What the Bible says about light and seed

The True Light "In him, (the Lord Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world,…the world didn’t recognize him." John 1:4,9.

The Good Seed and the Weeds “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seeds in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. Matthew 13:24,25.

Sunday, December 8, 2024

UPDATE ON SYRIA (8 DEC) ASSAD DEAD, DAMASKUS TAKEN!

JS BACH - AIR ON THE G STRING - WHITWORTH HALL ORGAN - THE UNIVERSITY OF...

 Note from the author

 Overwhelmed by the magnificent grandeur of the Lord God, but protected by his strong arm. This is how I feel when I am surrounded by Johann Sebastian Bach´s music especially when it´s played on a great organ. 

The Reports of the Spies …32So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature. 33We even saw the Nephilim there— the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!” Numbers 13:33

Of course, they had not yet read what Isaiah said about how scary giants looked in God´s sight from his celestial throne. …

21Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the foundation of the earth? 22He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth; its dwellers are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23He brings the princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth meaningless.…Isaiah 40:22

Return of Hope | A Worship Experience Led by Joshua Aaron

Sunday, December 1, 2024

2024 12 01 John Haller’s Prophecy Update “The Ripple Effect"

Finish What you Started Part 2

 Written and Published by Jean-Louis Mondon

I finally got to it after much hesitation. Can you guess why?

This sequel might as well been entitled “7 years later”. It seems that my personal clock is set on big moves that alter my life drastically, not always tragically but certainly in a way that expands my horizon and bring new breadth and the chance to start a fresh new beginning, to learn new useful skills that help me navigate this tough and dangerous world. I wonder how I was able to survive until now if it had not been for the love of God and his providential hand.

1995 was rough year for me personally. My mother living in France had an accident in her apartment and needed to be under care in a retirement home. I felt bad to let my elder brother who  took care of her since she was living in Montpellier in Southern France and he in Paris.

When I was in a catholic boarding school at the tender age of seven, I didn´t miss one occasion to thank my mother profusely for all the dedication and loving care she showed us four boys. So I could not wait for Mother´s day to come so I could prepare a nice card to prove that I was capable of showing the filial gratitude that I genuily felt for all the years of being away from my family. Especially missing the times we did to spend together as often as we could to make up for all months we were apart.

One of the Leit Motiv in my life was my desire to show her all the love I could express when I was writing the cards so as to seal forever in my mind why I sounded so melodramatic at the anticipationI imagined she was feeling when she would read the forever promises of eternal gratitude and love a 7 year old could muster to compensate for all the bad behavior he showed while back home and the bad grades he brought to display the lack of gratitude in exchange for all the wonderful things my parents did for me and my brothers.

I could not understand all the reasons they had to keep us separated from the country we loved, from our friends, at that precious young age when one still has not yet formed the undertanding that comes with the maturaity and wisdom acquired later in life when adults expect that someone else will teach learn young boys and girls have to deal with their rough and tough environment. A heavy load of guilt added to the psychological problems and melancholy nature that had built up along my formative years.

I just could not understand why my parents sent me to a foreign land across the sea where I felt rejected by my peers and the very religious figures that were supposed to show me the love of Jesus and the exemple of a life dedicated to service of God and other needy people around the world. I had to be confronted by the severe and real lessons of life that can make or brake the most basic relationships.

A young heart and mind are not prepared to fight back and stop the bullies of this world. That was the conclusion I had reached when confronted with the pain and suffering that was my lot in life. It pushed me to become sulky, rancourous and vengeful in times of despair and with the inability to control my reactions.

So here it is after many years of learning, trying and failing again. In spite of the rough terrain in front of us, I can see that there is hope in this world for those who while being afraid of the unknown can trust in God and know deep inside that there is redemption for the human race and life in a wonderful dimension that is awaitng us that will surprise us with more than we can imagine or dream of as the Word of God says.

All we need is to share the deep and durable lessons we have learned in this life that we experienced so we may pass it on to someone who need a touch from the living God as he has graciously brought us in contact in the most miraculous way, even if at the itme we didn´t even think that it would be possible because we did not think ourself worthy of such love.

