I will never leave you!

 

So, it is now 10 weeks post surgery since my finger was washed out twice following an infected cat bite.

As promised, I am writing to tell you how the LORD ministered to me during that horrible hospital stay.

Firstly, let me say that I have a fear of being in hospital and an even greater fear of surgeries. The fact that I have a sick husband at home who needs me didn't help matters.

In the 8 days I was hospitalised, I got to know all the different nurses through their shifts and we developed quite a respect for each other which later blossomed into friendship.

As it turned out, most of them were practising Christians and we had a wonderful rapport.  It was koinonia! 

For my first surgery, the nurse who was looking after me- I will call her Edith, helped an orderly transport me and paused behind the operating room door and prayed for me. Later when I came back to the room, I remarked on it and she assured me that she prays for all her patients going into surgery.

During the procedure I was talking to the anaesthesiologist who was monitoring my pain levels as I was given a nerve block and local anaesthesia. She kept me on an even keel as my fear levels were high. I expected to be put to sleep but with all my comorbidities it was safer to do locals...

During the following 5 days between surgeries, I was looked after by many Christian nurses who also kept remembering Chris in their private prayer time. Due to his illness I told him not to come in and see me. My son who lives nearby came daily to visit and check on him..

The second operation came 5 days after the first as despite IV antibiotics, the infection was still there. It was a repeat of the first except I had a deeper peace about it which I am sure was because of the prayers of the nurses.

At the end of the surgery, the plastic surgeon warned me that the skin edges looked like they were going necrotic and I may need a skin graft... praise God, it wasn't necessary.

There were many dressing changes and blood tests to keep checking on the infection and my veins were all collapsing. The IV cannula was needing to be changed and another Christian nurse who I will call Megan joined Edith in trying to place a new one.

They were having a battle. If they did get one in, it wouldn't flush. After 90 minutes, I couldn't take any more. I started to cry and the girls, who were under the pump to get another IV running, saw that I was at the end if my rope- about 12 attempts, and gathered round me. 

Edith held me against her chest and joined Megan in pleading with Jesus to make a way. They were both crying. It was an emotional time. When I was prayed over, I noticed a rosary in my hand. Megan had put it there for strength and trying to return it, she said it was for me to keep- but only if I wanted to..

Personally, I do not pray the rosary or to Mary, but I told her I would keep it to remind me of our blessed time with the LORD. 

We still needed to get that IV running but I needed a bathroom break and Edith came to help me. I asked her what my rights were as I couldn't take much more prodding etc and she told me that I can deny any treatment but of course the catch was that my infection would spread.

Helping me back into bed, Megan joined Edith and we reluctantly agreed we must keep trying with the cannula. So after another fruitless search for a vein, Edith remarked to Megan that there was a good one but it was in the arm of the injury. 

They remarked what a pity because it looked like a goer. So I piped up and asked if they could please try it! Edith asked me if I trusted them. I replied that irregardless of whether they get the cannula in or not, I trusted them! They both teared up and decided to give it a try!  Praise the LORD, they got it in and were able to set the IV up!

Not 5 minutes later, the doctor from Anaesthetics (who would not free up the ultrasound machine to help the nurses find a vein), bustled in, saw that the cannula was situated in the side of the injury and said to me,"Glenys this is not what you want to hear, but it has to come out!" I remembered that I have rights and told her no- it stays! It did!

Behind her Edith punched the air in victory and Megan mouthed, "Praise the LORD!" The unsympathetic doctor left with more trials in mind for us.

Coming into the curtained off bed, Megan whispered in a shocked voice that they now want another blood test to which Edith retorted if they wanted to get blood out that they can come and do it!

Apparently all the bloods were up to date and the nurses decided it was a power play and I was the pawn!

Edith was helping me in the bathroom again and we discussed how we all knew the LORD was with us. She reminded me that it is OK to feel fear and not to actually feel the LORD'S Presence during trying times. It is not a lack of faith.

I thanked her for praying for me when she could lose her job if it were known. She replied that we must serve God and not man.

Another nurse called Sulah looked really unwell and I asked her if I could pray for her. We shared a joke about Eve having a lot to answer for eating that apple as Sulah was suffering from women's problems.

I dropped my phone off my bedtable and a male nurse, Joe picked it up and took it to the nurses station to repair it. He knew it was my lifeline to checking on Chris at home... and he was praying for him!

All these believers were of different nationalities and cultures yet there was a strong bond of love. Some likewise were of different denominations yet they all shared joy in Christ and His sacrificial love for us.

