Sometimes its just a minute or two that the power is cut off. Sometimes hours or even a day, at a time. No warning, so you have to be prepared - WE have a large stock of candles, and the Homes also have battery operated lamps. But it certainly diminishes the 'brightness' of life. It also increases the DARKNESS of the night around us - more Break-ins and Burglaries.. More immobility, more tension!
In 1914 Sir Edward Gray, the British Foreign Secretary of the day, said -
'The lamps are going out all over Europe;
we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime'
He was referring to the onset of the First World War, and the ensuing darkness coming upon the world. It was a darkness, a time of increasing fear and apprehension, and EVIL, that engulfed the world for four lightless years. IT WAS A WARNING. Something needed to change. But in 1940 the SECOND world war began and continued for five long years. The war to end all wars? No, not at all since the world has continued to go to war across the Globe. It seems nothing has changed, even after a second WARNING! What next.
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I WAS BROWSING YESTERDAY ON THE NET, and found myself confronted with a huge Christian commentary on the coming calamity expected in September this year. I was quite ignorant of it. I mean I was aware of the usual and continued Christian books written about the 2nd Coming of Jesus, and the Rapture, and the End of the World. - But I am not a great reader of such material - I know within myself that we are all LIVING in the last days - I can sensibly SEE the way things are going just from reading the Bible. It has been enough to encourage me to be watchful, prayerful, and EXPECTANT that Christ might come any moment. SO what is all this about the 28th September? Well it is said the Earth will be smitten by a huge Meteorite or piece of Rock, and ALL the lights will go out!! Jonathon Cahn, John Hagee, and a host of other writers and pastors are industriously teaching, and proclaiming about this in books, videos and public lectures and sermons. Year by year, book after book, we have been Warned that the End might be near, and the Return of Jesus imminent. Even Times and Seasons have been put forward in the most sensational presentations possible. But times goes by. The World itself, via its own media and research, seems confident that it can, and even WILL end, sometime, either through collision with a meteorite, ecological collapse, warming or cooling of the atmosphere, and even WAR. We seem to be preoccupied with such statements - YET everyone seems to shrug their shoulders and go on - after all what else is there to do? WELL there is quite a LOT we could all turn ourselves to do - in making ourselves ready........ WE should be doing it anyway.
JESUS Himself assured us the End would come, and warned us of some of the 'signs' of the times' but also assured us that NO ONE could know the actual DAY it might happen. To KNOW the actual day would fill the world population with a state of mind leading only to world chaos ........I cannot change the future of this world, this planet - but I can be in perfect peace about it BECAUSE I know that God exists, and cares about me, and will keep me safe through thick and thin. I am not insensible of the 'signs of the times' but they do not disturb me, but only help me to determine more than ever to keep close to God through Jesus Christ. YES I cannot predict or prevent the Lights going out in my home, or even in the world around me, BUT I can prepare! I can make sure the Light of God lives in me to Guide, Assure, and Empower me in the very worst of circumstances. My Trust is in the Lord Who gave His life for me, I shall not be afraid. I will be READY for whatever 'surprise' the future has in store.
LAST WEEK I was unable to send the Blog - not because the Power was off, but because my Computer CRASHED! Took four days to repair, and I had to install a new Motherboard to get things sorted out. I still lost quite a lot of accumulated material which taught me a lesson; I shall now make sure I have a Back-up disc on which all my important material has been copied. You never know!
DARYL had his expected Operation on Tuesday, 5th May, It was successful, but he was told to REST for a fortnight - but he doesn't know the work 'rest' and was up and about his usual work the next day. This went on for two or three days, and THEN he began to feel quite unwell and HAD to finally do what he was told, and to REST. He is still resting, but going on well and without any complications.
On the 8th our one and only COW passed away. The person looking after her, and let her eat too much fresh Grass. After the rains there just SO MUCH new grass, and of course without any restraint our poor cow could not resist to just go on eating until she was too BLOATED to cope. She was in calf as well. A lot tears from staff and children alike.
On the 11th I celebrated by 75th Birthday. It was a quiet day, but many old boys dropped in to wish me blessing, and also some local friends. And of course my dear Esther was with me, and we just enjoyed the Day together at home with Helen and Abigail. It was a good time, and I enjoyed it very much. My grateful thanks to all our loving family and friends who phoned or otherwise sent their Greetings.
ESTHER is away today, as I write. She has gone down to Nairobi to Celebrate with her girl-friend from School Days, now headmistress of her own Primary School in Nairobi. Josephine is 70 today, and as she came up to us to Celebrate with Esther last year, Esther felt she wanted to do the same. I know they will enjoy each other very much.
The Weather is glorious today. Cloudless skies, and golden sunshine. Conversely Esther says it is VERY cloudy in Nairobi this morning, and looks as if it might rain. We shall enjoy what we have!!
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FORTY YEARS AGO - May 1975 I wrote -'Mercy is something He has drawn our attention to recently.
What IS Mercy? One brother recently wrote that it is the product of Love; it's outworking. WE have been much tested recently, and it is apparent to us that MERCY - our understanding of, and our yielding to its demands - was the reason.
So easy, in a work such as ours, to find ourselves feeling less merciful and more sacrificial! CARING rather as a DUTY - as a work rather than as a Love offering. So easy to find oneself looking for returns and rewards, and feeling upset; selfishly disappointed to find none forthcoming. BUT is seems that to love WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT OF GETTING AFFECTION, is the same as GIVING WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT OF GETTING BACK - and THIS is mercy.
WE have been hit and hurt by some of 'familu' members just where it hurts most - in our fleshly heart! And we tended to re-act with bitterness, resentment, and then despair! We felt a desire to give up, and just GO. THEN we began to realise that we were sorry for ourselves, looking for thankfulness for OURSELVES; AFFECTION FOR OURSELVES TOO. BUT this is not having or doing mercy! To love and not be loved; to do and not BE thanked; to give and not to GET but rather to be robbed - and then STILL to love. To still have MERCY; still to long and pray and earnest desire the good of those who seem the leased moved, touched or changed. Ah......!
But Mercy isn't soft, but STRONG. Mercy, (loving-kindness) disciplines. Mercy isn't afraid to stand for Good unalterably. SO MERCY might be seen, at times, to be the WRATH of God to those who do not yield to it or accept it. LOVE is the MERCY of God held out to whosoever needs it.
Wrath is that Mercy REJECTED and ignored. Yet wrath should not be seen as a 'pay-back' or revenge for Mercy's rejection. Look at Romans 12v20 'If thine enemy (the one opposed to you) hunger, feed him; if he thirst give him drink; for in so doing thou shall heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.' Rejected LOVE and MERCY upon the sinner will eventually increase the pressure upon him to GIVE IN, Remember LOVE NEVER FAILS if we continue to love even being afflicted and ill used.
YET if we have been tested and tried in these recent days, we have also been much blessed and especially in our evening prayers with the boys that Love Jesus.(We only had boys at this time)
We have seen the moving of His Spirit - and NOW, as Love begins to LIVE amongst us, some are visibly being DRAWN to Jesus, Whose Image and Life had grown dim in us who testified to having him in our heart and life. As WE repented of ourselves and sought for Him in our lives He has satisfied our souls in drought.'
WE ARE STILL TESTED AND TRIED in these areas of our life here. We have, again and again, to repent of ourselves and let JESUS into our hearts.
This is all for this week. Continue to pray for us, and for our children with us. And God our Father wrap you all around with His arms and assure your hearts within you.
Lovingly in Jesus Name
John, Esther and Daryl Green
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