Help from above

One of the most helpful passages in the Old Testament is found in Joshua 3:5. “ But keep a distance of about two thousand cubit between yourselves and the ark. Do not go near it, so that you can see the way to go, since you have never traveled this way before.” This seemed very paradoxical to me! You might ask: How can a man know his way if he has never been there before?

This is the wonderful work of our gracious God and Father. his Son Jesus Christ through the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit.

 Our Adequacy from God

Definition of adequacy: Adequacy is the state of being sufficient for the purpose concerned. The meaning doesn't suggest abundance or excellence, or even more than what is absolutely necessary. Adequacy is simply the state of sufficiency. 

Jesus said to Paul:Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.…2 Corinthians 12:9.

Such confidence before God is ours through Christ. 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God. 6And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.…2 Corinthians 3:5.

The only person that keeps you from taking the first step of faith toward being a new creation with a new abundant life is yourself. But there is hope.

Hope

"1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:1-4.

Hope is what you and everyone needs.

Faith

The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah
…5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. 7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Hebrews 11:6.

So my friends, here we are. Will you seek him while you can? Fear, shame and guilt are the real enemies of your soul keeping you prisoners unable to free yourself from their grip. It´s up to you.

Nobody else can make that decision for you.

Finish What you Started Part 3

Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon

This is my testimony of one of the experiences with my Heavenly Father´s provisions that he promised to keep in our time of need. After all one of his “names” is “Jehovah Rafah” God our Provider.

I had the blessing and privilege of translating several books, articles and booklets from English to French for a christian creation ministry. It was a gift from God to be involved in such a task that was going to share the truth of the Gospel of Grace with the french speaking countries fulfiling my desire to help with missionary services around the world when I came to the USAs in 1965.

It was around 1997 when this story took place. I had already been translating 2 books and divers booklets for a year. While I had finished one half of the third book I was working on, I received a letter telling me to stop working on the translation because the ministry had run out of money alloted to the language translation department.

I was disappointed and was left with questions about how to proceed. I felt that it was my duty to finish the book and that God would provide a way for me to complete the task. 

Waiting patiently with faith in silence  

So I waited until I would hear from the Lord what to do.

About that time as I was finishing the Pauline epistle of Colossians, my mind still waiting for an answer from God, I read the following:

After this letter has been read among you, make sure that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea. 17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” 18This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.… Colossians 4:17

 The answer comes

Here was the answer I had been waiting for. I love these little and big surprises from our Heavenly Father who rewards his expectant children an who keeps his promises. Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him and His recompense accompanies Him. 11He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.… Isaiah 40:10

Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.” 12 I am coming and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”… Revelation 22:12

I believe the emphasis here is “according to what he has done”. Can we imagine an omnipotent creator God who just thought of, imagined and talked about creating the universe out of nothing but never achieved what he had set out to do.

 To do or not to do, When what we do shows who we are.

… So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.… Matthew 21:27-29

James 1:22-25
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...
Some time passed and one day, I got a financial windfall that was welcome at a time when the family budget was tight. I had counted on the extra income from my translation to keep afloat.

Here was the expected answer to my quandary. I wrote the ministry to ask them if I could continue to translate and finish the book at my own expense as a gift to them which they gladly accepted.

Our God has creative ways of finding solutions to our problems that turn difficulties into blessings. This is one of the reasons why christians are grateful for life and God´s impartiality who makes rain fall on the unjust as on the just.

We christians are blessed to understand some of the ways of God as Psalm 25 declares: Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. 5Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation;

All day long I wait for You.14The LORD confides in those who fear Him,and reveals His covenant to them. 15My eyes are always on the LORD,for He will free my feet from the mesh.

In conclusion

to those who make resolutions for the New Year, here is a suggestion: try your hardest to keep your word and act on what you say you will do, test to see that God is good, that he is faithful, that his promises are sure and his Word is true.

18 “I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19 my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ And 20To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.…” Philippians 4:19

Wonderful blessings on your life. 

Jean-Louis.










