Whatever we fear holds us hostage

My family of origin was mostly Irish and a little bit German. Neither nationality is known for its gentleness. My two brothers were thirteen months apart in age, ten and eleven years older than me, tall and muscular in build, verbal intimidators and  brutal physical fighters. I was scared to death of them. They both enjoyed that, nicknaming me "Tiny" to remind me of my powerlessness. I grew up in fear that one of my brothers would kill the other.

I had other fears. I was a little girl when a socialist president was put in office for three terms. I didn't know what a "socialist" was but I was scared of  'em. I remember well the day a government-hired young college graduate walked down a row of corn my dad was cultivating. Sweat was pouring off my dad's ruddy face,  his four work horses were exhausted from the humidity and heat and fought to lie down at the end of every row. This young man that my dad dubbed an "educated jackass" said these words: "Mr. Flynn, the government will pay you a subsidy if you don't plant any wheat this year." That's as far as he got before my dad lost his Irish temper, threatened the man with sudden death if he ever showed up on our farm again. Our family had endured seeing some of our neighbors driving shiny new trucks down the dirt road by our house, proudly waving at us,  having no clue that they were exploiting the advantages of a government of the people, by the people and for the people. These neighbors were so glad to be exonerated from the awful labor of coaxing crops to grow in the east Kansas gumbo, that they were blinded to what my formally uneducated dad saw as a sinister sign that government would one day own us.

Satan has never changed his tactics and human nature has never changed. Take law and grace. Many Christians have learned how to work the grace system.  Affluence causes man to drift away from a biblical fear of God. As long as Israel was facing an enemy they could not possibly conquer, they stayed close to the Lord.  God tested them with prosperity, just as He has tested America.  My dad understood the political danger of socialism, but he was  determined not to trust a Christ Who is a God of mercy, love and comfort. He wanted a God of judgment. If he were alive today, he would be getting his wish. We are being judged for the way we have "worked the system". ...and now, the Law is kicking in.  Will the Church be forced underground? Probably. Will we lose our tax-exempt status because of the exploitation of the cults who force their people to give a hugh portion of their income for their idolatrous purposes? Probably. When people are forced to pay big bucks to a system that controls them, it's just a matter of time before all freedoms are removed. Isn't that why the true believers in England fled the system that was controlling them?

I like Joshua. He was an average man made powerful by his obedience to God.  He asked the fear-blocked Israelites: "Do you want to go back to the gods of your fathers, those pagan gods which they served?  You can choose. But for me and my house, we have made our choice; we are going to serve the Lord." ...so I will continue in my little bitty ministry of teaching scripture to the next and the next generation. I have to. That's my assignment and I am honored to know for sure what it is. What is yours? Is your armor in place daily for that Holy assignment?

By the way, both of my fighting Irish brothers and my hard-working Dad finally laid down their human weapons and put on the armor of God. All three will be waiting at the Gate, along with a dozen or so others of my family when God hands me my bridal gown.
              
                      HYMN OF THE WEEK: A SHELTER IN THE TIME OF STORM

The Lord's our rock, in Him we hide; a shelter in the time of storm
Secure whatever ill betide; a shelter in the time of storm
OH, JESUS IS THE  ROCK IN A WEARY LAND, A WEARY LAND, A WEARY LAND
OH, JESUS IS THE ROCK IN A WEARY LAND. A SHELTER IN THE TIME OF STORM.

Love, Jo