Afterward ~ Abide with Me

"Afterward." --Hebrews 12:11

How happy are tried Christians, afterwards. No calm more deep than that which succeeds a storm. Who has not rejoiced in clear shinings after rain? Victorious banquets are for well exercised soldiers. After killing the lion we eat the honey; after climbing the Hill Difficulty, we sit down in the arbor to rest; after traversing the Valley of Humiliation, after fighting with Apollyon, the shining one appears, with the healing branch from the tree of life. Our sorrows, like the passing keels of the vessels upon the sea, leave a silver line of holy light behind them "afterwards." It is peace, sweet, deep peace, which follows the horrible turmoil which once reigned in our tormented, guilty souls. See, then, the happy estate of a Christian! He has his best things last, and he therefore in this world receives his worst things first. But even his worst things are "afterward" good things, harsh ploughings yielding joyful harvests. Even now he grows rich by his losses, he rises by his falls, he lives by dying, and becomes full by being emptied; if, then, his grievous afflictions yield him so much peaceable fruit in this life, what shall be the full vintage of joy "afterwards" in heaven? If his dark nights are as bright as the world's days, what shall his days be? If even his starlight is more splendid than the sun, what must his sunlight be? If he can sing in a dungeon, how sweetly will he sing in heaven! If he can praise the Lord in the fires, how will he extol him before the eternal throne! If evil be good to him now, what will the overflowing goodness of God be to him then? Oh, blessed "afterward!" Who would not be a Christian? Who would not bear the present cross for the crown which cometh afterwards? But herein is work for patience, for the rest is not for today, nor the triumph for the present, but "afterward." Wait, O soul, and let patience have her perfect work.

C.H. Spurgeon

Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847) and his wife Ann were faithful pastors of a little fishing town in Devonshire England, for 23 years. Although Henry's health was compromised, he worked tirelessly ministering to his parish, taking care of his family, and writing poems and hymns.

In 1844, Henry was diagnosed with Tuberculosis. Over the next three years his physical condition deteriorated until finally on September 4, 1847, at the age of 54, he stood in the pulpit for the last time to deliver his farewell message.

That same afternoon, after taking a walk on the beach, Henry retired to his room. He emerged about an hour later with a written copy of Abide With Me. He left soon after for a trip to Italy, to get away from the cold, damp coastal weather. While en route to his destination, he mailed a revised copy of Abide With Me to his wife. A few days later while resting in a hotel on the French Riviera, Henry went home to be with Jesus. A fellow clergyman who was with Henry during his final hours reported that Henry's last words were Peace! Joy!

Abide With Me was put to music by William H. Monk (1823-1889), and made its debut at Henry's memorial service.

As He often does, God took the sad ending of a life and made something lasting and beautiful

Abide With Me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;

the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;

earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;

change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour.

What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;

ills have no weight, and tears not bitterness.

Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;

shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me. 

Be Thou My Vision

 

And thus our vision and focus needs to be fixed , firm and steadfast on our Lord and not the things of this earth that will perish.

Hebrews 12

 ¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

 ²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 ³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

WALK IN THE LIGHT ~ Click Here 

Pliable in our Fathers Hands

Job 10:8-10

 ‘Your hands have made me and fashioned me,
      An intricate unity;
      Yet You would destroy me.

Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay.
      And will You turn me into dust again?

This morning something happened with my husband that brought me much alarm. I cannot go into the details that led up to this, but I will say that the situation I have personally been involved in (which also has a big impact upon my whole family) can add a bit of stress when you attempt to do whatever is humanly possible to see justice done and much wrong turned to right. I shared with my sister Netty about what had happened  and she did a conference call. During our conversation something was said that made me burst out in anger and say , " I REFUSE to be involved in ANYTHING these deceivers and those in this community have taken part in. I will have NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM  " !  I made it solely my husband’s responsibility if he were to sign a membership lease to deal with these people. I wanted NO PART OF IT AT ALL!

You see, hatred, bitterness and resentment was brewing strong in my soul, that I received a loving firm rebuke from Abba through my brother Mike and my sister Netty; words of exhortation that I began to RESIST for a bit, but as they continued to speak Abba's truth, something was happening in my heart. I could feel HIS hot knife cut away at this wretched flesh. By the time we neared the end of our call, I wept with tears of repentance and knew that the direction I was going in, even at my vehement resistance, needed to change.  