Anchor for the Soul (Lyric Video) - J. Brian Craig

Watch: ENTIRE Crowd of Jew-Hating Canadians SILENCED at House of Commons

Thursday, November 28, 2024

Finish what you started Part 1

Finish what you started Part I

Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon
Original written January 2017.
 
Important lesson from the Word of God. John the Baptist testimony about Jesus to his disciples: So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.” 27John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’… John 3:27

For the last few days I have had a thought going through my mind. Usually it means that the Lord is trying to tell me that it is worth looking into it, elaborating after consulting him of its importance, meditating on it and most important double checking like a Berean in the Word where this concept is found, the context of when, to whom and why it is addressed and if my own life experience and application of this biblical principle when guided by the Holy Spirit has contributed to my own spiritual growth.

Before the Lord saved me 53 years ago, my life was a mess. It was what seemed to be a succession of random, haphazard events and circumstances over which I didn´t have any control. My emotional and selfish reactions only made it worse. Whenever I tried to correct the situation ended up in more failures and one thing that brought me down more than anything else was the feeling of waste and utter desperation at finding some self-worth because of the total lack of positive and constructive accomplishments to look at and be proud of. Everything I touched and every relationship I had turned into one more proof that my  existence on this earth was a curse from an unjust and vindictive god that hunted me down and punished me for the simple fact that I was born without asking for it or having anything to say about the matter.

Needless to say, this kind of attitude doesn´t contribute to accomplishing much in life and the feeling was exacerbated when I compared myself with my friends, neighbors and all the great heroes  out there that receive the adulation and honor for their accomplishments and contribution to society. I wasn´t sitting on a pile of ashes, I was buried under the ashes of the death dealing blows of a self-incriminating conscience piled on the top of more judging and condemning by the society in which I happened to be born. 

Now, this is not wallowing in self-pity on my part, I just wanted to set the stage for demonstrate the extraordinary saving power of Jesus-Christ through love, mercy and grace He has for anyone who knows he or she is soul-sick, lost, hopeless and helpless with no way out and no one to turn to, but in a last act of desperation turns to the God that unbeknownst to him/her was faithfully and patiently waiting for the child to acknowledge his/her lost condition and come home to his real, loving Heavenly Father.

To summarize the above, I never finished what I started before I was 23 years old.
Then, my life started changing because I met the God who never changes, who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the End and everything in between, accomplishing what He said He would do, as I trust more and more in His transforming power. As I was reading the Word, I encountered some encouraging verses such as:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philipians 1:6 

The Lord completed the mission His Father entrusted Him obeying Him even though He knew what agony and torture He would have to bear on our behalf. In John 10:17, Jesus declares: The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”…

If the Lord obeyed His Father in all things, should we not do our best to obey Him if he commands us to perform a servant´s duty that he has made us adequate to fulfill, gifting and empowering us to do. After all, the Word says that we are His disciples if we keep His teachings. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31,32.

 
A wise advice from a missionary at a home group meeting when I was a young christian in 1966: There is no shortcut in the christian life.
 
 


Saturday, November 2, 2024

La Petite Agnelle Égarée. Leçons de l´Aire de Battage.

Publiée par Jean-Louis Mondon

Édition Originale en Anglais: Friday, December 7, 2007


Leçons de l’aire de battage.
"Si vous gardez mes commandements, vous demeurerez dans mon amour, de même que j’ai gardé les commandements de mon Père, et que je demeure dans son amour.11 Je vous ai dit ces choses, afin que ma joie soit en vous, et que votre joie soit parfaite.12 C’est ici mon commandement : Aimez–vous les uns les autres, comme je vous ai aimés.13 Il n’y a pas de plus grand amour que de donner sa vie pour ses amis." Jean 15:10-13

"Je suis la porte. Si quelqu’un entre par moi, il sera sauvé ; il entrera et il sortira, et il trouvera des pâturages. 10 Le voleur ne vient que pour dérober, égorger et détruire ; moi, je suis venu afin que les brebis aient la vie, et qu’elles soient dans l’abondance.11 Je suis le bon berger. Le bon berger donne sa vie pour ses brebis. 12 Mais le mercenaire, qui n’est pas le berger, et à qui n’appartiennent pas les brebis, voit venir le loup, abandonne les brebis, et prend la fuite ; et le loup les ravit et les disperse. 13 Le mercenaire s’enfuit, parce qu’il est mercenaire, et qu’il ne se met point en peine des brebis. 14 Je suis le bon berger. Je connais mes brebis, et elles me connaissent 27. Mes brebis entendent ma voix ; je les connais, et elles me suivent. 28 Je leur donne la vie éternelle ; et elles ne périront jamais, et personne ne les ravira de ma main".Jean 10:9-28
 
