I Thirst For You: Prayer, For All The Broken Hearted

 

 

I beg you to read this prayer from Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Those of us who have experienced thirst can well associate with our blessed Lord when He expressed thirst. My prayer everyday is that those of us who have an intimate relationship with Him, will have a thirst to bring the gospel of salvation-- sin's ruin and Christ's redemption-- to a rapidly deteriorating world.

- Dr. Thomas Morris

 

I Thirst For You: Prayer, For All The Broken Hearted

By Mother Teresa

I Thirst for You
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock… (Rev. 3, 20)
Jesus Crucified

It is true. I stand at the door of your heart, day and night. Even when you are not listening, even when you doubt it could be Me, I am there. I await even the smallest sign of your response, even the least whispered invitation that will allow Me to enter.

And I want you to know that whenever you invite Me, I do come – always, without fail. Silent and unseen I come, but with infinite power and love, and bringing the many gifts of My Spirit. I come with My mercy, with My desire to forgive and heal you, and with a love for you beyond your comprehension – a love every bit as great as the love I have received from the Father ("As much as the Father has loved me, I have loved you…" (Jn. 15:10) I come - longing to console you and give you strength, to lift you up and bind all your wounds. I bring you My light, to dispel your darkness and all your doubts. I come with My power, that I might carry you and all your burdens; with My grace, to touch your heart and transform your life; and My peace I give to still your soul.

I know you through and through. I know everything about you. The very hairs of your head I have numbered. Nothing in your life is unimportant to Me. I have followed you through the years, and I have always loved you – even in your wanderings. I know every one of your problems. I know your needs and your worries. And yes, I know all your sins. But I tell you again that I love you – not for what you have or haven’t done – I love you for you, for the beauty and dignity My Father gave you by creating you in His own image. It is a dignity you have often forgotten, a beauty you have tarnished by sin. But I love you as you are, and I have shed My Blood to win you back. If you only ask Me with faith, My grace will touch all that needs changing in your life, and I will give you the strength to free yourself from sin and all its destructive power.

I know what is in your heart – I know your loneliness and all your hurts – the rejections, the judgments, the humiliations, I carried it all before you. And I carried it all for you, so you might share My strength and victory. I know especially your need for love – how you are thirsting to be loved and cherished. But how often have you thirsted in vain, by seeking that love selfishly, striving to fill the emptiness inside you with passing pleasures – with the even greater emptiness of sin. Do you thirst for love? "Come to Me all you who thirst…" (Jn. 7: 37). I will satisfy you and fill you. Do you thirst to be cherished? I cherish you more than you can imagine – to the point of dying on a cross for you.

I Thirst for You. Yes, that is the only way to even begin to describe My love for you. I THIRST FOR YOU. I thirst to love you and to be loved by you – that is how precious you are to Me. I THIRST FOR YOU. Come to Me, and I will fill your heart and heal your wounds. I will make you a new creation, and give you peace, even in all your trials I THIRST FOR YOU. You must never doubt My mercy, My acceptance of you, My desire to forgive, My longing to bless you and live My life in you. I THIRST FOR YOU. If you feel unimportant in the eyes of the world, that matters not at all. For Me, there is no one any more important in the entire world than you. I THIRST FOR YOU. Open to Me, come to Me, thirst for Me, give me your life – and I will prove to you how important you are to My Heart.

Don’t you realize that My Father already has a perfect plan to transform your life, beginning from this moment? Trust in Me. Ask Me every day to enter and take charge of your life. – and I will. I promise you before My Father in heaven that I will work miracles in your life. Why would I do this? Because I THIRST FOR YOU. All I ask of you is that you entrust yourself to Me completely. I will do all the rest.