Hebrews 12:14-16

 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Matt 5:44

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Luke 6:35

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

What that means and what Abba would have me do with those I will have to deal with I now place completely in His Hands. What I am most concerned with is the call to submit to my husband, support him and stand by his side even if it hurts and doesn't make a lick of sense.  Not my will, but ABBA's will be done! Strongly led by the Spirit, I called the two women I was involved with in seeking legal action, and asked their forgiveness for the anger and hatred I have displayed around them for these people we have been up against, and shared what happened with me this morning; and also that they needed to proceed further without me.  Surprisingly, they both were very touched and moved by my phone call. Abba has turned this heart of stone on a much ongoing and very troubling matter to a tender heart of flesh. So tender that I can't stop the tears from rising up throughout the day.

Mike said to me,  " Linda, you know evil doesn't stumble upon you, but they are also directed by Abba's hand for His purpose. That we be more conformed into the image of His beloved Son  ." Many words of wisdom came pouring out from my brother and sister as they too are right smack dab in the middle of some very intense fiery trials themselves. The fruit of what they are presently enduring in the way they have personally ministered to my own situation, was the healing balm and spiritual ointment my once bitter, angry and hateful soul needed. I have SO LONGED for this kind of fellowship with those few like Mike, Netty and others who love Abba with a passion. Who love you enough to not coddle your flesh, but speak His Truth in Love that brings conviction and repentance from our self nature, this world and the enemies attempt to derail and destroy us every single day on this GOD WILL FORSAKE and bring under GREAT JUDGEMENT world!

I love Abba Father and His Son Jesus Christ SO MUCH that I don't want anything to stand in its Way. ESPECIALLY my own stinking flesh! If I couldn't endure with our Lord till the end, I would rather He make it so that I had never even existed in the first place; then if I were to make my bed in hell, KNOWING even there I cannot hide from His presence, but with regret have to look into His loving eyes from an excruciating painful distance of eternal torment.

Only by HIS GRACE go I! Only by His power at work in me can I go about from day to day dealing with life's set backs, trials, heart aches and painful disappointments. Only by He who is greater in and than me, can I deal with and overcome our adversary and his minions in this world. Evil will come and the times prophesied will be like no other time in history. Will ANY OF US make it? CAN ANY OF US ENDURE???  NO, not at all!!!  We can't make or do anything without He who wills to do according to His eternal purpose. HE who began a good work in His beloved children will COMPLETE IT! It's a daily agonizing working out our salvation with fear and trembling before our Almighty Abba Father God and departing from the evil that seeks to rob and steal our soul away from Him.

It's a CONSTANT battle to the end of which NONE of us can endure without HIM!!!!!!

"And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding  "

Job 27

Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul; All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live. Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous. For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him? Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God? I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal. Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain? This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty. If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread. Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep. Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay; He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver. He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh. The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not. Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.  The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place. For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand. Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

Job 28:12-28

But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

* This evening my husband just signed a contract lease I SWORE I would NEVER sign, but I know Abba wants me to stand with my husband out of love and obedience. Now I just go cry somewhere for awhile and embrace my broken heart.   " A broken heart He will not despise nor turn away. " *

Psalms 29 and 30

This morning I was led to read Psalms 29 and 30.
 

Let me start with Psalm 29
 

Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.
The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.
The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in His temple doth every one speak of his glory.
The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.
The LORD will give strength unto His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace.
 

I have read Psalm 29 before, but THE VOICE OF THE LORD never stuck out quite like it did this morning when I read it. When Abba thus speaks, nothing can STOP or thwart what HE WILLS by HIS VOICE! Whether it be the declaration of His Word speaking to you and me at a time when we need it most. When He speaks within that place where He abides in His called out ones. When it comes through as a confirmation in another brother or sister in Christ, and His VOICE of power, authority and victory over our unseen enemies. It's evident that His Voice is declared throughout all His creation that one who is of a SOUND and SOBER mind KNOWS just how Real, Mighty and Awesome our Creator is and that NOTHING is impossible with Abba Father to them that believe!
 

