The Road Hosea 6:5: "Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth."
Righteousness makes a nation great; but sin degrades any people (CJB).
Update: April 19, 2013
The Lord brought me back to this article in view of the controversial Dr. Kermit Gosnell of Philadelphia, PA who is charged with murder for killing babies that survived abortion and for causing the death of one woman during the procedure.
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A week before I heard of this gruesome story, the Lord again gave me a vision and a message on abortion. It was like I was watching a scene in a movie. The scene was inside an ambulance. Someone was being rushed to a hospital while medical staffs were attending to the patient. As I watched I heard this: “How can one be safe in the hands of abortionist doctors?”
That vision brought me back to the day I was in the hospital to deliver my premature daughter 8 years ago and felt so grateful that Filipino doctors are not abortionists and so my daughter and I were safe.
America will be judged for God will avenge every drop of innocent blood shed in abortion. Please read on…
Early tonight I was thinking if I should publish this article because the message and the words I have written seem harsh and radical. But I believed that if I changed them I won’t be giving justice to what the Lord had shown me in the spirit. Uncertain, I decided to put this thing off again for another day; but God knew what to do. As I was resting in my favorite hammock praying and worshiping, alas I saw again an aborted fetus! The baby looked exactly like this image from “baby center” here: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-gallery
I gasped as the vivid image flashed. I could not say anything but “Oh my God!”repeatedly… Then another image showed up- a hand was caressing a fetus/baby which looked exactly like this one (image taken from the same link above):
God’s message to me is clear: “Speak up! Tell them what I have shown you! Tell them what I told you!”
So here, I am speaking to you. Read what the Lord is saying as I have written below; for writing this article has been difficult because I keep seeing the visions in my mind of the horrible scenes that are taking place in America’s abortion clinics and hospitals.
Hear the message of the Lord:
“Cursed is the land of America for it has drunk the blood of innocent precious souls whose silent screams have pierced the Father’s heart!”
Although I had no doubt that abortion is such an evil thing, I have never been so deeply touched by its gruesome reality until last Wednesday, May 30, when I was before the Lord interceding for America. I was literally shocked at the vision that the Lord so strongly impressed in my heart and mind how abortion looks like, particularly in America. When the thought struck me, it felt like my heart was knocked off that I gasped for breath and my eyes instantly welled up with tears as I quietly wept in anguish before the Lord. The Holy Spirit came very strongly as He took my heart deep into His that I could feel His pain and see what He’s been seeing everyday in the Land of the Free. Even as I am writing this I feel pangs in my heart so real and acute; the burden lingers and I know that unless the Lord will Himself remove this, I will not be at rest.
My being less concerned about abortion before the vision is due to the fact that I am a Filipino, and, in the Philippines, abortion has always been prohibited (although some actually conduct illegal abortion such as I saw the other night on GMA 7’s “Imbestigador.)” Wikipedia has this to say about the legal status of abortion in the Philippines:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_the_Philippines
“Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution says, in part, “Section 12. The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception.
The act is criminalized by the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, which was enacted in 1930 and remains in effect today. Articles 256, 258 and 259 of the Code mandate imprisonment for the woman who undergoes the abortion, as well as for any person who assists in the procedure, even if they be the woman’s parents, a physician or midwife. Article 258 further imposes a higher prison term on the woman or her parents if the abortion is undertaken “in order to conceal [the woman’s] dishonor”.
I will not go further into discussing the legal intricacies of abortion in America because that is not the purpose of this article. What I am doing is simply obey the Lord’s command to convey what is in His heart about this issue. Thus, I am praying that by His grace, those who read this will likewise see what I have seen in the spirit and will join me and many others whom the Lord has touched, to intercede and pray against this wickedness. The law may not be reversed but our prayers can certainly reverse a mother’s heart from wanting to abort her child; and/or protect herself and her child from those who think and insist that she should abort the life in her womb. This brings to remembrance the vision I had a few months ago during my prayer, of a young woman who looked so fearful as she was led to the second floor where the abortion was to be conducted. I had no idea who she was nor where it was taking place if it was taking place at that moment; but hastily I prayed and interceded for her. Whatever the outcome was, only the Lord knew. But even after this call to intercede for the woman, the evil of abortion didn’t sink in until I saw the horrid images I describe below.
