A Personal Reflection on Ancestral Relationships

Context: Reproduced from a FB post I read 3 years ago.

"I asked an elderly man once what it was like to be old and to know the majority of his life was behind him. He told me that he has been the same age his entire life. He said the voice inside of his head had never aged. He has always just been the same boy. His mother's son. He had always wondered when he would grow up and be an old man. He said he watched his body age and his faculties dull but the person he is inside never got tired. Never aged. Never changed.

Our spirits are eternal. Our souls are forever. The next time you encounter an elderly person, look at them and know they are still a child, just as you are still a child and children will always need love, attention and purpose." Via @lue Ridge Believers

From the author: My comment from a biblical perspective.

I feel the same way. I don´t spend a lot of time in front of the mirror because I know that the man I see in front of me is not who I am. It´s just that younger people have not discovered that yet. It´s a matter of understanding the big things in life, the things that count, the essentials, understanding that often the answers lie in the questions as witnessed in the rearranging of the words in a sentence to transform an affirmative sentence into a interrogative one, in some languages such as French, German and Spanish.

It´s a matter of time and space that matter and for that matter we can add the relationships formed and mantained by a mutual and reciprocal consent and agreement of trust, respect and good will toward others.

In the encounter with Jesus with Mary and Martha we read: "40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!” 41“Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things. 42But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”… Luke 10:40-42

What was Mary doing? She sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. Luke 10:39.

Words have meaning and if we loose the primary meaning that has taken 1000s of years to develop in the communication system with their association, we end up in a confusing, chaotic situation similar to the one in Babel which was initiated by God himself.

It´s uncanny, every time I wander the streets of my city, I see all kind of people, some are scared, others wear their pain, their scars, their deep sadness on their faces, in their eyes. What is refreshing though is to cross path with older people, couples who understand life and living and exchange with you a twinkle in their eyes, sometimes even without saying a good morning, have a good day, or nodding their head because they have perceived the eternal truths that take a life time to fathom, that in spite of everything life can throw at you, in the end there are 3 things that matter the most: faith, hope and love and love is what remains.

The future is in the older generation; Melchizedek and Abraham.

…9And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham. 10For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor. Hebrews 7:10.

Learn from the past and what your elders have to offer you, the stories, the songs, their cherished memories, the treasures they have discovered and are willing to share with you. Take the time to listen and especially ask questions about anything and everything, their inner ears are finely attuned to understand what you are going through, they have been there before in one form or another, in a different country, in a different language and you can form a lasting bond of friendship and closeness that will last into eternity. And remember that we need you as much as you need us.

Jean-Louis

LÍDER FRANCÊS TOMA ATITUDES ESTRANHAS NA FRANÇA

Let your Light Shine. The Ways of the Lord. Revised and expanded. True story spanning different people, times and countries.

 

 Note from the Author: There is another story to that story. But first, read the first one and then reading the added second part of what happened 20 years later is really a testimony of our Lord´s faithfulness and and tender-loving care towards his children.

  

  Written and published by Jean-Louis.

 

Lift up your heads O gates
And be lifted up, O ancient doors
That the King of Glory may come in
Who is the King of Glory?
The LORD strong and mighty
The LORD mighty in battle.
The LORD of hosts
He is the King of glory. Psalm 24:7,8.

Christ Jesus our Lord is the light of the world.

In His ministry that He has given us to one another and to the world, He has chosen, called and gifted some in the body of believers (Pastors, Elders, Deacons) to be strong, high, stationary light houses and harbor lights at the entrance and in the harbor, (green and red traffic warning lights) visible to all who come into the range of their beams of light. They scatter the light in broad patterns so that when we come in and go out we may see the goal, direction, relative positions of our boats and what is directly in our path.

He has also gifted others to be more focused, flexible, pin pointed beams of light such as the fiber optic endoscope equipped with light that a surgeon uses to examine the inside of the human body.

The purpose of this instrument is to diagnose the nature, the condition, and the position of the weak or sick part that needs attention in order for the whole body to be strong and to function as He intended it to function.

In contrast to the highly visible ministry of the lighthouses and the harbor lights, the ministry of the intensely focused beams of light is hidden, although important and necessary. 

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
30... so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”…

 
When somehow, the devil has wanted to sift you and you have gone through trials and tribulations, and temporary failings of your faith under the weight of relentless spiritual attacks, then you understand the heavy burden of being an intercessor for lost people and other believers in the family of Christ. 

In Psalm 51:7-13. King David declares: 

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right^b spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

 

Lord Jesus teaching His disciples:“…and you are those who have stood by Me in my trials
…Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers". Luke 22:28-33.

