If You Knew God Stood Next to You

http://anchor.tfionline.com/post/if-you-knew-god-stood-next-you/

A compilation

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Very few of us understand the full meaning of the words in Matthew 1:23: “They shall call His name Emmanuel; which being interpreted is, God with us.” This short sentence reveals to us the grandest fact the world will ever know; that God, the Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and earth, is not a far-off Deity, dwelling in a Heaven of unapproachable glory, but is living with us right here in this world, in the midst of our poor, ignorant, helpless lives, as close to us as we are to ourselves. This seems so incredible to the human heart that we are very slow to believe it; but the Bible teaches this as a fact. In the very beginning of Genesis we read of the “presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.” And from that time on He is revealed to us always as in the most familiar and daily [interaction] with His people everywhere.

In Exodus we find Him asking them to make Him a “sanctuary, that He might dwell among them.” He is recorded as having “walked” with them in the wilderness, and as “taking up His abode” with them in the Promised Land. He taught them to rely on Him as an ever-present friend and helper, to consult Him about all their affairs, and to abandon the whole management of their lives to Him. And finally He came in Christ in bodily form and dwelt in the world as a man among men, making Himself bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, taking upon Him our nature, and revealing to us, in the most tangible and real way possible, the grand, blessed, and incomprehensible fact that He intended to be with us always, even unto the end of the world.

Whoever will believe this with all their hearts will find in it the solution to every difficulty of their lives.

I remember when I was a little girl and found myself in any trouble or difficulty, the presence of my father or mother on the scene would always bring me immediate relief. The moment I heard the voice of one of them saying, “Daughter, I am here,” every burden and anxious thought dropped away. They did not need to promise to relieve me; the simple fact of their presence was all the assurance I required that everything now would be set straight and all would go well for me, and my only interest after their arrival was simply to see how they would do it all. Perhaps they were exceptional parents to have created such confidence in their children’s hearts. I think perhaps they were. But as our God is certainly an exceptional God, the application has absolute force, and His presence is literally all we need.

How often in the Bible He has stilled all questions and all fears by the simple announcement, “I will be with thee”; and who can doubt that in these words He meant to assure us that all His wisdom, and love, and omnipotent power would therefore, of course, be engaged on our side?

I remember to this day the inspiring sense of utter security that used to come to me with my earthly father’s presence. I never feared anything when he was by. And surely with my Heavenly Father by, there can be no possible room for fear.—Hannah Whitall Smith1

*

“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you: I will not leave you, nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).

Moses was used mightily by the Lord, yet we all know he had his inadequacies and limitations too. Still, he was the vessel which God chose to work through as He carried out the plagues over Egypt, divided the Red Sea, and miraculously led and fed the children of Israel for forty years. That’s pretty big stuff. Can you imagine having to be Moses’ successor after all that? That’s exactly what Joshua had to do. I can’t even begin to imagine what Joshua was thinking at the time.—How can I possibly live up to Moses? But the Lord comforts and reassures Joshua and says, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you!”

Those words for Joshua are also for us today. You know why? All the men and women who have done great things for the Lord were just ordinary men and women—with a great God. The same God who walked with Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and all the great men and women of God—is with us today!—George Whitten2

*

What does this mean, “God with us”? … The Greek particle used here is very forcible and expresses the strongest form of “with.” It is not merely “in company with us,” as another Greek word would signify, but “with,” “together with,” and “sharing with.” This preposition is a firm bond, implying, if not declaring, close fellowship. God is peculiarly and closely “with us.”

Christ Jesus was the man of men, the second Adam, the model representative man! … You can scarcely find a halting place in the march of life at which Jesus has not paused, or a weary league which He has not traversed. From the gate of entrance even to the door which closes life’s way, the footprints of Jesus may be traced. Were you in the cradle? He was there. Were you a child under parental authority? Christ was, also, a boy in the home at Nazareth. Have you entered upon life’s battle? Your Lord and Master did the same. … There is no pang that rends the heart—I might almost say not one which disturbs the body—but what Jesus Christ has been with us in it all.

Do you feel the sorrows of poverty? He “had not where to lay His head.”3 Do you endure the griefs of bereavement? Jesus “wept” at the tomb of Lazarus.4 Have you been slandered for righteousness’ sake and has it vexed your spirit? He said, “Reproach has broken My heart.”5 Have you been betrayed? Do not forget that He, too, had His familiar friend who sold Him for the price of a slave. On what stormy seas have you been tossed which have not also roared around His boat? Never a glen of adversity so dark, so deep, apparently so pathless, but what in stooping down you may discover the footprints of the Crucified One. In the fires and in the rivers, in the cold night and under the burning sun, He cries, “I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am both your Companion and your God.”—Charles Spurgeon6

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When the times get rough and storms rage, when the nights get darker and the discouragement deeper, don’t give up! Just look to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith.7 Jesus is there with you. He is with you in the darkness. He is with you in the trial. He is with you in the depths. He is with you there because He loves you. He is there to pull you through.—David Brandt Berg

*

Our God is not some faraway disinterested being. He is a God who is personal, who has a relationship with His creation. He has made Himself known to us through His Word. He has shown us some of what He’s like. He is interested in us as individuals. He has made a way for us to live with Him forever, through salvation. Through belief in Jesus, God the Son, we become God’s children, which enables us to touch Him personally, to communicate with Him, to hear His voice, to share our hearts with Him. He communes with us, abides in us, and loves us. We commune with Him, abide in Him, and love Him. We have a personal relationship with the Personal God. How incredibly wonderful!—Peter Amsterdam

Published on Anchor September 2014. Read by Jon Marc.

1 Adapted from A Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life (1875).
2 http://www.worthydevotions.com/christian-devotional/emmanuel-god-with-us
3 Matthew 8:20.
4 John 11:35.
5 Psalm 69:20.
6 http://www.ccel.org/ccel/spurgeon/sermons21.lxi.html
7 Hebrews 12:2.

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Dr. Caroline Leaf

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How to Defeat Depression!

By Dennis Edwards: Words from Jesus:

It’s a sad day when one of my creations decides that life is not worth the living, that things are just too difficult. My heart weeps for any of my sons or daughters who make such a decision. The sorrow is that it is indeed the wrong decision. You murmur and complain and fall into depression because you have believed the lie that things are not going to get better. They are going to continue as they are now- forever, so what’s the use of living? But the truth is, things do change. Situations do change. Even your attitude towards the situation you find yourself in changes.

How then can you tell when that little voice of conscience is of God or of the enemy? Here’s the answer: when the voice is positive, encouraging, faith building; then it is of me. When the voice is critical, negative, or causes you to be discontent, bitter, or discouraged; that voice is not of me and you must reject it and resist it with all your heart, mind and spirit. Life is what you make of it. Even an aged Pope suffering with Alzheimer can be a good example of suffering graciously.

Life is sacred. People do not want to hear that in today’s secular, materialistic world. They want the freedom to act as they wish, pushing my old traditional guidelines to the wind. They just want to Do It! But life is not something you should take for granted and each life affects many more. You are just passing through this life. It is indeed very short and will soon be gone. Enjoy it! Instead of thinking and worrying about your own personal situation get busy helping others. It’s therapeutic. Forget your own dam self, of course, you have problems and are a hell of a mess. Everyone is.

Put your eyes on me, Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith.[1] I have promised to be with you through all your tribulations. Even the one you are going through now. You can make it, if you call upon me. Like I said to my disciples, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” or as in the Spanish translation, “make you rest.” “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”[2]

I have promised that all things that happen unto you I will convert to good, if you will only love me with all your heart.[3] Nothing can separate you from me.[4] Therefore, when the enemy of your soul tempts you to get down and discouraged and you hear that little voice telling you to end it all, call upon me with all your heart. I promise I will come running and I will be with you.[5] Your future is as bright as the promises of God. Comfort yourself by reading my word. Strengthen yourself by listening to encouraging music that is positive, uplifting and reminds you of my promises. There are many good Christian hymns or positive secular songs that can bring you the encouragement that you need.

