60 ans après, Que reste-t-il de l'histoire des pieds noirs?

2021 is Unlike Anything We've Seen!

I THOUGHT I SAW IT COMING - by Jack Kinsella

It is incredible, yet true. We are witnessing the unfolding of events long prophesied to take place during the last generation before the return of Christ. We knew that it was coming – we were almost eager to see this day because it means the Rapture is that much closer.

 

But as the day approaches, it becomes less an abstract notion and more a crushingly painful reality. It has made that transition from theoretical possibility to actual fact. 

 

We always knew, in theory that, one day Christians would be marginalized to the point of insignificance.

We always knew that one day, some new religion having two horns like a lamb but speaking as a dragon would overspread Planet Earth. For decades we’ve made a guessing game out of what it would look like and who would be its leader.

 

As we see the hard-and-fast answers crowding out our best guesses, the game isn’t as much fun as it used to be. In fact, it isn’t any fun at all, any more.

 

This IS what we’ve been expecting. It is what the Bible forecast for the last days. Jesus said the Tribulation Period would be a time so terrible that if He didn’t return to put a stop to it, there would be no flesh saved out of it. 

 

So it is entirely reasonable to expect that the period leading up to it would be, ah, unpleasant, to say the least. Jesus prophesied that the time will come when those who kill you will think they do God service.

He reminded us that the world MUST hate us because it hates Him - but that doesn’t make it any easier when it happens. 

 

There are two competing sets of values here and it is out of that conflict that all the angst arises. If we are where I believe that we are on Bible prophecy’s timeline, then America’s (and the West’s) days are numbered.

If we are where I believe we are, then the decline we are experiencing is both inevitable and unstoppable. This is only part of the Big Picture – there are other, bigger and scarier parts yet to come.

 

Why are they scarier today than they were, say, ten years ago? It isn’t as if Bible prophecy changed in the last ten years. What we are experiencing is the realization of our expectations. 

 

Did anybody really think that witnessing the unfolding of last days’ prophecy would be fun?

If you did, now you know.

 

You also know why you were but one of only a tiny handful of ‘prophecy nuts’ in your church. I say ‘were’ because as we move forward on the Bible timeline, prophecy doesn’t seem so nuts anymore.

 

In the grand scheme of things, very few Christians in these last days have been called as watchmen. Even fewer have responded to the calling. It’s not for everybody -- for some it is too much. That is why we are necessary – to give the warning.

 

God has set each of us in the place He wants us to be for this time and place in human history. That doesn’t mean it is a pleasant place – we had our pleasant time. But God in His wisdom, and for reasons known only to Him, has called us – you and me and others like us – as witnesses.

 

He promises a special crown for us at the Bema Seat. There are only FIVE crowns and this is one of them. So what made you think that earning it would be easy? It is supposed to be hard. 

 

Out of all the living Christians on this planet, God called YOU to bear witness for all those too afraid to look.

 

Yes, it is frustrating. Yes, it is infuriating. Yes, it is frightening. And YES – it is unfair. Why can’t YOU be one of those Christians just strolling through life, tra-la-la-la-la, in blissful ignorance?

 

I dunno. Because you can’t. God called you and you answered the phone. Sorry. This is a bell that you can’t unring. Read through your assignment again -- note in particular the parts in italics.

 

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” (2nd Timothy 4:1-5)

 

Somebody has to watch in all things, do the work of an evangelist and make full proof of the ministry to which God called them. That’s the charge. You accepted it -- or you wouldn’t be reading these words now.

Now the evil days are upon us and somehow, we are surprised to find we don’t like it. I am not saying that sarcastically – I am as surprised as anybody at how surprised I am, if you can follow my drift.

I thought I was made of sterner stuff than that.

 

So, what are we to do as Christians? Our job. Be witnesses. Watch and observe and give the warning. You know, the Bible says that Noah preached for one hundred and twenty years and never made a single convert. 

 

But when the rains came down, Noah still got to ride out the storm in the ark.

 

It is easy to become discouraged, frustrated and even angry. It’s natural. But it is part of a plan that the God of the Universe has not only let you in on, He has included you as a necessary part.

 

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)

 

He can keep you from falling. He will present you faultless before the Throne with exceeding joy. He knows what He is doing, and He has let you in on some of the details. 

 

Here's what we know -- and we know it for sure. There is lots to be scared of. But nothing to be worried about. Because He is able. And He loves you more than you know.

Maranatha!

