But It Was Thou

I've noticed that when I get back from GAP, I stay in "GAP mode," for a long while after.

What this means is that if I see a pinecone, I imagine a pro-choice university student comparing a pre-born child to a pinecone, saying that it isn't a tree just because it came from the tree. My next thought is to agree that a pinecone isn't a tree, and show them why their comparison doesn't work.

This also means that in the McDonalds drive-thru, I stop myself before saying, "Hi there, what do you think about abortion?" to a customer who pulls up to the speaker.

This also means that when I read the bible and look for new angles to see it from, I may read a psalm from the perspective of a pre-born baby.

Before I get into it, I'd like to clarify that I understand that this is completely out of context. However, have you ever read a psalm in a time when you felt distressed, and took those words to heart? That is the way I'm looking at it, only not from my perspective, but hers.

If you would like to experience what almost made me cry, I encourage you to read Psalm 55. I'll cover some of it here, but there's too much to write out the whole chapter.

First, the plea of the baby soon to be killed.

Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; (Psalms 55:2)

A noise which only God can hear, and tragically, if we could, I think most people would choose not to.

Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. (Psalms 55:3)

Coming from many pro-choice advocates, babies in the womb sound like villains. They are portrayed like evil parasites that will destroy the lives of their mothers, and MUST be dealt with.

(I am not, in any way, trying to trivialize what a woman goes through with an unplanned pregnancy. I agree that in many cases, it is VERY difficult for her, but in no case will her child ruin her life. Trying to raise a child in difficult circumstances will make her life very difficult, but it is her circumstances that are the problem, not her baby.)

Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. (Psalms 55:5, 6)

What kind of society are we, that if a child could fly away from her mother's womb, she would be safer than if she stayed?

Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. (Psalms 55:10)

Abortion happens all the time. It excuses mischief, but it also never comes without sorrow.

For every woman that is "relieved" of the burden of her baby, a life is lost, and many women carry guilt and regret for the rest of their lives.

Of any part of this chapter though, this is what broke me the most.

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. (Psalms 55:12-14)

Read that two more times. First from the perspective of the baby, and second, from the perspective of the mother.

The child says, "If it was an enemy that threatened me, I could have hidden inside my mother. But it was you, who I should have been able to trust, and I had nowhere to hide."

But women so often are not given an option. Their parents or their boyfriend or their friends convince them it's the right thing to do. Sometimes harshly, but I think a lot of the time, they do it because they truly think it's best for them. And because they understand the intention, they go through with the action, and end up carrying enormous guilt that those people who persuaded them will NEVER understand.

The mother says, "If it was my enemy who told me to kill my baby, I could have stood against him. But it was you, my close friend, who told me it was best for me."

Reading that touched me so deeply.

He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. (Psalms 55:18)

Many. There were many. There are many. 300 children a day, 3,000 in America.

He says battle, and it is like one. It's bloody, it's dangerous, it's killing. But in this battle, one side is bigger, stronger, and has all the weapons.

He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. (Psalms 55:20, 21)

"The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart."

Soft, nice sounding words like "Choice, planning, healthcare," are used to describe the slaughter of innocent children.

But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee. (Psalms 55:23)

In the end, I pray that abortionists will be converted. That they will learn what it is to know Christ, but if they don't, God has promised to bring about justice. And He is a righteous Judge.

I just want to finish with a question. If an innocent child asked you to save her life, would you do it?

How about the child who can't ask?

If you are interested in saving babies, check out this link - https://www.endthekilling.ca/summer-internship

After reading that, if you still want to do something, but can't make it for one reason or another, you can contact me either on Facebook or at keturahthomson12@gmail.com, and I'll talk to you about another way you can get involved.

A Man Who Saved His Daughter

I stood next to a large sign portraying an aborted baby this week, and asked a young lady, "What do you think about abortion?"

She stared at the sign for a moment in silence before she met my eyes and said, "I was supposed to be aborted."

Her story, she told me, was that the doctor had told her parents she was going to be born blind, deaf, and unable to walk. She stood before me the picture of health.

She had a brother with athsma and other health conditions, but no doctor told her parents to abort him.