Be positive. Speak positive. Sing, praise and shout the victory and it will be yours as you draw nigh to me. Do not just sit there and be inactive. Do something. You will not be sorry if you keep on keeping on. Anything wonderful can happen in that little moment of time when you do not give up, when you do not quit. Keep on believing. You will be glad you trusted me tomorrow and so will your loved ones. Keep your eyes on me, not the pit of discouragement. I promise you, I will not fail you nor forsake you.[6] Nothing can or will be able to separate you from my love.[7] I love you. Just meditate on that truth and that alone should help you to fight to live another day. You are needed, right where you are. Do not quit. You will indeed be glad you trusted me, tomorrow! You can remember the words I inspired and were made famous by Charlie Chaplin in the song “Smile.”

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking.

When there are clouds in the sky

you'll get by.

If you smile through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through

For you.

Light up your face with gladness,

Hide every trace of sadness.

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying.

You'll find that life is still worthwhile-

If you just smile.

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying.

You'll find that life is still worthwhile-

If you just smile.[8]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHPDrInbybw

Some other songs you could listen to are listed below:

Josh Groban, “You Raise Me Up!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oni0tO_HN30
Celine Dion & Josh Groban, “The Prayer” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idtNxZYnxIw
The Gaither Vocal Band, "Because He Lives" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVdEdIDyeaA
Celtic Woman, “You'll Never Walk Alone” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7du-RHGrJrA
Don Quixote, “The Impossible Dream” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfHnzYEHAow
The Gaither Vocal band, “The Love of God” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzDLLSTR9yY
Simon & Garfunkle, “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjNgn4r6SOA
“One Day at a Time” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzAUuX5g6KY
Andrae Crouch, “Through it All” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFzdFzzBqTc
Carrie Underwood, “How Great Thou Art” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLLMzr3PFgk

Footnotes:
[1] Hebrews 12:1-2
[2] Matthew 11:28-30
[3] Romans 8:28
[4] Romans 8:38-39
[5] Jeremiah 33:3
[6] Hebrews 13:5
[7] Romans 8:38-39
[8] http://www.metrolyrics.com/smile-lyrics-charlie-chaplin.html

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History of the Early British Kings by Bill Cooper

from chapter five of After the Flood, by Bill Cooper
http://www.ldolphin.org/cooper/contents.html

What follows is a summary of the history of the early kings of the early Britons as it is given in both Geoffrey of Monmouth and the Welsh chronicles. It is a recorded history that was consigned to oblivion after the massacre, at the instigation of Augustine, of the British monks at Bangor in AD 604 and was thus entirely unknown or ignored by the later Saxon and Norman chroniclers of England. Consequently, it came to be generally and unquestioningly assumed amongst English scholars by the 16th and 17th centuries that no such record had ever existed, and that works such as Geoffrey of Monmouth's or the Welsh chronicle were forgeries and fairy tales. That opinion persists today. We have seen, however, in the previous chapter how these records enjoy a great deal of historical vindication in spite of modernism's cursory and fashionable dismissal of them. But here, plain and unadorned, is the story that the chronicles themselves tell, a story that no child will have learnt at his desk in any school of this land. It spans over two thousand years, and its survival to the present day, being little short of a miracle, is a tribute to those Welsh scholars of old who recognised its importance and preserved it entire for our reading.

Amongst the ancient records that the Britons themselves left behind, there is preserved (in Nennius at least) a list of the ancestors of the early British kings as they were counted generation by generation back to Japheth, the son of Noah. But the history of the Britons as a distinct nation had its beginnings with the fall of Troy, and it is at this point that Geoffrey of Monmouth and the Welsh chronicles take up the story.

Anchises, known to us from other histories, fled with his son, Aeneas, from the burning ruins of Troy, and they made their way to the land that is nowadays called Italy, settling with their people on the banks of the river Tiber around what was later to become Rome. The indigenous population was ruled over by Latinus who received Aeneas and his people with kindness and hospitality, in return for which Aeneas defeated Latinus' foe, Turnus, king of the Rutuli. He then married the daughter of Latinus, Lavinia, from which union came Aeneas Silvius who later rose to rule over all the tribes of Italy. But it was through the line of his brother Ascanius that the royal lineage was presently to be perpetuated, and of this line was born Ascanius' son Silvius. Silvius seduced an unnamed niece of his grandfather's wife, Lavinia, and it was from their union that his son Brutus was born. The mother of Brutus died whilst giving birth to him, and when he was a lad of fifteen years, Brutus accidentally shot his father dead with an arrow whilst out hunting. For having caused the deaths of both his parents, thus fulfilling a prophecy concerning him, Brutus was exiled out of Italy, the royal line of Aeneas passing into the hands of another. And it is at this point that the history of the Britons as a distinct nation begins.

Brutus journeyed from Italy to Greece, and there he came into contact with certain slaves. These were the descendants of the soldiers who had fought against Greece in the Trojan Wars of the 13th century BC. They had been enslaved by Priam, son of Achilles, 'in vengeance for his father's death', and were subsequently to continue their slavery under Pandrasus, king of the Dorian Greeks. Learning that he was descended from their own ancient kings, the Trojans accepted Brutus into their fellowship and elected him as their leader, and under him they successfully rose against their captors. Defeating Pandrasus in battle, they set sail to look for a land in which to settle. Sailing their fleet out of the Mediterranean between the Pillars of Hercules (the Straits of Gibraltar), they came across another group of Trojans led by Corineus, who were likewise escaping abroad from their captors. They combined forces and landed in Gaul with Brutus being acclaimed as their overall king. There they fought and defeated the Picts under king Goffar (Koffarffichti--Goffar the Pict--in the Welsh). The Trojans again set sail, and came ashore at Totnes in Devon at some time in the 12th century BC. The land and its people were subsequently to derive their names from Brutus. Then Brutus founded the city of Trinovantum, or New Troy, which was later to become the city of London. Brutus, the first king of the Britons, reigned over his people in this island for twenty three years, i.e. from ca 1104-1081 BC.

Amongst the spoils that Brutus had taken from Greece was Ignoge, the daughter of Pandrasus, whom he wedded and who was to bear him three sons, Locrinus, Kamber and Albanactus. Upon the death of Brutus, Kamber and Albanactus inherited Wales (Cambria) and Scotland (Albany) respectively, and Locrinus became king of Loegria, the land named after him, which consisted of present-day England minus Cornwall. (The modern Welsh still know England as Loegria). Cornwall was ruled over by Corineus whose daughter, Gwendolen, Locrinus had married. Locrinus, however, had also taken another wife, Estrildis, whom he hid for fear of Corineus. But as soon as Corineus was dead, he made Estrildis his queen and put away Gwendolen, his lawful wife. In vengeance, Gwendolen raised an army in her father's kingdom of Cornwall, killing Locrinus in the ensuing battle. Estrildis and her daughter Habren were drowned on Gwendolen's orders, and Gwendolen herself went on to rule Loegria for the next fifteen years. Then, in ca 1056 BC, she abdicated in favour of her son Maddan and retired to her native Cornwall where she died.

Little is said of Maddan other than that he ruled the land for forty years, i.e. from ca 1056-1016 BC. His sons, on his death, contended for the throne, Main his younger son being murdered by Mempricius, the elder. Mempricius (Meinbyr in the Welsh chronicle) became a noted tyrant who abandoned his wife in pursuit of unnatural vices, and he generally misruled the kingdom. Then, in the twentieth year of his reign, in about 996 BC, he was separated from his companions in a hunting party and was eaten by wolves.