With the surmounting trials and difficulties we are individually called to endure, it CANNOT be denied such a VOICE of POWER and AUTHORITY Abba so desires that we KNOW beyond a shadow of doubt.  To rise above the heavy weight of the constant crushing we go through to subdue our wretched flesh that wants to make sense of it all. In all honesty, we do not want to suffer nor is it our desire to watch those we love suffer either. BUT SUFFER WE MUST! What we suffer most is when our flesh tries with the greatest effort and resistance to keep from dying daily while yielding to the Living Divine Nature of Abba Father He wills that we become partakers of.
 

The more we let go and surrender to this process, the more He is able to bring us into His perfection and holiness. Oh that it would be a ONE time death blow to our sinful nature, but SELF is the hardest and most resistant to let go of and die to in our day to day existence. Thus we hear our Savior Jesus Christ tell us in His word that in order for us to follow Him we must, " pick up our cross, DIE TO SELF (DIE DAILY) and follow Him." 

Greater is HE in us then the darkness, evil, trials, difficulties, accusations and all that defies His Divine unchanging Nature in this world.  We are called to embrace these sufferings so that HIS PATIENCE can be worked in us to maturity and completeness, lacking NOTHING in Him. 

There is a big difference in embracing our sufferings and allowing such sufferings to bring us to a place of despair and hopelessness. Those who embrace it count it all JOY when suffering for righteousness sake. The focus becomes one of keeping our eyes on Jesus who delivers us out of ALL our troubles. To focus on His Power, Might and Greatness in the midst of our suffering. The other is making the suffering and trials bigger than Abba Father. This is what brings us to that place of despair. To loose ones Way in Him. Now I am just getting this as I hear the Holy Spirit saying, "Whatever becomes bigger or what you put your focus on above Abba Father in Jesus, then it becomes an IDOL ." Wow, you mean suffering can be an idol in ones life? YES! If you put the suffering above,  " Greater is He in You," then YES it does become an idol.
 

Get your eyes off your troubles, difficulties, woes and sufferings  and look to Yeshua Jesus who is able to complete the good work He began in you when you heard the Holy Spirits call to follow Christ. I don't say this to minimize what you going through. It is meant to encourage and by Abba's VOICE and declaration show you where your focus needs to be and how much GREATER He is far above your every trial, your many tears,and all the pain and suffering you are called to endure with Him until you are absent from the body and present with the Lord Most High.
 

Phil 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Matthew 11:28-30
 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Now onto Ps 30

 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. For His anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.  And in my prosperity (security)  I said, I shall never be moved. LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face,
and I was troubled. I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication. What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth? Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give  thanks unto thee for ever.
 

After my time in prayer and receiving these two Psalms, I was led to read Charles Spurgeon's devotion for this morning. I want to share it with you. It is a confirmation of this word to bring encouragement, comfort and hope to those of you who are led to read this blog. Before you read further please know and understand that the weeping due to our suffering which comes as a dark night of the soul, is not merely one night. It could be days, months and even YEARS of weeping through the most difficult of trials. But UNDERSTAND that ABBA KNOWS in HIS MERCY and conforming you and I into the image of His beloved Son just how long it is to last for a GREATER purpose that we cannot see or even understand as we are going through it.
 

A Devotional Series by Charles H. Spurgeon
Morning Devotion

Friday, May 13, 2011

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning ." --Psalm 30:5

Christian! If thou art in a night of trial, think of the morrow; cheer up thy heart with the thought of the coming of thy Lord. Be patient, for

"Lo! He comes with clouds descending."

Be patient! The Husbandman waits until he reaps his harvest. Be patient; for you know who has said, "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be." If you are never so wretched now, remember

"A few more rolling suns, at most,

Will land thee on fair Canaan's coast."

Thy head may be crowned with thorny troubles now, but it shall wear a starry crown ere long; thy hand may be filled with cares--it shall sweep the strings of the harp of heaven soon. Thy garments may be soiled with dust now; they shall be white by and by. Wait a little longer. Ah! how despicable our troubles and trials will seem when we look back upon them! Looking at them here in the prospect, they seem immense; but when we get to heaven we shall then

"With transporting joys recount,

The labours of our feet."