"He had actual health problems, but he wasn't supposed to be aborted and I was."

The ONLY reason she was alive to tell me this was because her father stood in the way, and would not let his wife go through with the abortion.

Her mother later left the three of them, she was only 14 months old when she did, and her father raised them.

What a man. When I think about her story, I can't help but think of what a hero her father was, and how few men there are today willing to do what he did.

The amount of guys I talked to on university campuses and had to explain that they DO have a right to speak up for the children who are being killed, and they don't have to stand by and watch injustice happen in the name of "Women's Rights," is astounding.

One young man I talked to told me that after our conversation, it would be hard to stay pro-life, because once he was back to school and the internet, he would again be bombarded by everyone's pro-choice worldview. 

We started to talk about things he would face. "They'll bring up lots of hard circumstances to justify abortion, they may tell you you don't have a say because you're a man..."

He interrupted me, "They would say that??"

"Yup."

"That's ridiculous!"

He then proceeded to explain to ME why that wasn't a valid argument, and I heartily agreed with him.

Men, don't listen to those who would tell you to back down. You DO have a say. As a man, you have a right, and a responsibility to stand up for the weak and vulnerable, and that includes women and children.

I'm inspired when I work with men doing pro-life activism, and when I hear stories of men like this girl's father, who stood up for his children in the worst of circumstances.

I hope that if there are any guys reading this post, that you can be inspired too, and encouraged to live up to the standards set by courageous men who were not afraid to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:8, 9)

Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.” (II Samuel 10:12 NKJV)

Listen! There are Pleas that No One Hears

Years ago, I was in a really bad way. I was struggling with issues that I kept to myself, no one knew. If anyone suspected, they certainly never let on. 

There were a couple times when I felt so overwhelmed and burdened by these struggles, that I almost told someone.

One day I was wrestling with it in my mind and feeling overpowered, I suddenly whispered, "Bethany." (the person wasn't named Bethany, but I'm using that instead of her name) She was busy, she just said, "Hmm?" Without looking at me.

I couldn't tell her! I was shaking with fear, I needed her to understand that I was in trouble, and ask me about it. I desperately wanted her to SEE that I needed to be pried into. But she didn't. In my last attempt at courage, I said her name again, but she looked over sort of exasperatedly, and said, "What?"

"Never mind."

I have learned that in the sea of people who may or may not claim to be fine, there are many with stories that they need to tell, but can't, because no one will listen.

I realized this from my own experience, (as I mentioned) and from a few other things. One of them was working at McDonalds, believe it or not.

Countless people walk up to the counter, or pull up to the drive-thru speaker, and say, "Hi, how are you? I would like..."

"How are you?" Is a meaningless question. Most of us don't even try to answer, because we know our answer won't be heard. EVERYONE says they are good, well, fine, and EVERYONE knows that most of the time it isn't true, but who cares enough to find out the truth?

Who cares enough to find out what I really mean when I say I'm fine?

I know I can't be this for everyone. It's a little hard to have a heart-to-heart in the drive-thru, but I do want to be someone who will learn to recognize the silent pleas in people's words.

In a few short days, I'll be heading off to Florida for the Genocide Awareness Project, (GAP) a week of pro-life activism on university campuses.

Last year I talked with a girl named "Dee." Her name was actually a beautiful name (I think African) which I can pronounce, but I don't dare spell.

She and I talked extensively on the issue, and through science and logic, had to come to agreement time after time throughout our conversation. But no matter how much we agreed on, she COULD not say that in the case of rape, abortion shouldn't be allowed.

Near the end of the conversation, I tried to put into action some training we receive when we do GAP, about listening to people and finding out where they are coming from.

Because I couldn't agree with her intellectually, I decided to find out what was going on with her emotionally. I started by affirming her.

"I'm glad you can sympathize so much with people who go through that, (rape) we need more people with hearts like yours." I told her.

"Yeah. I just feel so bad for them, y'know?" She met my eyes and I'm sure I saw tears glistening in hers.

I was speechless. I knew I had been right, that there was something more there, but I lost all ability to communicate beyond that point. What could I say? What could I ask?

