Saturday, February 28, 2015

The Anvil of Time


This is from The Lion's Den blog:

Fearless against ALL attacks and tested by time, the anvil has been beat upon mercilessly, but has remained strong, true and reliable. The ‘ping’ is a gentle reminder that some things are timeless and unchangeable, and regardless of how much it is abused, it stands.

Equally timeless and more unchangeable  is God’s word, which is the greatest of anvils. It is the steel rock which has withstood man’s attempts to nullify it, and has embarrassed all the devil’s attempts to mock it. It has proved itself true in every age, and it is still, the anvil, which is forever settled in heaven.

It is attacked, denied, thought to be outdated, laughed at, railed at, and ignored, yet withstands all petty contradictions, and whose testament is found in the hearts of they who rest upon its promises. There is no other anvil like it, this steely rock of ages.

‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,’ no explanation of ‘how’ is necessary, other than ‘God said.’ The Lord is also known as the Word of God.

This word is sure and  steadfast, it is an anchor for the soul, and it contains ALL that pertains to life and godliness. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Daniel, the prophets, the apostles, all rested in its promises and dared not trifle with its contents. It is the anvil of eternal truth.

The devil tried to find fault in the God of creation by casting doubt in his word by suggesting to Eve: ‘Hath God said?’ and his age-old sleight of hand is still seen today, with greater damage. ‘Did God say same-sex marriage is wrong?’ and I could cite a thousand more lies from the father of lies.


The Holy Bible - 1611 King James Version
The Holy Bible – 1611 King James Version (Photo credit: Jemimus)

But this word of God is forever settled in heaven, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There are no flaws nor defects in God’s word, as there are no flaws nor defects in God himself, the throne of God, nor the Lord Jesus. The anvil of God laughs at all puny attempts to discredit its contents.

It is pure, tried in the fire, is quick and powerful, and is sharper than ANY two-edged sword.  Is it any wonder that the wind and the sea obeyed the voice of the Lord, and turned from a storm to an immediate ‘great calm,’ a sea of glass as it were? Of course nature heeds the voice of the Creator. The written word and the spoken word are one.

Take refuge in this word, this haven of rest, this anvil of time, as it contains the right word for every occasion. It is the monarch of books, for it’s central theme is the Living Word Himself.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Athy, County Kildare, Ireland

Athy
 
I used my hard-earned money and lived in Ireland from May 1981 to February of 1982.  I wrote a novella while I was living in Athy, County Kildare, Ireland during the summer of 1981.  It took me around seven weeks to write the manuscript.  

The most profound thing that I experienced while I was living in Athy happened in December of 1981.  I had been very suicidal since I was fifteen.  I remember that I had been reading this book and the author used this scripture:  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4: 13)  I sat there and repeated that scripture many times, then I went to bed.

I laid in bed and all I wanted to do was die.  Finally, I went to sleep.  Later that night, the Presence of God became very powerful.  It was very intense light and love--Divine love.  It lasted about an hour and a half.  The intense light/love was so powerful it was painful.  I began to plead for the light to leave because I couldn't bear the pain anymore.

[This is how Blaise Pascal describes his experience]

Since I have become a Christian, that rapture experience has happened to me many times.  You could also describe that experience as "the Holy Ghost fell" or "the Holy Ghost became very heavy":  it is Holy Fire.  I believe that experience in December of 1981 was painful because I was not yet washed in the Blood of Jesus.  In July of 1982, I finally surrendered my life to Jesus Christ.  I still experience the rapturous Presence of God from time to time, but it is not painful.

May 1981:  Northern Ireland and Bob Jamieson of NBC News
Revival in Ireland
Athy Town, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Barge on River Barrow, Athy
Hitchhiking in Ireland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales


Map of County Kildare
White's Castle on the River Barrow, Athy
Duke Street, Athy