Jose’s day off did not get off to a good start. Whilst
resting in and reading a book that she was enjoying she thought of a nice cup
of tea and toast to start her day. Just as Jose put her feet onto the bedroom
floor a large black spider also decided to start his day. Whilst his six legs
carried him across the bedroom floor suddenly all became very dark to him, as
the dressing gown which should have been worn by Jose, suddenly, became his
morning attire, as Jose in a response of self-preservation threw the big fleecy
dressing gown onto his back, then watched for him to make his escape, but armed
with the book that now moved on from being a work of literature into weapon of
defence.
After waiting and stalking her prey she decided the weight
of the dressing gown was too much for him and this spider had scared her and
made her shudder and could wait. Tea and toast was still on the agenda, it was
a nice day so tea and toast in the garden on our garden table looked good after
a bad start to her day. On her way to the garden Jose encountered another
enormous black spider in the conservatory, which chased her, obviously looking
for information about his friend who had mysteriously gone missing.
On running out of the conservatory trying to save tea, in
cup and toast on plate was now confronted by a dead rat on the path covered by
bluebottles and flies, the tea and the toast were now air born and picked up at
GHQ as unidentified flying breakfast.
Enough was enough; I had a phone call about the chain of
nightmare experiences, her peace had been shattered, her day off, wrecked. We
had lived in the Manse for over a year and this was a day which measured up to
nothing else Jose had experienced in our very happy, contented peaceful
existence here, but the day was not over yet!!
When I got home a spider in the bedroom had to be dealt with
along with his inquisitive friend in the conservatory and a dead rat plus flies
in the garden and Jose in the kitchen, not wanting to enjoy the garden or the
house today. I caught the bedroom spider and Jose demanded to see my prisoner
so as to be sure, he was released into next doors garden far enough away from
our house and with a wall between us, it would take him a bus a train and a cab
for him to get back to our bedroom.
Now for the rat, a shovel and a plastic bag gathered up and
placed into the dustbin, but which dustbin, is a rat recyclable or not??
The rat had died from its injuries, I guess a fox had
savaged it and dropped it, I put a chalk mark around the body and tried to keep
back the crowds rubber-necking with the words “Go on home, nothing to see here”
but “Rentokil” only remove, they do not investigate or do forensics, so an
unsolved “ratricide” stays on the
files as unsolved, none of my black humour helped Jose, who loves and enjoys
the home and the garden, she was now in need of a cuddle. The spooky issue is
the fox chose the very morning to drop its prize just outside on the path of
the garden, the very morning spiders conspired to break in and enter our
bedroom and conservatory and scare Jose. But it was not over yet!
I stayed with Jose and we stayed in the garden, we met Sue
and Stuart who’s garden back onto ours, we had a conversation over the fence
and Jose was trying to separate some bushes who had decided to form a union or
convenience and only NALGO could intervene, but Sue, our new friend got
involved and identified and helped Jose to separate the individual bushed from
each other. Right then, just as Jose bent down to separate branches the biggest
frog leapt out, a high pitched Jose
could only be heard by dogs and bats now. This was one day, over the period of
four hours confidence, comfort was attacked, and Jose was unsettled.
Sadly a bad day for Jose and her experience I see as an
analogy, how what we get used to and when things are going well, a trail of
unexpected incidents can pale all the good.
2 Corinthians 2:11: NIV” in order that Satan might not outwit
us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
NKJ “In order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we
are not ignorant of his (Satan's) schemes.
Ephesians 6:10-12: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty
power. 11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand
against the devil’s schemes. 12 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
As I see darkness (evil) encroaching upon every aspect of
our society, I had to ask myself this question, "Has God's Church become
ignorant of Satan's schemes?" And as I prayed, God placed this commentary
on my heart. What makes Satan's schemes particularly hideous is the fact that
in reality he is completely powerless. In fact, we, God's Church, have the keys
(knowledge) to heaven and are instructed by God Himself to give that key
(knowledge) to all who will listen. This knowledge (key) is so awesome in power
that even the gates of hell (Hades), Satan himself, CANNOT prevail against it.
Matthew 16:17-19: " Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah,
for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in
heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the
keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[d] loosed in heaven.”
Jose had a bad day, but the extremes of that day were so
different from all the other days that in our experience it was the exception
to the rule. As Christians and as church we have to know the devils schemes and
when things are going well in Gods kingdom he will get involved. His spiders
rats and frogs will be division, gossip and upset, he has a list to work from
in Proverbs 6:16
There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community
Be way ahead of the evil one, know Gods love and His promise
and the hope we have in Jesus Christ His Son and know that we have the Holy
Spirit to show us and prompt us, that anything bad is not of God but of the
evil ones goading and prompting.
A VIDEO TO GO WITH THE STORY RAT-Ah 000000eeeeee (Stay with it, very clever)
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PRAYER
Please pray for the weather this coming Saturday's BBQ at the Manse
Please pray for Gwen More and the family as they come to terms with a court hearing.
Please pray for Illdephonse, as he works with officials to secure a visit of his Mother and the children's grand mother.
Please pray for those organising our 150th anniversary celebrations on the 14th and 15th September.
Please pray for our youth, the new Youth Leader and the plans in place at the moment.
Pray for our Youth Council, Fina Sheku and Corby.
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Our women's group. http://bcbcbusybees.com/
Please go on line from here and complete the questionnaire
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A VIDEO TO GO WITH THE STORY RAT-Ah 000000eeeeee (Stay with it, very clever)
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PRAYER
Please pray for Gwen More and the family as they come to terms with a court hearing.
Please pray for Illdephonse, as he works with officials to secure a visit of his Mother and the children's grand mother.
Please pray for those organising our 150th anniversary celebrations on the 14th and 15th September.
Please pray for our youth, the new Youth Leader and the plans in place at the moment.
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FELLA'SHIP's plans
- To research and plan for the removal of the organ. This instrument with no musical playing function, which served the church for many years can serve this church again, by raising funds for another project. Please pray for these plans.
- To organise and hold a "Men's Breakfast" on the 12th October. This will be a relational evangelistic event. Please pray that our men will be graced with good response as they invite family and friends to the breakfast.
- To host our Youth by taking them out for a "CURRY EVENING" in November (TBA) Please pray that we can make a good deal at the Well Hall Tandoori for a great price and a great evening.
- Fella'Ship have found a new song to learn and sing to the church, the song is top secret!!! sssshhhhh! Please pray for their voices and rehearsals.
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Our women's group. http://bcbcbusybees.com/
Please go on line from here and complete the questionnaire
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