He was succeeded by Ebraucus (Welsh Efrawc) who reigned for the next thirty-nine years from ca 996-957 BC. In an eventful and fondly remembered reign, Ebraucus sacked Gaul and founded the city named after him, Kaerbrauc, which the later Romans were to Latinize as Eboracum, present-day York. On his death, he was succeeded by Brutus Greenshield (Bryttys darian las in the Welsh chronicle) who reigned for the next twelve years until ca 945 BC. Then Leil succeeded to the throne. He founded the city of Kaerleil which still bears his name (Carlisle), but he was a weak and vacillating king whose twenty-five year reign ended in ruin and civil-war.

His son Hudibras, (Run baladr bras in the Welsh), who came to the throne in ca 920 BC, re-established peace in the realm and went on to rule Loegria for the next thirty-nine years. A great builder, he founded the cities of Kaerreint (Canterbury), Kaerguenit (Winchester), and Paladur (Shaftesbury). He was succeeded by his son, Bladud, in ca 881 BC, who ruled the land for twenty years. During that time, he founded the city of Kaerbadum (Bath), the hot springs of which were thought to cure leprosy. At his commandment, necromancy, communicating with the dead, was practised throughout the kingdom, and he was eventually killed in a misguided attempt to fly. At his death, Leir his son took the crown, and he was to enjoy a reign of sixty years, which lasted from ca 861-801 BC. He founded the city of Kaerleir (Leicester) and lost his kingdom when he attempted to divide it amongst his three daughters. Shakespeare tells the story in his celebrated play, King Lear.

Leir's youngest daughter, Cordelia, inherited the crown on her father's death and ruled the land in peace for five years. She was then deposed by her sisters and committed suicide in prison. Marganus I (Morgan in the Welsh) then took the kingdom in the year 796 BC, sharing the kingdom with his cousin Cunedagius (Kynedda). Marganus ruled the land north of the Humber, and Cunedagius ruled the south. Marganus, during the fighting that arose between them, was pursued into Wales by Cunedagius and slain at the place named after him, Margam near present-day Port Talbot. Cunedagius then ruled the whole kingdom for the next thirty-three years. He was succeeded in 761 BC by Rivallo (Rriallon), who reigned wisely and frugally. His reign was particularly remembered for a rain of blood, a great swarm of flies and a plague that took a heavy toll of the population. At his death in 743 BC, there followed the reigns of four kings of whom little is said save their names and their order of succession. And then, in the year 663 BC, Gorboduc (Gwrvyw in the Welsh) came to the throne. In old age he became senile, his dotage giving rise to much quarrelling over the succession between his two sons, Ferrex and Porrex. In the event, Gorboduc was to become the last king of the royal line of Brutus to reign over the Britons.

Gorboduc's queen, Judon was caused much grief over her quarrelling sons. On learning that Porrex had killed Ferrex, her favourite of the two, she became insane and later murdered Porrex in his sleep by hacking him to pieces. (Other accounts tell how she was tied in a sack and thrown into the Thames for the murder of her son). The land was then plunged into the political chaos of a two hundred year civil war. The outcome of the civil war was decided by a final conflict between five kings altogether, and from it all, in ca 440 BC, emerged Pinner, the king of Loegria. He was later slain in a battle by his successor but one, Dunvallo, in about the year 430 BC. Dunvallo's father, Cloten (Klydno in the Welsh), who was the king of Cornwall, ruled for ten years and was finally succeeded by his son, Dunvallo Molmutius (Dyfual moel myd). During a forty-year reign, he codified the Molmutine Laws, a law-code which Geoffrey of Monmouth tells us was still famed and revered in his own day, and which, surprisingly, still survives. (See Probert's Ancient Laws of Cambria. 1823). Crimes of violence were virtually unheard of in his kingdom, such was the severity of punishment meted out to such criminals while he was on the throne. Dunvallo's eldest son, Belinus (the Great), then ruled the kingdom from ca 380-374 BC. He ruled Loegria, Cambria and Cornwall. His brother Brennius held Northumbria and Albany, and eventually led the Celtic sack of Rome in ca 390 BC. Belinus eventually defeated Brennius in battle, and so came to rule all Britain. Geoffrey tells us that Belinus was a great road-builder, and that Billingsgate in London was built by and named after him. In an eventful reign, Belinus subdued the then king of Denmark, exacting from him a great tribute.

He was succeeded by Gurguit (Gwrgant Varf Drwch), whose reign lasted from ca 374-369 BC. The son and successor of Belinus, Gurguit was renowned as a man of peace and justice. During Gurguit's reign, the king of Denmark withdrew the tribute that Belinus had exacted of him, and Gurguit promptly invaded Denmark to assert his authority there. It was during his return from Denmark that Gurguit is said to have intercepted the ships of Partholan and his fellow exiles. He is then stated to have assigned to Partholan the otherwise uninhabited land of Ireland. (This, however, leads us to a problem in chronology. A suggested solution to this is offered in a later chapter.) Gurguit died peacefully and he lies buried in the city of Caerleon-on-Usk. His son Guithelin (Kyhylyn) then held the crown from ca 369-363 BC. Guithelin was a noted and benevolent ruler. He married Marcia, a learned woman who codified the Marcian Laws, the Lex Martiana. Alfred the Great was later to translate the code as the Mercian Laws, believing them to have been named after the much later Saxon kingdom of Mercia.

Queen Marcia ruled Britain for about five years after Guithelin's death because of their son's minority. But he, Sisillius (Saessyllt), came to the throne in ca 358 BC on her death, ruling for the next six years. His reign was followed by those of his sons Kinarius and Danius, and then Morvidus, his great nephew, inherited the crown. Morvidus (Morydd), who ruled from ca 341-336 BC, was the illegitimate son of Danius and Tanguesteaia, but he became king on his father's death. An otherwise heroic ruler, he was noted and feared due to the merciless cruelty that he showed towards those whom he defeated in battle. After one particular attempted invasion of his kingdom, Morvidus, against all the laws of the Celtic Britons regarding warfare, personally put to death many prisoners of war. 'When he became so exhausted that he had to give up for a time, he ordered the remainder to be skinned alive, and in this state he had them burnt'. During his reign, reports of a monstrous animal wreaking havoc in the west reached the king. (In Geoffrey of Monmouth's original Latin, the creature is called a Belua.) With typical, if hasty, bravado Morvidus fought the beast alone, but the monster killed him, and devoured his corpse 'as if he had been a tiny fish.'

Gorbonianus (Gwrviniaw) followed Morvidus in ca 336 BC. He was much renowned for his goodness as a ruler, and was succeeded by Archgallo (Arthal) who reigned from ca 330 -326 BC. He was the very opposite of his elder brother Gorbonianus, and such was his tyranny that he was eventually deposed by the nobility of the realm. His younger brother, Elidurus, was elected king in his place. He was surnamed The Dutiful because of the compassion that he showed towards his deposed elder brother. Elidurus exercised this compassion to the point of abdicating after about five years in favour of a now reformed Archgallo, whose subsequent behaviour as king was a complete reversal of his former reign. Archgallo died after about ten years, at which point Elidurus resumed the crown. However, his reign was to be interrupted once again.