The day I was discharged, those nurses who were on duty came to say goodbye. Edith walked me past the nurses station to say goodbye... Joe came and gave me a holy kiss on the cheek, and the admin staff wished me well.

Edith stayed briefly while I waited for my taxi and said we now were friends. She waited until her shift began. I told her I was grateful for her reminding me that our LORD was with me even though I couldn't feel His presence at the time.

I learned that faith can be tested but if genuine, will endure. I know that faith is not dependent on feelings and I know this verse of scripture to be true, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said,“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5    

Yes, His Word is true- "I will never leave you!" © Glenys Robyn Hicks

How to live while we wait for Jesus

 

The life of a Bible prophecy student and teacher is quite interesting.

On the one hand, you have your convictions and desires, such as wanting to see your country prosper and your conservative leaders win elections.

One would think that after the greatest massacre we have experienced as a modern, independent state, no one would even consider a government dependent on the votes of the Israeli branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, which cannot even call a spade a spade and admit that Hamas is a terrorist organization.

One would think that a public exposed to the mindset of the generals who withheld alarming signs and red flags from the government on the night of October 6–7 would be wise enough neither to heed their advice nor to vote them into office as inexperienced politicians.

One would think that the idea of a Palestinian state would be buried deep underground after we saw that they do not want to live alongside us, but in our place.

But logic and reason are one thing, and strong delusion is another.

Israelis were under a strong delusion before October 7. Now, after three years of war, when we are finally strong and winning, they are returning to the same old patterns of hatred, division, and trusting the enemy more than their own people.

In America, one would think that watching Europe plunge into chaos would cause people to overwhelmingly reject the globalist, liberal, Islamist, and socialist agenda. Yet the numbers show a neck-and-neck race.

So why, when we see all this, are we told not to be troubled?

Because Jesus warned us that these things must come to pass and that they are “the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:6–8)

Elsewhere, He tells us to look up and lift up our heads because our redemption draws near! (Luke 21:28)

While all this craziness unfolds, we must remember that, as the salt of the earth, we are called to slow the decay. We cannot prevent this fallen world from reaching the end Scripture foretells. (Matthew 5:13)

This world is on a self-destructive path. Peter reminds us of the coming day of the Lord and the ultimate judgment of this present creation:

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”
(2 Peter 3:10, NKJV)

So what are we supposed to do as we await our blessed hope and the moment we are taken to be with the Lord? (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17)

We are to practice righteousness. (1 John 3:7)

We are to be ambassadors for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

We are not to grow weary in doing good. (Galatians 6:9)

We are not to be overcome by a spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)

And we are to vote according to what most closely aligns with God’s revealed will in Scripture, including the protection of unborn life (Psalm 139:13–16; Proverbs 31:8–9), family values (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 6:1–4), borders (Acts 17:26), gender (Genesis 1:27), and yes, even Israel. (Genesis 12:3; Romans 11:28–29)

Keep your heads up. Tough days are coming, but our calling remains: redeem the time, because the days are evil. (Luke 21:28; Ephesians 5:15–16)

And remember, the world is watching us. (Matthew 5:14–16) Be a Jeremiah 17:7–8 believer:

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7–8, NKJV)    by Amir Tsarfati

The Defeated Christian

You’ve all seen him. The defeated Christian. The guy who tries and tries, but after being saved for thirty years, he still hasn’t quit smoking. Instead, he hides his cigarettes before coming to church and won’t get too close when shaking your hand for fear you’ll smell the smoke on him.

Or the Christian who you know is saved, but he just can’t quite give up the bottle. Or the Christian who got saved but doesn’t go to church because he just doesn’t think he fits in with the rest of the crowd? Or won’t go because he thinks that everybody at church is a big hypocrite?

That defeated Christian who knows that even though he is saved, it just didn’t seem to ‘take’ like it seemed to with everybody else, so he’d just as soon not be reminded of it all the time by being around those to whom it did. Especially since, if he were to mention it, somebody would point out it was either because of some unconfessed sin, or maybe he just wasn’t all that sincere when he first accepted Christ.

Why is it that some Christians get saved and immediately become a new creature, while others get saved and look remarkably like the old one?

Don’t tell me you don’t know somebody like that. Maybe you even ARE somebody like that. And it’s hard . . . so hard to keep trying and trying when it seems to come so easy to everybody else. It’s enough to make anybody give up.

I’m going to leave the usual beaten path now to address an issue that comes up fairly regularly in our forums. Those of you who have no besetting sin, no secret sin in your heart that only you and God (and the enemy) know of, go make yourself a nice cup of coffee. The rest isn’t for you.

