VOMITED OUT OF THE EARTH!

THIS IS THE SCHOOL RESERVE WATER TANK!    Half of it was buried in the ground to 50% of its height, until last night!    In the midst of a heavy thunderstorm, with appropriate Thunder and Lightening, it suddenly popped up and out of the ground, leaving it as you see it in the photo.     The Watchman, who was nearby said it was struck by Lightening about 10p.m.
However, I was not too sure about it.   If it had been full of water, as I would have thought, then it would have needed quite a 'push' from underground to make it rise up out of the hole - EVEN if such a thing could have happened!
On more enquiry I discovered it had been leaking into the ground for some time, and had in fact been slowly draining in order to have it pulled up from the ground to seek for the Leak or even replace the Tank.
On inspection the leak was found at a point around the bottom.      It seemed clear then that the leak plus continual rains for last few days had slowly 'forced' the almost empty tank UP from its bed, until it toppled over!      Amazing, but not impossible.      Not the initial picture of the power of God pulling it up out of the ground amid the awful glare of Lightening and roar of Thunder though.    The Watchman was a little disappointed the supernatural had somehow got watered down till it was less jaw dropping in the telling.
THE same night one corner of the retaining perimeter wall of the Swimming Pool also collapsed.      From the lower edge of the Pool to the wall is about 6 metres.    The ground slopes quite steeply from the pool surface level to the lower ground seen here in the foreground   It had received a considerable and substantial land fill of rock and top load of soil.       This was done in 2013, and had seemed quite secure, but the rain this last week has been VERY heavy and prolonged, so that we think the weight of the land fill shifted with the added weight of unusual water, although some provision had been made for water drainage at the bottom the wall.    Further investigation is proceeding.

Quite a night's work, and of course quite a costly one in terms of repair and replacement.    Our immediate reaction was one of "WHY now, Lord?'      Not very convenient for us.     BUT on the other hand it has confirmed that we were LOSING water, and paying for it.  Perhaps the fallen Wall may turn out an Alert, before the REST of it falls down as well!
From the aspect that ' all things work together for those who are called according to His Purpose' we should once more stand in AWE of His unending and abounding GRACE that is constantly poured out to us.

Heavy and prolonged RAIN, and dark grey leaden clouds do not make for ' joy and gladness' as is the case wherever they happen to occur.     At least they do not occur often in our case.    Our yellow buses have least advertised their bright and sunny presence during the period.
Not a lot happening otherwise, though we received a collective Gift via AENON Trust last week which enabled us to pay a good many long standing, and heavy monthly accounts.   We rejoiced greatly with Thanksgiving.       Again that Wonderful Grace of God.       We held nothing back of what came in, and gave it all out again, leaving ourselves with nothing, but our hearts awake with the knowledge of Who holds our hand and walks with us all.      All our lives entrusted, and all KEPT and sustained by HIS Grace.    In fact this coming Sunday I shall be sharing a little about Grace,

And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw into the Treasury two mites, which make a farthing..  (The Gospel of Mark 12v42-44)

JESUS had been sitting near to the Treasury in the Temple, watching how the people gave into the Treasury, and many that were rich cast in much!
Turning to His disciples, Jesus said, 'Truly I say to you, This poor widow has cast in more than all of those who have already cast into the Treasury.     They all put in what they could spare, but she cast in all she had, even all her life.'

SHE put in ALL her life!    All she had - even her very hope.    Some have said that she did this because of her love for God.   Even though this may well have been the case, I feel that she gave all she had because she knew how much God loved her.     It may have been her LAST money, just as it was the LAST of the oil in the cruse of the Widow of Zarapheth, but she BELIEVED God, and somehow was assured that she would not be destitute, and WOULD LIVE!     She believed that with nothing to sustain her in the world, God would see her, and would not let her perish.     She gave all her life ( I wonder if she had done it before )?       Yes I think so.     She knew she did not have to hang on to life - LIFE would hang on to her.
ALTHOUGH, the following Scripture was actually discussing charitable giving, I was very struck by the Amplified Bible translation to 2.Corinthians 9v8. -

'God is able to make all Grace, (every favour and earthly blessing)

come to you in abundance, so that you may always, 

and under all circumstances and whatever need,

be self sufficient (having enough to require no aid 

or support, and furnished in abundance

for every good work and charitable donation.'

God's Grace is found in His Love for us  - in HIS undeserved, unconditional, favour toward us, His son or daughter in Christ.    If we have BELIEVED and trusted in Christ Jesus to save us and to pay the price for our Forgiveness  -  then nothing can or will be able to separate us from God's love for us.

Romans 8v35-39.     If Jesus is in us, and with us, in our life, then we are kept, moment by moment, in and by His Grace.    He WILL provide our daily needs, forgiving our errors, as we also (by HIS grace) forgive others who may offend us.    And HE will set us free from temptation's lure, and lead and guide us away from all evil.

GOD does all this for us, and plants His Grace, His undeserved and unconditional love, in our hearts to GIVE out in the same measure to whoever may be brought in front of us.

BUT do we let HIS Grace control our actions toward others?     Is HIS Grace seen in us - or have we shut it away just for ourselves, whilst we reserve to others the lean ration of our own fallen appreciation of what we think others deserve.

WE tend to judge the undeserving (in our opinion) as being unworthy of our interest or concern, at times.      We often turn away from the troublesome neighbour, from the beggar we 'know' will waste what we give to him.    We often cease to want to bare or suffer one who has repeatedly failed to keep their word or promise.     We often hang back from wanting to forgive, and whens we feel short of what WE need we even soon being to grumble and moan to ourselves - and to God.    Are we then BLIND to His Grace - leaning to our own selfish appreciation of situations, people, and life in general.

JESUS tells us in Matthew 5

Resist no evil.

To him who seeks to take away your jacket, give him your overcoat as well.

Give to him that asks, and from him who would borrow, do not turn away.

Love your enemies; bless them that curse you, and pray for them who deceitfully use you.'

When many read these words, they find them selves saying that the words are not meant to be taken literally - we have a right to protect ourselves and to defend ourselves.     These people are the ones in the wrong, I do not have to consider their problem, situation or need.    It is ME, and how I feel that matters.

God's arms are always OPEN for us.     He is always waiting.      Am I?  Are my arms open for my enemy to run into, for solace - and forgiveness?      What is wrong with me, when I find myself full of judgement, criticism, and unforgiveness?      Where IS this Grace of God that the Godhead has bestowed upon ME   -    open the door of my heart LORD,  open the DOOR of my heart.....and let me say sorry, forgive me, receive of God's Love and Grace through me.

WE may need to calm down and seek for Jesus in our heart.    It may need OUR repentance.  Repentance for refusing to be honest with ourselves, and to see that all is not NAILED down to the Cross with Jesus;  that our lives are not truly TIED DOWN to the horns of the Altar.

REMEMBER Hebrews 12v14-15 especially.   It is more explicit in the Amplified Bible.

And finally - 2.Corinthians 9v7 -

'Every man according as he decided in his heart,

so let him give,

Not grudgingly, or of necessity,

for God loveth a cheerful giver.'

Yes it IS talking of giving charitably what you have, and may not be directly connected to where my thoughts are today, but I DO feel they have a very creditable application.     If I am guilty of having wrested scripture out of context unreasonably or dishonestly I ask forgiveness.

FINALLY let us Remember 'LOVE (the Grace of God) never fails'  1.Corinthians 13v1-8

All for this week.    OUR love and prayers always to each and every one.

John, Esther and Daryl Green