Hiya everyone!
Monday began with the women's alpha bible study. However, Riley was sick and he and his mother, Helen, couldn't make it. I was really gutted, especially since only one lady came. But, God still used it for good and Claire and I had a wonderful chat with Joe about all sorts of different things! One thing that has stuck with me is a conversation we had about one of Claire's friend's sons.
He has been a "troubled" child since he was very young (his parents were force to take him out of primary school). Recently it's just been getting worse as he's been getting in a really bad friend group. From what I understand he's gotten into drugs and all this really terrible stuff. A few weeks ago he tried to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. However, he couldn't do it because, as he explained later, he saw the devil calling him and he didn't want to go.
Much more recently, he went off to bed early. Yet his father got a call from a friend saying that the son was going to take his own life. So, the father and mother ran upstairs to stop him, and the son went completely berserk. He began trashing the place by breaking and throwing things and, when they called the cops, he ran up to his room, broke the mirror, and began slitting his wrists with the glass. Not deeply but still substantial.
Now in Wales right now there's a revival going on in Cwmbran, just an hour away from here. They've reported healings and such, and they describe it to be as the Spirit falling on the church. The initial incident happened sometime in April and ever since then the church has met every single night and they claim they will continue to do so until they are told otherwise. So the father, with no where else to turn, finally brought his son to Cwmbran. Mind you, the father is very conservative and, from what I've heard, a bit of a cessationist. However, he went and his son just kept getting more and more agitated until he finally walked out. When the father went to speak with him sometime later, the son described it as a force was calling him forward, but the devil had his leg and wouldn't let him go.
To me this sounds so much like Mark 5: "This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he torn the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and the hills h would cry out and cut himself with stones."
Now do note that Claire was asking for help in this situation, but I honestly didn't know what to tell her. I told her it sounded like Mark 5 with the demon possession, but in my tradition I've never really been taught about demons or healings or anything dealin with spiritual warfare. I know it exists, but I haven't a clue of what to do about it. We are told to expect spiritual warfare and temptations of the devil and encounters with spirits. Yet I know little to nothing more than that. So, I would ask you to pray fervently for this young man. I have not met him, nor do I know what I would do if I ever did meet him. But pray for him and his family. They are going through some spiritual warfare. Pray for me also that if I ever do meet him I will not be afraid to speak the truth. For the truth will set us free! And when we are free, we are free indeed!
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
After Bible Study Dottie, Jake, and Bobby picked me up for our afternoon Sabbath. We talked a lot in the carride about the family service I will be planning next month. They took us to the Big Pit which is a large mine. It was closed in 1980 and has been turned into a mining museum. We got to go 300 feet underground which was fantastic. Our tour guide was amazing, and I learned so much from him! It was just all so interesting.
Yet what he said truly speaks of the economic poverty in wales. It wasn't too long ago that children were sent into the mines to help feed their families. They were sent in without candle or light and, if their family could not afford one, they would sit for hours without any light. Children were in charge of keeping the draft doors shut (it controls airflow so that if something were to happen it wouldn't spread all over the mine). But to be there alone?
Yet now without any mines really working any more (not that there isn't any coal; it's still there. so much of it, actually. I could see the coal rivers running on the walls - they simply closed down for political/economic reasons), no one has work. There is such a deprivation here, and I was filled with such a great sadness for this country. It's as if they've lost joy.
We took a train home with Jake. There was a younger lady dressed up like a prostitute behind Jake. I didn't know what to do about that. I'm not sure if she was a prostitute or if that was simply her manner of dress. I have no idea. I became sad about that. If she is a prostitute, then, well, it's just sad to think that she has no value of herself. She may believe that she is only worth what men will pay her for. Such desperation there! And if she isn't, well, it's probably a similar mindset! She is only an object to look at and to enjoy, and she doesn't have a personality or anything else that is worth it.
Pray for that young miss. I could imagine that she would have a hard life, maybe even a young child to take care of.
That night we went to Cardiff with Jake and his wife, Fion. We went to the gourmet burger which was fantastic then meandered around a few stores looking for a hoodie for me. Apparently they don't sell non-zip hoodies even if it's freezin outside!! Really annoying, actually, but it was a grand time. I really enjoy the two of them. They are such a wonderful encouragement to me!
Bobby and I got to climb part of a hill and watch the sunset. It was so beautiful, and I am so thankful that we got a few moments to just steal away and watch God's handiwork in the sky. We got to talking, and it was just a wonderful time of rest. We snuck through someone's horse pasture, so a few of the horses even stopped by to say hello! I had forgotten how much I love horses.
So yesterday was just brilliant. God is doing such a good work in me, and I am so thankful for what He is teaching me. Pray that I will continue learning and not get all wound up in all the events that are coming up!
Thank you for your love and your prayers. I appreciate you all.