"Quel homme d’entre vous, s’il a cent brebis, et qu’il en perde une, ne laisse les quatre–vingt–dix–neuf autres dans le désert pour aller après celle qui est perdue, jusqu’à ce qu’il la retrouve ?5 Lorsqu’il l’a retrouvée, il la met avec joie sur ses épaules,6 et, de retour à la maison, il appelle ses amis et ses voisins, et leur dit : Réjouissez–vous avec moi, car j’ai retrouvé ma brebis qui était perdue". Luc 15:4-6.
 

Cher lecteur, si tu ne connais pas encore le Seigneur Jesus voici ton invitation personnelle. Si tu cherches ton chemin, si tu te sens accablé et à bout de forces continuant de lutter en vain, écoutes la voix de sagesse de l´Esprit Saint de Dieu qui t'appelle pour te donner la vie éternelle. Simplement, demande-lui de t'aider et il te repondra.

"Venez à moi, vous tous qui êtes fatigués et chargés, et je vous donnerai du repos. 29 Prenez mon joug sur vous et recevez mes instructions, car je suis doux et humble de cœur ; et vous trouverez du repos pour vos âmes.30 Car mon joug est doux, et mon fardeau léger". Matthieu 11:28-30

"Jésus leur répondit : Ma doctrine n’est pas de moi, mais de celui qui m’a envoyé.17 Si quelqu’un veut faire sa volonté, il connaîtra si ma doctrine est de Dieu, ou si je parle de mon chef.18 Celui qui parle de son chef cherche sa propre gloire ; mais celui qui cherche la gloire de celui qui l’a envoyé, celui–là est vrai, et il n’y a point d’injustice en lui". Jean 7:16-18.

Préambule: Histoire d´un Berger Contemporain.
Bê…bê…bê! Ce bêlement à déchirer le cœur fit sursauter le jeune berger à moitié assoupi sur l’herbe du talus d’où il avait l'habitude de garder l’œil sur les chèvres et les moutons à la ferme de son frère ainé. Encore plongé dans ses rêveries coutumières, il se redressa et jeta un regard inquiet jusqu’au bas des pâturages clôturés pour séparer les chèvres des moutons. Le troupeau de moutons formait de petits groupes, certains reposant paisiblement sur l’herbe, d’autres avalant encore une dernière bouchée avant de joindre les autres pour ruminer. Il n’arrivait pas à localiser exactement l’endroit d’où le bêlement d’agneau venait, mais il pouvait percevoir que le signal de détresse provenait du bocage à la lisière de la forêt.

Alors qu’il se dirigeait en courant vers les cris incessants, d’une intensité poignante, ses pensées retournèrent à l’aube de ce matin d’été quand l’automne précédent, vers les six heures du matin, il avait été réveillé en sursaut par un concert effroyable d’appels au secours qui ne pouvaient signifier qu’une chose. Les chèvres qui passaient les nuits chaudes dehors se trouvaient dans un danger dont il ne connaissait ni l’origine, ni la gravité. Une fois la barrière levée, il avait découvert plusieurs chèvres avec la gorge ensanglantée non loin de la protection de l’étable qu’elles avaient essayé d’atteindre, trébuchant à cause de leur faiblesse, sur le sentier rempli de mares de sang éparpillées.

 Il n’en croyait pas ses yeux, ses chèvres favorites, bien qu’ils les connaissaient toutes par leur nom et leur personnalité, remontaient la pente hors d’haleine, apparemment essayant d’échapper à un sinistre encore inconnu. Il conclut qu’il ne pouvait s’agir que d’une chose, à en voir les blessures à la gorge de ses doux animaux. C’était la signature incontestable d’un loup ou d’un chien sauvage qui avait sauté la clôture et qui avait semé la panique dans le troupeau. Celles qui ne présentaient aucune blessure avaient de fortes cornes dont elles s’étaient servies pour se défendre.