Even now I behold the place My Father has prepared for you in My Kingdom. Remember that you are a pilgrim in this life, on a journey home. Sin can never satisfy you, or bring the peace you seek. All that you have sought outside of Me has only left you more empty, so do not cling to the things of this life. Above all, do not run from Me when you fall. Come to Me without delay. When you give Me your sins, you gave Me the joy of being your Savior. There is nothing I cannot forgive and heal; so come now, and unburden your soul.

No matter how far you may wander, no matter how often you forget Me, no matter how many crosses you may bear in this life; there is one thing I want you to always remember, one thing that will never change. I THIRST FOR YOU – just as you are. You don’t need to change to believe in My love, for it will be your belief in My love that will change you. You forget Me, and yet I am seeking you every moment of the day – standing at the door of your heart and knocking. Do you find this hard to believe? Then look at the cross, look at My Heart that was pierced for you. Have you not understood My cross? Then listen again to the words I spoke there – for they tell you clearly why I endured all this for you: "I THIRST…"(Jn 19: 28). Yes, I thirst for you – as the rest of the psalm – verse I was praying says of Me: "I looked for love, and I found none…" (Ps. 69: 20). All your life I have been looking for your love – I have never stopped seeking to love you and be loved by you. You have tried many other things in your search for happiness; why not try opening your heart to Me, right now, more than you ever have before.

Whenever you do open the door of your heart, whenever you come close enough, you will hear Me say to you again and again, not in mere human words but in spirit. "No matter what you have done, I love you for your own sake Come to Me with your misery and your sins, with your troubles and needs, and with all your longing to be loved. I stand at the door of your heart and knock. Open to Me, for I THIRST FOR YOU…"

Between The Lines

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Psalm 63:3

Yesterday is history, and as much as we would like to change things in our life concerning yesterday, looking through the rearview mirror is in many ways a waste of time. Better, looking ahead because the future is there and completely unpredictable. All we have is today and today is the tomorrow that never came.

Friends from many places came down to my home over several days to celebrate this writer’s 83^rd birthday. One man said, “I have outlived all of my enemies and friends,” but I still have a few true friends left who enjoy visiting and eating with me.

The zenith was on last Sunday when two of my friends drove me to the country church, in which I grew up. The church was built by my great grandparents-- both maternal and paternal-- and was the center of the lives of my grandparents, parents and most relatives. It had been 15 years since I was in the church. I so well remember homecoming Sundays as a child, when people who, like me had been raised in that church, returned for the day. Many were old, but their minds were still alert with memories. Some, before they were seated, hearing the old hymns of their childhood, would begin weeping. It was truly a homecoming on this earth. Most were filled with the memories of their families and friends who had already experienced their “homegoing.” Can we even imagine the joy of our blessed Lord in his “homegoing” from this earth-- the world, which He had created, the earth and everything in it, where he lived very much like us for 33 years. Those of us who know His redemption will only experience clinical death, because we were born twice (physical birth-- chosen by God-- and the new birth, when we became filled with the righteousness of God).

Just as no one but my father had cut my hair, prior to me attending college, I did not know about other churches. And, since college, throughout the many times returning as a visitor (my life and Christian walk is filled with activities in other churches and denominations) I always tried to sit in the second pew from the pulpit, on the left (the left-hand side of the church from the front door, the side on which the women sat-- the men sat on the right side. The partition dividing the church down the center was still there during my childhood.) The first image in my mind, as a child from probably 3 years of age (I have used this every time I have spoken in a Free Will Baptist church and other FWB groups, as well as their graduation exercise), watching my mother on that side of the church, on her knees, washing the feet of another saint of God (foot washing is part of the communion service of the FWB denomination). Perhaps this one image has been the foundation, guidepost, and frame of reference of my life.

Recently my assistant and I rewrote my obituary-- the usual ancestry, education, military, professional, civic, travel, business, and life. The thought occurred to me over and over that it is life “between the lines,” the hyphen on the tombstone, between date of birth and death, which makes the difference-- the difference between the believer and nonbeliever, those who think the cause of Christ is foolishness, and those of us who believe with all our personhood that the cause of Christ is everything in living. As I sat in this church, built in 1874, on truly holy ground, sightless, everything remained in my mind as is was 60 - 80 years ago when I had good sight. I remembered the many who had been such an inspiration in my life. Those who’s trust and faith I clung to when I had the doubts, brought on by the trials of this world.

