come before Him.'

Job ch.13 vs.15,16

I just feel to add this short poem to encourage other believers to share what they feel led to 

share.

The planting of a seed

You may not reap the harvest 

of the work that you have done

may never know the outcome of your deed

but all that matters in God's eyes

is that you  do your best

to help another being with a need

You may say 'Did I do enough

and could I have done more?'

but the battle is not ours to fight

as our Saviour has already won the war

The title must be 'Truth'

We do not need to have a title to be able to share the gospel. I have never understood why people are called 'The Reverend' or 'The Right Reverend', or 'The Most Reverend'.  Reverend means 'one who must be respected', and as a born again believer I believe that what, and Who, must be respected is the Word of God - Jesus. When I see people on the television with so called 'dog collars' on being called by these titles, I think 'Where does all this come from?, I do not see it as scriptural.'

I am reminded of 'class' in the community where people are judged by whether they are rich or poor, by their looks, their jobs and many other positions in life, and we must be very careful not to allow any of these titles to allow us to believe that it is only what specific people with high titles preach is TRUTH.  Sometimes the  TRUTH of the Word of God can be overlooked, and things allowed in congregations that are forbidden in scripture because the people 'in charge' have titles.  I am not saying that this is always the case, what I am saying is that what they preach is more important than their title.

There are two doves that come to my patio doors in my kitchen, it makes my husband laugh to see them and when he sees them he always says 'Brenda, your friends are outside'. The reason they come to look through into my kitchen is because I have been feeding them in the garden for months with suet balls that I buy for them.  They come for the food, no matter who gives it to them whether it be me or my husband. This to me is like an analogy of how we are fed, and feed in the Lord. That Word is the BREAD OF LIFE, and it is only that food that we  'eat' that enables us to grow in the Lord and have eternal life, no matter who is used to bring it. 

The finest example of God using 'ordinary' (yet not 'ordinary') people to spread His Word is Jesus ,Who came in the form of a carpenter, yet He was condemned by many of the 'religious' Pharisees, as in Luke ch. 5 v. 21  and Matthew ch. 12 . When we are born of God's Holy Spirit then we ALL become part of the body of Christ on earth, being brought to share whatever we are given by God to share. 
God forbid that I, or anyone,  should ever become like a religious Pharisee as I journey on to the promised land of eternal life.  I share this poem/ prayer regarding this - that I wrote many years ago.

Blind Pharisee

They didn't know You Jesus, nor recognised Your face
they couldn't see the wisdom, the power or the grace
They only saw a carpenter, a man of 'low degree'
Who said that God had sent Him to set the captives free
'Who is this man from Nazareth' they cried out in dismay 
'How dare he heal a withered hand, upon our Sabbath day'
They cared not that You healed the sick and caused the blind to see
You said You was the Son of God, so they shouted 'Blasphemy'
Why couldn't they believe Lord that God works through the poor
why did they let pride stop them from walking through the door
Lord don't let my pride stop me from receiving God's grace
let me see only Jesus shine from a brother's face
For if we judge another by what we see outside
we may not see the Father, and suffer for our pride
Thank You for Your Spirit Lord, the TRUTH that sets me free
Father keep me humble lest I become a Pharisee 

Lord take us to the prisoners

 My greatest desire since I have been born again of God's Holy Spirit is to spread the gospel to as many people as I can for the rest of my life. Although my friend and I spent many years evangelising in the streets with the leaflets and songs that the Lord had given us to share, and I love blogging, the reaching out to others who do not know the Lord still remains within my heart. I still have many leaflets, and laminated poems that speak of Jesus that I feel to give to people, but am not sure where this could be done.  When my friend and I were first brought together we always thought that we would have a cafe called 'The Lighthouse' where we would give these leaflets and poems out. This did not happen, and I ended up having a blog called 'Lighthouse vision ', yet I still feel that something is still in the future where the remainder of what has been given me to share amongst those who do not know Jesus will be shared. Please pray for me regarding this.