Hélas, comme il s’approchait de la barrière entrouverte par la pression du troupeau effrayé, il avait eu beaucoup de peine à refouler les larmes lorsqu’il comprit la raison de ce carnage. Trois chiens dont l’un était son propre berger allemand mixte courraient encore après les pauvres chèvres qui tournaient à l’intérieur du périmètre de la clôture sans pouvoir trouver la sortie. Effrayées, épuisées, elles tombaient l’une après l’autre sous les dents acérées des gros chiens tout en laissant échapper de leur cou déchiré et éparpillant sur la prairie des flots de sang giclant dans toute les directions, dans l’air frais du petit matin.

Une colère soudaine s’était emparée de lui et sans même réfléchir, il avait commencé à ramasser toutes les pierres qu’il pouvait trouver et comme il était bon tireur, entrainé dans son pays natal à viser des boites de conserves, il atteint les chiens qui commencèrent à se retourner contre lui d’un air menaçant. Il décidait alors de repousser les prédateurs avec le bâton qu’il avait emmené avec lui. Finalement voyant que les survivantes s’étaient enfuies, les deux chiens méchants avaient de nouveau sauté la clôture et avaient disparu. En tout, sept chèvres étaient mortes et de nombreuses autres blessées.

Plus tard, dans la journée il avait posé des pièges à loup avec de la viande fraiche pour attirer et capturer les rottweilers qui s’étaient échappés de la maison de leur propriétaire et qui courraient la campagne depuis trois jours en quête de nourriture.

Effroi, Détresse et Poursuite 

 
La réalité de cet horrible incident était encore bien présente dans son esprit, mais heureusement, il se calma immédiatement car le troupeau ne présentait aucun signe de danger imminent. Sa seule inquiétude venait des bêlements désespérés de la petite agnelle qu’il aperçut dans un coin de la clôture. Jetant un regard autour de lui, il ne put discerner aucun danger visible. Et pourtant, au lieu d’être rassuré par sa présence, la pauvre petite agnelle continuait à pousser des cris de détresse. Il raisonna alors qu’elle était en train d’appeler sa maman. Mais, fait bizarre, rien ni personne ne l’empêchait de rejoindre le troupeau. Elle aurait pu être guidée par les bêlements émis par le reste des moutons, en écho répondant aux siens.

Quand le berger s’approchait d’elle, elle se mettait à sauter et à se sauver dans la direction contraire. Ce qui l’entraina dans une chasse totalement futile car à chaque fois qu’il essayait de lui courir après pour l’attraper, la petite agnelle bondissait et lui échappait. Comme il n’avait pas grand-chose d’autre à faire, il essaya plusieurs fois dans l’après midi de la poursuivre et de la capturer, mais en vain. La nuit venue, les chèvres et les moutons rentrèrent à la bergerie, mais la petite agnelle têtue comme une mule refusait toujours de rejoindre le gros du troupeau et passa la nuit dehors à bêler de toutes ses forces pour appeler à l’aide.

Ce manège dura trois jours entiers. De temps en temps, le jeune berger essayait de parler gentiment et doucement à sa petite agnelle pour gagner sa confiance, mais celle-ci, opiniâtre, refusait l’aide dont elle avait tant besoin. Et pourtant, il aimait tous ses animaux et il avait décidé qu’il la ramènerait au bercail quoi qu’il lui en coûte. La seule chose qu’il ne parvenait pas à comprendre, c’était que son frère ainé lui avait délégué la responsabilité de ramener l’agnelle sans demander de l’aide aux voisins ou aux enfants. Peut-être raisonnait-il que puisqu’elle allait être vendue ou mise au congélateur dans quelques semaines, elle se lasserait après quelques jours et trouverait le chemin du retour par elle-même. Pourquoi perdre son temps et se fatiguer pour un bête si obstinée ?