In the morning of May 30, I prayed as I normally do before getting out of bed. Since for days the Lord placed America on top of my prayer assignments, so I did pray for the nation. In the middle of my praying the Lord hit me with the thought that the thing that tears His heart constantly is the killing of babies taking place in the abortion clinics and hospitals of America.Simultaneously I saw blood flowing from the innocent victims; fetuses and babies torn piece by piece, forcibly and mercilessly sucked out of the mothers’ wombs and discarded of as nothing but trash. I saw blooded hands of the heartless abortionists; women in fear and agony. I saw men and women in authority who do nothing but tolerate if not promote this horrendous act and whose consciences are debased. Worst, the Lord showed me the hypocrisy of the nation- that while Americans love and protect their animals and pets; they have the nerve to kill their children from the womb with impunity. Yes, they have laws protecting their pets but they also created the law to have their children slaughtered in the guise of ‘planned parenthood and personal liberty.’ My heart was cut deeply as the vision remained; and the Lord filled me with thoughts upon thoughts that made me cry even more.
Abortion is America’s gravest sin as the Lord revealed. In the following days as I continued to intercede, the Lord showed me further that what once dripped in trickles have today become rivers of blood, overflowing and flooding America as millions and millions of babies have been slaughtered to this day. Killing and curtailing life has become part of America’s daily routine; and the killing spree will continue as the apathetic leaders and citizens become more and more morally depraved unless they repent! Curse is all over the land as its soil has been drinking the blood of the precious ones who fall victims in the hands of ruthless men and women in the name of personal freedom.
Yesterday in my intercession for America, again I cried out to God for mercy. I was caught off guard by His quick answer. Yes, He will certainly show mercy for He is a merciful God; that’s why He will put an end to all the wickedness in the land, and will do it soon. He is a merciful God that He cannot tolerate any longer the wickedness perpetrated on the innocent whose blood has been crying out to Him for justice. I literally wept as I kept hearing, “It’s coming soon; it’s coming soon! Something’s going to happen and it will happen soon!”
America is drunk and ready to fall because of her many sins. As I sought for His Word, this is where He led me:
Jeremiah 50:31 (CJB)
“I am against you, arrogant nation,”
says Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot.
“For your day has come, the time for you to be punished.
The arrogant nation will stumble and fall, and no one will lift him up again.
I will set his cities on fire, and it will devour everything around him.”
Again, please hear the message of the Lord. Abortion is grave sin but it is not unforgivable. He is calling for repentance before He will pour out His wrath upon the land. May you take His hand and be safe as you give your heart in repentance unto the Lord and Savior Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah).
Love and Blessings,
Cynthia
Note:
When I searched for sample images of aborted babies, I found the following from this site:
I believe it was back in 1999 when I was hitchhiking in Indiana. I was probably on Highway 46 headed due east from Bloomington. I was walking down the highway when this high school kid picked me up.
We started talking and he asked me where I was going. I told him that I thought I was heading into Ohio. I told him that I was a Christian. He said that his father was a pastor and that maybe his parents would like to meet me.
So we drove north to Indianapolis where his family lived.
He walked into their home and told his mom, “Hey mom, I just picked up a hitchhiker and brought him home.”
His mom replied, “Yeah, right.”
I met his mom, and later, his dad and his younger brother. I felt at home right away.
That evening (it was Saturday) his dad asked me if I would like to give a message to their church. I said that I would be honored.
So on Sunday morning, we drove to Hope, Indiana to the Saint Louis Crossing Independent Methodist Church. It was a country church. I think there might have been fifty or sixty people at the service.
When it was time for me to give the message, I walked up to the pulpit, opened the Bible and turned to the Book of Acts . If I remember correctly, I preached about the time Paul wanted to go into Asia, but the Holy Spirit forbade him. Later, Paul had a vision about a man from Macedonia.* So that is how the Gospel came to Greece and eventually other parts of southern Europe.