One of the reasons He has raised us as a lighthouse to show the way of Salvation to people drowning in the ocean without a chance of surviving the storms, and also as a house of prayer,  individually and corporately is that:

as we lift up to the Father the affected areas that the Holy Spirit reveals to us, He will cleanse us “by the washing of the water with His Word”. He will remove them (spiritual surgery) and heal them to allow His light to shine more brightly and more intensely in us and cause His glory to be manifested through us.

Let us pray fervently that His light may increase in brilliance in our Pastors, other leaders, and in every believer so that their sphere of influence may reach farther into the areas of darkness that the enemy has in our communities, and "in such a way that men may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven". Matthew 5:16.

Jean-Louis. I995.

Read more: http://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2007/12/let-your-light-shine-before-men.html#ixzz5esUIxv35

 

Addendum: a memorable incident that turned into a bigger blessing!

It´s amazing how the Lord works sometimes triggering the brain to remember a previous memory buried deep inside when the time is propicious.

In 1995, I retold the story of the Lord showing me a lighthouse while I was praying for guidance and direction at a crucial time of my life.

As I was reading the Scriptures, suddenly a lighthouse appeared in my my field of vision as described in the post together with an explanation and an answer to my questions.

This happened in 2 parts as described. When this happens – very rarely – I usually ask what it means and one or 2 confirmations from some unknow, unrelated sources, persons, encounter or some other stimulus. Both visual imageries one external, the other internal seem to relate to some spiritual message that made good sense biblically and seemed to be fitting to the grim reality of the state of the world and what seemed to be a message of warning to anybody aware of what is really going on all around the world.

The confirmation didn´t take any time to come in a way that could not be easly refuted. Later in the vening as I turned on the TV, a program on the lighthouses of the East Coast of the US was showing for the rest of the week. So as I marveled at the goodness and timeliness of God, who wanted to make sure that I got the message clearly.

That took care ot the first part of the insight, but it took 20 years to get the fulfilement of the second part in details that I could not have dreamed about.

After a good vacation in Europe, back in Brazil, I was taken to the hospital one morning with chest pains.

The heart surgeon was not programmed for an operation that day, but accepted to look at tmy condition anyway.

He discovered some blocages that required immediate attention and surgery. He left it very clear that I would not make it one more night if I did not make the decision rightaway to be operated on. Since he was available and willing, I felt it was a sign from the Lord for me to go ahead and do it. No time to get a second opinion, no time to waste thinking about it. I prayed and felt that it was the thing to do

This emergency type of situation had happened to me before só I did not panic or wasted time. The doctor was young, but I felt confident that I could trust in the Lord to have provided his expertise at the propitious time. Later on he told me that he had felt a certain affinity with me on a spiritual level and assurance that everything would be fine if we proceeded.

One hour later I was on the operating table, with an assistant and a computer linked to a monitor showing the inside of my heart.

I was taken back to the day I saw the second part of the message about the small lights probing inside the body to carefully examine the damage tissues or organs without further damaging any part.

I noticed that as the doctor was guiding very carefully the endoscope with the probing very bright light along the arteries, the scene was witnessed only by him and the assistant in the quasi dimmed external light for contrast. Later on, I pondered about the meaning of the scene and the reduced number of people present during the operation and the silence punctuated only by the exchange of very few words between the doctors and myself.

The main actors in that instant were the Lord and maybe angels that were using and directing the hands and minds of the surgeons that knew precisely what to do. No big crowd of curious onlookers witnessing a spectacle. No dramatic music, no slight of hand, just a quiet and peaceful reassurance that we were witnessing something marvellous.

I came out with two stents in the arteries on the left side of the heart and I have been fine since then. I spent the next 2 days in the recovery room well attended by Christians who took really good care of me. I was só grateful for the manner I was treated by everybody and the way in wich our Heavenly Father loves us and cares for us. I miss you and our conversations. So much is happening and I stay busy learning more languages. I also started teaching again as well as translating. Take good care of yourself and be blessed always.

 

The Beautiful Feet of the Messenger of Peace.

Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon

 

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Isaiah 52:7

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.  Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.  If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. John 13:14-17

And with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15

 

  

 

It´s been two months now

Since you appeared at my door

You came in gently without fanfare

And simply sat on the floor

Your grateful sheepish smile

Welcomed my invitation

To let you sit down

In a corner for a while

Like a young aphonic boy

His head among the stars

Under the veiled power

Of your unveiled charm

I invited you to sit on the throne

For it is not proper to offer the guest

A corner of the rug belonging

To the devoted servant 

Of the Prince of Peace.

Then, taking a cushion

To rest your feet

Tired from the long voyage

I removed the used sandals

Full of dust covering

Their rare beauty

I took a basin and tenderly

Washed and dried them

Then, leaning to pray,

I warmed and blessed them

For these beautiful and fragile feet

Belong to the docile messenger

Proclaiming the Gospel of Peace.