 

 

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AfricânerAlbanêsAlemãoAmáricoArabeArmênioAzerbaijanoBascoBengaliBielo-russoBirmanêsBósnioBúlgaroCanarêsCatalãoCazaqueCebuanoChicheuaChinês simpChinês tradChonaCingalêsCoreanoCorsoCrioulo haitianoCroataCurdoDinamarquêsEslovacoEslovenoEspanholEsperantoEstonianoFilipinoFinlandêsFrancêsFrísioGaélico escocêsGalegoGalêsGeorgianoGregoGuzerateHauçaHavaianoHebraicoHindiHmongHolandêsHúngaroIgboIídicheIndonésioInglêsIorubaIrlandêsIslandêsItalianoJaponêsJavanêsKhmerLaosianoLatimLetãoLituanoLuxemburguêsMacedônicoMalaialaMalaioMalgaxeMaltêsMaoriMarataMongolNepalêsNorueguêsPachtoPersaPolonêsPortuguêsPunjabiQuirguizRomenoRussoSamoanoSérvioSessotoSindiSomaliSuaíleSuecoSundanêsTadjiqueTailandêsTâmilTchecoTelugoTurcoUcranianoUrduUzbequeVietnamitaXhosaZulu

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A Battered Reed and a Smoldering Wick

 Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon

"A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF, AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT, UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY. Isaiah 42:3 and Matthew 12:20.

This scripture is very dear to me.

It reminds me of an experience that happened some years ago around 1995. A neighbor used to come to my house about once a week to ask for prayer and encouragement.

She had a very traumatic childhood, rape by a step father, didn´t know how to read or write, had gained a lot of weight, didn´t do well at school, (she was in her mid-twenties) when I knew her.

She was a poor afflicted soul, who was on medication for a number of ailments and chronic depression. But she was sweet tender soul who loved the Lord and grateful in spite of all her life of suffering. She was also married to a wonderful, good husband who loved the Lord and loved her and took good care of her and their children.

One morning she came to talk as was her custom. After a chat, I wanted to pray.

You know by now that I am not a prophet, nor claim to be. At some rare times during my life the Lord in his mercy has seen it fit to show me some things, mostly for the benefit of others, insights for understanding and direction and at times to simply help or warn me or others of a dangerous, even life threatening situation.

So as I was praying and asking the Lord to show me in his Word how to minister and comfort her , suddenly I saw in my mind´s eye a candle barely burning about to be snuffed out by the movement of the air around it. I felt bad, but waited in silence to see what would happen next. Then, a hand came into view in front of the candle with a glass chimney for an old fashioned querosene lamp and protected the weak flame from being extinguished.

Then I knew what to pray. Of course the verse above came back to me and I described the scene to her explaining that the Lord was going to keep her from getting worse, that he loved her and protected her and gave her the verse. After the prayer, her whole countenance had changed, her smile came back and her face was glowing.

 

This picture is very similar to the holder that I gave my friend

I got up and found in the kitchen closet a small wooden frame with a mirror and a holder for a candle with a mirror and of course a chimney just as I had seen.

To help her remember this divine encounter, I gave her the candle holder and the verse on a piece of paper with the date, which she put on the wall of her living room as a reminder of God´s faithfulness and blessing.

Then, as a practical illustration and memory exercize, we reenacted the scene. She lit the candle and blew on it up to the point of almost extinguishing it and then she was so happy to place the protective chimney to illustrate the verse. What a lesson it was for all of us.

Those are a bit like the altars that the patriachs of old erected in the desert as a remembrance of the goodness and the mercy of God. They might differ in intensity and depth of meaning, but because they are personal and speak to us of our Father´s deep commitment and involvement with His suffering children, they are important and precious to us.

Something wonderful happened to her. From that day on, she got much better, happier, her condition improved in all areas of her life. She became more confident, registered with a free reading program with a one on one tutor. Her goal was to be able to read the Bible.

One day, two years later, during a visit since I had moved, she announced that she had gotten her diploma and was proud to be able to show me that she could finally read the Word. What a joy and burst of thankgiving that was as we praised the Lord loudly with tears of joy.

God is faithful and will do what he has declared and his Word will not return void but accomplish what he has sent it to do. Amen.

If you feel a green light from the Lord, you can use this story for the benefit of and encouragement to your readers without mentioning my name.

I love to recount stories like this one, tangible exemples of the Lord´s tender loving kindness toward us his children.