After the service, I met some very friendly people who gave me some offerings of money for my travels. I was very grateful.
I ended up staying with that family for two nights and then hit the road. I hitchhiked to Madison, Indiana and then across the Ohio River into Kentucky.
Paul wanted to go into Asia, but the Lord did not permit it. I wanted to go into Ohio, but the Lord did not permit it. It is a good thing to be flexible in our daily walk with God. The Lord has the final say on everything.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8: 14)
*Acts 16: 6-10: “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”
Although his name implies that he baptized people (which he did), John’s life on earth was more than just baptizing. John’s adult life was characterized by blind devotion and utter surrender to Jesus Christ and His kingdom. John’s voice was a “lone voice in the wilderness” (John 1:23) as he proclaimed the coming of the Messiah to a people who desperately needed a Savior. He was the precursor for the modern day evangelist as he unashamedly shared the good news of Jesus Christ. He was a man filled with faith and a role model to those of us who wish to share our faith with others.
Most everyone, believer and non-believer alike, has heard of John the Baptist. He is arguably one of the most significant and well-known figures in the Bible. While John was known as “the Baptist,” he was in fact the first prophet called by God since Malachi some 400 years before his own birth. John’s own coming was foretold over 700 years previously by another prophet. In Isaiah 40:3-5 it states: “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’” This passage illustrates God’s master plan in action as God selected John to be His special ambassador to proclaim His own coming.
Little is actually known of John, although we do know that John was a Levite, one of the special tribe set aside by God to take care of all of the work associated with the temple (Numbers 1:50-53). John was the son of Zechariah, a temple priest of the lineage of Abijah, while John’s mother Elizabeth was from the lineage of Aaron (Luke 1:5). John was also related to Jesus as their mothers were cousins (Luke 1:36). John lived a rugged life in the mountainous area of Judea, between the city of Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. It is written that he wore clothes made out of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His diet was a simple one—locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4). John lived a simple life as he focused on the kingdom work set before him.
John’s ministry grew in popularity, as recounted in Matthew 3:5-6: “People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.” We also see that he spoke very boldly to the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, calling them a “brood of vipers” and warning them not to rely on their Jewish lineage for salvation, but to repent and “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:7-10). People of that day simply did not address leaders, religious or otherwise, in this manner for fear of punishment. But John’s faith made him fearless in the face of opposition.
While his ministry was gaining strength, John’s message was gaining popularity. In fact, it became so popular that many people may have thought that he was the Messiah. This assuredly was not his intent as he had a clear vision for what he was called to do. John 3:28 tells us, “You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’” This verse speaks of John cautioning his disciples that what they had seen and heard from him is just the beginning of the miracle that was to come in the form of Jesus Christ. John was merely a messenger sent by God to proclaim the truth. His message was simple and direct: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2). He knew that once Jesus appeared on the scene, John’s work would be all but finished. He willingly gave up the spotlight to Jesus saying, “He must become greater; I must become less (John 3:30). Perhaps there is no greater example of humility than the one demonstrated by both Jesus and John in Matthew 3:13-15. Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John in the river Jordan.
John rightly recognized that the sinless Son of God needed no baptism of repentance and that he was certainly not worthy to baptize his own Savior. But Jesus answered his concern by requesting baptism “to fulfill all righteousness” meaning that He was identifying Himself with sinners for whom He would ultimately sacrifice Himself, thereby securing all righteousness for them (2 Corinthians 5:21). In humility, John obeyed and consented to baptize Jesus.
John’s ministry, as well as his life, came to an abrupt end at the hand of King Herod. In an act of unspeakable and violent vengeance, Herodias, Herod’s wife and the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip, plotted with her daughter to have John killed. So incensed was Herodias at John for claiming her marriage to Herod to be unlawful that she prompted her daughter to ask for the head of John on a platter as a reward for her pleasing Herod with her dancing. John had previously been arrested by Herod in attempt to silence him, and it was a simple thing to send the executioner to the prison and behead John, which is exactly what happened (Mark 6:17-28). This was a sad and ignoble end to the life of the man about whom Jesus said: “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John” (Luke 7:28).
