LEFT IN THE DARK

 

LEFT IN THE DARK

Acts 12

King Herod arrested some Christians,

That no longer worshiped as a Jew.

James, John’s brother, was killed with a sword,

Then Peter was arrested too.

It was during a Jewish festival,

The Festival of Unleavened Bread.

Tho’ The bread itself contained no yeast,

Vile yeast spread ‘til many were dead:

John the Baptist was beheaded,

And James, John’s brother, with a sword.

Peter was scheduled next to be killed,

After the Passover once set by the Lord.

The Passover protected God’s people,

By lamb’s blood put on the doorframe.

Then Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb,

They should now all worship His name.

Yet Peter found himself in jail,

Four guards in four groups kept him there.

Two were chained on each side of him;

They guarded him sleeping bare.

It was Passover repetition --

No sandals and no cloak on his waist.

The same items that had long been required,

Were again to be grabbed in haste.

An angel with a mission and a message

Appeared to Peter that night,

"Put on your clothes, shoes and cloak;"

The guards slept during his flight.

He made it past all the guards,

Then a locked iron gate did appear.

The gate opened up on its own,

And freedom was finally near.

Peter thought he was living a vision.

The experience was so surreal.

It wasn’t until he passed through the gate,

That his mind began to heal.

Once they got past the iron gate,

And traveled about a block,

The angel left Peter’s side,

With his mind clear, he then took stock.

He went to the home of a woman named Mary,

The mother of a man named John Mark.

He banged on the door and also called out,

But he was left in the dark.

When Rhoda, a servant girl, heard his voice,

She was shocked and his voice so stark,

She absent-mindedly ran to tell others,

And left him outside in the dark.

They had been in the house all day to pray,

And argued how this could be.

They knew that God answers prayers,

Yet didn't open the door to see.

Peter just kept on knocking,

And surely was looking around.

For he was an escaped prisoner,

Who a few minutes ago was bound.

When the door was finally opened,

And he rushed in the house, he was pale.

He motioned for them to be quiet,

While he told them what happened in jail.

The guards at the jail were questioned,

Then were verbally persecuted,

But the guards had no answers for them.

And so, they were executed.

— Becky Wall

JESUS TAKES A WALK ON THE WATER

                                       

             

JESUS TAKES A WALK ON THE WATER

Mark 6:45-52

Jesus had fed the thousands,

His miracles could not be denied,

He used just a few loaves and fish,

And the fish were not even fried.

His disciples were sent to Bethsaida,

And when the crowd had gone away,

Christ needed to talk to His Father alone,

So, He went to a mountainside to pray.

Later that night He was alone on the shore,

The disciples still rowed in the lake.

They were fighting the wind and the oars,

While thinking the trip was a mistake.

Christ waited ‘til just before dawn,

To walk the lake to the other side.

When He was about to pass them by,

The disciples were terrified.

They thought they were seeing a ghost,

In fear, they began to cry out.

Jesus said, “It is I, have courage.”

He wasn’t a ghost, no doubt.

They were shocked when He climbed in the boat,

And the wind and waves died down.

That proved He truly was the Son of God,

So they continued their trip to town.

They continued to struggle with parables,

And neither miracle could be seen as a trick.

They had witnessed so much already,

But their belief in the Son didn’t stick.

The disciples had so much to learn.

God’s presence they could not conceive.

The Holy Spirit was not present in them,

Their hearts were too hard to believe.

Becky Wall

 

 

FROM CRUMBS TO A SEAT AT THE TABLE

Jesus was God but still human,

I’ll go to a quiet village, he thought.

He went to the Gentile city of Tyre,

Where He hoped He wouldn’t be sought.

His presence could not stay a secret;

A Greek woman fell at His feet.

Her little daughter was demon possessed,

At Christ’s table she had no seat.

She had heard stories about Jesus,

And believed everything she heard.

She knew He could heal her daughter;

Her faith was shown by her word.

Tho’ Jesus spoke to her in symbols;

She understood just what He said.

Let my people eat all they want;

For, I AM that bread.

Christ continued, “It isn’t right,

To take God’s children’s bread,

And toss it to the pets,

Though that privilege lay just ahead.

She said with certainty.

Even the puppies under the table,

Eat the children’s crumbs,

Though Gentiles were unable.

Then Jesus said to her,

You may go for such a reply.

The demon has left your daughter.

Such faith I cannot deny.

Jesus honored her when He said:

There’s no longer a demon to fear.

She found her daughter lying in bed;

And the inclusion of the Gentiles was near.

They no longer had to live off the crumbs,

Christ had welcomed them into the fold.