My friend and I also became prison visitors, something which we enjoyed doing very much, and just as we prayed for those physical prisoners I pray for those who are imprisoned in the spirit, that they would be set free from the darkness of this world and come to the light of our beautiful Lord. 

A PRAYER FOR THE PRISONERS

Lord have mercy on them all 

for they know not what they do

the perils of this world surrounding them 

are forbidding their vision of You

Turn their shadowy darkness to reflections of light

let them look on Your wonderful face

for there's no other Saviour can fight their fight

only Jesus - God's manifest grace

So have mercy great Master - reach down from Your throne

cause Your hand to unlock prison doors

for the captives are weary from fighting alone

they don't know that the battle is Yours

They don't know there's a warrior - a great mighty Lord

the One of Whom boldly we sing

they don't know this redeemer - with two edged sword

has the power to change everything

For they're locked in their prison of darkness and woe

powerless - unable to see

that the jailer is satan - a most cunning foe

who once had a power over me

So now send us dear Father with mercy and grace

out to rescue the injured and dying

close our eyes to what's written on worldly face

let our ears hear imprisoned souls crying

LORD TAKE US TO THE PRISONERS

Lord take us to the prisoners

Lord lead us to the ones that are bound

Lord take us to the weary

give rest to their souls - cause the lost to be found

Lord take us to the injured

Lord lead us to the ones that are lame

Lord take us to the helpless

give sight to the blind by the power in Your name

Lord take us to the thirsty

Lord lead us to the ones that are dry

Lord take us to the lost ones

and open our ears to their pitiful cry

I sing this song to my beautiful Saviour Jesus

You are my God, You are my King

You are my Prince of Peace - You are my everything

You have the power and the authority

to bring down each stronghold and principality

and I worship You - and I worship You

I worship You my Lord

You are the chosen One of the Great I AM

You are the Holy One - You are the risen Lamb

You are the Prince of Peace - the King of Kings

The One of Whom creation sings

and I worship You - and I worship You

I worship You my Lord

Fear or Trust?

Do we fear when trials come upon us, and if we do - what does our fear achieve? 

There are two scriptures that come to mind when I am going through a trial in the Lord:-

One is 'Job ch. 3 v.25  where Job said  'For what I fear comes upon me'.

The other is Proverbs ch. 3 v.5:- 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding'

So do we allow that fear to cause us to not trust in the Word of God spoken to us, and hinder  us from believing and receiving?

Where does the 'fear' come from ? It comes from the spiritual enemy who tries to rob us of what God has in store for us by putting negative thoughts into our carnal minds when not everything goes how we want it to go, but takes a turn for what we would call 'the worse'. 
However, there are positive thoughts  that we have access to through the mind of Christ - the Word of God that will combat those negative thoughts if we take them captive and bring them into obedience to that Word.   The trials that we go through are there for a reason. James ch. 1 vs. 2 and 3 reads:- 'Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.' This is an ongoing message to all who are part of  the body of Christ on earth - the church.   Fear is the negative - Faith is the positive, the substance of things hoped for.

I share two small poems that I wrote years ago that I would hope encourage those who might be finding it very hard to endure their trials in the Lord.

To be just like Jesus

'Oh for an easy life' they say
'where nothing ever goes wrong'
That's what the world cries out for
but Lord it's not my song
For how would I ever learn patience
without tribulation and trial
or how could I ever endure hard times
yet still be able to smile
But I say 'Oh to be just like Jesus
to be like the One raised from the dead'
So I'll glory in my afflictions
while the power of God rests on my head



Do not worry, do not fear

Do not worry - do not fear
let your hearts be still
for who alone of mortal man
can always know God's will
But this we know - who worship Him
by faith shall live the just
for then we see the power of
the One in Whom we trust

The love of the Father, shown through the Son

I feel in this post to glorify my Father God and my Lord Jesus, the Word of God, through poems and songs that I have been brought to write since I have been born again of God's Holy Spirit. Some may have been shared in previous posts, but these are what are on my heart now to share. They are a variety of verses through which I spoke to the Lord, and also through which I have felt that the Lord spoke to me in certain appropriate situations, as I work out my salvation and learn God's ways through the teaching of the Word spoken to me daily by the Holy Spirit.