There are several lessons we can learn from the life of John the Baptist. First, whole-heartedly believing in Jesus Christ is possible. John the Baptist could have believed in and worshipped any number of gods available to him before Jesus arrived on the scene. But at some point in his life John knew that the Messiah was coming. He believed this with his whole heart and spent his days “preparing the way” for the Lord’s coming (Matthew 11:10). But the road was not an easy one to prepare. Daily he faced doubters of various influence and popularity who did not share his enthusiasm for the coming Messiah. Under hard questioning from the Pharisees, John shared his belief: “‘I baptize with water,’ John replied, ‘but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie’” (John 1:26-27). John believed in the Christ and his great faith prepared him for hardships, but it kept him steadfast on his course until the time when he could say as he saw Jesus approach, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). As believers, we can all have this steadfast faith.
Second, anyone can be a strong and serious witness for Jesus Christ. John’s life is an example to us of the seriousness with which we are to approach the Christian life and our call to ministry, whatever that may be. We pattern our lives after John’s by first examining ourselves to be sure we are truly in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Second, like John, we are to know and believe that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21), so we can be fearless in the face of persecution and death. John lived his life to introduce others to Jesus Christ, and knew the importance of repenting of one’s sins in order to live a holy and righteous life. And as a follower of Jesus Christ, he also was unafraid of calling out people such as Herod and the Pharisees for their sinful behavior.
Third, John shows us how to stand firm in our faith no matter what the circumstances. Paul reminded Timothy that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). But for many of us who live in freedom, persecution takes on a very mild form. As he lived in an occupied country, John had to be aware that anything contrary to utter devotion to the king or emperor was asking for trouble. Yet his message was unchanging, bold and strong. It was John’s belief, his message, and his continual rebuke of King Herod that landed him in prison. While it is hard to know for sure what John was feeling as he sat in prison, we can be sure that he might have had some doubts about the Lord who tested his faith. In fact, John gets a message out to Jesus asking, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:3). As Christians we all will have our faith put to the test, and we will either falter in our faith or, like John, cling to Christ and stand firm in our faith to the end.
That’s the essence of the president’s response to the Philadelphia mass murders.
The president extended sympathies to the families of the victims after the Ft. Hood massacre; after the Colorado movie theater shootings, after the Newtown mass killings. But nothing about the babies killed in the “House of Horrors” at the hands of Dr. Kermit Gosnell.
The mainstream media has been shamed into lifting the blackout on this tragic story. The New York Times is finally assigning a reporter. The president’s press secretary, Jay Carney was asked by a reporter:
“There is a murder trial in Pennsylvania, that I know you now is getting a lot of attention — more attention that the media was not getting on it — Kermit Gosnell, this doctor who is accused of having delivering some babies who were literally screaming and then beheading them. He’s facing murder charges on that and it hasn’t been decided yet obviously, since he’s still on trial. Is the president following this at all, does the White House have any reaction to that kind of situation?”
Drumroll … here’s a chance for the president to express his outrage through his press secretary. But it doesn’t happen. Mr. Carney curtly responded:
“The president is aware of it. The president does not and cannot take a position on an ongoing trial, so I won’t as well.”
The president is correct.
Jay Carney is correct.
But he could have expressed outrage when this whole mess was uncovered a couple of years ago, just like he did with the other mass killings listed above, BEFORE a trial ever started.
He didn’t. The question is, how does the president really feel about an abortionist who kills babies who survive abortion attempts on their life? We know as an Illinois state senator that he alone refused to vote for “Born Alive” legislation that would mandate medical care for these kids who survive an abortion.
Mr. Obama clearly doesn’t believe personhood even begins at birth, so he may not think a hundred plus babies being killed immediately following their birth is that big a deal.
I may be selling the president short, though. In fact, I really, really hope that I AM being unfair. I sincerely hope that the President of the United States DOES care that a whole bunch of African-American babies were beheaded, stabbed, and killed by a lawfully licensed abortionist who got rich on the backs of babes.