Our trials will then seem light and momentary afflictions. Let us go on boldly; if the night be never so dark, the morning cometh, which is more than they can say who are shut up in the darkness of hell. Do you know what it is thus to live on the future--to live on expectation--to antedate heaven? Happy believer, to have so sure, so comforting a hope. It may be all dark now, but it will soon be light; it may be all trial now, but it will soon be all happiness. What matters it though   "weeping may endure for a night ", when  " joy cometh in the morning? "

Once Was Enough by Voo

ONCE WAS ENOUGH †

♥

♥      ♥    ♥    ♥

♥

CONCEIVED I WAS

IN UNFELT PAIN

DOWNWARD DESCENDING

LIKE DROPS OF RAIN

.

AND TO THE EARTH

AS A SWORD, I FELL

WHILE HEAVEN CRIED

AND SO DID HELL

.

I LEFT THE GLORY

AND TOUCHED THE DIRT

I SOUGHT THE  LOVE

WHICH BROUGHT THE HURT

.

AND MY LIFE STARTED

TO BRING THE END

AND I CRIED, BLOOD STAINED

FOR WAYWARD MEN

.

MY MOTHER HELD ME

MY FATHER TURNED

MY MIND, REPLAYING

THE THINGS I’D LEARNED

.

AND ALL THE WHILE

THE SHADOWS GREW

AROUND THE BLIND ONES

WHO SAW THE TRUE

.

THE ONES WHO HATED

THE ONES WHO LIED

AND STOLE MY GARMENTS

THERE AS I CRIED

.

THE PAIN I BORE THEN

NO ONE COULD MEASURE

(NO MAN APPRAISES

THE THINGS I TREASURE)

.

FOR IN THAT DARKNESS

I HUNG ALONE

AND PRAYED FOR STRENGTH

AND WEPT FOR HOME

.

EARTH SPLIT ASUNDER

THE HEAVENS RANG

BLIND EYES WERE OPENED

AND CHILDREN SANG

.

BUT IN THAT MOMENT

OF UNKNOWN DEATH

MY LUNGS EXPELLED

THAT MORTAL BREATH

.

AND I AWAKENED

IN CAVERNS DEEP

WHERE MEN RAN SCREAMING

AND DID NOT SLEEP

.

THEY KNEW MY NAME THERE

THEY KNEW MY FACE

THOUGH THEY’D NEVER SEEN ME

OR KNOWN MY GRACE

.

AND I BEHELD THEM

AND HUNG MY HEAD

WITH SORROW BURDENED

FOR THE TRULY DEAD

.

ACROSS THE CHASM

I SAW THE OTHERS

MY LOVED ONES, WAITING

MY FRIENDS, MY BROTHERS

.

THEY SAW ME COMING

THEIR HANDS, THEY RAISED

THEY DANCED IN JOY

MY NAME, THEY PRAISED

.

I TOOK THEM WITH ME

UP TO THE SKY

NO MORE TO SUFFER

NO MORE TO DIE

.

ASCENDING NOW

FROM THAT DESCENT

I FOUND THOSE TO WHICH

I HAD BEEN SENT

.

AND LIKE THE LIGHTNING

AND LIKE THE RAIN

THE GLORY FELL

AND HEALED THE PAIN

.

TO AN ANCIENT PLACE

AND ALL IT’S PLEASURES

I CARRIED ALL

MY EARTHLY TREASURES

.

AND MANY HUNGRY

FOR THE LOVE I GIVE

WILL BE TRANSPORTED

TO THE PLACE I LIVE

.

VESSELS OF LIGHT

WHO’VE KEPT THE VOW

WILL BE TRANSFIGURED

THOUGH CLAY FORMED NOW

.

AND COUNTLESS CHILDREN

LIKE GRAINS OF SAND

WILL LIVE FOREVER

WITHIN MY HANDS

.

WOULD I DO IT OVER?

THE DEATH FOR SIN?

A MILLION TIMES

I’D DIE FOR MEN !

.

BUT THERE’S NO NEED

TO AGAIN, REBUFF

HELL’S POWER IS BROKEN

ONCE WAS ENOUGH.

.

.

.

l

.

by Rhondavoo

May 2011

May 7th Blogger Update

                             

Greetings beloved!