Now, for the honest readers . . . Why does God deliver some people from booze, cigarettes, pot . . . fill in your besetting sin here _______?

The answer? I don’t know. Disappointed? Don’t be. Sometimes He just doesn’t. It doesn’t mean you aren’t a Christian. It doesn’t mean you aren’t saved. It doesn’t mean God has abandoned you. It only means you feel defeated. You still have that sin.

Now, how come you feel defeated? Is it your weakness? God’s? Haven’t you been to Him with this? How come it’s still an issue in your life? You KNOW God is real, so… what’s WRONG WITH YOU?

Nothing.

Welcome to the Church of the Walking Wounded. That’s why so many people find fellowship on the internet they don’t find in church. No guilt. Nobody can see you sneaking that cigarette or that beer.

You come looking for God and looking for that forgiveness you keep hearing about but never find in church. Instead, you learn that if you smoke (or whatever), you are defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit and you must give that up first to find fellowship. Except you have been trying for years and just can’t quite make it.

You sit there in the pew, thinking about the cigarette you are going to have on the way home, and you feel ashamed, guilty. Why even go back to church? You hypocrite!

You are taught that God forgave you at the Cross, but now you are on your own. All these sins you now know about yourself are left for you to deal with on your own. Only NOW you know what they are.

So every time you sneak that cigarette, you feel guilty. “Fred got saved, and within a week, he cut out smoking, he cut out drinking, and he cut out cursing.”

(You think to yourself, “Sure. And for entertainment, Fred is now cutting out paper dolls in the Happy Home,” – but then there you go – you sinned again!)

Sin is the disease of the human race. No human being is exempt from it. The Apostle Paul, speaking of sin, said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” -1 Timothy 1:15 

The Apostle Paul was, according to God’s Word, chief among sinners. He must have had a difficult time being chief among sinners and chief among the Apostles, but that’s what the Bible says.

It must have bothered him, like it bothers you (those not getting coffee right now), knowing what is right but succumbing to temptation to do the wrong thing. Over and over.

This is a very difficult subject – I am approaching it with much fear and trepidation. There will immediately be those who will jump on me for preaching a license to sin. I am not.

Before you jump on me, read it again first, please. I am quoting the Apostle Paul, not my opinion.

Paul writes, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me” -Romans 7:14-15,17

Maybe Paul isn’t speaking to you, but he is playing MY theme song. “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members” -Romans 7:22,23 

Does this sound to you like a guy who was having an easy time of it? Why didn’t he just do what the pastor tells you? “Just take it to the Lord, and He’ll take care of it.”

Ever do that, and then He didn’t? So you found some good reason why not, or instead just figured you weren’t worthy? Or maybe that He cared more about Fred, the King of the Paper Dolls?

Paul wrote of “a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure” -2 Corinthians 12:7 Now, I’ve heard this verse exegeted many times.

To listen to the theories, Paul must have fallen into a thorn BUSH. I’ve heard Paul had a speech impediment, that it was his failing eyesight, that he was unattractive to look at, even one argument that he had halitosis!

What does the Bible say Paul’s thorn in the flesh was? Everybody looks for something specific to make sense of the verse. They are looking for some physical flaw that Paul thought would hamper his effectiveness for God. In so doing, they miss the forest for the trees.

The Apostle Paul, the ‘chief among sinners, specifically said that his thorn was a messenger from Satan sent to ‘buffet’ him. Paul’s thorn was his SIN, which kept him from being ‘exalted above all measure.’ “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me”-2 Corinthians 12:8  

Stay with me here and see the picture. Here’s poor Paul, knowing the task the Lord has set before him, knowing that he is ‘chief among sinners,’ and knowing his weakness for whatever that sin might have been.

So he takes it to Jesus (just like you did), sincerely expecting Him to handle it for him, just like the pastor told you He would for you.

“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (v.9).

The Bible says that we are sold unto sin. That it is our natural state. That the most unnatural thing a man could do is NOT sin. You are saved, you believe, yet you wrestle with your besetting sins.

Every time you whip one down, a new one crops up that you have to deal with. It’s a never-ending battle, and you are losing. How can this be?

How can you be sincere, be sincerely saved, and still battle with sins that don’t seem to bother other Christians?

There is only one logical answer. It is so simple you are going to immediately say, “I knew that.” But you probably really didn’t.