I sincerely hope that the president cares enough about the dignity of man that he reflects on the fact that this atrocity took place because his political party allowed it to take place by allowing unfettered human abortion.
I had dinner last night with one of my oldest and dearest friends. She voted for Obama, by the way. She is a staunch supporter of the mainstream media as well. She had not heard about the Gosnell trial. When we told her a few details (not a great subject matter over salmon, by the way) she was shocked and sickened by the grotesqueness of the story itself, and disappointed that the media was ignoring what is clearly news.
In this era of the internet, this story can’t be suppressed forever. It can’t but hurt the president, who has staked out a radical position on abortion.
Mr. Obama believes human abortion should be legal for any reason at any time during a woman’s pregnancy. In a just completed Gallup Poll, 88% of respondents disagree with the president’s extremist views.
Even more, Mr. Obama has tried to block legislation that protects babies who survive abortion attempts. That position was even too radical for Nancy Pelosi.
As this story works its way out to the general population via the blogosphere and Fox News, a lot of Americans are going to wonder how this could ever have happened in this country.
[Dr. Gosnell reminds me of Dr. Mengele. The problem with Obama is that he is a Baal Worshiper just like Dr. Gosnell. Demons of a feather protect each other. –T.S.]
Last night I had a dream where I was in this medieval city which had broken-down walls. The city looked like one of those German cities that was bombed out by the Allies in World War II. Some of the buildings were standing, but mostly the city looked desolate. Most of the buildings were broken-down and the walls of the city were in great disrepair.
Queen Elizabeth I of England (1558-1603) was the reigning monarch of this city. I spoke to her for a while. She was leaving the city because her reign was coming to an end. I was in the city because I was going to be King.*
Queen Elizabeth was riding around in what looked like a medieval tank. It was made out of wood; it looked like a heavily built boat with tank treads. This tank had a flag waving from a small mast.
This dream is very significant. I have said for a while that world history pivots on two time periods.
The first time period, was the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—and probably at least the first century following the resurrection. The second time period, was what happened in England from 1558 to 1700: the rise of Queen Elizabeth I, the printing, circulation and reading of the Bible by the common man (King James Version, 1611), the rise of Puritan (John Milton), Independent and Quaker (George Fox, Isaac Penington) Christianity, the English Civil War, the English Republic, the English Bill of Rights (1689) and the Glorious Revolution.
We could be coming into the third important time period.
*Revelation 1: 6: “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
This is from the blog Thoughts of a Reformed Liberal:
In a sermon a few months ago (I took notes) my pastor spoke on the power of God and the power of giving. He made three points: God is God and is present and faithful, the measure one gives will be the measure you get back, and the more we give – the more people can be brought to Christ. Many conservatives in our nation feel like they are standing in a crowded room shouting at the top of their lungs, and no one is listening. We can see the detrimental actions of our society and our government tearing down our moral culture and our religion.
In Deuteronomy, Chapter 7, God reminds us how small the Hebrew race was when they were brought into the Promised Land. God drove out seven nations that were more powerful than the Hebrews. God also reminds us that when we keep His commandments and love Him, then He will bless His people beyond measure. This scripture gives us hope as Christian conservatives. If we persevere as the Hebrews and continue to love God and follow His law, we will be blessed.
In Psalm 37 David writes about how those who follow the Lord must not be envious of evil men because they will wither and die away. He then says that if we trust and delight in the Lord, we will enjoy safe pasture and give you the desires of your heart. He also says that if we commit ourselves to the way of the Lord that our righteousness will shine like the dawn. We conservatives must trust in God and continue to follow in His way. When we do this, we shine through the darkness that is covering our land.
In the Gospel of Mark we have an example of extreme generosity. Jesus was preaching when it became late and the people were hungry. The only food the apostles had were five loaves and two fish. Jesus told them to feed the people. All of the people ate their fill and there were plenty of leftovers. The generosity of the apostles, in giving the little that they had, blessed numerous people. We can be generous with more than material things. Charity is important. However, many of us have knowledge and faith that can be shared with others.