If You wasn't with me

Lord if You wasn't with me I couldn't go on
for I know in this world I just do not belong
and it's only the love that You have for all men
that I feel working through me again and again
that is keeping this soul on an even keel
and combating everything else I might feel


Weep no more child (song about repentance)
Weep no more child, I have bought your peace
I have suffered in your place
all the blows the world has dealt you 
I have taken on my face

Turn around turn around and I will forgive
turn around, turn around, turn around child and live
For I take no pleasure in the death of a soul
turn around, seek my face child, and I'll make you whole

Strive no more child, I can bring release                         
I regained what you had lost
Righteousness was purchased for you                                
when they nailed me to that cross

Turn around turn around and I will forgive
turn around, turn around, turn around child and live
For I take no pleasure in the death of a soul
turn around, seek my face child, and I'll make you whole

Sin no more child, turn and look at me
see that I have paid the price
so that you could have salvation
I became the sacrifice

Turn around turn around and I will forgive
turn around, turn around, turn around child and live
For I take no pleasure in the death of a soul
turn around, seek my face child, and I'll make you whole


Somewhere (a prayer for others) -song
Somewhere someone's hurting Lord
somewhere someone's hurting
A wife has left her husband
and he's crying in despair
He doesn't know there's a comforter     
he doesn't know You're there
Lord reach out and comfort him
send help from above
send help from the sanctuary
let the world see Your love

Somewhere someone's dying Lord
somewhere someone's dying
The doctor's shake their heads and say
'There's nothing can be done'
They've never seen a miracle
performed by God's own Son
Lord reach out and heal him
send help from above
send help from the sanctuary
let the world see Your love

Somewhere someone's crying Lord
somewhere someone's crying
Her tears are shed for all mankind
she knows the end is near
She doesn't know there's a perfect love
that casts out every fear
Lord reach out and love her
send help from above
send help from the sanctuary
let the world see Your love

Somewhere someone's waiting
somewhere someone's waiting
They've heard there's hope in Jesus Christ
the Name above them all
So they're waiting for their Lord's return
responding to Your call
Lord You've reached out to us
God sent help from above
He sent help from His sanctuary
He sent You - His perfect Love


If I didn't have You Lord (song)


If I didn't have You Lord, there'd be no point to life
for without You there's nothing - only sickness and strife
You was sent from the Father with a message of love
to show me the way Lord to my home high above

Oh once I was lonely and lost in the night
my life wasn't good Lord - no, nothing was right
You came with forgiveness for all I'd done wrong
now I offer my praise Lord with the words of this song

Oh Jesus my saviour, my wonderful King
You left Your great throne Lord and every good thing
You came in my likeness and took all the shame
so that I might be healed Lord by the power in Your Name

I know that there's nothing that I would desire
above Your Salvation though I walk through the fire
I know that You're with me every step of the way
The world lost a sinner when I met You that day

I could never describe the beauty of the place I was taken to in my near death experience. In one sentence I could say 'That was reality, my life on earth is the dream.'  The extreme feeling of love, and the beauty is what we have to look forward to after life on earth as believers - nothing and nowhere on this earth compares to it.

From darkness to light

The earth lay in darkness cold as a tomb 

there was no warmth or light

It lay without life like a barren womb

of a woman alone in the night

....It waited for Jesus

'In the beginning the earth was formless and there was darkness over the deep.'

This is what we are told in Genesis chapter 1 vs.1 and 2.

In the same way we, carnal mankind, are born into spiritual darkness, not knowing the ways of God our creator, each person going its own way and being right in its own eyes.  Out of this status quo has come chaos on earth, with wars and dissensions arising through local and global conflicts.