For us to really understand the mercies and mission of God, we must put flesh and blood on the people we have known as well as the bible’s saints, of which we have read. We can understand why God laughs when the creatures of the creator forget “who is boss.” (Psalm 2:2) Probably those, before the flood of Noah, those building the Tower of Babel, even the first Jew, and his decedents, wanted God to be in their image, instead of them being in God’s image. The history of the Jewish people is given for our understanding-- the understanding that God does not “play around” with us.

Onlookers would have believed that those in the Jewish nation, following the laws of God, were just foolish and wasteful: ceremonial law, presenting burnt offerings to God, a sweet savour to him, burning unblemished animals. (Genesis 8:20) If the priest, who’s job it was to sacrifice the animals, was not totally committed and God-fearing, he may have compromised and cut corners. Do you suppose a priest, making sacrifice of a calf, bullock, or sheep, inspecting to make sure the animal was perfect inside, as well as outside, was thinking, “This bullock has a nice liver; I would like some liver for supper.” God did not want a sweet savour from a liverless animal, any more than he wants a half hearted, hypocritical testimony, witness, and offering from any so-called Christian this day-- particularly after He gave his only son to save us from our sins. Think of the 20,000 oxen, and sheep without number (too many sheep to count), sacrificed at the dedication of Solomon’s temple, which is still, to this day, the greatest building ever built. Think of it, a building of cedar wood, brass, silver, and gold, a building built without the sound of hammer or saw, the cedar wood cut from the cedar trees of Lebanon, traversing the Mediterranean sea and then over land to Jerusalem, the foundation of the temple being the same size of the Great Pyramid of Giza (13 acres).

We no longer make burnt offerings, sweet savours through smoke, to God. Our unbelieving world would believe our offering to be foolishness-- our giving, foolishness. Even Jesus’ own disciple, Judas, when the alabaster box of ointment was broken on the body of the Lord, said, “Why this waste.” (John 12) I still remember one of my own aunts, after I made large financial gifts to churches and colleges said, “Thomas, you’d better be careful with giving away your money.” She considered giving to churches to be foolishness. The early Jewish nation knew they could not out-give God-- they had experienced his presence, a parting sea, a shaking mountain. We have no record of any regrets in keeping the ceremonial law.  Between the lines, those of us who have known the joys of Christian living and giving-- know the joy of presenting our own bodies as living sacrifices.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:1-2

Upside Down

Laughing On The Outside (Crying On The Inside)

Make believe is all I do
I'm laughing on the outside
Crying on the inside

-- Nat King Cole

More so, everyday, we live in an upside down world. For young people, bad means good, gay means perverted, absolutes of right and wrong, good and evil disappeared long ago--a world that is upside down.

Once, as a child, in my grandfather’s great apple orchard, I saw this beautiful apple up in the tree. I could not reach it. A large passing bird, which was looking down saw the same apple and he got it for his enjoyment. For those who do not know up from down, draw a large circle with a large dot in the center. This large dot is the earth. Everything outside the earth is up. Everything going towards the center of the earth is going down. We need something so desperately to hold on to. Yesterday, September 11, 2013, was the date when supposedly two large planes crashed into the World Trade Center, causing these two buildings to fall, amid much fire and smoke. Over 3,000 people lost their lives in the conflagration—many jumping from windows. The remains of many working in the building and of firefighters and police officers will never be found. No one yet has explained with truthfulness why a third building (Building Number 7), next to the two stuck by the planes, fell into its own foundation 5 hours later. 84% of the American people believe that there is something very crazy about the entire event-- like Pearl Harbor, the Gulf of Tonkin, the burning alive of 85 women and children at Waco, Texas, the destruction of many lives in the Murrah building in Oklahoma City, the murder of J.F.K., the murder of his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, the murder of General George Patton, and many other historical events. Many of us love and serve our country, but despise the corruption, lies, and deceitfulness of our government. Most of all, we despise corrupt leaders-- politicians who sell their very souls for power and money. Integrity/ concern are lost words in most vocabularies-- certainly in the actions of politicians and bureaucrats.

