Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Love first...the only way to win love back!



Tuesday night within the inner city was cold but dry, with an open cloudless sky alight with bright shining stars. Every road and corner displayed the distaste of an inner city that was void of municipal workers, with litter and sewerage lining the roadside curbs, causing a heavy stench that filled the dry night air.

The streets were buzzing with life of those loud and intoxicated,  others waiting to be picked up by prospective clients, some hustling for business of illegal substances, others selling their produce of hard and honest labour, smoke looming fires as some sold cooked hot meals, children wondering around with no agenda, other children near death in ill health, and then others just milling with nothing better to do. The shelters were full with residents who could rest comfortably knowing they had achieved a successful day which allowed them to pay rent for a bed with a roof over their head. Every profitable end of day for those residents allows them to switch off, putting to sleep thoughts of tomorrow’s hustling or working for the next night’s rental. The new dilemma will begin as they awake and wonder if and how they will earn enough to pay for the following days accommodation?


The cloud of oppressive evil loomed over the inner city as usual, leaving me heartbroken once again. I was where I chose to be, doing what I love doing, which is to love those who feel oppressed by life and what it's dealt and still deals them, even though their pain hurts me too.


As often happens, I could not sleep on my return home. I sat up and deliberated with God, crying out to Him in anguish for those hurting, sick and broken people. I reached for my bible and opened it to seek a word of healing and comfort. It opened to Isaiah 50 and upon reading from verse 1; I felt it did not offer the comfort I was seeking, until I got to verse 4. It was then that I realized that God was speaking to me and affirming that my heartache was like His. His Word confirmed that being out on the streets, loving all those hurting people, was where He needed me to be, that feeling and seeing oppression was what I should expect. I felt, through His Word, that my heart was breaking for what breaks His, and through that, He was with me every step of the way, guiding me to those who needed love. It spoke to me saying I should not fear, nor allow the evil to get to me, that a broken heart is what I needed, to draw me closer to Him in faith and prayer.


His affirmation has prepared me well in advance, to go out again into the oppressed inner city, to visit the lost and hurting, to love them first as God does, before sharing the truth of His promises and hope of eternal life, to all that call on His magnificent and awesome name.


The Message: Isaiah 50                                                                                                                                                                       Who Out There Fears God?
1-3 God says: "Can you produce your mother's divorce papers proving I got rid of her? Can you produce a receipt proving I sold you? Of course you can't. It's your sins that put you here, your wrongs that got you shipped out. So why didn't anyone come when I knocked? Why didn't anyone answer when I called? Do you think I've forgotten how to help? Am I so decrepit that I can't deliver? I'm as powerful as ever, and can reverse what I once did: I can dry up the sea with a word, turn river water into desert sand, And leave the fish stinking in the sun, stranded on dry land . . . Turn all the lights out in the sky and pull down the curtain."

4-9The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, so I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, Wakes me up; opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders. The Master, God, opened my ears, and I didn't go back to sleep, didn't pull the covers back over my head. I followed orders,
stood there and took it while they beat me, held steady while they pulled out my beard, Didn't dodge their insults, faced them as they spit in my face. And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I'm not disgraced. Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I'll never regret this. My champion is right here.
Let's take our stand together! Who dares bring suit against me? Let him try! Look! The Master, God, is right here. Who would dare call me guilty? Look! My accusers are a clothes bin of threadbare socks and shirts, fodder for moths!

10-11Who out there fears God, actually listens to the voice of his servant? For anyone out there who doesn't know where you're going, anyone groping in the dark, here’s what: Trust in God. Lean on your God! But if all you're after is making trouble, playing with fire, Go ahead and see where it gets you. Set your fires, stir people up, blow on the flames, but don't expect me to just stand there and watch. I'll hold your feet to those flames.


Thank you Lord Jesus for Your Word, and for hearing  us when we call on Your precious and wonderful name, in Jesus name I pray, amen!






Sunday, January 1, 2012


With The Disciples!



Not too sure where I was! Not too sure what exactly I was doing! I do know however that it involved praying.

Suddenly, I was sitting on a little hill of my own, with a blanket of green grass underneath me. The hill abruptly flattened out, and it was as though I was on a carpet of beautiful soft lawn with a rustic brown frill of soil.

It started moving like the magic carpets you see in the animated genie movies. There was no one that I could see pushing or pulling the piece of earth, but it was moving. I moved into a zone away from life on earth itself, or so it seemed. I was surrounded by blankness, bright beautiful blankness.

It was then that I heard voices of men, learned men. They were deliberating about a manual, a life manual. Their voices sounded ancient but extremely wise, like elders with sensible knowhow.

I looked and did not see their faces, but, and although I could not visually identify them, something told me who they were.

I was sitting in the presence of Paul, Peter, Simon and other disciples who I am unable to name. Yes, the disciples were with me, or should I say, I was with them. I was grounded on the piece of lawn so could not move closer to them.

Their deliberation was centered on me. I was in awe; I could not believe where I was, this honour, to be with such amazing men of God. These guys knew Jesus in person. They had walked and talked and eaten with Him. These men learnt firsthand, in the flesh, from the Great Master, the Great I Am. And I was in their company, wow!

Then one of them walked over to me. It was Paul. He looked deep into my eyes and said, “This is your manual of life, from God Himself”! With that he handed me a book, turned and walked back to the others.

Once again, the green lawn carpet that I was still sitting on began to move back in the direction it came. Soon I was back in familiar earthly surroundings.

I landed back in my childhood home, on the same couch we grew up with. The sitting room was full of people, some I knew and others not. The lawn carpet was nowhere to be seen.

I had the manual in my hand, the only proof to me of where I had been.

I jumped to my feet, manual in raised hand and started shouting with uncontrollable excitement.

“Whoever does not believe in prayer is crazy. I have just been with Paul, Peter, Simon and other disciples, and they have given me this manual of life, it’s an answer to prayer. God is real, everyone needs to believe, He is real, and this manual is from Him”.

I was shouting and waving the manual in the air in my hand. I did not care if any thought I was crazy because I knew where I had been, who I was with, and what happened. It was all very clear and very real. I wanted everyone there to know that Jesus is alive and real, that they should all believe.

And then I woke up.

I had been dreaming, and all I wanted to do was to go back to that wonderful dream just so I could maybe go back to that place where the disciples were, that place which was clearly that much closer to my Lord Jesus.

After deliberating about the manual, I realized that it was the Bible, the Living Word of God, from God Himself. I am not too sure of the message I am supposed to derive from the dream, and I kind of wish there was an interpreter.

For now I will believe that God is trying to tell me that I need to soak more into His Living Word so that I can meditate more on what I am needing to do in obedience to His calling.

Acts 2:17  (NKJV)                                                                                                                                            ‘ And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.



©Cheryl D. Robins 2011