His two younger brothers, Ingenius and Peredurus, rebelled and incarcerated Elidurus in a tower. Dividing the land between them, Ingenius ruled the south whilst Peredurus ruled north of the Humber. Ingenius died seven years later, and Peredurus went on to reign over the whole island for a further three years, being known as a wise and beneficent king. He died in ca 296 BC, and Elidurus came to the throne for a third time. At this point, the order of succession becomes rather complicated, with cousin succeeding cousin. Finally the succession seems to settle down to a father-son order, at least for the next thirty-one reigns, the short length of the average reign (5-6 years) indicating political turmoil for that period of one hundred and seventy years or so, until the accession of Heli (Beli Mawr in the Welsh) in about the year 113 BC. He ruled for forty years until 73 BC when his son Lud became king. Lud rebuilt the city that Brutus had founded and had named New Troy, and renamed it Kaerlud, the city of Lud, after his own name. The name of the city was later corrupted to Kaerlundein, which the Romans took up as Londinium, hence London. At his death, Lud was buried in an entrance to the city that still bears his name, Ludgate. His youngest brother, Nennius (Nynnyaw), fought hand to hand with Julius Caesar on the latter's invasion of Britain in the year 55 BC. The Romans had been trying to set up camp in the Thames estuary when the Britons fell upon them by surprise. Although Nennius was forced away from Caesar by other soldiers, he did manage to capture the emperor's sword. Escaping, Nennius died of his wounds fifteen days later and was buried beside the northern entrance to Trinovantum (modern Bishopsgate in London?). The sword that he took as spoils, and which he had named Yellow Death, was buried with him. But the man who was actually king of the Britons when Caesar landed, was Cassivelaunus (Kasswallawn) who reigned from ca 58-38 BC. Betrayed by Androgeus, his brother Lud's eldest son, Cassivelaunus was eventually starved into submission when the Romans laid siege to his fort.

He was succeeded by Tenvantius, known in other histories as Tasciovanus, who reigned from ca 38-18 BC. And then he was followed by Cymbeline (Kynvelyn who reigned ca 18 BC-AD 12). Known to the Romans asCunobelinus, he was the son and heir of Tenvantius. Cymbeline had received a Roman upbringing in the Imperial household, and on his succession to the British crown, he reigned for ten years. (His reign was. immortalised in Shakespeare's play, Cymbeline.) The man who succeeded him was Guiderius (Gwydr) who reigned from ca AD 12 - 43. On inheriting the crown, he promptly refused toamp; pay tribute to Rome. The emperor Claudius, on his invasion of Britain in the year AD 43, was attacked by Guiderius' forces at Portchester. During the attack, Guiderius was betrayed and killed. Arvirargus next took the crown reigning from ca AD 43-57. Taking command of the British forces on the death of his brother Guiderius, Arvira emerged as victor from a major skirmish with Claudius' troops. He eventually ruled Britain as the emperor's puppet-king. At his death, he was interred at Gloucester. Marius (Mayric) came next, and ruled from ca AD 57-97. Inheriting the crown from his father, Marius enjoyed friendly relations with Rome. During his reign, he defeated and killed Soderic, king of the Picts, in a great battle. The present county of Westmorland was so named in Marius' honour because of the battle, and Marius accordingly had an inscribed stone set up in the county commemorating his victory.

Coilus, his son, then ruled. He had been raised and educated as a Roman. Coilus was to rule his kingdom in peace and prosperity, being succeeded by his son Lucius. Taking up the crown on his father Coilus' death, Lucius was to send to Rome for teachers of the Christian faith. He in turn passed on the crown to Geta, a son of the Roman Severus. He was elected king of the Britons by the Roman Senate. He was eventually killed by his half-brother Bassianus who reigned from ca AD 221-256. Like Geta, he was a son of Severus, but by a British noblewoman. The Britons elected Bassianus king after he had killed his half-brother. Carausius then took the crown. After raising a fleet of ships with the blessing of the Roman Senate, Carausius invaded Britain. He compelled the Britons to proclaim him king, and killed Bassianus in the ensuing battle. He was eventually murdered by the Roman legate, Allectus, and it was during Allectus' time that a Briton once more held the throne.

Asclepiodotus (Alyssglapitwlws) reigned from ca AD 296-306. He had held the kingdom of Cornwall when he was elected overall king by the Britons. His election to the throne an attempt by the Britons to break the tyranny of the Allectus. Under Allectus, Livius Gallus held the city of London. In the ensuing siege, after he had killed Allectus outside the city, Asclepiodotus promised the Romans that all the garrison would be spared if they surrendered without further resistance. This was agreed to, although the Venedoti men of Gwynedd in Wales decided to put the Romans to by beheading them all. The heads were thrown into the stream calledNantgallum in the British tongue after the name of Livius Gallus. The later Saxons, still perpetuating the Roman leader's name, knew it as Galabroc, and today this name has been further corrupted to Waibrook. As an aside, in the 1860s a large number of skulls were excavated from the bed of the Waibrook before it was built over, being the remnants no doubt of this massacre. It was during the reign of Asclepiodotus that the Diocletian Persecution began in AD 303.

Asclepiodotus was finally defeated and killed by the king whose name has been immortalised in the nursery rhyme, Coel (Old King Cole), who reigned from ca AD 306-309. Known in other histories as Coel Hen Godhebog, Coel founded the city of Colchester that still bears his name (Kaercolim). His daughter, Helen, was married to Constantius, a Roman Senator, who was sent to Britain as legate. He became king on Coel's death. He in turn was succeeded by his son Constantine (I), who ruled Britain from ca AD 312-37. He went on to become the famous emperor of Rome who legalised the Christian religion. Octavius (Eydaf) took the crown in Constantine's absence at Rome, ruling during the periods of ca AD 330-335 and 335-348. He revolted whilst Constantine was in Rome, and assumed the British crown. In AD 348, he was succeeded by Maximianus (Maxen Wledic), the nephew of Coel, who held the crown by virtue of that descent. He eventually left Britain to rule in Gaul and Germany, making Caradocus (Kradawc) king of the Britons in his stead in about the year AD 362. He was later assassinated in Rome (AD 375) by one of the friends of his successor but one, Gracianus. Dionotus (unnamed in the Welsh chronicle) of the kingdom of Cornwall took the crown of Britain and ruled from ca AD 375-389. Then Gracianus reigned from ca AD 389-402. He was originally sent to Britain by Maximianus to fight off an invasion of the Picts and Huns. However, upon successfully repelling the invaders he assumed the crown and ordered the murder of Maximianus. He was later himself to suffer death at the hands of an assassin.

Constanine (II) (Kystennin) then ruled from ca AD 402 -420, having invaded Britain at the request of Guithelinus, the Archbishop of London, and was crowned king at Silchester. He was murdered by an unknown Pict. He was then succeeded by Constans (Konstant Vynarch), ca AD 420-437, Constantine II's eldest son, who had tried to avoid the perils of the crown by becoming a monk at Winchester. He was forcibly removed from the monastery and crowned by Vortigern who, however, later ordered his murder. Vortigern himself (Gwrtheyrn Gwrthenav) ruled for two periods, ca AD 437-455 and 460-480. It was Vortigern who invited the Saxon adventurers, Hengist and Horsa, to Britain to help fight the Picts. At this point, his son Vortimer took over the kingdom, expelling the Saxons after four notable battles, one of them being the battle of Aylesford in Kent where his brother Katigern was slain. Vortimer was eventually poisoned on the orders of his father's new wife, the daughter of Hengist, and Vortigern once again resumed the crown. After a disastrous reign during which the Britons began to lose their land irretrievably to the Saxons, Vortigern was burned alive in a tower by Aurelius Ambrosius. This king (Emrys Wledic in the Welsh) reigned from ca AD 480-501. Surnamed Ainbrosius, he was too young at the death of Constans in AD 437 to take up the crown. He was therefore smuggled abroad, and was raised in the household of king Budicius of Britanny. Eventually declared king of Britain, Ambrosius killed Vortigern and forced the Saxons to retreat to Albany (Scotland), at the same time capturing and executing Hengist at Kaerconan, present-day Conisborough. He was eventually poisoned by Eoppa the Saxon on the orders of Paschent, the youngest son of Vortigern.