The most effective illustration this writer and public speaker ever used was when I cut some branches from grape vines and fruit trees. I held the dying, once alive, branches up and said, “This is what happens when you cut the limb from the tree-- vine from the source of life. As long as the branch gets nourishment from the root, it will grow and produce fruit. The difference with a tree and fence post is growth. You know that the branch is alive when it produces fruit. Cut from the source of energy, it is good for nothing.” My mother could use a branch to get obedience from naughty children. Today, everything in our lives is controlled with a switch, except children. What do people do, who have cut themselves loose from the vine-- the root of the spirit of life?

One of the greatest speakers I ever heard-- a man on television for many years-- was Arch Bishop Fulton Sheen. The father of a parishioner was dying. The most important thing to bring to any person-- particularly one nearest to hell-- is the message of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The man kept telling the Bishop to leave, that he was an atheist, but the bishop kept going back. Again and again, he went back. Finally the dying man said, “I told you I am an atheist. I will go to hell. Why are you staying here, did you not hear what I said?”

Bishop Sheen replied, “I am staying because I have never seen a man go to hell.”

Streets and church pews are filled with people pretending, yet willing and obviously ready to go to hell. How can a man, who calls himself a pastor, stand in front of a large congregation, week after week, and know that most are just pretending, and are certainly on that broad way (Matthew 7:13). It happened in Europe and other places years ago, the “close down/ sell out” of Christianity. Over 1,000 Southern Baptist churches go out of business every year. Most SBC churches now have only white hair. One Southern Baptist church, which to my certain knowledge was active just 50 years ago with 1000 members, was recently bulldozed. Now a Walgreen’s drugstore sits on the property. The property sold for enough for the bank to continue paying the retirement of past pastors, etc. The time for the “back door” revival is past. The pretenders/ tares, because of the unpopularity of Christianity, because they never knew salvation, never willing to pay the price, have already left. 70% of all young people, from supposed Christian homes, after going to college, never return to the church. The foundation of what faith they had was based on feeling, not fact. They saw, in their church, that the pastor was more intent on entertaining the goats than feeding the sheep. They thought that God needed them. The hypocrisy is easily recognized. God does not need cowards to carry His cross. The cross of Christ is the greatest event in the history of the world-- the focal point between law and grace. 90% of Christian faith is just raw courage. Too many in the church house want to act, dress and talk like their friends in the “whore house.”

Will you imagine with me what would happen if, just one day-- one solitary day-- every believer in Jesus Christ, would fast and pray, stay out of the fast food places, restaurants, grocery stores, and even your own kitchen. There is nothing like fasting for cleansing. Is the future of our broken down culture, our despite to the spirit of grace, worth this effort? This writer, while in Israel, ate cold food in hotels, saw people walking everywhere they did not use the elevator, or machines of any type. They did not tear paper from a toilet paper roll; they did no work on the Sabbath. Is it even possible that in America, Baptists and Catholics-- the two largest denominations, who put the present political powers into office-- could awaken to the upside down condition of their country (the abortion holocaust, the gay agenda, destruction of the home by same sex marriage, black liberation theology churches, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Lutherans, have already cast their lot with Satan). In most churches, training classes, prayer meetings, study courses, and revival meetings, have been discontinued. But, as children, in Sunday school we sang, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King? Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring? Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe? Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go? By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine, We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!”

Tongue Tied: The Frozen-Chosen

Take My Life And Let It Be

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee. 