Jesus did it all. Really. ALL. The most simple of principles, yet most preaching is based on the deception that He didn’t. Instead, most are taught in principle that Jesus got the ball rolling at the Cross, but now that you are saved, whether or not you fail or succeed in beating back your sin nature is up to you. Therefore, when constantly confronted with your sin and how bad it is, it is much easier to give up and not go face the weekly confrontation. You believe you are defeated.

Rather than being free, you are in bondage to your guilt. How many people do you know who went to the altar call on Sunday who weren’t guilt-ridden by Wednesday?

Salvation is either a gift of grace through faith or it is a product of faith plus good works.

Moses had faith and good works. So did Abraham. So did David. But without the Savior, they would be dead in their sins.

The bondage of sin to a Christian is the weight of the guilt of that sin that keeps him from seeking God’s face. Jesus set us free from the bondage of sin. Is this a license to sin? As Paul said, “God forbid.”

“All things,” Paul said, “are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not” -1 Corinthians 10:23  Interesting word, ‘expedient.’ It means “Appropriate to a purpose.”

The reality is, we are humans. Even after we become new creatures in Christ, we cohabit the castle of flesh with the old man.

You will have your battles, but your defeat only comes when you give up. Following Paul’s lamentations about his struggle with the flesh and the duality of man, Paul writes, beginning with Romans 8:1  “There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

This verse also tends to get spiritualized out of context. I’ve heard it argued that if you sin, then you are walking after the flesh rather than after the Spirit.

I put it to you: Did you ever, since you were saved, commit a sin and not care, not feel any responsibility before God? Well, then, who are you walking after? The irresponsible flesh? Or the living Spirit?

It isn’t sin that defeats the Christian. It isn’t that you still haven’t quit smoking, or whatever else it might be that you think is defeating you. Sin is what humans do. Forgive is what God does.

It is GUILT that keeps you defeated and keeps you from the Throne. It keeps you from telling people about Jesus. It keeps you beaten down. It is incumbent upon a Christian to try and live a more Christ-like life, but the dichotomy is that the Bible says it is impossible.

Even those of you now scandalized and convinced I am preaching libertine Christianity KNOW that you still have a sin problem. Whether it’s a big sin, a little sin, a habitual sin, or an occasional sin, it’s still sin. Even as we sin (and Scripture says we ALL do), we hate it, as Paul did. But we sin. As Paul did. Read Romans 7 again.

If we COULD live a sin-free life, then why was a Savior necessary? And what was Paul rambling on about when he talked about the ‘good that he would’ and so forth?

If there were a formula that involved accepting Christ and THEN living a sinless life, then why did He need to go to the Cross at all?

Why not just make the revised Ten Commandments read, ‘Accept Christ and don’t sin’ and THEN you can go to heaven? The answer is obvious. Nobody would be there.

We are living in the last days. There is no time to bandage the walking wounded; the battle has been joined. Every soldier is desperately needed on the line.

A soldier on the line does his best, and that is all anyone can ask. Especially the One Who really KNOWS that you are doing the best you can.

And He not only understands; He made you for a specific purpose, which is why all things were lawful to Paul, but not all things were expedient.

What may appear as defeat to you from your vantage point in the action may actually be a tactical victory somewhere else up the line. Only our General knows, and He says, ‘Trust Me.’

Take heart! Don’t let the fact you are a sinner steal your victory. The only prerequisite for being a Christian is that you must be a sinner first. God has a plan for your life, and He has somebody for you to talk to.

That appointment is so important to God that He has arranged your whole life until now — just so you would be available to keep it when that appointment comes due.

Will you be there to keep it? Or will you be licking your wounds in defeat off in a corner somewhere? We’re running out of time, and the enemy’s sole focus for your life is to keep you defeated and ineffective as the hours tick down to the Final Confrontation.

“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” -2  Corinthians 12:9

The rest of you can come back from the kitchen now.  The Defeated Christian by Jack Kinsella

It's a rough time.

 

So recently, I have noticed some worrying signs that Chris is sometimes confused and forgetful. It was especially obvious after my 8 days in hospital recently.

During his own hospital stay last year his MRI showed early Alzheimers and coupled with tremors, loss of leg movement, bladder incontinence and extreme fatigue, he is seeing a neurologist for possible Parkinsons Disease as well. 

This came to a head after he had a fall last week and we had to call an ambulance as I couldnt get him up.

I am extremely busy trying to keep Chris clean, dry and happy. I will do everything humanly possible to keep him at home with me.

For the moment, I will post previous posts periodically but I will keep you updated.

Please pray for us. It's a rough time. 

© Glenys Robyn Hicks

 

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. -Psalm 91:14-16

Micah says it all!

