Light In My Darkest Nigjt

I have read many books of all kinds and topics in my lifetime, before and after I became a Christian. My favorite book, beside the Bible, is Light In My Darkest Night, by Catherine Marshall.
The late Catherine Marshall was the wife of the  Peter Marsha (also deceased), a former Senate Chaplin. She has written many books, both fiction and devotional, including the book Christy, on which the TV series of the same name was based.
Light In My Darkest Night is about one of Catherine Marshall's grandchildren, who was born with"poor muscle tonea and other physical complications. This experience tests her faith in God's healing. Even though God used that situation to heal some of Catherine's friends and family, the baby eventually died.
Why would I recommend that book to others? Well, when I was going through my "dark night of the soul" some years ago, this book helped me so much to keep my faith anchored in God. I realized that God may not answer all my questions; that bad things happen to believers. I'd learned to look at God working in the midst of our sad situations in miraculous ways, even when that sad situation remains the same for a long time.
The biggest thing I started to learn (I confess that I continue to learn this one, for this is a hard thing for me to swallow sometimes), that situations work out eventually, maybe not the way we want, but in God's view, better than we expected.  Catherine Marshall first grandchild die,d but a second grandchild was born to her, so healthy that the doctors remarked
I would recommend this book to anyone who is going through a really diffiult circumstances that they cannot understand, and need encouragement to hold on.

60 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lordis risen upon thee.

² For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

³ And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

⁴ Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

⁵ Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. Isaiah 60: 1 - 5 KJV)

What You Didn't Create, You Shouldn't Destroy Part 2

Last week I spoke about abortion. I said that conception started the moment an female egg (ovum) and a male sperm came together.

The argument for abortion says that before birth the unborn child is ‘just a mass of tissue.’ However, the Greek word for baby is used both for a baby in its mother’s womb and a baby already born. When the Bible talks about “the babe leaped in her (Mary’s) womb” and “people were bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them” the same word “brephos” is used (Luke 1:41 and Luke 18:15)

I am enclosing a link entitled "One Tiny Life" that I found on Google on the images of a 12-week fetus. I have no more to say, but I know that you will see from the pictures how much that fetus resembles a baby that has been born.

http://www.onetinylife.org/menu.htm

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit." Luke 1:41 (New American Standard Bible)

You Cannot Create Life, So You Have No Right To Destroy it!

This morning I heard a lady caller on one of our local talk shows giving reasons why abortion should be the option for a woman or girl who was raped. She said that when the person watches the child, she would be reminded of what had happened to her. In her opinion, it was better for that person to have an abortion.

Rape is a horrible thing. I know people who have been raped, and I know that it is something that can affect a woman's or a girl's life - many times permanently. One elderly lady told me that she regretted having an abortion when she was younger.  It still hurts her very much, and she cannot forgive herself for doing it. She feels that not even God cannot forgive her. She was not raped, but if she was, how would she have felt if she had done the abortion ?

I also know someone else who was raped. She had been a teen then, and as a Christian young woman, she chose to have the baby . That baby is now a teenager, and both mother and baby are well. I know that it was not easy for her and her parents at first, but she got through it.

This abortion issue is a very controversial and sensitive, and many people disagree about when an abortion should be done.  As a believer in Jesus, I know that He says that He knew us before we were born, and that He saw us as we were being shaped in our mother's womb.  So I believe that life starts at the moment of conception. We cannot create life, so we have no right to abort it.  I will write about that tomorrow, God willing.

"You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,   as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book.Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Psalm 139: 13 - 16 NLT)

Warning! No Preying Allowed!