So what is the light that is needed in this spiritual darkness, and where do we find it?  We are told in 1 John ch. 1 v.5 that God is light, and are encouraged to walk in that light, and Psalm 119 v. 105 says that God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.  We are also told that Jesus is the Word of God.  So we see that the light that is God can be found in Jesus, and will direct our path.  John ch. 3 vs. 17-19 says:- 

'For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.'  He who believes in Him is not condemned, he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.'

So we see that light is associated with believing on the name of the only Son of God, and darkness is associated with not believing on His name and doing evil deeds.  

Is it by choice, or predestined, that we do good or evil?  What is good, what is evil, where is the plumb line?  Is my 'evil' somebody else's 'good', is my 'good' somebody else's 'evil'?  To whom somebody else's evil is good, then it is good.  To whom somebody else's good is evil, then it is evil.  To establish a common good or a common evil there must be a plumb line.  Without a plumb line there is no such thing as good or evil - only chaos.

So where is this 'plumb line to be found and how much does responsibility to change things depend upon the individual?

I am the ruling authority in the world, and I have the power to change the world, to create war or to create peace.  'She's mad' some would say, on hearing me make this statement. Others would say nothing, would just avoid me, thinking 'She's mad.'  Yet whether I speak these words or merely think them, I will maintain that 'I am the ruling authority in the world, and I have the power to change the world to create war or to create peace.'  The reason I can be so certain of this fact is that the world that I speak of is 'my world'.  I have no authority over your world.   I may have some influence, but I have no authority.  

'My world' consists of 'myself and others', and the 'power to change my world' depends on my relationship with others, with action, reaction and interaction being the tools that I use, and choice being the hand that uses them.  The Jews have a saying, 'To save one person is to save the world'.  The Muslims have a saying 'To kill one person is to kill mankind'.  Though the Jew speaks of saving and the Muslim speaks of killing , they carry the same message, the power to promote war or peace, one through an exhortation, the other through a warning.  These sayings have no authority in my world.  They may have influence, but they have no authority.  Always the power to choose what I promote remains with me. I can blow on a spark or I can spit on it. Whatever I choose to do with the spark will also determine what the spark itself will do.  Herein lies influence.  

There is an ancient Chinese proverb which says 'If there be righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character.  If there is beauty n the character, there will be harmony in the home.  If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation.  When there is order in each nation there will be peace in the world.'  This proverb also carries a message, the influence of righteousness.  This proverb also has no authority in my world. It may have influence but it has no authority.  Always the power to choose what I have in my heart remains with me.

So now you see that I am the ruling authority of the world, and I have the power to change the world, to create war or to create peace....... my world that is, I can only try to influence yours.

the problem with trying to influence someone else, even with righteousness, is that whatever you are trying to influence someone else with must be able to prove itself and stand against any argument or attack to be able to achieve its objective of convincing and convicting the person you are trying to influence.  The Bible says that 'Every Word of God proves true'. It also says that Jesus is both the Word of God and our righteousness.  Psalm 85 tells us that when we, His people, turn to God in our hearts, then He will speak peace to us, that salvation is at hand for those who fear Him.  So it appears there is choice involved.  Our part is to turn to God in our hearts and to fear Him.  Verse 11 says that faithfulness springing from the ground will be followed by righteousness looking down from the sky.  In Deuteronomy ch. 30 God says He has set before us life and good, death and evil and encourages us to choose life, that we and our descendants may live.

So we see that peace and righteousness can be obtained by turning to the light of God, reflected through the Word of God, Jesus.  Then we the church, just like the moon which has no light of its own, but can only reflect the light of the sun, can in turn reflect the light of God on a darkened world, that they too may live.




Once again the Earth waits        

as in days of old
again there is darkness
again it is cold
But now there's a moon
to reflect the sun
to announce the return 
of God's Holy One
to tell of salvation
from sin and death
by receiving God's Spirit
..... His life-giving breath