Le jeune berger qui aimait trouver une solution à tous ses problèmes décida qu’il ne serait satisfait qu’avec le retour de l’agnelle auprès de sa mère.
L’après-midi du troisième jour, il eut une idée qui lui parut géniale. Il puisa dans le stock de souvenirs de sa jeunesse plusieurs épisodes de dessins animés dans lesquels le héro ou le vilain essayent de s’échapper lors d’une poursuite Vous devez bien connaître ce dont je parle. Alors qu’ils sont en pleine chute libre après s’être jetés du haut d’une haute falaise, ils continuent à courir les jambes dans le vide comme s’ils avaient un point d’appui sur la terre ferme. Evidemment, dans ce temps-là, la scène était très comique, mais ce simple retour en enfance lui fournit une idée sérieuse. Il commença à élaborer un plan de sauvetage qui mettrait fin à cette interruption de sa vie monotone.

Profitant de ce que l’agnelle était coincée dans un coin marécageux au bas du pâturage, il décida que c’était le moment propice pour mettre son plan en action. Lui faisant face et agitant ses bras pour qu’elle commence à courir dans sa direction, il se rapprochait pas à pas dans la boue qui lui montait jusqu'au bas su mollet. La petite agnelle figée de peur, se préparait à faire un bond et juste au moment où elle se lançait dans l’air, le petit berger se laissa tomber, le dos dans la boue tout en recevant dans ses bras l’agnelle qui, au même moment, essayait de courir en battant l’air de ses courtes pattes sans aucun appui ferme, comme dans les dessins animés de sa jeunesse. Elle, toute éberluée se trouvait prise au piège dans les bras protecteurs du berger qui éclatait d’un rire interminable et poussait des cris de joie et de victoire, alertant le reste de la famille qui se demandaient ce qui avait bien pu arriver.

Il va sans dire qu’il était rempli de boue malodorante du haut en bas, mais cela ne semblait pas du tout le déranger car il avait mené à bien le travail qui lui avait été confié par son grand frère. Ne lâchant pas prise, il se releva, prit l’agnelle pas les pattes et la reposa sur ses épaules autour de son cou en lui parlant tendrement et en la tançant gentiment.

Retour au troupeau

Finalement, un crépuscule glorieux marqua les joyeuses retrouvailles de la petite agnelle et de sa mère contente de voir que sa progéniture n’avait pas oublié pendant ces trois jours de fugue comment s’alimenter à la mamelle maternelle.

 
"Tu es un asile pour moi, tu me garantis de la détresse, Tu m’entoures de chants de délivrance.
Je t’instruirai et te montrerai la voie que tu dois suivre ; Je te conseillerai, j’aurai le regard sur toi.9 Ne soyez pas comme un cheval ou un mulet sans intelligence ; On les bride avec un frein et un mors, dont on les pare, Afin qu’ils ne s’approchent point de toi.10 Beaucoup de douleurs sont la part du méchant, Mais celui qui se confie en l’Eternel est environné de sa grâce". Psaulme 32:7-10

Son of Hamas Co-Founder Denounces Group at UN, Exposes 'Savage' Indoctri...

‘Trainees and reservists’ take out Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar

Is Spiritual Warfare of "Binding a Territorial spirit" Biblical? Dave Hunt.

Question: What about the "spiritual warfare" teaching that by "binding" in the name of the Lord the "territorial spirit" controlling a city Christians can take over that city for God?
 
Answer: Such an idea has no biblical basis, either by precept or example.
 
Yes, "the prince of the kingdom of Persia: prevented the angel Gabriel for three weeks from coming to Daniel (Daniel 10:12-13). Daniel, however, was seeking prophetic insight--not to "bind" the "territorial spirit" over Persia. 
 
Nor did Gabriel instruct him to wage such warfare. Gabriel's mission was to inform Daniel of last-days events affecting Israel (v 14)--information which the "prince of Persia" tried to hinder. There is no hint that "binding" this demon would have delivered Persia from Satanic influence or that Gabriel's victory over this demon (with the help of Michael the Archangel) had any effect upon the spiritual climate in Persia or aided in the salvation of Persians.
 
