States of Refuge: Mississippi

Mississippi is an exciting state to be with its one remaining killing center, and that one appearing unstable and small with cramped parking so near the street that patients cannot avoid hearing the pro-lifers’ pleas. The abortionist Bruce Norman flies in from his residence in Atlanta, Georgia to do the killings, and his job is currently in jeopardy due to new regulation that requires an abortionist to secure admitting privileges to a local hospital - which thus far he has been unable to do, praise the Lord!

Also, due to the faithfulness of the saints of Pro-Life Mississippi, I was surprised by the number of people who were already aware of how close their state is to becoming abortion-free.

On Thursday morning, I went with a group to Murrah High School. We set up signs along the drive leading to the school and stationed about 8 people at the bus stop with literature. For a short time, we were able to get it into the hands of nearly every student from several bus loads, but then the school staff strategically began unloading only one bus at a time. Two men guarded the bus door on either side, arms outstretched, barking to the students filing out, “Walk straight ahead! Don’t look at them! Don’t take anything from them!” When we tried to pass the literature through the open windows, the children were angrily ordered, “Close that window! Close all the windows! Don’t take anything!” It didn’t seem real to me. How could this be happening in America? In Mississippi? Did these meek-faced student robots really belong to the “land of the free and the home of the brave?” I pray that this outright tyranny of their prison of a school places in them a distrust for their leaders, so that they will seek out truth!

Later that day and the next, Tom Raddell’s impressive display grabbed attention at Jackson State University. We eventually had it re-located by the main entrance, where students were always coming and going, and there engaged people in some good conversations. It is such a privilege to become light to a dark place, and be the vessel through which the Lord opens minds to truth! My heart was full of the excitement that Mississippi could make history, that this holocaust could end, and that we could help make it happen! 

Here also I was struck by the contrast between the school and the university. The students at Jackson State had been freed from the captivity of the government schools, and hence their minds were open. It was definitely something to think about.

After a wonderful lunch provided by the saints in Jackson, I joined others at the abortion mill. Car after car pulled in at the appointed hour; a distraught girl with grandparents; a group of laughing, mocking girls; hard-hearted mothers and daddies with their daughters; young men with their girl-friends, etc. The parking lot was overflowing, and several had to park down the street. It was heart-breaking! The humble, faithful Christians lined the fence by the clinic door, with their pleas and remonstrances, but seemingly to no avail. They huddled in prayer for this lady and that one. They cried out to God for mercy for the precious unborn. And the security guard scolded and mocked.

We were not welcome the next morning at Jackson Prep, a predominantly upper class white school. Folks always think we should be somewhere else. Anywhere but where we are! Abortion to them is only an issue that dishonest politicians use to buy their vote. The parents I talked to were not happy with us. 

Our set up there was not as effective as we would have liked, and it was decided to return when school let out. At the appointed hour, we were ready with signs along the road in front of the school and literature on either side of the three entrances. Then did ever the cars come! The traffic light soon had them backed up a good ways, giving us ample opportunity to engage the passengers. Then when a wreck took place up ahead (a drunk driver with open containers rear-ended another car), it caused some serious delay for everyone! God is good! There were no injuries, the offender was caught, and it gave everyone plenty of time to hear our message.

However, most rejected us, averted their eyes, and ignored the cause of the most innocent, helpless ones among us. 

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:16-17).

Saturday dawned a beautiful day (made especially so because we got to sleep late!). We gathered at the death camp with loud speakers and instruments, and there Bro. Butch led us in prayer and prophecy and song. “It’s coming down!” he declared, and that line you can clearly hear in the media’s video report here. 

Later at the football stadium right down the road, we scattered in twos and threes to pass out literature. The closeness of the killing center made my conversations especially persuasive. “The abortion clinic, the last one in all of Mississippi, is RIGHT THERE!” I could almost point it out, it was so close. It was exciting, thrilling. Until you meet with the opposition, that is. One lady frigidly told me that her opinion on abortion was PERSONAL, and that NO, she didn’t want to hear my thoughts. Another I debated for a time, and left feeling foolish and upset. Other times I was humbled by my inability to answer as I ought. 