They could now dine at the Hebrews’ table,

As prophecy had long ago foretold.

Becky Wall

 

WHAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LIKE

The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed,

The smallest seed on earth.

But it becomes the garden’s largest plant.

Once that tiny seed gives birth.

The disciples listened to the parables,

And were often confused or bored,

But Jesus told them the meanings,

So the stories would not be ignored.

The hidden meanings were hard to grasp.

Without the Holy Spirit.

Tho’ the Spirit worked through them at times,

Their insight had its limit.

But then came the Day of Pentecost,

Ten days after the ascension.

There was the sound of a rushing wind;

Tongues of flames got the people’s attention.

The Spirit flamed on everyone present;

No doubt Jesus was God’s Son.

Peter spelled out the facts to the people,

Who realized what horrors had been done.

What can we do to be saved, they asked;

The whole crowd was deeply riven.

Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus;

And your sins will be forgiven.

You will receive a heavenly gift,

The third person of God.

He will abide inside of you,

As along life’s rough road you trod.

The Holy Spirit is that gift;

He will help you know bad from good.

And will help you understand God’s Word,

As you never thought you could.

The disciples got sudden understanding,

The parables began to renew.

After baptizing 3,000 people in Christ,

They understood how the mustard seed grew.

Becky Wall

RICH AND WITHOUT A CARE

RICH AND WITHOUT A CARE

A certain rich farmer produced a good crop,

But lack of storage made him frown.

I know what I’ll do, he exclaimed with glee.

I’ll tear all my full barns down.

To an average farmer this makes no sense,

But this rich man was full of greed.

I’ll build bigger barns, he said to himself;

I won’t then give up any seed.

New barns were built and the old torn down,

So, he could eat, drink and be merry.

He was ready to sit back and take life easy,

His troubles in life he would bury.

But God was angry with him for his greed,

And his lack of concern for the poor.

He said to the farmer, “You wicked fool!

You'll soon get what you prepared for."

That night he died and found no joy,

In worldly riches he left behind,

As will be for ones not rich toward God,

With no generous thoughts in mind.

Don’t become like the farmer and others,

Who hoard treasures and all they own.

In their minds, the Lord doesn’t matter,

They think of themselves alone.

Becky Wall

ZACCHAEUS: UP A TREE IN LIFE

 

ZACCHAEUS: UP A TREE IN LIFE

Zacchaeus had a heart for the Lord;

He felt lonely and spiritually lost.

He hungered to know more about Jesus,

Not caring about the cost.

The short, wealthy, hated tax collector,

All witnessed as he climbed a tree

He tossed status and dignity to the wind;

It was Jesus he wanted to see.

Jesus saw him up in the tree

And insisted he come right down

For He was going to his house that day.

The news surely spread around town.

Zacchaeus longed to please Jesus.

By giving half his goods to the poor,

He would repay anyone he had cheated.

He would even pay four times more.

The people began to mutter;

He’s going to be the guest of a sinner.

They were disgusted and let it be known,

As the two traveled home to dinner.

Salvation has come to this house, Jesus said.

I came just to seek him out.

Like you, he’s a son of Abraham,

With those words, He left no doubt.

Zacchaeus was ecstatic;

His tears he could hardly contain.

For he had dinner with the Son of God,

Why him, he couldn’t explain.

Becky Wall

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

 

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

And the not-so-good Priest and Levite

Jesus told a parable to a lawyer,

Who asked who is a person’s neighbor.

The expert was trying to trap Jesus,

He was picky in whom he found favor.

In the story a man took a trip down a road,

From Jerusalem to Jericho ahead.

Robbers appeared and tore off his clothes,

Beat him up and left him half dead.

A priest saw the man hanging to life,

And crossed to the other side.

Later a Levite did the same;

Neither cared if the beaten man died.

A Samaritan man then came to that place,

The injured man lay dying by then.

The lowly Samaritan dressed his wounds,

And paid for his room at the inn.

Jesus finished the parable and asked,

Which was a neighbor in the story.

The expert muttered, “The one who showed mercy,”

The correct answer in this allegory.

Christ told the expert to go and do likewise;

In other words, do the same deed.

The moral to the story is the religious men sinned;

They did nothing for one in need.

Becky Wall

Matthew 23:15
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are."

James 2:15-16
"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" Think of this person as a neighbor.

CONCEIT - FULL OF YOURSELF

CONCEIT - FULL OF YOURSELF

Matthew 23:12
For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Galatians 6:3-4
3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions.

Ephesians 4:17
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

Jude 1:16

These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

Psalm 10:7
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

Psalm 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

Psalm 36:2

In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.