Aurelius Ambrosius was succeeded in ca AD 501 by his brother, Uther Pendragon. Named Uther at birth, he was king of the Silures. He assumed the surname pen-Dragon (son of the dragon) after the appearance of a dragon-like comet in the sky. Like his brother Aurelius, he had been smuggled abroad on the murder of Constans. Once king, however, he consorted adulterously with Ygerna (Eigr) the wife of Gorlois, duke of Cornwall. Gorlois was killed by Uther Pendragon's soldiers at Dimiioc (Tinblot in the Welsh chronicle) as Uther Pendragon was seducing Ygerna. But of their union was born the most famous of the British kings, Arthur, who reigned over the Britons from ca AD 521-542. Arthur succeeded his father as. king at only fifteen years of age. His sister Anna married Budicius II of Britanny. The narrative is somewhat confused,. but she seems later to have married Loth of Lodonesia who was later to become king of Norway.

At his death, Arthur passed the crown to Constantine (III), the son of the 'duke' of Cornwall. Constantine, whose reign lasted four years, crushed a revolt of the Saxons, but was later struck down 'by God's vengeance'. He was succeeded in AD 546 by his nephew, Aurelius Conanus (Kynan Wledic in the Welsh), who, however, only came to the throne by imprisoning his unnamed uncle, the son of Constantine, the true heir. His reign was followed in ca 549 very briefly by that of Vortiporius, who repelled an invasion from Germany. His subsequent fate is unrecorded, although he can have reigned for only a year or less. But he was followed by Malgo, whose reign lasted from ca AD 550-555. According to a speech recorded for us by Geoffrey of Monmouth, Malgo had two sons, Ennianus and Run, neither of whom succeeded him. Malgo is elsewhere known as Maelgwn Gwynedd, the king of Gwynedd who died from the Yellow Plague that was ravaging Europe during the 550s. He was succeeded by Keredic, whose origin is unrecorded, who retired into Wales after a battle, and whose reign was followed by those of three unnamed 'tyrants'.

Then, shortly after the year AD 600, came Cadvan. Known in the Welsh chronicles as Cadfan ab lago, king of Gwynedd, he was of north Welsh descent. He began as king of the Venedoti (men of Gwynedd) and succeeded to the kingship of all the Britons by engaging in battle Ethelfrith, the Saxon king of Northumbria, who, with Ethelbert of Kent, carried out the massacre of the British monks at Bangor in AD 604. Ethelfrith and Cadvan divided the country between them, Cadvan ruling over the southern half. His reign lasted until ca AD 625. He married a Saxon noblewoman of the Gewissae. He was followed by Cadwallo who died of old age in the year AD 633. But he was succeeded by Cadwallader (Kydwaladr vendigaid) whose reign was divided into two periods from ca AD 633-643 and 654-664. Twelve years after he inherited the crown, Cadwallader was struck down with an unspecified illness, and during his incapacity the Britons fell to warring amongst themselves. Due to the civil war and due no doubt to the consequent neglect and destruction of the crops, the country was ravaged by a long-remembered famine that was followed by the plague. For safety's sake, Cadwallader sought refuge on the continent, entering Brittany where he was received with much kindness by king Alan II. Eleven years later, Alan persuaded Cadwallader to return to Britain and resume his reign. His stay in Brittany would thus have fallen between the years AD 643-654. He was then followed by Yvor, who, with his cousin Yni, ruled over the remaining Britons who had finally been driven into Wales. It was, indeed, during Yvor's reign that the British came to be known disparagingly as the Welsh, from an ancient Saxon word meaning a barbaric foreigner. Between them, Yvor and Yni became a persistent nuisance to the Saxons, harassing them for many years, ...but little good did it do them!



And that, in a nutshell, is what the early chronicles tell us about the kings of the Britons. The chronicles themselves, of course, tell a much fuller story, but there is little extraordinary in any of it. Indeed, as we saw in the previous chapter, there is much of it that can be historically verified. So we are presented with the simple question as to why a two thousand year recorded history has been so pointedly ignored by modern scholars. Why is it that the history of Britain is an entirely blank page before the year 55 BC in any conventional modern history book when such an easily accessible and informative record is at hand? Could it have anything to do with the fact that the Britons traced their ancestry in these pre-Christian records back to patriarchs that are known to us from the Genesis record but of whom the Britons should have known nothing in their pre-Christian culture if what the modernists have always told us was true? This genealogy is laid out in Appendix 7 of this present book. But this is only part of the great matter that is omitted from modern reckoning and of which the public is unaware. We shall see that there is much else besides regarding the histories and genealogies of other European peoples that is also ignored but which likewise verifies the Genesis account.

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The Mental Virtues

David Brooks, NY Times, Aug. 28, 2014

We all know what makes for good character in soldiers. We’ve seen the movies about heroes who display courage, loyalty and coolness under fire. But what about somebody who sits in front of a keyboard all day? Is it possible to display and cultivate character if you are just an information age office jockey, alone with a memo or your computer?

Of course it is. Even if you are alone in your office, you are thinking. Thinking well under a barrage of information may be a different sort of moral challenge than fighting well under a hail of bullets, but it’s a character challenge nonetheless.

In their 2007 book, “Intellectual Virtues,” Robert C. Roberts of Baylor University and W. Jay Wood of Wheaton College list some of the cerebral virtues.

First, there is love of learning. Some people are just more ardently curious than others, either by cultivation or by nature.

Second, there is courage. The obvious form of intellectual courage is the willingness to hold unpopular views. But the subtler form is knowing how much risk to take in jumping to conclusions. The reckless thinker takes a few pieces of information and leaps to some faraway conspiracy theory. The perfectionist, on the other hand, is unwilling to put anything out there except under ideal conditions for fear that she could be wrong. Intellectual courage is self-regulation, Roberts and Wood argue, knowing when to be daring and when to be cautious. The philosopher Thomas Kuhn pointed out that scientists often simply ignore facts that don’t fit with their existing paradigms, but an intellectually courageous person is willing to look at things that are surprisingly hard to look at.

Third, there is firmness. You don’t want to be a person who surrenders his beliefs at the slightest whiff of opposition. On the other hand, you don’t want to hold dogmatically to a belief against all evidence. The median point between flaccidity and rigidity is the virtue of firmness. The firm believer can build a steady worldview on solid timbers but still delight in new information. She can gracefully adjust the strength of her conviction to the strength of the evidence. Firmness is a quality of mental agility.

Fourth, there is humility, which is not letting your own desire for status get in the way of accuracy. The humble person fights against vanity and self-importance. He’s not writing those sentences people write to make themselves seem smart; he’s not thinking of himself much at all. The humble researcher doesn’t become arrogant toward his subject, assuming he has mastered it. Such a person is open to learning from anyone at any stage in life.

Fifth, there is autonomy. You don’t want to be a person who slavishly adopts whatever opinion your teacher or some author gives you. On the other hand, you don’t want to reject all guidance from people who know what they are talking about. Autonomy is the median of knowing when to bow to authority and when not to, when to follow a role model and when not to, when to adhere to tradition and when not to.

Finally, there is generosity. This virtue starts with the willingness to share knowledge and give others credit. But it also means hearing others as they would like to be heard, looking for what each person has to teach and not looking to triumphantly pounce upon their errors.

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How To Get Over Your Self-Doubt

By Leo Babauta, Fast Company, Aug. 28, 2014

There was a long time when the lack of belief in myself was a major factor in my life.