At the end of three days of such conversations, I was drained. How I pray the Lord will use our humble efforts to spread His truth! That He will remember that we are only dust, but such dust as is trying so earnestly to please Him!

The nightly rallies were times of refreshing, and Saturday evening’s especially so. The Lord God is working among His people!

My Teacher

Ofttimes, when I set out to write something, I'll ask myself questions like, "What will this sound like in 10 years? 100 years?" or "Would I want to be quoted on this?" Sometimes I wonder if I should take writing classes to learn to better express myself. Certainly that would have its benefits, but... I do not wish to write like everybody else!

Do you think David took instruction in song composition? Who could teach the most published song-writer of all time but the Author of music Himself? Who taught Noah to build the ark? Who taught Abraham his faith? Who taught the fearful Moses to face the mighty Pharaoh? Who taught him to lead millions of murmuring Israelites through the desert? Who taught Joshua to make war and conquer? Who taught Gideon? Or Samuel? Solomon?

"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children" (Isaiah 54:13).

"Thou through Thy commandments hast made me WISER than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more UNDERSTANDING than all my teachers: for Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand MORE than the ancients, because I keep Thy precepts."

Oh, praise the Lord my Teacher! May I sit at His feet every day.

Writing classes would profit nothing if my work boasts the foolishness of the world. I'd a lot rather be a fool for Jesus than an educated fool for the world.

The Church Militant

"Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

Contrary to popular interpretation, this is not a picture of hell on the offensive, attacking the church. This is a picture of hell gated shut, and the church storming upon it and rescuing its victims. ("And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.") The church of Jesus Christ has been called to storm the gates of hell! And He has promised that hell shall not prevail! 

Historically, the saints on earth were called, "the church militant," and those in heaven, "the church triumphant." War is our calling. Victory is our promise. 

The Christian life is not one of comfort and ease. Ministry means being in the trenches, as Paul says, "In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings" (II Corinthians 6:4-5).

Once you get a taste of this battle, there is no going back. When there is a war to be fought, when our most precious freedoms are at stake, when there are lives being sucked into eternal destruction, Christians cannot be content to lead comfortable lives.

I Can Only Imagine

I’m overwhelming my humble thinking powers by comparing this world to our heavenly one. The earth is so vastly large beyond my finite comprehension! Its circumference at the equator is a monstrous 24,901.55 miles, but this girl has never been more than 1,200 miles away from my place of birth. 

Then, what of its composition? There are the ranges of peaks, some capped in snow, others thickly forested, some lush and green, others brown and rocky; the rivers, mighty and muddy like the ole Mississip, or picturesque and peaceful, with rocky bottoms, clear as class. There are the vast oceans, the brown plains, the hills, the jungles, the deserts, the Antarctic icebergs… Oh, so much to see!

Tell me, O wise one, what will heaven be like? Will its beauties be beyond even our immortal understandings? Will its size be comparable to the heavens for expanse? Will eternity be long enough to measure its wonders? 

I can only imagine...=)

Thank God for Spring!

I’m always amazed to witness the dullness of winter resurrect into the fullness of Spring! The many hues of green suddenly emerge; the azaleas burst alive with color; the fields sparkle with wildflowers; out come the spring dresses; here and there run the barefoot children; we become surrounded by freckles, sun-tans, and sunburns; the smell of honeysuckle and orange blossoms; the beds of lush clover; the freshly-tilled soil between dusty fingers; the tidy lawns; the fragrance of newly-cut grass; the brilliance of the sunshine; the resulting dark shadows; the lengthening evenings; the cool night breezes under a big full moon… Thank God for Spring! :)

“For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land” (Song of Solomon 2:11-12).

Friends Forever

The most stunning home of your dreams, with everything perfectly adapted to your own personal taste, complete with all that most pleases the eye, ear, nose, taste, and touch, could never replace a faithful friendship. Would not life be utterly void of meaning if spent in solitude? Would not the hours seem long, empty, and silent if spent alone? Things make such dull companions! So hard and heartless! 

But true friends - how incomparably precious are they! They comfort us, encourage us, inspire us, smile, laugh, and hug! And while everything else is biting the dust, our true friends will be following us into eternity, where we will ever be with our Lord! Thank God for FRIENDS! =)