Job 32:1
So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. (But, in fact, Job was righteous.)

Proverbs 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:16
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.

II Cor. 10:8 - "For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."

THE MYSTERY OF WHO IS KILLING THE CHURCH

THE MYSTERY OF WHO IS KILLING THE CHURCH

Don't let the first few lines throw you. The killer is telling the story.

People are killing Christ's church. Their so-called righteous teachings and actions have caused it to decay. Never fear, the case has been solved, thanks to me, Will Hinder. Just help me restrain the preacher. The man has such nerve. His out-of-touch sermons against abortion, homosexuality, and gambling are never politically or socially correct, and he doesn't even care. He must be silenced. He speaks for the Mastermind, Who I have yet to accept. His words are a double-edged sword, and they strike at the heart. Yes, the preacher has the church's demise on his mind. Nothing short of our sacrifice will shut him up. Is it any wonder the church is dying?!

His accomplice is Earnest Elder. He's always after my wallet. He spouts off scriptures on tithing knowing I can't afford to give until I get my new boat paid off. I guess I'll slap my money down on the offering plate. Give! Give! Give! Who else would be willing to make such a sacrifice?

Then there is Ima Babylover. I am so tired of her pathetic pro-life leaflets and gory brochures. People should be protected from seeing graphic pictures of bloody and dismembered babies. And her letters to the editor make me so irate and ashamed. Doesn't she know God gives us the right of "choice." You'd think she was fighting a war but, in fact, it is she who is killing us.

And what about Tru Lee Kare. He's so judgmental. He thinks the gay lifestyle could hurt the church or his family or even gays themselves. They deserve the right to adopt kids. Where in heaven did that old-fashioned definition of family come from, anyway? Children should be taught to accept homosexuality as an alternative lifestyle. If the church won't teach it, then the schools should. Gays can't help themselves; they were born with their weaknesses, just like abusers, alcoholics, and pedophiles. A lot of gays are dying with AIDS, but is True Lee concerned? Does True Lee have compassion? Noooooo! He just keeps talking about repentance, mercy, and some big, long word called "sanctification." He's destroying us!

Bea Callin must be stopped, also. She tries to get people to do church work when they don't have time, or that they don't want to do. Just let me get ready to walk out the door to go to a sports event, and she phones. By the time I explain to her the reasons why I can't help with VBS or visit the sick or whatever, I'm running late. She turns me off. How can she get any help that way; it's overkill!

This concludes my investigation; I know who is killing Christ's church. It's those pushy, intolerant, self-righteous, politically and socially incorrect bigots and homophobes sitting in their pews Sunday after Sunday praying for our country, arrogantly thinking they have the answer. Well, I, for one, am doing my part to save the church. Not only will I withhold my tithes, but I plan to shut these people down. I'll make sure everyone knows to avoid them. What's that you say--Destroyer? Save your praise. I know they will seek to ruin me, but somebody's got to do it. Will Hinder

Epilogue: Will himself seeks to hinder or even destroy the church while promoting his own worldly views. He thinks everyone should think like him; never mind what the Bible says.

Becky Wall

MY JOURNEY WITH JESUS

MY JOURNEY WITH JESUS

What I Learned Along the Way

Credit goes to Brett Minor for the picture

We “big” kids would take walking trips around the town of West Frankfort IL where we were living at the time. We were very young and Mom was sometimes unaware of the places we were touring. And yet it was one of those trips that helped shape my life. One day the “big kids,” or the oldest siblings, started walking down railroad tracks that run through the town. There were few houses on either side of the tracks at that time. From time to time we would see piles beside the tracks where people would dump trash. We would go through them to see if we could find anything interesting. I’ve always loved books, so I latched onto one that I found in one of the heaps. It happened to be a book with testimonies of remarkable things that had happened to Christians, things that could only be explained as God’s intervention into their lives. There was story after story and they were quite moving. I knew then that’s what I wanted for my life – God watching over me and my family. Ironically, or maybe by God’s design, I would one day write my own testimony of how God intervened in our lives. See my post https://beckyowall.blogspot.com/2012/03/the-overturf-familys-easter-day-car.html

My view of people from other denominations drastically changed when I joined the right-to-life movement in the mid-70’s. When we women united for the cause of defending the unborn, the women there were the cream of the crop from area churches. They were devout and knowledgeable. They were loving and caring. We could discuss religion without the discussion ever becoming heated. We were united on the one issue, and it brought us closer as Christians. I saw that they were serving the Lord to the best of their knowledge and belief, just as I was. The cause of abortion had united us, but the good that came of it was that we were able to share and compare beliefs in a loving setting. I longed for that to occur more often throughout the community of churches, but under better circumstances. On the other hand, if you multiply my experience with that of other people in other towns and cities, perhaps God is taking this evil and extracting more good than what I realize.