Child Abuse is a vicious epidemic in the world right now. Sexual abuse is one of the most heinous crimes to be perpetrated on children. A young victim of sexual assault, buggery, rape, or any kind of sex crime, is usually scarred for life.  If proper counseling are not given, he or she will become abusers, homosexual/lesbians and have real difficulty in relating to people.
A group of people want to change the laws in my country to make such an ugly act legal. They say that it should be legal between two consenting adults. But I believe that if this law is changed that persons other than those so-called 'consenting adults' will be hurt. Especially children and women. It is my opinion that those who prey on children sexually will see this as society's consent to their ungodly activities. So called 'straight' men could then forcibly bugger women,  girls, boys and even other men, citing that it is sex between consenting adults.
A dangerous precedent is being set here in a time when my country is reeling from a increase of sexual  crimes. We Christians and other persons who are concerned about the welfare of our women and children should stand our ground and lobby strongly against the implementation of such laws in our country. This action should be taken even if there are those in Government that are actively lobbying for these laws to be written into the law books. If we don't, we will see God's judgment on this country.

Leviticus 20:13 - "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."

Do The Right Thing

In my country there is a big debate on changing certain laws to include the availability of same-sex marriages, abortions and legalization of buggery.  All three topics directly relate to the safety and security of children.
 When making laws and reshaping constitutions, we need to think about all the stakeholders, especially the weaker persons in our society, like the children, the elderly and the differently-abled. When these people are made vulnerable by these laws, it is up to us the stronger citizens, to stand up and make our voices heard, to be the protectors of those who need protecting. 
As a believer in the laws of the Bible and a disciple of Jesus Christ, it is my duty to declare that I am publicly against these so-called amendments to these laws. I will continue to speak more in depth on each of these subjects.


"Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good." Romans 12: 21 (New Century Version)

Why Begin Small?

Yesterday I blogged about not despising the day of small things. That the 'journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.' That you should not be afraid of starting small.
But why do we usually start smalls?

1. Because it is natural for things to start small. Almost everything in this world started small. Animals were young, humans were babies, houses started from their foundations, businesses start out small. This is natural.
2. Beginning small allows you to learn as you go. 
3. If things don't work out, it is easier to regroup and start over than when you start big.
4. God usually asks us to begin in a small way.

Many you are about to start something new. Maybe its a new direction, a new task that God is telling you about. Remember, its a natural part of life, and feel happy that you have at least begun the 'journey' with one first step.

"For who hath despise the day of small things?" Zechariah 4:10 (KJV)

How To Start Something

It takes guts to start something. Especially if its a dream that you've had since childhood.
Its so easy to just think about it, to imagine what it would be like to complete that important task, to become the person or to train for and get the job that you've always wanted.
I've heard that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step!" The writing of a book begins with the first word, the achievement of a goal begins with the first action.
:Last year August, I decided that I would not wait any longer; I would start working towards a dream that I've wanted to bring into being since I was 10 years old. But to achieve this dream, I had to step out in faith and act. Yes, of course I was scared, and I still wonder if I will succeed, for rhe obstacles are large and the scoffers many. But when I die, I'd be happy knowing that I at least tried to do what I believe God brought me on this earth for, than to die regretting that I never made the attempt to do it.
Are you thinking of doing something? Did God place a dream in your heart? Even if you have to start small, with just one little step, don't worry! Ask God for His help. Once you start, things will fall into place. Have courage!

"For who hath despise the day of small things?" Zechariah 4:10 (KJV)

O give thanks!

Tonight I give thanks to God for all that He has done for me. First, I thank God for having a computer and the opportunity to write this blog.

I thank God for being alive, for being still able to see somewhat in spite of the ravages of glaucoma.

Thank God for my parents who are both still alive, for my brother and his family, and for my extended family.

Thank God for being my Heavenly Father, for His only begotten Son, and for the Holy Spirit, the Godhead. Thank God for sending His only begotten Son to die for us, for me. 

Thank God for His healing power, which  is able to heal body, soul and spirit. Thank God for the cleansing, healing blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. That blood can cleanse us from our sin, make us whole, protect us from the enemy. 

Thank God for what is promised to us who believe, and endure to the end - eternal life.

Give thanks unto the LORD for He is good, for his mercy endureth forever. 

"O Give thanks unto the LORD for He is good: because His mercy endureth forever." Psalm 118:1 (KJV) 

Liar, Liar, pants on fire!

My favourite blogger on goTandem, Silas, writes today about lying. See post on https://gotandem.com/posts/1113.