Ta-ta!
Monday began with the women's alpha bible study. However, Riley was sick and he and his mother, Helen, couldn't make it. I was really gutted, especially since only one lady came. But, God still used it for good and Claire and I had a wonderful chat with Joe about all sorts of different things! One thing that has stuck with me is a conversation we had about one of Claire's friend's sons.
He has been a "troubled" child since he was very young (his parents were force to take him out of primary school). Recently it's just been getting worse as he's been getting in a really bad friend group. From what I understand he's gotten into drugs and all this really terrible stuff. A few weeks ago he tried to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. However, he couldn't do it because, as he explained later, he saw the devil calling him and he didn't want to go.
Much more recently, he went off to bed early. Yet his father got a call from a friend saying that the son was going to take his own life. So, the father and mother ran upstairs to stop him, and the son went completely berserk. He began trashing the place by breaking and throwing things and, when they called the cops, he ran up to his room, broke the mirror, and began slitting his wrists with the glass. Not deeply but still substantial.
Now in Wales right now there's a revival going on in Cwmbran, just an hour away from here. They've reported healings and such, and they describe it to be as the Spirit falling on the church. The initial incident happened sometime in April and ever since then the church has met every single night and they claim they will continue to do so until they are told otherwise. So the father, with no where else to turn, finally brought his son to Cwmbran. Mind you, the father is very conservative and, from what I've heard, a bit of a cessationist. However, he went and his son just kept getting more and more agitated until he finally walked out. When the father went to speak with him sometime later, the son described it as a force was calling him forward, but the devil had his leg and wouldn't let him go.
To me this sounds so much like Mark 5: "This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he torn the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and the hills h would cry out and cut himself with stones."
Now do note that Claire was asking for help in this situation, but I honestly didn't know what to tell her. I told her it sounded like Mark 5 with the demon possession, but in my tradition I've never really been taught about demons or healings or anything dealin with spiritual warfare. I know it exists, but I haven't a clue of what to do about it. We are told to expect spiritual warfare and temptations of the devil and encounters with spirits. Yet I know little to nothing more than that. So, I would ask you to pray fervently for this young man. I have not met him, nor do I know what I would do if I ever did meet him. But pray for him and his family. They are going through some spiritual warfare. Pray for me also that if I ever do meet him I will not be afraid to speak the truth. For the truth will set us free! And when we are free, we are free indeed!
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."
After Bible Study Dottie, Jake, and Bobby picked me up for our afternoon Sabbath. We talked a lot in the carride about the family service I will be planning next month. They took us to the Big Pit which is a large mine. It was closed in 1980 and has been turned into a mining museum. We got to go 300 feet underground which was fantastic. Our tour guide was amazing, and I learned so much from him! It was just all so interesting.
Yet what he said truly speaks of the economic poverty in wales. It wasn't too long ago that children were sent into the mines to help feed their families. They were sent in without candle or light and, if their family could not afford one, they would sit for hours without any light. Children were in charge of keeping the draft doors shut (it controls airflow so that if something were to happen it wouldn't spread all over the mine). But to be there alone?
Yet now without any mines really working any more (not that there isn't any coal; it's still there. so much of it, actually. I could see the coal rivers running on the walls - they simply closed down for political/economic reasons), no one has work. There is such a deprivation here, and I was filled with such a great sadness for this country. It's as if they've lost joy.
We took a train home with Jake. There was a younger lady dressed up like a prostitute behind Jake. I didn't know what to do about that. I'm not sure if she was a prostitute or if that was simply her manner of dress. I have no idea. I became sad about that. If she is a prostitute, then, well, it's just sad to think that she has no value of herself. She may believe that she is only worth what men will pay her for. Such desperation there! And if she isn't, well, it's probably a similar mindset! She is only an object to look at and to enjoy, and she doesn't have a personality or anything else that is worth it.
Pray for that young miss. I could imagine that she would have a hard life, maybe even a young child to take care of.
That night we went to Cardiff with Jake and his wife, Fion. We went to the gourmet burger which was fantastic then meandered around a few stores looking for a hoodie for me. Apparently they don't sell non-zip hoodies even if it's freezin outside!! Really annoying, actually, but it was a grand time. I really enjoy the two of them. They are such a wonderful encouragement to me!
Bobby and I got to climb part of a hill and watch the sunset. It was so beautiful, and I am so thankful that we got a few moments to just steal away and watch God's handiwork in the sky. We got to talking, and it was just a wonderful time of rest. We snuck through someone's horse pasture, so a few of the horses even stopped by to say hello! I had forgotten how much I love horses.
So yesterday was just brilliant. God is doing such a good work in me, and I am so thankful for what He is teaching me. Pray that I will continue learning and not get all wound up in all the events that are coming up!
Thank you for your love and your prayers. I appreciate you all.
Ta-ta!
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