Even though we feel like a minority and that the world is against us, we have the God of the universe on our side. The same God who drove out mighty nations before the Hebrews is our God. The same God who promised us through David that he will provide for all of our needs is our God. The same God who worked through the apostles’ generosity to feed thousands of followers is our God. The media would make us believe that we are insignificant and irrelevant. That is what the Hebrews thought of themselves before they became a mighty nation. The early Christians thought this as well. We may be small, but we are mighty. There is still hope. Amen.
Iran has recently been on my radar screen. First, I began to read Persepolis, an autobiographical comic book about a young girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic revolution of the 1980s. I haven’t finished it yet, but it’s definitely an entertaining, engrossing (I don’t even know what that word means), and enlightening look at a country known in the U.S. mostly for terrorism.
Then, a friend posted this article on Facebook about Pastor Saeed Abedini, an American citizen of Iranian descent who’s currently being held in an Iranian prison and denied proper treatment on account of his faith.
I was touched by the letter he sent home to his wife. It’s a powerful reminder that to be a Christian is a call to more than simply praying a prayer or attending a church meeting; it’s a call to the cross, to die to yourself and to live for Jesus.
But I was especially impacted by his words about the “poison” of unforgiveness. Who better to teach a lesson on forgiveness than a man who must choose daily to forgive those who least deserve it, right? It’s a powerful message to all of us of the freedom of forgiveness.
Here is the letter. Read it, and let it minister to you. And take time to pray for Saeed and his family, that the Lord would through this prove his ability to cause “all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Hello to my dear love and wife,
When I saw my family for the first time behind the glass walls, I could see my mom four meters away. As she approached me and saw my face, she broke down and could not get closer. She was crying. I understood what she felt because after weeks of being in solitary confinement in Evin Prison, I also got to see my face in the mirror of an elevator that was taking me to the prison hospital. I said hi to the person staring back at me because I did not recognize myself. My hair was shaven, under my eyes were swollen three times what they should have been, my face was swollen, and my beard had grown.
It was a few days ago when one of my family members, with weary eyes and after running around for 15 weeks in trying to get me out of prison, said that my dad says every single day that “this week I will get my son out of prison.” But this does not happen and he is not able to get me out of prison. In that instant I looked into the wrinkled and tired eyes of my dad. I could clearly see that he had ran around for months and he had no more strength left in him. It was very hard seeing my family in such a situation.
You, my wife, on the other side of the world, alone with the kids. Alone and worried. My family here in Iran, being interrogated, tired and under so much pressure.
With the loud voice of the prison guard, our visitation had ended and they put covers over our eyes and we returned to the dark room void of any natural sunlight.
I started praying for my family. My dear Naghmeh. You are the love of my life. I am always in love with you.
Dear Naghmeh, I have been stung so many times that I have become full of poison. This is an Iranian saying. A lot of people say that they have been stung by so many people that their whole being is full of poison like a poisonous snake. It means that we have been bitten by the snakes of this world so many times that, that all of the poison has collected in us and that we are like the poisonous snake. But if we sting anyone, we will die. This Iranian saying is full of spirit of revenge and unforgiveness and every time I would hear this in Iran, I would get very sick hearing it.
A few days ago they brought a young war veteran who was disabled in 80% of his body in my cell. He had been put in solitary confinement with his horrific condition. And this had made him very mad and he kept saying “why did they do this to me? I gave my whole life for their sake. See what they have done to me!!!” And when he would get very mad he would say “I will take my revenge!”
I spoke to this young man until 4 in the morning. I spent time with him and spoke to him to forgive. When we don’t forgive, we drink the poison ourselves and then wait for the other person to die. And we take the knife that has hurt us and we stab ourselves with it again! And this is the will of the evil one who wants to destroy us.
But when we forgive, we pour out the poison of the enemy and of the devil and we don’t let the poison stay in us and we don’t let the poison make us into poisonous snakes! So that we don’t become like the person we despised and who persecuted and tortured us.
Maybe you ask, what is the secret of being so happy in such a hard situation?