We learn from other people's mistakes. Had they not made those mistakes, we might be making the same ones. In other words, most of us who sit in judgment of those who made mistakes are no better than they -- just luckier.

I believe one of the greatest sins a church can commit is to split. It is akin to divorce. Both division and divorce are devastating to the parties involved and for many others who are caught up in the ripple effect. A church, meaning the people, should throw all their energies into making things work. The church is like a family. They should exhaust every avenue of reconciliation. God hates division. The one who is guilty of causing the split--even if it is to force the other wing to separate itself from the unacceptable actions or attitudes of their own wing--is not just causing a separation in the church family; that wing is separating itself from God.

A PERSONAL REFLECTION ABOUT DEPRESSION: Make depression and anxiety work for you: Pour your emotions into an art form such as singing, playing an instrument, writing, sculpting, etc., or if you’re into sports, give it your all. An art form without emotions poured into it is like the difference between creative writing and a newspaper article. Persons with ADHD may have bouts of depression while dealing with their unwanted behaviors, especially as a child, but they have excess energy and emotions and therefore when they become adults, they become hard workers and they fit right in with the teenagers. They have the energy to lead teenagers while the rest of us have lost energy. People who have had bouts of depression are more empathetic to others who are going through a phase of depression. Sometimes just talking it out makes a big difference. People who have had situational depression are better equipped to handle a future situation because they have been through a storm or storms and realize the sun will shine again. They actually become stronger. Self-discipline is needed in order to be an overcomer of depression or anxiety. "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" I Corinthians 9:24-27, NIV. Focus on serving others and give it your all. "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might..." Eccl. 9:10a.

When a person you should love but don’t dies, you are left with a clear picture of what a wonderful person the deceased really was. The devil ceases to whisper lies in your ear about that person. You realize you wasted precious moments and robbed yourself of a close relationship with that person because you focused on the negative and believed the father of lies. You grieve all the more not only because of the lost time with the person before the death, but because you are left with such a burden of guilt. Better to see that person through God’s eyes before his or her time on earth is done. And then maybe the same will be done for you before you pass away.

One cannot trust advice from a person whose morals are weak. Only those who wish to follow the same path as the morally weak person giving advice would seek that person’s advice and they would do so in order to validate their own behavior (or misbehavior).

Choice: We can all make our own choices. We are free to do so spiritually and in everyday life. But with wrong choices come consequences and some of them are severe and last a lifetime. When you choose your fun, choose well, keeping in mind that a few minutes or a few hours of the wrong kind of fun can lead to life-altering consequences along with a lifetime of shame, guilt and/or sorrow. Those life-altering consequences have a ripple effect of grief throughout the family and friends.

 
Our mistakes or sins, as painful as they may be when the consequences set in, are what bring us into a closer relationship with Christ. It is through our bad choices that we hopefully become remorseful, repentant and dependent on Him. Take responsibility for your sins and ask for God's guidance, grace and mercy. You will be forever grateful you did.

A person cannot be transparent when that person is cloaked in deceit. Honesty is found in transparency.

There is a fine line between being a private person and hiding a secret life.

He who believes his own lies is not honest. "He who is evil in little is evil in much." KJV

Behind every sin is a lie believed. --Prof. Albert McGee, St. Louis Christian College

Too many times when teenagers (and others) are seeking happiness, they make decisions that cause life-altering situations and they get grief instead. Happiness comes in avoiding situations that could bring grief and the result will be peace and contentment instead of an artificial happiness or temporary high that brings profound unhappiness.

We were not put on earth to see how much happiness we can find. Life isn't about us as individuals. We were put here to put others ahead of ourselves, God being at the top of the list. We are expected to approach each situation with honesty, integrity and responsibility and we are to treat each person with love. I personally find no greater joy than when I think I have done something that pleased God. But then I have to battle losing my humility. I want to tell the world I pleased God. I want to shout it from the rooftops. But God prefers that my left hand doesn't know what my right hand is doing instead of using either hand to pat myself on the back.

God works in mysterious ways. Never believe that you are insignificant in God's sight because you are poor and unknown. God may be working through your circumstances. Bringing someone into an eternal life with Jesus is way more important than money, popularity or power. "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." James 5:20 What a powerful experience.