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose....

-- Frances R. Havergal, February 1874

            21st century Christians associate themselves with David and Paul, perhaps more than any other of the marvelous characters in God's book. These men knew life in the raw, active in all the challenges of living, yet able to rejoice and know the joys of God. David, "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22), knew failings as well as forgiveness; knew the heartache of his own children. Paul, to whom we owe most of The New Testament, like David, failed God so many times, yet-- repentance/ forgiveness-- with blood running down his back, in the jail at Philippi, could rejoice and sing hymns. (This writer, so often asked to pray at public functions, has one message always: "Although I have failed my savior many times, He has never failed me.")

            Today's 21st century Christian, chosen to live at the time in history, is so tongue-tied-- the frozen-chosen-- when speaking to the unsaved about their marvelous redemption. Today's American citizen is living better than anyone could have dreamed-- even in my childhood-- with every electronic convenience (our ancestors were so wrong, it is not necessity, but laziness, who is the mother of invention). We have so much to live with, yet so little to live for. We become tongue-tied, the frozen-chosen, born to live at this time in history in recognizing-- even defending-- our great nation.  

            Recently a nurse, sent to my house each week by the Veteran's Administration to check on me (blood pressure, etc.) and to help with my food, said to me as I was sitting, waiting for someone to pick me up for a luncheon engagement-- wearing my veteran's hat, with my Medical Caduceus, Colonel's insignia, DAV-Korea insignias-- said to me, "Were you in the Army or something?"

           

            You see, people do not even recognize a veteran any more than they recognize the saving grace of Jesus Christ. A recent survey found that the average Christian spends two minutes a day in prayer, and the average preacher, just three minutes.

            My assistant recently took me by a yard sale, where the people were raising money for Diabetes research. They were selling mounds of cakes and pies-- sweets-- to the public. It is about like raising money for blind people by selling coloring books to the blind. We live in a broken-down culture.

            This writer was in a barbershop, getting his hair cut. I had never been in this shop previously. My barber had died, and I was looking for a new place. They knew me, and immediately decided to push my buttons about "religion." My barber said, "Doctor, don't you think it is just necessary to keep the 10 commandments."

            Another barber said, "Don't you think that Buddhists and Muslims will go to heaven too?" You see, in writing or speaking, it is not possible to explain everything fully, to even tell them how wrong they are. We must know that only God can draw them.

"No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up on the last day.''

John 6:44

            I became tongue-tied, one of the truly chosen, and said only, "I depend entirely on the mercy of God. I know He has forgiven me of my rotten sins, that I have repented, and stand amazed at His promises." The place fell very quiet.

            Not satisfied, one patron said, "Doctor, do you believe that it was necessary for you to serve in the military, and give what you have given for your country?" It was like the retired police chief from West Point, New York, who lived in the house next to me, telling me that his retirement check was close to $18,000.00 a month. He said I was so foolish to have given my life [eyes] for my country. You see, the veteran becomes tongue-tied-- frozen in disbelief-- when he realizes that those who were chosen to give their all for their country, are so unappreciated.

            At the foot of the cross, the charwoman, or the Queen of England-- the janitor or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court-- all become totally dependent on the mercy of God. The gift of salvation is a free gift to all. If you could buy it, men would pay any price, would climb any mountain, or study a limitless number of books. Our salvation, our love for country, is beyond expression. One should not be embarrassed by being tongue-tied, when attempting to explain it. For God to be God, He has no needs. We need Him; He does not need us. Salvation and patriotism are two matters beyond explanation. It is a matter of the heart.

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Philippians 4:4

Believe It Or Not

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

1 Timothy 6:12

"Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Nevertheless, I want Your will to be done, not mine!"

Luke 22:42

The best thing possible for us, is always what God wills for us. Sometimes God's will may be pain, or worldly loss, or sore bereavement. Yet His will is always love, and in simple acquiescence to this will, we shall always find our highest good. No prayer, therefore, is pleasing to God which does not end with this refrain of Gethsemane, "Nevertheless, I want Your will to be done, not mine!"

