"My child, I will send you into difficult places.
I will use you to share My heart, to speak My word
to those who will listen and to those who will not.
You will be rejected and spoken against,
but I will give you peace in the midst of being mistreated.
I will take your hand
and you will look into My eyes
in the midst of oppression,
and in the Spirit you and I will dance.
In Me you will see the morning by faith,
and I will be your rest
and your comfort during the night."
Weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
(Psalm 30:5)
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.
(Psalm 126:6)
*****
Art: "Peace In Difficulty"
Christian brother,
ReplyDeleteGreetings!
Follow the links to scenes of terrible persecution of Christians today.
http://ap221.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/cristaos-sendo-espancados-e-queimados-vivos-por-causa-da-sua-fe/
http://procurandoosperdidos.blogspot.com/2011/05/cristaos-sendo-espancados-e-queimados_01.html
There is a fictional pursuit induced by reading books, creating a climate or a persecution mania where it does not really exist.
These videos are real and persecutions of the world today ..
Terrible and shocking!
Beto.
Ramone, I believe you may be conveying an unrealistic expectation of what people might be facing when you use the word "dancing" in association with persecution...
ReplyDeleteJust as no one whistles "Dickie" when they get a divorce, no one dances either (even when the Lord is holding their hand) when they walk into the "lion's den".
Blessings in Him!
Hazel
Hazel,
ReplyDeleteThere are different kinds of persecution; this has more to do with mistreatment by being rejected and spoken against (i.e., spiritual abuse). This can make you doubt yourself, your relationship with God, and even the confirmations He repeatedly gives you. People may be offended and give rejection, accusing you of any number of things, even when (or especially when) you're being obedient and hear Him correctly. The doubt you can go through during this time can be intense. That is the main 'persecution' here.
That's why the eyes are so dark. I didn't do that intentionally, it just happened when I was painting it and I had not brought my white highlighter with me. So afterwards I was not particularly happy with the picture and I wanted to add highlights in the eyes later, but He said no. The reason is because He will be our light, even if we can see none in ourselves. This shows a time in which doubt is very strong for oneself, one's relationship with God, one's obedience to God and whether one has heard Him and delivered His message correctly.
Even if accusations are surrounding us, engulfing us in their darkness so that we question and barely remember the Light, beyond the edges of the 'picture' He is still holding us and leading us.
I totally understand what you mean about 'dancing' and 'persecution' not seeming to be appropriate together. But this is a message for anyone who is going through doubt at times when the darkness is thick, the accusations are heavy, and the burden of His heart is heavy for the people who are accusing. He says look up to Him, and He will give rest, peace, and joy. Even in the midst of the heaviness of His own heart, His dance with His bride does not stop.
I'm sorry I can't explain that any better. (>_<)
(I just added two verses at the end.)
ReplyDeleteYes, I like the familiar texts you added, Ramone. Our rejoicing comes after the night of darkness is over and the morning has come. Our rejoicing comes after we have exhausted our tears on the seed we have sown.
ReplyDeleteWhen we see the harvest of souls God is bringing in as a result of our labor of love for Him, then we rejoice because we know they are His inheritance, too!
But during the darkness of the night when we cling to Him by faith knowing the He never lets go of us, dancing and rejoicing is hardly part of our response. Although we may feel forsaken by God when we suffer rejection we can know without a shadow of a doubt that He is holding us tightly as we go through the night of trial and the darkness of persecution.
The persecution that we endure may be emotional, physical or verbal, or even a combination of all three, but the end result is the same--it affects us spiritually. It is an attack on our spirits, and is therefore spiritual abuse.
Changed the word "persecution" to "oppression"... it fits better. :)
ReplyDelete