For those of you who frequent or haven't been  around my blogger lately, as you can see a lot of changes were made. Between myself and (my very gifted and talented spirit sister)Netty, we have worked hard to get the blogger to be a lot easier to navigate with less clutter on my sidebar. Netty helped me get the tabs set up so I could put everything I wanted in those tabs for easy access and viewing. She also did quite a bit of editing on my pictures that I'm VERY pleased with. (THANK YOU, NETTY!)  If you click on my new website picture link you see on the sidebar, you'll notice the website she created and put together has also been updated today. (It looks GREAT, Netty!!!)  YAY! Thank You, Abba for the gifts You give to Your Body to help and bless one another with ~ \0/

If you haven't already checked out the tabs above,
" About Spiritsong, Spiritsong Videos and Audios, Videos and Music, Classic Spiritual and Poetry, " I would encourage you to please give them a peek.

I pray that wherever the Holy Spirit leads you here on this blogger, you will be uplifted; strengthened; encouraged; exhorted; comforted, and spurred on to loving Abba more and to good works in Christ Jesus!

Shalom,

Linda Rose

"David Wilkerson's Inspirational Last Words ...

Here is the text of Wilkerson’s last blog post on David Wilkerson Today. It was posted on April 27, just hours before a head on collision that took his life: 

“To believe when all means fail is exceedingly pleasing to God and is most acceptable. Jesus said to Thomas, ‘You have believed because you have seen, but blessed are those that do believe and have not seen’ (John 20:29).
 

“Blessed are those who believe when there is no evidence of an answer to prayer—who trust beyond hope when all means have failed.

 “Someone has come to the place of hopelessness—the end of hope—the end of all means. A loved one is facing death and doctors give no hope. Death seems inevitable. Hope is gone. The miracle prayed for is not happening.
 

“That is when Satan’s hordes come to attack your mind with fear, anger, overwhelming questions: ‘Where is your God now? You prayed until you had no tears left. You fasted. You stood on promises. You trusted.’

 “Blasphemous thoughts will be injected into your mind: ‘Prayer failed. Faith failed. Don’t quit on God—just do not trust him anymore. It doesn’t pay!’

 “Even questioning God’s existence will be injected into your mind. These have been the devices of Satan for centuries. Some of the godliest men and women who ever lived were under such demonic attacks.

 “To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights—and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, ‘I am with you. 

I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident. It was no failure on your part. Hold fast. Let me embrace you in your hour of pain.’
 

“Beloved, God has never failed to act but in goodness and love. When all means fail—his love prevails. Hold fast to your faith. Stand fast in his Word. There is no other hope in this world.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I just got an e-mail from a friend about the recent death of David Wilkerson. I was a bit shocked by the news. I have always had a high regard and respect for His no compromise stand on the Truth. I remember years ago when I saw him preach at time square church in New York. It was such a powerful Word he delivered that I will never forget. It was over 20 years ago. I also recall him coming to Philadelphia with some of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir to put together teams of those of us who came out to witness and share Christ to the people there in the city. This too left quite a profound impact on my life to experience many of the homeless and down and outers being quite receptive and open to the gospel. Some of these dudes were downright SCARY on the outside. When we opened up our hearts and shared the love of Christ and that Jesus died for them, I recall a few who broke down in tears. We got to pray with quite a few who saw that they were sinners and needed a Savior. This was when I was in my mid to late 20's.

I have also been stirred to conviction on several occasions whenever I got the opportunity to read a message he would get from the Lord for His people to repent and get their lives in order. He will be missed as I hope to see him and other saints who have touched my life through the years as I endeavor to endure with Christ till the end.

Linda Rose

Death
 

On April 27, 2011, while driving east on US Route 175 in Texas, Wilkerson crossed into the westbound lane and collided head-on with a tractor trailer. He was reportedly not wearing his seat belt, and was pronounced dead on the scene. His wife was wearing a seat belt, and was injured.
 

Rev. Wilkerson's last blog post stated the following: "To those going through the valley and shadow of death, hear this word: Weeping will last through some dark, awful nights," he wrote, "and in that darkness you will soon hear the Father whisper, `I am with you. I cannot tell you why right now, but one day it will all make sense. You will see it was all part of my plan. It was no accident."