I didn’t pursue an ideal career, or start my own business, because I didn’t think I could. I didn’t stick to habits because I didn’t really believe I had the discipline. I was shy with girls, I had a hard time making new friends, I didn’t assert myself in the workplace. I didn’t push past my comfort zone.

All because I didn’t really believe I could.

While I’m not free of self-doubt these days, I can honestly say I believe in myself like never before. That doesn’t mean I think I’ll never fail or quit: I will. Probably often.

And that’s okay.

The trick is that I learned it’s completely fine to try and fail, to put yourself out there and not be perfect, to say hello to someone and have them not instantly love you, to create something and have people judge you.

Failure, not being perfect, mistakes, not having people agree with me, not being completely accepted: these are not negative things. They’re positive.

How is failure positive? It’s the only way we truly learn. For example: you can read a book on math, but until you try it and fail, you’ll never see where your lack of understanding is. The best way to learn something is to study it a bit, then try it, take practice tests, make mistakes, then learn some more.

How are mistakes positive? They’re little pieces of feedback necessary to grow and learn.

These things we’re afraid of—they’re actually desirable. We need to learn to see them that way, and embrace them, letting go of the fear.

When we can get better at this—which takes a lot of practice—we can start to remove the things that hold us back.

So practice:

Push past your discomfort, growing your discomfort method.

Put yourself out there, and be okay with not knowing if people will accept you.

Stick to a habit, not listening to the negative self-talk that normally holds you back.

Stick to it some more, and learn to trust yourself.

Go into situations not knowing, and learn to be okay with that.

Learn through repeated attempts that it’s okay to fail, that you can be okay in failure.

Learn through repeated experiments that you are stronger than you think, that you are more capable and more tolerant of discomfort than you think.

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Sacar mucho partido del tiempo

http://anchor.tfionline.com/es/post/sacar-mucho-partido-del-tiempo/
Recopilación para padres y educadores

Dedique máxima atención al tiempo que pasa con sus hijos. Es como si estuviéramos en un escenario, por así decirlo y —querámoslo o no— enseñamos al niño e influimos en él por medio de todo lo que decimos o hacemos. Por eso, en la relación entre padres e hijos no basta con que pasen tiempo juntos. Para que ese tiempo tenga sentido, es necesario que sea un tiempo bien aprovechado. Si queremos que nuestra labor de padres sea exitosa, será imprescindible pensar y planear detenidamente y con anticipación. […]

Pasar tiempo provechoso juntos es uno de los factores más importantes para cultivar una buena relación entre padres e hijos. El tiempo bien aprovechado juntos podría ser una celebración familiar bulliciosa, una noche tranquila en casa en la que escuche a [una] hija que practica su música, una noche en vela en la que cuide de su niño con fiebre, un día festivo que pasen juntos limpiando el garaje, o una hora de una conversación animada. Cualquiera que sea la actividad que se realice con el niño, el tiempo bien aprovechado que pasamos con él debe transmitirle estas ideas importantísimas: «Te quiero mucho», «Quiero estar contigo», «Me gusta estar contigo», «Lo paso bien contigo». […]

Al pasar ratos en familia con regularidad, todos los integrantes se benefician. […] Al empezar a programar actividades provechosas para realizar con sus hijos, es importante hacer con ellos cosas que tengan mucho sentido. Haga una lista de lo que más le gusta hacer a su familia. Que todos aporten sus ideas. A continuación clasifíquenlas todas por orden de importancia, de mayor a menor. Finalmente, programe las cosas que tengan mayor prioridad. Si programa únicamente las actividades más fáciles o las que requieren menos tiempo y esfuerzo, probablemente no podrá realizar las más importantes. Dra. Kay Kuzma[1]

*

Podemos enfrascarnos tanto en el ajetreo interminable, horarios frenéticos y en nuestra vida controlada por el tiempo que olvidamos que, en el caso de nuestros hijos, lo que en realidad vale más son las cosas pequeñas y sencillas que hacemos para que su hogar sea un lugar divertido, cómodo y feliz. Las siguientes preguntas los ayudarán a reflexionar en lo bien que les va con relación a lograr ese objetivo.

1. ¿Qué diría tu hijo que es la mejor parte de vivir en tu hogar? ¿Cuáles son las mejores tradiciones —algo que hacen juntos—, que son tan divertidas que tu hija querría hacerlas con su hijo? En resumidas cuentas, ¿qué recuerdos creas para tus hijos en tu vida cotidiana?

2. A tu juicio, ¿qué dirían tus hijos que es lo que desearían cambiar en tu familia? ¿Puedes hacer ese cambio? ¿Qué te detiene?

3. ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que tu familia se reunió y ustedes pasaron un rato divertido? ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que recuerdas que tu familia [todos juntos] pasó un rato de relajamiento?

4. ¿Puedes mencionar una tradición sencilla o rutina familiar que quieres hacer para divertirte con tu familia? Escríbela. Luego, prepárate para hacerla con tu familia.

Supongamos que a tus hijos les preguntan qué es lo que de verdad desearían cambiar de tu familia. Esa misma pregunta se hizo a ochenta y cuatro mil alumnos del sexto al duodécimo grado que respondieron a la encuesta de USA Weekend. ¿Qué crees que contestó la mayoría de los chicos? (Lo más probable es que sea lo mismo que dirían tus hijos, así que piénsalo bien.)

Resulta que dos tercios de los chicos que respondieron la encuesta dijeron que deseaban pasar más tiempo con sus padres. En realidad, más de dos de cada cinco chicos expresaron que les parece que en el tiempo que pasan con su madre se hacen las cosas con prisa. Los chicos dijeron que querían no solo más tiempo, sino más tiempo relajado. El tiempo que un chico diría que es divertido. Sin otras expectativas. Sin estrés. Sin un ritmo frenético. Solo relajarse y divertirse. Ese es el tiempo que hace que la familia esté unida. Además, ese tiempo relajado, despreocupado, es lo que anhelan y necesitan nuestros hijos. Michele Borba[2]

*

«Les aseguro que todo lo que hicieron por uno de Mis hermanos, aun por el más pequeño, lo hicieron por Mí». Mateo 25:40[3]

*

Un día no muy distante tus hijos ya serán mayores y se marcharán. Entonces agradecerás haberles dado lo que necesitaban de pequeños. […] Por eso, la próxima vez que te encuentres a media noche velando a un niño enfermo, sonriendo pese a las ganas de llorar, cantando para no perder la paciencia, limpiando naricitas mientras sueñas con el día en que harás grandes obras para Dios, no olvides que ya las estás haciendo. No lamentaremos una sola oración, una sola canción, una sola palabra de amor. Cada gesto de amor tiene un efecto perdurable en ellos. Al cabo de años de haberlo hecho todo por fe, gozaremos de la bendición de verlos convertidos en hombres y mujeres hechos y derechos. Derek y Michelle Brooks[4]

*

Como se suele decir:

«Lo que hago hoy es importante porque
a cambio empeño un día de mi vida.
El día de mañana, este día se habría ido para siempre
dejando en su lugar algo por lo que lo cambié.
Quiero que sea ganancia, no pérdida; bien y no mal;
éxito, no fracaso; así jamás lamentaré
lo que me costó este día».

Y eso se les aplica por partida doble a ustedes, que tienen niños a su cuidado. En su caso, no se trata de apenas una hora o unas pocas, ni tampoco de un solo día de su vida: es también una hora o dos, o un día de la vida de ellos.

¿De qué les están llenando la mente, el corazón y la vida? No se trata solo de asegurarse de que aprenden las lecciones teóricas, sino del amor que les manifiestan, del ejemplo que les dan, de su trato, su actitud, su sonrisa y mucho más.

