Roses Midst the Thorns

Though my path lead through the roses,

Where thorns may pierce me sore:

When stark anguish round me poses-

I can’t take one step more…

Then my Jesus comes beside me,

Midst shades of gath’ring night,

“My dear child, I walk beside thee,

Upon thy path shed light!

Though sharp thorns may hem thy pathway,

And trials bring great pain-

Though the storm clouds make a dark day,

Sufficient grace doth rain.

For the rainbow of My promise

Above thee, child, I raise,

And will span each darkened abyss,

As grace crowns all thy ways!

Look, My child, beyond the thorned trail

To roses fair and bright-

Look beyond the shades of dark vale,

To sunshine of My light!

For midst thorns, there’s blooming fragrance

Of beauty, grace and love;

Through the valley’s painful entrance,

My hand guides from above!

My dear child, I’ll not forsake thee,

Though thorns may pierce thy feet,

Thy eternal best your Lord sees-

His work in thee completes!”

Survivors and the Law

There is a common opinion among many believers that almost unerringly assists them in bypassing the law enforcement agency, even in the face of abuse and the destruction of lives. God has commanded us to love our enemies and do good to those who treat us wrongfully. This, I believe, is Scriptural and an example of divine love that can be done only through Jesus. However, it does not mean that God expects us to turn a blind eye to evil and ignore the suffering and abuse perpetrated against the innocent, allowing it to continue. The Bible clearly says this about law enforcement: But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Many survivors are deliberately brainwashed against police officers and anyone else in the professional world who may notify police of abusive actions. There may be threat of an innocent child suffering to greater degrees if a mother tells anyone in a helping position of the daily violence and terrifying abuses. But to continue to cover the tracks of the perpetrator is actually enabling him to go on to hurt others also. Furthermore, it speaks volumes to all those around. To the suffering victim, it says that it is all right to hurt people in this way because no one cares enough to stop it or tell. When the church protects, covers, or denies the abuse in their own number, it tells the world and the victim that if that is the kind of stuff their God condones and tries to hide, then I don’t want anything to do with such a God. It also, in essence, is saying that you are in agreement with the abusive destruction that is happening.

Just because an officer of the law steps in to protect, rescue, or stop the abuse does not indicate that God’s Word has been violated. If the survivor bears hatred for the perpetrator or seeks revenge and prosecution, then there is a violation. However, to put the reality and the facts into the hands of these God-ordained ministers to do with as they choose is not wrong. Nor is it wrong to be under their protection in a physical sense, though our ultimate protection is God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank You for setting up the law in this land and that You have commissioned them as You have. Help me never to use them to get revenge, but only to stop others from getting hurt. I leave it to You to use them to execute wrath on those who do evil. I claim You Lord as my Protection. Amen.

http://www.jesusneverwastespain.com/