Paul never tried to "bind territorial spirits" in bringing the gospel to the world of his day, so why should we? And although the apostles "turned the world upside down," there is no hint that a single city was ever "taken for God," as Wimber, Paulk, Hayford, Frangipane, Lea, and so many others are promising.
 
 In Corinth, for example, where Paul spent 18 months, God gave him special protection and blessing because He had "much people in this city" (Acts 18:9-10). The issue was not to deliver Corinth, but to call a company of believers out of it. Nor did Paul's success change the destiny of Corinth--or of any other city or nation.

Friday, September 27, 2024

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Beyond the Veil - The Inescapable Curtain

jewelry box with rotating butterfly by Enchantmints Enchantmints Musical Jewelry Box with Butterfies and Flowers Enchantmints Butterfly

  From the Music House Dale City FL

Dedicated to my dear friend Richard Harrison

 The Inescapable Curtain


Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon
 
 The Blessed Death of the Righteous
1The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are swept away, while no one considers that the righteous are guided from the presence of evil. 2Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest, lying down in death.…Isaiah 57:1,2.


  The dreams of youth germinate
Into cocoons of silky threads
Patiently woven over endless years

Butterfly wings overburdened
By teary clouds hoping
To find their final abode
Among fading flowers
Gathered in passing

Memories collected
In our music boxes
Loose their fleeting hold
To awaken yet again
The dear voices of the past

And the steps of the dance
Wind down and fade discreetly
  Behind the curtain
 
When the box is shut
And the notes chime anew
On the shelf of our thoughts.

 Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16
 For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall"  I Peter 1:24 New International Version (©1984)


Thursday, September 12, 2024

Emotional Amputees Part 1 of 3.

Written and Published by Jean-Louis Mondon

Our physical senses are designed in such a way that the signals they provide help us in gathering information to apprehend the world around us and to function in it.

On the physiological and neurological level, it is a well documented phenomenon that if a limb or a finger is amputated, the amputee can feel physical pain outside his body where there was and now is no more member. A friend of mine and I were having a conversation related to the subject. He was in a car accident that caused both his legs to be amputated a little below the hip. He acknowledged feeling the pain although his legs were no longer physically present. So I am not making this up. 

Phantom limb pain is pain that you feel in the part of a limb that was removed after an amputation. It might seem unusual to feel pain in an area of your body that doesn't exist anymore, but the pain you feel is real. Phantom limb pain ranges from mild to severe and can last for seconds, hours, days or longer. Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12092-phantom-limb-pain

Could it be the same way on the emotional, psychical (soul) level? Sometimes the same thing can happen in the dissolution of a marriage relationship through separation or divorce. It could also happen through the end of a long friendship in which we have felt betrayed and disappointed. Or in the loss of a loved one, a family member, or simply a dear intimate best friend through death or separation because of life’s contingencies.

The pain we feel is real because so much of ourselves had been invested in that person at different levels of intimacy. The association between the person, the intimacy and the pain is present because of the chemical/electrical impulses in our brain that stimulate the cerebral cortex every time we think of the person or an event associated with the person.

The Lord can heal the physical part if physical harm has taken place through prayer or the intervention of a doctor. We can grieve and time lessens the pain, but if the person has not learnt to disassociate (with time and through repeated efforts) the memory in the past triggering the painful reaction in the present, emotional bondage can occur preventing us from moving forwards with our lives and crippling us emotionally, making us unable to love again, giving of ourselves again and taking risks again in relationships because of the fear of being abandoned, hurt or rejected again.

Is it possible to be free of our guilt feelings, of our sense of being unforgiven or unforgiving in the case of abandonment or betrayal? Is it possible to be aware and defeat any of the other tricks Satan uses to keep us in emotional bondage? Indeed, it is. Everything is possible with the Lord.

Jesus talking about Himself as the door in John 10:9-10 declares: I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he shall be saved and shall go In and Out and find pastures.

Right after that He says: The thief, our enemy comes only to steal, kill and destroy (all the good that God creates and gives His children). I came that you might have life and might have it more abundantly.