This is also the way to peace. As we yield with love and joy, and merge our own will in our Father's--the peace of God flows like a river into our souls.

"Let the Lord's will be done."

Acts 21:14

"It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him."

1 Samuel 3:18

Several times in the 20th century-- in my lifetime, starting in 1949-- I listened to a radio-television program entitled Ripley's Believe it or Not. Mr. Ripley died after a few episodes, but the program continued over many years with many well-known hosts. Even Mr. Ripley would not believe the changes in this world in one man's lifetime.

Like perfume from a vase, after the flowers have been taken away, many of us have memories of what it was like. The dove trembles when it sees a hawk's feather, and this writer-- world traveler-- trembles to think about what lies ahead for the young people maturing in today's world.

Just Last week, the following prayer was made at a meeting of Democrats in the state of Iowa:

"We give thanks, oh Lord, for the doctors, both current and future, who provide quality abortion care. We pray for increased financial support for low-income women to access contraception, abortion and childcare. Today, we pray for women in developing nations, that they may know the power of self-determination. May they have access to employment, education, birth control and abortion. We pray for women who have been made afraid of their own power by their materialistic religion. May they learn to reject fear and live bravely. Today we pray for the families who have chosen. May they know the blessing of choice."
God's greatest gift is the gift of freewill, our ability to make choices-- to choose. We have today-- physically and spiritually-- become frozen-- the so-called chosen of the world.... those chosen to live in this democracy, those chosen for life and salvation. God help those who are more intent on political correctness, than depending on the power of God. God help those Democrats who booed the mention of His name at the democratic national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jesus' first words, as he hung on that cruel tree-- God giving himself for the sins of the world-- were, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 22:34)
So precious are the lives of the unborn. 53 million have been killed in their mothers' wombs since the legalization of  abortion in 1973. So precious are the 25,000 children who die each and every day in refugee camps from the hunger that is caused by war.
This writer so remembers the people of Africa-- the 42 nations comprising the African continent. While in the Congo, in one of the largest nations, Goma, at the head of the 2,000 mile Congo River, on a guerilla photography expedition, I so remember the pygmies, those small human beings who mostly live in trees. It is believed, by those who are witnessing the holocaust, that 250,000 of these small people have been eaten by the barbaric terrorists fighting in that nation. These small, loveable people are the chief food supply of the marauders.
The greatest blessings of my life have come through bad times-- not the good times.  I firmly believe this is the reason that one veteran commits suicide everyday-- that more of our military forces in combat die from their own hands, than are killed by the enemy. One cannot experience the depravity of man (the killing of innocent children with bombs, or other cruelties of warfare, see hungry people begging for food, and even water, know the reckless living of their fellow man, even their own family, caring nothing for the cruelty/ evil of mankind) and yet remain untouched by what their eyes have seen, ears heard, and other senses realized. Man is the only animal that can blush or weep. It is time for us to begin weeping for the conditions around us.
For every comfort of my life, every blessing of this blessed land, I give praise to God and to the hardships of my ancestors who arrived in 1677 on the good ship Kent. Here in my office, I have the iron cooking pot, which they used to cook their food in the fireplace / chimney. They could never have been convinced that the struggles they endured-- as well as the generations following them-- would lead to the indifference of this generation, from the church house, to the school house, to the courthouse, and even to your house. Perhaps President Reagan said it best, speaking of the 249 marines killed in Beirut, Lebanon, "They were not afraid to stand up for their country or, no matter how difficult and slow the journey might be, to give to others that last, best hope of a better future. We cannot and will not dishonor them now and the sacrifices they've made by failing to remain as faithful to the cause of freedom and the pursuit of peace as they have been.
I will not ask you to pray for the dead, because they're safe in God's loving arms and beyond need of our prayers. I would like to ask you all - wherever you may be in this blessed land - to pray for these wounded young men and to pray for the bereaved families of those who gave their lives for our freedom.
God bless you, and God bless America."