Forgiveness and a change of attitude. When we forgive, we become free and we become messengers of peace and reconciliation and goodness. And whoever stings us, we can take into our embrace and love them. And in this dark and evil time, we can live full of love and full of peace and full of joy and shine like the stars! Glory be to His Name.
I forgave the prison doctor who did not listen to me and did not give me the medication that I needed. I forgave the interrogator who beat me. Every day when I would see the interrogator and for the last time when I saw him, I forgave him. I smiled at him and with respect shook his hand and I said my goodbye. The minute I forgave them and loved them, that second I was filled with unspeakable joy. I saw in the eyes of the interrogator that he had come to respect me and as he was leaving, he could not look behind him. Love is as strong as death.
We have to get rid of the poison in our body because if we don’t, we will die. We have to get rid of both poisons; first the poison of the snake that bit us and also the poison in us that was created by that bite. We can get rid of the first poison by forgiveness and we can get rid of the second poison by humility, by dying to ourselves, and allowing the band-aid of love and goodness to replace the empty place of the wound. So that we are not a tool of darkness and revenge, but that we can be light and love and a vessel of forgiveness and we can be transformed in the process.
Surely you have someone in your family, city, work or environment that have become like poisonous snake who have bitten you and tried to make you poisonous. So, forgive them and use the antidote of love and be Victorious!
One of the chances of forgiveness came when I was blindfolded and a guard was holding my hand guiding me. He asked “what are you here for? What is your crime?” I said “I am Christian Pastor.” All of the sudden he let go of my hand and said “so you are unclean! I will tell others not to defile themselves by touching you!” He would tell others not to get close to me. It really broke my heart. The nurse would also come to take care of us and provide us with treatment, but she said in front of others “in our religion we are not suppose to touch you, you are unclean. Baha’i (religion) and Christians are unclean!” She did not treat me and that night I could not sleep from the intense pain I had. According to the doctor’s instructions, they would not give me the pain medication that they would give other prisoners because I was unclean.
I could not fall sleep one night due to the pain when all of a sudden I could hear the sound of dirty sewer rats with their loud noises and screeches. It was around 4 in the morning. It sounded like laughter in a way.
Even though many would call me unclean and filthy and would not even want to pass by me and they had abandoned me and they were disgusted to touch me because they were afraid that they would also become unclean, but I knew that in the eyes of Jesus Christ, and in the eyes of my brothers and sisters, I am like the sewer rat, beautiful and loveable – not disgusting and unclean – and like the rats I can scream with joy within those prison walls and worship my Lord in joy and strength.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-2
My first real lesson about God’s protection came when I was about 12 years old. We pray for protection around our home and quote the scriptures, such as being surrounded with a hedge of protection, but if we could see what that protection looked like, wouldn’t it be great?
This did not happen to me, but a Christian lady in my neighbourhood and the story was placed in our local paper. This is one story I have never forgotten as I found it quite profound, and I learned how God’s protection comes in all sorts of wonderful and creative ways.
Almost all South African homes are walled, with gates. This lady was home alone and had noticed three men breaking into her gate and got into her property. She called the police and started praying. All of a sudden, they started running out of the property, having stolen nothing.
They were caught by the police, and when questioned why they did not steal anything but ran away, they exclaimed, “There was no way we were going to try anything with those three vicious dogs she has!”
The lady had no pets at all!
What a creative way God had chosen to protect her because of her prayers for protection that day! We truly serve a mighty and very creative God!
I never hesitate to ask God to place a protective hedge around my home to keep us safe. God’s Word is true and living and he is a shield to those who put their trust in Him!
Below is an article that my teenage daughter submitted for publication several months ago for a local “Good Christian” church booklet. They chose to discard this article and replace it with something “with which they felt more comfortable.” I notice that their church sign that has been posted since Easter reads only “He is Risen,” as they still refuse to acknowledge, “It is finished!”
