Once there was an old man who took his grandson a walk in the countryside. The old man’s face was creased with wrinkles. Like the rings inside an ancient log tree, each signified age and wisdom. The man, to the boys surprise stopped suddenly. He was calm, so calm the boy didn’t feel it right to interrupt this moment of solititude. ‘Listen’, the old man said. The boy listened. At first he could hear nothing but his own racing thoughts. ‘Truly listen’, the man said sensing the boys difficulty. So he tried again. He closed his eyes, took a breath and opened them again. ‘I hear it’, he whispered. They both fell silent again and listened to the gentle winds and the birds in the trees, and further a field the beautiful sound of a babbling brook. Then they listened to silence itself. ‘This my child is real worship.’ ‘To Jesus?’ ‘To Jesus.’
Author: David Timothy Holdsworth
To The Ground
He falls to the ground.
Hands over his eyes, he weeps bitter tears of great pain.
How had things come to this?
Wiping the blood and tears from his face, he does something he hasn’t done for a long time, he prays.
With his rifle finally laid to rest, the young soldier looks to the heavens and then across a field of corpses.
Among the dead he sees a child he killed in the heat of battle.
The soldiers words echo in the valley of death, God forgive us.
Forgive us all, sweet Jesus, forgive us.
To the ground the soldier falls.
A Stand
*The lone figure emerges from the mist, his long white beard blows in the wind.
A peculiar sight for guard and prisoners alike. Soon more emerge as the old man advances. 7, 14, 21…soon a hundred unarmed saints. ‘What do they want?’ ‘Who are they?’ ‘Are these the followers of Jesus?’ ‘Surely not, or they like others would sing louder as screams echo from death train.’ ‘No, no my brother it is them.’ ‘Why have they come?’ The lone figure pushes gunmen aside. ‘Can’t go in there!’ Guards cry. Heeding them not he stands in the midst of the prisoners. Eyes of surprised prisoners, Eyes of dumb struck guards, Eyes of bold congregation standing at the gate.’What will he do?’ ‘What can he do?’ ‘Tomorrow to death camp we go.’ But then…
Lifting up holy book he roars prophetically the words of Ruth 1:16, 17.** A thunder of applause within and outwith the gates. Gates that will not prevail.
Guards disband for the Word of the Lord has been spoken. Never again do they return, All because a few made A STAND to save children of the promised land.
*This story is based on a true story.
**The passage in Ruth reads: “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” (KJV)
Testimony
Grace Alone.
My heart yet afar off.
Christ dies for me.
My heart drawn to Him.
Christ rises for me.
Grace: Be still and know that I am God.
My heart broken.
Christ comforts me.
My heart angry at, the world, the flesh, the devil and even to my shame family and Him whom I have pierced.
Christ calms me.
Grace: Be still and know that I am God.
My heart yearning for a better world.
Christ encourages me.
Grace: Be still and know that I am God.
Lonely, My heart blessed with a beloved.
Desiring a child, My heart blessed with a baby.
My heart blessed with family.
Grace Alone: Be still and know that I am God.
*I have shared this poetic style Testimony here in the hope of encouraging others. May God bless you dear reader.
**Some verses of note – John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
2 Corinthians 4:6 (KJV)
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
His Kingdom Come
Where is Hope?
The Saviour: “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.”
The Martyr: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
The Prophet: “The Kings of the earth are a vanity, the nations are as a drop in a bucket.”
The Charlatan and Jester: “Make the mortal vanity and dust of empire great again. We are the greatest” wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
The Saints: “His kingdom come.”
The Sinners: “All hail the wind”, grasp, grasp, grasp.
The Philosopher: “Are we looking to earthly authorities and powers or above?”
The Saviour: “My kingdom is not of this world… all authority in heaven and in earth has been given to me…heaven and earth pass away, but my word is forever.”
The Prophet: “Of the increase of His government there shall be no end.” There is Hope!*
*Notes and verses of interest: Kingdom – Matt 24:14, Col 1:14, There is an eternal kingdom and the great king is God – Dan 4: 3, 34, The kingdom is for members of all peoples, for the saints who gain not only forgiveness but citizenship – Dan 7:14, 27, It is a kingdom of peace and justice unlike war like kingdoms of earth – Is 9:7, Entry is supplied by Jesus who makes His people citizens – 2 Peter 1:11, The currency of the kingdom is the light of His love – Col 1:12-14
Good Friday
Scene 1 (The upper room): Take the bread. Take the cup. Be blessed. Foot washing. A final meal, a humble farewell.
Scene 2 (Betrayal): Watch with me! Bleeding tears. Anguish in prayer. Betrayed with a kiss.
Scene 3 (Peter and friends): Promises broken. Tearful regrets. Denial.
Scene 4 (The cross): A tear drop falls from the cross. A dying man’s cry. The earth shakes. The temple trembles in the presence of God.
Scene 5 (Empty tomb): A king rises from the dark. The grave abandoned. Nature blooms in the presence of it’s God. The victory accomplished!
Happiness Replay
Contentment. The gentle breeze touches my cold red cheeks. The leaves rustle as I walk and sweep the drive way up to the Scottish Castle, my home and job of these years. A crisp beautiful sound comes from the leaves. It reminds of childhood and a simpler time. I could do this job forever. Not only because I suspected a gust of wind would mess up what I started (and frankly didn’t mind), but also I found something I enjoyed. Hard work outside. It was a job of solitude suited to a contemplative introvert such as I. One of many tasks. But, a special one that made me feel useful and one with the wild wooded Highlands of autumn around me. I felt at home, though I always knew the Castle was not my home, but the home of an ancient clan. Though I simply worked there I found home, not in Castle walls, but in the beauty of nature. I found a moment of contentment.
A Statement Of Faith
1. Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, and apart from Him the true God can not fully be known, worshipped, or acknowledged. Jesus is fully revealed as the God who is love and whose gospel is peace.
2. Salvation is by faith in the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, apart from all human works and character. It is by Grace we are saved not by works, it is a gift from God, obtained through faith.
3. It is the supreme obligation of every saved person to obey the Lord Jesus Christ. We will fail no doubt often in this for we are mere humans – but our aim should be holiness. The two golden rules are to love God and love each other (even to love enemies). This is the kind of active faith that can change the world for the better.
These three points are the pillars of my faith – the deity of Christ, salvation by faith in Him, obedience to His word. Do you believe these three things and if not why not take it into consideration?