Prince George and Labor Day

  

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Joel 2:25

The greatest drama in God's creativity AND the world and everything in it, showing the magnificence of His designs, is the migration of bird life-- the millions of neurons in the bird neurology are hardwired (a bird about the size of your fist) to fly thousands of miles in a season. This writer and world traveler will never forget the mountains around the Arctic Ocean, almost black with bird life. The Terns had migrated from the South Pole, where I had witnessed their stay there. The ornithologist/ scientist, studying their magnetic abilities-- their study of the stars has yet to give explanation to their ability to travel such distances (their rest stops, food supply). Nor can the scientists account for the Geese and other birds as they fly in the V formation, knowing their regular stops in their migratory flights. God wired them with work ethic survival, just as He did with so many animals (bees, ants, etc).

There is a different neurology with locusts. Scripture has much to say about locusts, long-suffering mankind restoring after the destruction of locusts. As old as history, and it all started in the Garden of Eden, when man chose the spirit of death instead of the spirit of life through disobedience, forced to work/ sweat.

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.

Genesis 3:19

The aroma of sweat is the perfume of accomplishment. I can still, to this day, imagine my sweating father-- hard at work, the working-ess man I have ever known. But, because he worked-- the farm, his business (barber shop), construction of buildings, raising livestock-- he made a good living for his family and was able to return to God, the portion that was due to God.

It still thrills this old man to shake the hand of a working man-- a man who knows the honor of labor, who knows the honor of the family, and the honor of serving a holy God. And, not just men, but the female gender as well-- whether a mother raising children and caring for a home, pulling the looms in a cotton mill, teaching others' children or nursing others (sick folks). So many women know the thrill of a paycheck from work as well as the consolation of a job well done at home. My own mother, who worked on the farm home, giving to the community, said her greatest compliment, when someone spoke of her children, was, "You did a good job."

Just a few weeks ago, the world waited patiently as a new future king of the British empire was born, Prince George. This writer well remembers great grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, being crowned in Westminster, following the death of her father. I well remember her marriage to Price Phillip. Americans, still intrigued by royalty, watched the marriage of her successor, Price Charles, the birth of his successor, Price William, and now the birth of his successor, Prince George. This child will never want or need for anything. Like royalty from the time of King Herod, or other tyrants, such as Hitler or Nero, all had the choice of treating their fellow man decently, or using their fellow man for their own comfort. This writer has seen the castles of Europe, the palaces of Asia. Buckingham palace has 775 rooms and 78 bathrooms for just one old man and one old woman. I have seen the splendor of Windsor and Edinburgh. Prince George will be the future head of the Church of England, just as is his great grandmother is now. Does she not think-- will he not think-- that the same justice of God applies to them, as to any other human being born into the world?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:37-40

As this world traveler traveled through India, by train, through former British colonies in Africa by Land Rovers, or whatever, the thought was always there, "The great wealth of the British Empire could have been used to make the lives of poor human beings, who never had a decent water supply,or place for body elimination--- children who never had a full stomach. Such wealth could have made their lives better." The only consolation in the world of "big I, little you," is God himself walking the earth as a man-- Jesus seeing the disparity with his own eyes and yet saying, "The poor you have with you always," (Matthew 26:11). Man was given free will as a gift from God. Just as we were chosen to live-- even chosen for eternal life-- we have the choice of being a producer or a user. What possible thrill/ enjoyment/ accomplishment, can anyone get out of living if you do not know the joy of working and giving.

The boy, Prince George, will have ponies, because his great grandmother so loves horses. He will eat from gold plates and never know or even observe poverty. Only the grace of God will present the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. We wish that for him and for all those in the world who are physically able to work.

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

Proverbs 20:4