Recently during one of my quiet times, I read one of my favourite verses from Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Being a  Christian isn't  really that difficult. Once one has  surrendered his or her life to Christ, the Holy Spirit guides us into that which pleases God. 

Our walk with Him is continuous and should lead us to becoming better people than we were yesterday, emulating the Master, Jesus Christ.

As a sufferer of many ailments which cause chronic pain and fatigue, fibromyalgia being the worst culprit, I used to worry about not being able to serve God as well as I did in my younger Christian walk before illnessdep. 

Depression would hang around my shoulders like a cloak because I felt unable to do much for Jesus, in fact unable to do much at all for even my family.

Then I had an epiphany! I realised that God can be served mostly by having a loving heart. Besides, His love for us is not dependant on what we do, but on what He has done for us! 

God only requires that I love Him with my whole heart, mind and soul, that I love justice and mercy and that I walk humbly with Him. It's nothing to do with limitations brought on by illness or disability or our lack of energy or spoons to do things. Grace is wonderful and my favourite verse in Micah says it all!

© Glenys Robyn Hicks

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

I choose to have the mind of Christ

 

Quite a few years ago I had a friend who was a big help in me becoming a woman of a calm and quiet spirit.

She was a few years older than I and was a widow who was previously married to a pastor.

We often had her come for a meal and we would talk about all kinds of things. To me she was my spiritual mother.

Being the wife of a sick husband, her own husband's health prior to his passing was similar to both Chris and mine: severe heart failure. It was very comforting to talk to her knowing that we walked a similar path.

We loved talking about the LORD and how to draw close to Him especially during trials. It was just so easy to not only talk, but to learn.

About this time, there was a lot of talk of strange goings on with UFO's being a very common discussion- but this was the time when this sort of thing implied that to believe in them may indicate some type of mental illness. But of course today, there are so many credible sightings etc that one now takes it as almost normal.

Trying to work out why my friend was not confused or agitated about these types of occurences, I asked her how does she cope with questions of UFO's and alien abductions and so on.

She replied that she believes they are fallen angels and not aliens and that this will be more prevalent as Jesus' return for us in the Rapture is very close. These sightings will be used to explain the millions of people who have suddenly disappeared. Aliens abducted them they will say.

I asked how does she not be effected by it all and she replied, "I see it as a distraction from doing God's work, Dear!"

That really got me thinking... and I believe it is meant to distract us from fulfilling our calling, if at all possible.

This gave me a certain peace and also ties in with what the scripture says about taking every thought into the captivity of Christ! Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; -2 Corinthians 10:5

If the evil one can get us quiver in fright and never pray or witness or serve, then he has won and has destroyed our peace. You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

The first battle ground is in the mind. If he can confuse that, he has rendered us useless for service to the King of Kings. 

I chose to remember that we do not have the spirit of fear but of a sound mind. I intend to keep it that way- for  as His daughter who loves and serves Him, I choose to have the mind of Christ.

 © Glenys Robyn Hicks

 

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 2:16

We are faithful

Chronic illness can make us feel that we are incapable of many things. That can be true of physical things which for most of us who are ill or disabled, are now incapable of doing. But all is not lost as there are still things which are eternal that we can do. 

We are told to pray without ceasing and prayer is something we can manage to do. Albeit in a different way to the "normals'" prayers, our disjointed or mumbled prayers are still as powerful and effective.

Just because we are sitting in our recliners, or in our bed, or sitting on a shower chair, in our wheelchair or resting on the seat of our walker- the fervent prayers we offer will reach the Ears of Him Who we serve. 

We must never let the lies of the evil one cause us to doubt ourselves and then have us not pray at all. We are never wasting our life when we pray. God does not class prayers according to the pray-ers' surroundings. 

Goodness knows, we have heard of soldiers praying in the trenches under fire and imminent death. No, our prayers are of equal importance to God. Our prayers will drive the enemy away and cause him to tremble, because he knows wherever we pray is holy ground. Satan doesn't care about where or even how they are prayed. He hates the fact that we still pray. 

Faithfulness is something chronic illness can't take away from us. No matter how hard the enemy tries to convince us that we are wasting our lives, we know he is just using wily and cunning ways to get us to stop praying and therefore serving God. 

The prayers of the chronically ill are precious to the LORD, for He knows the battles we face just to be "normal". But we are more than "normal" as we come against illness and serve Him regardless. 

Chronic illness will try to wipe us out physically, emotionally and spiritually if it can: but one thing we sufferers are is not only resilient: we are faithful. 

© Glenys Robyn Hicks 

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27