**Christ has always been, is, and will always be. However, since His birth on this earth and sacrifice on the cross, man has been able to live uncondemned for the first time since Adam’s fall. Much like Mary we ask, “How can this be?” How can I, a sinner, now be seen as a spotless, sinless child of the Living God? Through Christ, I now have redemption, grace, and unlimited, unmerited favor from the Father. Through Him I never have to accept sickness, rely on earthly circumstances for my provision, or listen to condemnation. Christ did not take care of man’s sin just for a brief time, but rather all time. Not only did He take our sins at the cross, but also our sickness, poverty, and oppression. I’m tired of the misguided notion that we must wait to die to be taken to Heaven to experience freedom from sickness. He came that we may have life (HERE, as well as eternally) and have it more abundantly! We can never lose this gift, if we’ve ever invited Christ to be our Savior. Even though we are not living as if we know these truths, through the Holy Spirit inside us, we can hold to these promises NOW. Christ has ALREADY healed us! He healed us that day on the cross. I see so many in the church growing fatigued and old from worry, as well as falling sick. Why? I believe that it is because this truth isn’t taught, nor is it widely accepted, even in the church. No matter how many verses state it, many fail to see it, as such truth can only be shown by the Spirit. If nowhere else in this world, those in the church should surely be able to see the hope that is in Christ that we are healed, forever forgiven, and treasured beyond compare because of all He has already purchased for us. Christ’s birth was our hope, but His promise to us now is when He cried out, “It is finished!”
Prayer: Father, I seek you, and ask you for grace and truth through your precious Son, Jesus Christ. I depend on your Holy Spirit to help me listen to your Word and show me how powerful is your healing. I know that it is so important that You, my Lord, paid the most terrible price for it, that I may come to have it by grace. Today, I know there is no symptom in my body that is too insignificant for You and no condition that is greater than what Your finished work has accomplished. Thank you for helping me to accept my finished healing and unmerited favor. Thank You for filling my heart with Your peace and joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.**
That song from Tom Petty has been rattling around in my head after my Life Group’s discussion about Genesis.
The patience….and impatience….of God’s people in Genesis. God’s timing. How they waited….or didn’t wait for God’s timing. How their patience…or impatience…. affected God’s blessings on their lives.
I love to read the stories of Abraham and Sarah, Rebekah and Isaac, Jacob, Leah and Rachel, among others. They’re fascinating, human, flawed. They make mistakes, but God loves them anyway. He has plans for them, and even during their impatience, HE is patient. And faithful. And during it all, they learn something about Him.
Now insert our names for theirs….because their story is our story.
How often do we get impatient for God to work? To answer our prayers. To fulfill His promises. How often do we try to make it happen, without waiting for God’s timing?
Yes, the waiting is hard.
Sometimes, we are like Sarah. I actually think she had faith in God’s promise of a son but thought she needed to take a ACTIVE role and make it happen with Hagar. Isn’t that pretty common? We’re not really sure where/when/how to take action and when to just wait. We think we need to do God’s work for Him because He is not doing it to our satisfaction and timing.
Rebekah and her favored son Jacob just couldn’t wait for God to fulfill His promise that the youngest twin would be the one through whom God’s promise & blessing would pass. They schemed to do the work themselves, taking both Esau’s birthright – he actually lost that due to his own impatience – and the blessing from his father Isaac away from him. And in doing so, missed out on the path & blessings God had in store for them.
Jacob was learning to be fairly patient later as he waited to wed Rachel and for Laban to release him, but he still wanted to be in charge. God had to wrestle with him before Jacob acknowledged that He was in control. And I’m pretty sure it was NOT easy for Noah to wait, to be patient for God’s timing.
The waiting is hard. But God still works in the waiting. He works ON us. He works IN us. He’s not making us wait for no reason. He’s got His own reason. I’m reminded of one of Moses’ last speeches to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 8:2:
Don’t forget how the Lord your God has led you through the desert for the past forty years. He wanted to find out if you were truly willing to obey him and depend on him, so he made you go hungry. Then he gave you manna, a kind of food that you and your ancestors had never even heard about. The Lord was teaching you that people need more than food to live—they need every word that the Lord has spoken.
Plus I wonder how many blessings I’ve missed due to my tendency to run out ahead of God…
The Road 