¿Qué sacarán sus niños de este día? ¿Contribuirá a sentar las bases de su vida? ¿Tendrán ustedes la seguridad de que aprovecharon bien este día de su vida viendo en qué resultó o cómo benefició a sus hijos? No siempre notarán la diferencia. Algunos días la notarán, pero otros les costará. En momentos así, fíjense en sus pequeñitos. Están invirtiendo la vida en ellos; invirtiendo tiempo, vida, amor y talentos a cambio de dividendos que perdurarán en la vida de ellos. Jesús, hablando en profecía

Publicado en Áncora en agosto de 2014. Traducción: Patricia Zapata N. y Antonia López.


[1] Prime-Time Parenting (Rawson, Wade Publishers, 1980).

[2] 12 Simple Secrets Real Moms Know (Jossey-Bass, 2006).

[3] NVI.

[4] ¿De dónde sacar fuerzas? (Aurora Production AG, 2004).

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Segurando a Minha Mão

http://anchor.tfionline.com/pt/post/segurando-minha-mao/
Nina Thomas

Se não seguro Sua mão não consigo andar;
As montanhas e os vales são grandes demais.
Foi de joelhos que aprendi a lutar,
Senhor, se não seguro Sua mão, não consigo andar.

As palavras desse velho hino tão conhecido vêm à mente enquanto assisto meu sobrinho aprender seus primeiros passos. Descobri que podemos tirar vários paralelos do relacionamento de alguém com Deus a partir do processo de uma criança aprender a ficar sobre seus dois pés. Por exemplo, apesar da criança conseguir se locomover sem problemas, muitas vezes se cansa e quer ser carregada pelos pais para aliviar o esforço ou desconforto. Outra coisa é que o aprendizado de cada criança é diferente. Algumas começam a andar antes de outras, algumas engatinham antes de andar e outras não. Mas, não importa como seja, o resultado final é o mesmo.

O paralelo mais fascinante para mim (em parte porque a princípio era um pouco irritante) foi o que observei em várias crianças ao longo dos anos, e esperei para ver se também ia acontecer com meu sobrinho Markus quando ele começou a andar. Não tive que esperar muito para descobrir.

Markus gostava muito de engatinhar, tanto que um de nossos amigos o apelidou de “Mr. Placas Tectônicas”. À medida que começamos a lhe ensinar a andar, ele demonstrou claramente que preferia engatinhar a andar, de modo que ficava a cargo de quem cuidava dele durante o dia (geralmente eu ou minha mãe) mantê-lo sobre os seus dois pés o máximo possível para encorajá-lo a criar o hábito de andar. Depois que ele aprendeu, as superfícies planas eram moleza para ele, mas ele sempre ficava de quatro quando tinha que subir ou descer as escadas. Com o passar do tempo, ele se acostumou a segurar na mão de quem cuidava dele para se apoiar ao subir e descer escadas.

Para uma criança que está aprendendo a andar, subir uma escada é geralmente mais fácil do que descer. Acho que uma das razões para isto talvez seja o medo de cair. Mais de uma vez tentei persuadir esse menininho a dar alguns passos sozinho, que o levariam aonde ele quisesse, mas sem sucesso. Ele ficava ali choramingando, com uma expressão confusa, sem querer se aventurar a dar aqueles passos sozinho. Ele então estendia os braços e olhava para mim rogando com aqueles olhinhos lindos para eu ajudá-lo, e é claro que eu não conseguia resistir correr em seu auxílio. Assim que ele agarrava firmemente os meus dedos, ocorria a transformação. Markus perdia qualquer medo ou hesitação e se jogava para o próximo nível, perdendo às vezes até os degraus.

Esta não foi a primeira vez que eu tinha sido “levada” a fazer aquilo. Nos meus anos como voluntária em centros missionários na AFI, já tinha passado por isto nas mãos gorduchinhas de pelo menos três outras criancinhas. Da primeira vez que tive esta experiência, eu era uma adolescente precoce, determinada a ensinar a criança a encarar seus medos. Eu me lembro de me sentir sem graça e indignada com a criança por ter me “enganado” e feito com que eu a “resgatasse prematuramente” da lição que tinha tentado lhe ensinar. Mas, com o tempo, eu me maravilhei com a maneira como o comportamento das crianças ilustra claramente um princípio de fé que eu esperava um dia dominar.

Quando a criança dá a mão a um adulto de confiança, ela perde imediatamente o medo e simplesmente pula para outro degrau ou outro nível. Por quê? Porque ela confia tanto na força e no amor do adulto que sabe que ele(a) vai levá-la com segurança até seu destino. Sinto que é assim que Deus gostaria que fossemos com Ele. É claro que há lições que Ele quer que aprendamos, e muitas vezes permiti situações para nos ajudar a crescer espiritualmente e fortalecer a nossa fé. Mas Ele está sempre à disposição para nos apoiar, e virá em nosso auxílio quando Lhe pedirmos. E nessas situações “estou-com-medo-de-cair” assustadoras, nas quais Ele nos pede para darmos um pulo de fé, Ele sempre nos carregará e ajudará a aterrissar em segurança.

Eu também consegui discernir um contraste bastante engraçado entre a minha reação e a perspectiva de Deus nisto. Apesar da minha atitude ser à princípio negativa, a de Deus parece bastante positiva. Ele instrui repetidas vezes, quase que implora, que Lhe peçamos ajuda, e nos ajuda tão liberalmente e de todo coração, porque Seu amor é simplesmente assim de grande e incondicional. Aos olhos de Deus, o maior sinal de crescimento é estarmos mais dependentes dEle e dependermos menos de nós mesmos.

Minha oração, portanto, é que eu me torne mais como uma criança nesse aspecto, demonstrando mais confiança no meu Pai celestial pedindo-Lhe ajuda a cada passo. Como muita gente da minha idade neste momento, eu me encontro em uma situação nova, procurando me estabelecer, e em transição para a próxima fase da vida, a que o Senhor está me guiando. Com tudo o que há para fazer e aprender, em alguns aspectos é como se eu estivesse aprendendo a andar novamente. Eu me vejo muitas vezes de joelhos, fazendo uma oração intencional, ou simplesmente porque perdi o equilíbrio. Mas, sempre que começa a parecer que é demais e que tudo está acontecendo ao mesmo tempo, lembro-me que Ele está sempre ao meu dispor. Tudo o que tenho que fazer é buscar os Seus braços que estão sempre estendidos, e sei que Ele não vai me deixar. Esta preciosa lição aprendida de joelhos, de que preciso da ajuda do Pai, é o que me reveste de poder para andar, pular, correr, e até voar rumo ao futuro.

Tradução Denise Oliveira. Revisão H.R.Flandoli.

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Wonderful Healer

Words from Jesus
http://anchor.tfionline.com/post/wonderful-healer/

Audio length: 9:59
Download Audio (9.1MB)

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars and calls them all by name.
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension!
The Lord supports the humble. The Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his unfailing love.
—Psalm 147:3–6, 111

*

Cease from your struggling and rest in My love. Rest assured that as you seek Me, you will find Me. Fear not, and don’t let condemnation stop you or make you feel that I don’t love you. I know the weaknesses and the frailties of your human frame, but I am making My path as easy and as light for you as I can in spite of these.

Like a father pities his child who tries hard to please him, I pity you as you reach for the doorknob, and I freely open the door of My own accord. I give you free entrance into My kingdom. Come and partake of the fruits of My Spirit. Freely I give of My Spirit, and you are free to enjoy the fruits of My Spirit forever.