A person in emotional bondage and crippled by traumatic past experiences find it very difficult if not impossible to give and receive love and expressions of love, to go in and out so to speak. They can pretend to appear emotionally healthy and try to prevent further rejection, but this only serves to aggravate the condition.

If we acknowledge our condition truthfully the Lord will help us. In Psalms 34: 15, 18 David declares:

The eyes of the Lord are towards the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit.

So the invisible parts that have been cut out from us through the breaking off the relationship are similar to the physical amputation. But one must resist the temptation of placing blame on the offending party for having been cut up and been robbed emotionally once we have forgiven, because if not, we just place ourselves into a jail of our own making. Jesus asked us to forgive. Do you remember that He also said to pluck our eye out if it offends us or to cut our hand off if it offends us? I believe He was talking about a spiritual operation performed by the Holy Spirit when we recognize our inability to do God's will without His strength and help. Same Psalm verse 27: "You save the humble, but bring low those whose eyes are haughty."

If we humble ourselves, stop being proud, that is, (haughty eyes), self-sufficient and independent and focus our eyes on the Lord, by the power of His Holy Spirit, He will answer our humble request and give us a pure, undivided heart, one that will be attentive to His voice. This is why it's so important to put on and keep the helmet of salvation on. Salvation in Hebrew or Greek means more than just being born again, it means health, being made whole, being unfragmented, and being one in mind, body, Spirit and soul. (This is the way I felt for the first time in my life when I was 22 and the Holy Spirit came and literally washed me clean of my sin with His Light). You are welcome to visit my blog at https://thelightseed.blogspot.com to read and hear the audio book, an alegorical story titled The Joshua Tree", a Desert Parable" that digs deeper into such subject.

Psalm 43:3 says: "Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me". The other essential part of the armor is the belt of truth.

The truth of the Word without the Spirit to illuminate it is without effect upon the human hearts and minds. Both go together, just as truth and love go together in our protection. (Ps 40:11). Without the light, we can’t see the truth. Jesus said: I am the way, the truth and the light.

Without the way, there is no going anywhere, without the truth there is no knowing the way, and without the light there is no seeing either the truth or the way.

If we believe Jesus and live (walk) in the light as He is in the light, I John 1:7 says: “we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus His Son purifies us from all sin”. He will open our eyes, the eyes of faith and allow us to see clearly the Truth and the Way and we will not need to walk by natural human sight.

Back to the earlier reference of the symbolic cutting of the hand and the eye; notice that He specifically mentions one eye and one hand. We have two eyes and two hands, but one heart which to me means that when our heart is undivided, (not torn between two things, peoples or events, past and present, faith and doubts, yes and no. on one hand, but then on the other hand, etc), when it is focused on the Lord, our eye (singular) will be full of light.

Matthew 6:2:." the light of the body is the eye, if therefore, thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light”. Our eyes can focus only on one thing at a time.  Talking about the evil of the tongue, James uses a appropriate illustration in James 3:10: "Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing.... Can both fresh water and salt water come from the same spring? ...Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."

Psalm 18: 28 declares: You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning, My God turns my darkness into light”

Again, in James 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously without finding fault and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like the water of the sea blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all that he does” This word double-minded means having two breaths, doubting, wavering. Now let’s contrast this attitude with Abraham’s faith in Hebrews 11:11: By faith, Abraham when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went even though he didn’t know where he was going”.

I love this passage in Isaiah, which describes so well the one who in his ignorant condition seeks the light of God and the other one who seeks his own enlightenment because he is proud and independent.

In chapter 50: 10- 11 the LORD says: (Could this passage be applied in contrasting the true light and the counterfeit lights of humanistic psychology, psychiatry and new age teaching about love and light, occult healing therapies)?

"Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant, Let him who walks in the dark who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. But now all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, Go; walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze, this is what you shall receive from my hand; You will lie down in torment".

The Bible teaches us to find out what is pleasing to God. Hebrews 11:6 declares: Without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

My prayer for us is that we will seek earnestly His will, that our faith will be increased, that the Lord will open our eyes to see, our hears to ear, our heart to receive, and that once we have seen, heard and received, we will have the strength to obey because faith must necessarily lead to obedience.

Jean-Louis