IS THE CHURCH A CONGREGATION OF LOVING PEOPLE OR A BUSINESS?
To begin with, this nation is embattled in a spiritual war and we are not prepared. We don’t read our Bibles enough, we don’t pray enough, we are not vocal enough, we are not active enough and we are timid. We’ve got to do better if we are going to save this nation and please God. We have allowed the murders of millions upon millions of babies over the years, 1/3 OF THE population since 1973; 50% of all marriages end in divorce; marriage is no longer defined as between a man and a woman; people are changing their genders; God is being taken out of the public eye; church people are being killed not only in other countries but too often right here in the U.S.A; corruption is taking over government and business. And so continues "the silence of the lambs." Church people have lost their way. Churches are run like businesses with business people in charge. They are too often entertainment oriented and are less like a family of caring people. The leaders are often arrogant and full of their own ego and some of them are sinning behind the scenes, using their position in the church to feed their sin. Too many children are being molested by church members or leaders. We no longer know who to trust because the pedophiles blend in so well. We need to pray for wisdom and discernment in rooting these people out using the method outlined for us in I Corinthians 5:9-13: "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked person from among you." Using that wisdom and discernment, let's treat each church member like a family member since, in fact, we are all brothers and sisters in the family of God. See also II Thess. 3:14-15

Weeds and Church Problems
Every year church problems seem to vary. They are much like the weeds in my flower garden. After pulling weeds in my yard for over 20 years now, I have come to realize that each year a different kind of weed invades the yard and tries to take over.­ Sometimes it is tricky to pull the weeds without hurting the flowers.­ Other times it is impossible. I always think of weeds as the tares or chaff in the parables Jesus taught. ­Some were left to grow with the wheat, then were harvested along with the wheat, but were separated from the wheat by the wind.­ Others were thrown into the fire.­ The weeds in the parables represent the anti-Christ, or the unbelievers.­ Like the weeds in my flower garden, the "weeds" in the church are the problems caused by divisive people, people who are using the church for their own gain, those who are trying to lure people away from the church, etc. ­Every year we must deal with a different kind­ of problem.­ Weeds never go away; each year just brings a new variety of problems. Like the weeds, the problems will never leave us.­ When one is gone, another will take its place.­ We must never grow weary in getting "to the root" of the problems so that they are eradicated, never to return, because we sure don't need those problems in addition to the next batch that is sure to come.

It is a paradox that it is when we are disciplined, we are the most free, but when we become “carefree,” we become a slave to our sins. I know that this principle is true because I have seen it too many times to doubt it. To be free in Christ is to be free indeed!

I see so much poor-bashing on facebook; it breaks my heart. Not everyone who is poor is a lazy moocher. Working to make money is much more desirable than not having enough to eat, little to wear, broken-down necessities, feeling low class, and being depressed. Hundreds of applicants apply for the same job. They have no father to hand them a job on a silver platter. They may get a job but are paid oppressive wages and have no insurance or retirement benefits. Then when they draw social security, it is the lowest amount. Many are disabled or must stay home to care for a disabled person. Successful employers who gripe about those on welfare need to ask themselves if they are paying their workers fair wages or are they oppressing them. There are two sides to this story. Not all poor are the evil people they are made out to be. I am shocked every time I see or hear a Christian bashing all poor people considering the hundreds of verses in the Bible addressing that issue. Yes, I am aware of the story in the Bible about the sluggard and the ant. That story is the true side of the issue of lazy moochers who refuse to work. They are poor because they are lazy. They choose laziness over bettering themselves and supporting their families. They are the ones who need to be booted off of welfare. But then where does that leave the wife and children? God has little to say about the lazy but he has a lot to say about the poor and those who oppress the poor. If you are interested in those scriptures, let me know. I have about 4 pages ready to copy and paste.

It doesn't look good for Iraq at the "apocalypse" because Babylon is now Iraq. Christians are being killed and beheaded in that country. Those who are not Christians in other countries will not be spared torment either. It is hard for me to read Revelation because I fear now is the fear I will feel in those days if I am still alive, and I fear for the salvation of loved ones who either don't have a relationship with Jesus or are lukewarm. Then I ask myself if I am lukewarm. Am I just going through the motions of Christianity and is my heart in it as fully as it should be? I know the devil has tried to crush my faith and spirit many times and so far I have stood firm but a lot of the fire I once had is gone. Some of that also has to do with age and health problems -- or do I just use that as an excuse. This is what wars within me.

When a person cheats on their spouse, that person not only cheats on their mate, they cheat on the whole family, on both sides, many of their friends, the church people and God.

Where there's a will, there's a way -- as long as it is God's will and God's way.

As high as you can rise, you can fall. Stay humble.

Satan is not only the father of lies but is also the author of hate.