Time in the desert

Be not weary, but have faith and trust in My love. Trust that your trials and battles, your times in the desert place when you must lie under the trees and dip your hand in the cool water to find strength, come from Me. You do not see them now as a blessing, but this time of quiet, of prayer, of solitude, of reflection will result in a depth of spirit.

You will find wisdom, compassion, and understanding. You will find your strength in Me. You will find the power that you need through your relationship with Me. You are thinking, "So many times I have been in this desert place. So many times I have partaken of this quiet and solitude. Why must I once again? Is it because I'm not learning my lessons? Is it because I am so hard of heart that I am not hearing His voice that His hand is upon me to chasten me and to break me again and again?"

This time is not a punishment or a chastisement. It is not because you are not hearing My voice or learning your lessons. I am blessing you and honoring you and privileging you with this special time with Me—time when we can commune with each other and get to know each other in a more intimate way.

I want you to have no other gods before Me—not your family, not your work, not your ministry. You will need this intimate relationship with Me to fulfill the plan that I have for you in the future when you will be called upon to be in tune with Me, to be prayerful, to be wise, to be kind and loving and sympathetic, and to be understanding of those who feel discouraged and hopeless.

Because you have spent this time in the desert place, you will be able to speak from a full heart. You will be able to speak from experience and testify of the blessings and benefits of placing your trust in Me and listening to My voice.


Heart surgery

Come to Me just as you are. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I am aware of the many little stones that mar the beauty of your heart. Trust Me to do what you are unable to do: remove the stony bits one by one. Do not expect this work in you to be painless. Heart surgery is serious, and it always involves pain. Many of the hard things you experienced were, unknown to you, My skillful operations on your heart. When you are going through tough times, look up to Me with a wry smile and thank Me for the renewal I am working within you. This act of faith does not instantly stop your suffering, but it does lend meaning to your pain.

Marvel at the wonder of being a new creation, grafted unto Me—the Messiah. You are forever set free from the condemning law of sin and death. You can rejoice in this glorious truth even while you are in the throes of suffering. Since I am the Creator of all that is, and you are made in My image, you have a wealth of creative power within you. Strive to look at your circumstances with a fresh perspective: eager to collaborate with Me as I create newness within you—and through you. Though I am Lord of the universe, I desire to work in partnership with you. As you say yes to this sacred adventure, you become more fully the one I designed you to be.2


Bringing your ship into harbor

I feel the pain and trauma that you have felt, both in body and spirit, when going through this difficult experience. I know the heartbreak, sorrow, and feeling of loss, the feeling of being incomplete. To overcome this depression, this moodiness, and to step off this emotional roller coaster, cling tightly to Me. Pray for greater faith, and believe My promise, that I will keep you in perfect peace. Keep your mind stayed on Me and allow yourself to believe in and accept My love and the love of those around you.

This breaking, this crushing, these deep emotions, this tumultuous experience is like the polishing of a rare and priceless gem. I allow some parts to be chipped away and seemingly lost, but in the process the true inner beauty is revealed—the beauty that sparkles and shimmers and shines. In this process, you have gained an inner depth, which is a priceless gem. Now the love inside your heart can flow forth more freely, for it is unobstructed.

The key to strength and victory is in your love for Me, your trust in Me, and your faith in Me and in others. It is important for you to look on all that you have, and not that which you do not have. It is essential that you believe in and accept the love that you receive from Me and from your loved ones. As you receive and believe, as you trust and rest in love and respond with love, you will find peace and healing of mind and spirit. Your ship that is now being tossed about on the high seas will enter into the calm harbor of My peace, rest, and joy.


I am with you

There is nothing hid from Me. I know your every thought, your every desire, and every secret prayer. Every time you look up to Me and you cry out to Me, I am near. I hear your prayers and My heart is moved with compassion. I never harden My heart. I never get tired of listening to you. I never turn away. I never sleep. I never have a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door. I am never distant. I am never too tired or too busy for you. I always hear and answer your prayer—sometimes in the way that you would desire, and sometimes in ways that you know not, or in ways that you cannot yet see. But I do hear and I do answer!

*

Since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.—Hebrews 4:14–163

Originally published in 1997, unless otherwise indicated. Adapted and republished August 2014. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso. Music by Daniel Sozzi.


1 NLT.

2 Sarah Young, Jesus Lives (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009).

3 NLT.

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Putin launches world's biggest gas pipeline network to China

http://rt.com/business/184176-russia-china-gas-siberian-power/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=aplication_chrome&utm_campaign=chrome



Reuters / Yuri Maltsev

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli have launched the construction of the first part of Gazprom’s Power of Siberia pipeline - which will deliver 4 trillion cubic meters of gas to China over 30 years.

“The new gas branch will significantly strengthen the economic cooperation with countries in the Asia-Pacific region and above all - our key partner China,” Putin said at the ceremony outside the city of Yakutsk - the capital of Russia's Republic of Yakutia on Monday.

Both President Putin and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli signed the freshly-welded pipeline in a time-honored Russian tradition. The 'Power of Siberia' was welded together by workers from Chayanda gas field, overseen by CEO Aleksey Miller.

"Gazprom is always a reliable supplier of gas to its customers - which also applies to the ‘Power of Siberia," Miller said.

The 3,968 km pipeline linking gas fields in eastern Siberia to China will be the world's largest fuel network in the world. Both Putin and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli have called the project the world’s largest construction project, as investment from both countries will be more than $70 billion.

“The gas pipeline ‘Power of Siberia’ will increase energy security and ensure Russia’s ability to fulfill export obligations,” Putin said in the opening remarks.

Read More: Russia and China seal historic $400bn gas deal

Starting in 2019, Power of Siberia will pump gas from Siberia to China’s populous northeast region as well as to Russia’s Far East. The Chinese side will start the construction of its part of the pipeline in the first half of 2015, the Vice Premier of China said.

Last year, China consumed about 170 billion cubic meters of natural gas and expects to consume 420 billion cubic meters per year by 2020. Europe still remains Russia’s largest energy market, buying more than 160 billion meters of Russian natural gas in 2013.




Gas resources exploration and gas transmission system formation in Eastern Russia (Source: Gazprom)

“Once we create a gas pipeline network here in the Far East and Siberia, we will be able to connect European pipeline system to the East. And this, in terms of export opportunities and expanding Russia’s ‘gasification’, is very beneficial. Depending on the situation in world markets, we can more effectively implement gas flows- either more to the West or to the East,” Putin told students at North-Eastern Federal University earlier on Monday.

Running from the Chayanda gas field in the Republic of Yakutia, the cost of construction is estimated at more than $20 billion (770 billion rubles), which includes other investment in the region of $7.5 billion (283 billion rubles). Russia’s largest steel pipeline manufacturer, TMK, will provide materials for the project.

The gas pipeline will become a common transit center for gas production centers in the Yakutia and Irkutsk regions.

The first stage of the project will be to transport gas from the Chayanda deposit in Yakutia and connect to the town of Blagoveshchensk on the Chinese border. The 968 km pipeline should be completed by 2018.

The Chayanda field, which will begin production in 2015, is estimated to have reserves of 1.2 trillion cubic meters in gas and 93 million tons of liquid hydrocarbons. Each year the field is expected to produce up to 25 billion cubic meters of gas and at least 1.5 million tons of oil.

Putin also said that China will be welcome to cooperate with work on oil fields inside the Russian Federation, including the Vankor oil and gas field in Krasnoyarsk region in Eastern Siberia. The area is estimated to hold reserves of 520 million metric tons of oil and 95 billion cubic meters of natural gas.

“We generally take a very careful approach to the approval of our foreign partners, but of course, for our Chinese friends there are no restrictions,” Putin said.

In May, Russia's state-run Gazprom signed a 30-year gas deal with China’s CNPC valued at $400 billion.

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