I just looked at her for a few more minutes before she told me she needed to get to class. She hugged me and thanked me for talking with her.

I felt like on the one hand, I had made a friend. On the other hand, I had lost an opportunity. I have, SO many times, had that scene replay in my mind. I can still see the tears that I think were in her eyes as she told me, "I just feel so bad for them, y'know?"

No, I don't know, Dee. What was it you wanted me to know? I'm sorry I was never able to find out.

Part of what I am looking forward to this year at GAP, is hopefully another chance. Another chance to hear what people are saying, and understand something different, because I was willing to listen.

But I think this must mostly be up to God. Though I don't think I made the most of that situation, what I did do, I didn't do on my own, and what more I could have done, I couldn't have done on my own either.

I need my Father, who hears EVERY silent plea, to help me hear and know how to respond.

If you would pray for my trip, pray for these things.

1. That lives would be saved.

2. That lives would be changed.

3. That I would be able to listen, and have the wisdom to know how to respond.

Sold Out of What? Fudge?

I'm sure you've heard people talk about being "Sold out for the Lord, "or similar things like that.

What does it mean to be sold out? It makes me think of God, our self proclaimed "Redeemer." The One who bought us.

To be owned by God is to have every aspect of one's life surrendered, to be sold to Him is to willingly allow Him control of one's entire being.

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. (I Corinthians 7:23)

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

It's pretty crazy to think about, so I understand where the almost Christian catch-phrase: "Sold out" came from.

But like most catch phrases, they lose their meaning over time. People hear them and think, "I know what that means," and those same people use them in correct context without really thinking about what they mean.

I'll raise my hand when you ask, "What people?" I'm not just blaming everyone else.

I may have expressed some frustration about this this morning to my sister, who promptly asked, "Sold out of what? Fudge?"

(our family owns a chocolate company, that's where that joke came from.

http://sweetsomethingschocolate.com/ in case you want to check it out. ;) )

We both laughed about it, but then I got thinking. That's actually a good question.

For everyone who uses the term, "Sold out," allow me to ask.

Sold out of what?

The idea behind the phrase, as I mentioned earlier, is that we sell ourselves. But let's talk about this. What else have we sold?

What have we lost because we traded it for something else?

I want to be sold out of anxiety. I don't want to worry anymore.

I want to be sold out of shame. I don't want to see myself anymore the way I do sometimes, I want to trade that for contentment in my identity in Christ.

I want to be sold out of sin. How good it would be to have instead the riches of God's presence!

But what have I really wanted, based on my actions? Have I sold things that now I wish I hadn't?

Have I sold my innocence?

Have I sold my holiness?

Have I sold my disgust for the things that God hates?

Have I sold my ability to stand before Him with no barriers between us?

I don't like these thoughts. They make me sad. For everything sold something was paid, and what have I gained for the precious things I've lost?

But sometimes it's worth it to be uncomfortable.

The good news is, I know the best Businessman in the world. At buying things back, He has shown Himself more than capable.

I think He buys us with the intent to teach us to buy back what we have lost as well, He wants us to regain the precious things we've sold in our ignorance, but there is always a cost.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

Sometimes the cost is sin, sometimes it's comfort, and sometimes it's much more. Maybe our home, our job, our lives.

Life is like a market. Everyone buys and everyone sells, you must decide what is worth keeping and what is better off exchanged for something else.

For some things, we need to realize, no price is too high.

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21)

What is Truth?

My church's Young Adults Group has just started doing the Truth Project.

I'm not going to talk about the series, as we are only one video in, but I want to talk about something that was brought up last week, which has been on my heart for a while.

What has happened to simplicity?

I know that God is vast and beyond our comprehension. He is intelligent and creative and thus, there are endless opportunities for the mind to explore in His creation, and even just in His character.

I love this. I am the kind of person who likes mysteries and enjoys puzzles. I have grown up listening to my dad talk theology, and learning how to debate.

But one thing that my mother has modeled for me over the years is how simple faith really is.

Looking at her and the family she grew up in sometimes makes me wish for a simpler faith. One that prays for income, works, and thanks God for the increase. 