There are many reasons why people lie:

• To look good in other people's eyes
• To save themselves from getting into some kind of trouble
• Its a bad habit
• Taught or learnt from parents or caregivers as a child and thinks its normal
• To be able to do what the liar  wants to do

Remember,  lying is not just saying an outright untruth; speaking part of the truth is also lying. Even letting someone believe something that is wrong without saying something to correct it is lying. Whatever the reason it's done or how it's done, lying is a sin. The results can be deadly. I know of a young teenager whose parents drop her off to school one day. When they drove away, she promptly went with a man for a "river bath" and drowned there. Imagine the shock of this girl's poor parents when they got that terrible news. I know that they would not have believed the news at first, because they KNEW they dropped their child off at the school gate. But lying and deceiving loved ones can cause terrible pain to those lie to/


This is another of those sins that God hates and thinks of as an abomination. He wants us to always speak the truth, no matter what the immediate consequences are. In the long run, it is the best thing to do. 


"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.  But Peter said, "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived  this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God? " And Ananias hearing these words, fell down and gave up the ghost; and great fear came on all of them athat heard these things....then she (Sapphira) fell down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost.." Acts 5: 1 - 5, 10 (KJV)

Gossip Giirls

I stole this title from one of today's gotandem posts ( read post at https://gotandem.com/posts/1622) . The person was writing about how subtly we gossip about people under the guise of "giving information about someone."  This reminds me a lot of     when some prayer teams meet to pray;  they call their gossipping "giving a prayer request about someone."
can do to someone's reputation, yea, even their very lives.
I remember reading a story about a woman who spread gossip about someone, which caused the person to become sick. When the gossiper heard about how her gossip had affected the person, she went to ask forgiveness from the victim. The victim forgive her, but asked her to take a pillow, rip its contents out and scatter it in the wind. She did so. The victim told her to collect all the pillow's contents. But of course this was impossible. The victim then likened the contents of the pillow to the gossip that the woman had spread. Once it has been spread abroad, the words could never be totally recalled again.
So, men and women, boys and girls, remember this! Once a slanderous word has been spread abroad about someone, all of it can never be recalled again. And be sure that God is not at all pleased when you spread gossip.

"These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him....a lalse witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Proverbs 6:19 (KJV)

Which one are you anxious about? Being a "Good-Looker" or a "No good-Looker?"

I read this blog entry at gotandem just now and decided to comment on it a little. (To go to this blog entry https://gotandem.com/posts/1826 and read).  Having good looks is so important to children and young people that the "Good-Lookers" are treated like princes and princesses by the  "No Good-Lookers, the "Normals"and the "Nondescripts.." 

This whole concept of the vast importance of good looks come from the shows that target the youngest members of our society. Hollywood continues to lie to millions of young people around the world. They tell them that if they are ugly or have a handicap in some way, they have no worth or value. One show that typifies this for me was Fat Like Me. This show describes a young attractive athlete who decides to research how fat people feel by donning a fat suit and pretending to be fat. She makes friends with an obese girl, and she realizes that they had a lot in common. But when the girl finds out the athlete's true identity and size, she stops speaking to her because she feels betrayed by someone whom she looked up to.

I read in a psychology book some years ago that beautiful people are thought of as good people, while "No good-Lookers"are said to be evil. We all have said this at one time or the other, "how could such a good-looking person do such a horrible thing?" It is as if being beautiful is a weapon against being bad.  There are beautiful people who are the same inside and outside as and ugly people who are ugly in appearance and temperament. The same is true in the opposite way (beauty -bad and ugly-good). 

The Bible says that God looks only on the heart. It's a pity that the same cannot be said about us people here on earth. Unless God changes us and enables us to see how He see. we will continue with the same old narrow view - that beauty is desirable above all and "Good-lookers"are good people. Will we choose to go beyond appearances and find out the truth?

"Bur rhe LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or his height for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearances, but the LORD looks at the heart."  1 Samuel 16:7 (New Living Translation)