Again, I love the complex side of God, but I have started to think that just maybe, in our day and age, we have overcomplicated things.

The reason I bring this up is because our pastor's wife asked at the meeting last week, "What is truth?"

The question was to get us to think, and that it did, but I confess my first thought and feeling was to be very frustrated that we must ask that question at all.

The theory of relativism, of "Your truth, my truth, his truth," is an idea that is very widely accepted in the secular world.

I did GAP last year, (the Genocide Awareness Project, a week of pro life activism) and talked to a TON of university students who held this worldview.

What concerned me the most was when some of them identified themselves as Christians.

I can understand unbelievers holding that. The argument doesn't hold up well, but I understand why they can think that.

Christians CANNOT.

Here we go again, overcomplicating things. As a Christian, you must believe what the bible says. What does the bible say about truth?

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. (II Corinthians 13:8)

God's word is truth. What He has said, what He has made, what He has put into order. That's not up for debate. We can't even do anything against truth, because if we do something, it becomes a part of what God has already set in place. You tripped? You laughed? That's true. Nothing you say or do will ever change that truth.

Truth is simple. We do ourselves a disservice if we make it anything but.

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

Where is the freedom in relative truth? You can never know, you can never be sure. The very ground you stand on may dissolve beneath you because you can't trust the truth that it will last.

Truth is a gift, and we get to have it.

Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you? (Proverbs 22:20, 21)

If there was no truth, you could never learn it, it would be like a bird constantly flying just out of your reach.

Truth is lasting. Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life." What does this even mean if the truth is negotiable?

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. (Psalms 100:5)

To answer the question....truth is what we thought it was before we started talking about relativity.

These days, I think a five year old child would be better at answering that question than a 25 year old.

We urge children to "tell the truth," yet that can be argued in university.

Why do we argue? Why did we lose the simplicity in the first place? I think because we know if we must conform to the truth, we must change the way we are.

We have turned "every one to his own way." We are not creatures of truth, we sin, and we know that if we face the One who knows the truth, He will see the lies we have told others and ourselves to justify the breaking of His law.

But somehow, God intended to keep us WITHOUT ignoring the truth about us.

This verse expresses it beautifully.

Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation. I will hear what God the Lord will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. (Psalms 85:7-10)

Accidentally Ignoring Jesus

Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:24)

I came across this verse a couple days ago, I really love it.

I had just gotten off of work, and I was sitting in the McDonalds lobby, just reading my bible and sipping my coffee.

After reading a few chapters, I started to notice a few conversations going on around me. Some of it was inspiring, actually, while some of it just made me despair for our generation.

As I listened, I really noticed the contrast of the people in that restaurant.

There I was, a young lady with strong beliefs, sitting, listening. Around me, people talked about success and business, their crushes or lack thereof, and some people just read the newspaper, unaware of the world around them.

I was keenly aware of the other presence in the room, which I'm sure most didn't realize. My Lord who, like me, listened.

That was when I was inspired to find a verse like Jeremiah 23:24, which evidently I did, and that inspiration made me want to blog.

I began to write, when suddenly it dawned on me how silly it was that I was writing about God being WITH us, and I wasn't talking to Him. I wrote that I was possibly the only one in the lobby who had a real relationship with Him, the only one who realized He was there, and what was I doing? Writing.

I apologized, and quickly put away my iPod. The rest of my time waiting for my sister was spent talking with God and enjoying His presence.

I think I need constant reminders that that is so much better in fact than in theory. It was lovely.

So I guess I'll just end by saying, don't just read this and agree with me. Don't just say "Praise the Lord," or write something down when you have an insight. Talk to Jesus! He is always wanting to talk to you.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Revelation 3:20)

Cunningly Devised Fables

With lots of time and little to do, I tend to roam the internet for some fairytale or other, and Tuesday's gem was a whole boatload of Norse myths.

They kept me entertained for about an hour before I stumbled upon one that seemed strangely familiar.

The story was how Odin, in his search for wisdom, sacrificed himself in order to prove himself worthy of the runes.

The Runes were supposed to essentially be these ancient magical scripts which would make one wise. (that's a very rough description. If you're offended because you know all about Norse myths, forgive me)

Anyway, in order to prove himself worthy, he hung himself on a tree and stabbed himself with a spear. There he hung, teetering on the brink of death for nine days and nine nights, until at last the Runes revealed themselves to him.

I couldn't help but think of someone else who was pierced by a spear and hung on a tree.

After seeing that initial parallel, I wondered where this legend came from. Was it indeed just a story that a father once told his son, or did it actually come from somewhere else? An older story, or an actual event in history. So I did a little research.

Odin was called "the most powerful and wisest god," "the Allfather of the Norse gods and the ruler of Asgard."

There are obviously a million differences between Odin and God, (Odin was married to the goddess Frigg, had one eye, and had wolves and ravens that brought him information, to name a few) so I'm not trying to say they are the same or anything. But I do want to look at the parallels between the story of Christ's crucifixion and this story which may or may not have originated there, you can draw your own conclusions.

Some tellings of this particular story say that Odin actually died, and was revived when the Runes appeared, but in either case, he was very near death.

As he saw the Runes coming, it says he screamed.

.....And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. (Matthew 27:50)

Just sayin.'

After this sacrifice, he allegedly wrote a poem about it, which was added to a huge collection of Norse legends and poetry, called the Poetic Edda.

This is a direct quote from the Poetic Edda:

 I ween that I hung on the windy tree,
Hung there for nights full nine;
With the spear I was wounded, and offered I was
To Othin, (Odin) myself to myself,
On the tree that none may ever know
What root beneath it runs.

I LOVE to look really far into things, which may or may not have significance, so I was quite delighted to find that Odin hung on the tree, "teetering on the precipice that separates the living from the dead," (quote from Norse Mythology for Smart People: norse-mythology.org) for 3 x 3 days.

An offering of "myself to myself."

The way human sacrifices were made to Odin was exactly this way. The person was hung on a tree and stabbed with a spear, so by doing that to himself, it was like a sacrifice to himself.

Much like God sacrificed Jesus, (who was God) as a sacrifice on behalf of us, to Himself.

An offering of Himself to Himself.

"On the tree that none may ever know what root beneath it runs."

None may ever know, and none will, because He was the only one who could pay that price.

None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him— For the redemption of their souls is costly, And it shall cease forever— That he should continue to live eternally, And not see the Pit. (Psalms 49:7-9)

The tree that Odin hung on was called Yggdrasil. The most common translation is "Tree of Ash," but literally translated, it means "The Ash Tree of the Horse of Yggr."

Yggr means "The Terrible One." (Yggr was also commonly used as another name for Odin, even to the point where Yggdrasil would be translated, "Odin's Horse."

Terrible doesn't necessarily mean bad. Especially in old English, it meant great, mighty, awesome.

So "Ash" and "The Terrible One," made sense to me, but the horse was confusing.

My first thoughts were to the horses in Revelation, but then I looked up more verses with horses, and had another thought.

(again, I may be looking too far, but hey, it was fun.)

And Miriam answered them: "Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!" (Exodus 15:21)

I have always seen a parallel between the exodus from Egypt and our freedom from sin.

The Israelites were in captivity in Egypt, (we were in captivity in sin) God led them away and into the Promised Land. (God led us away and gave us salvation)

The place in the middle is what I want to talk about here, where God threw horse and rider into the sea.

The Red Sea, you can see as the way by which God brought them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Jesus' death was the way by which He brought us out of sin and into salvation.

So what, or who, is the horse, being thrown into the sea?

Jesus.

The Egyptians were the enemies of God's people, and it was by their sin that they and the horses they rode were sentenced to death.

The horses suffered death because of the people they carried on their backs, not because of anything they had done.

Jesus suffered death because of the sin that He carried on His back, not because of anything He had done.

So the tree, Yggdrasil.

The Ash Tree of the Horse of the Terrible One.

The Ash Tree of the Horse of God.

The Ash Tree of the Sacrifice of God.

The Death Tree of the Son of God.

As much fun as it is to explore myths and legends though, it's important to remember which copied which.

Because "We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty." (II Peter 1:16)