Taking Refuge

Britain chose their new leader and reigning party a few months ago, a choice which leaves much to be desired. What was presented to the people from the other parties was not any better. The Conservatives/Republicans are now in power for another five years. This party has made a lot of changes that has impacted the lives of so many people, with the rich upper/upper middle class benefiting. I am all for ensuring that help is given where there is a genuine need, but when those in need are rigorously scrutinized and then rejected and you then see others who flagrantly abuse the benefit system, and boast openly about it, you have to stop and think. There are so many stories and documentaries on TV about them on a regular basis.

Since the formation of The European Union, Britain has become a target for health care and welfare tourists. Some of them leave their less comfortable European countries which have stricter or stringent laws and come over to Britain, milking it dry. Others come in search of a better life, not knowing that it’s not as easy as they think and that what is seen on TV is not a genuine portrayal of Britain’s economic status.

Over the last few weeks, all I have been seeing are thousands of people dying to get to Europe, especially Britain, to get what they can, risking life and limb. The elected leaders’ solution, is to divide the people and distribute them on a quota basis. Is that going to solve anything? Definitely not! First of all, most have them have already made up their minds as to where they want to go and it does not really matter where they are placed, they will eventually make their way to their country of choice. Clearly, if their home countries were more settled, less corruption, job availability with decent wages, peace, better living conditions, I would like to think that they would not be risking all to get to countries like Europe, USA, and Australia etc.

How about not encouraging and not supporting these corrupt leaders, most of whom have multi-million dollar homes worldwide, off shore and Swiss accounts? How about not selling arms to these countries in covert deals? How about not restricting and inflating the cost of medicines and food to these countries? Better yet, how about donating some of the tons of food sitting in these enormous food storage places on a regular basis, instead of waiting for the moment when these disadvantaged people are literally dying before helping?

Yes, I know that there is about maybe between 1-5 % of aid given to struggling countries (which end up being misappropriated by the corrupt leaders anyway), and that there are genuine philanthropists and saints doing their best, and I also know that a greater percentage of people out there are not genuine and have ulterior motives.

To cut a long story short, the world’s issues arises because of chosen leaders. This takes me back to when the Children of Israel demanded from God’s prophets that they wanted to choose their own leaders in 1^st Samuel 8, God allowed them and they went through years of unscrupulous leadership. Sometimes the popular choices are not the best solution. The world don’t need a quick or short term fix. Already in the USA, the race for the White house has started. Potential candidates for both parties are already slinging mud and taking pot shots at each other. Gone are the days when people acted on God’s directives. The campaign slogans as always are primarily immigration and the welfare system, with third being world terrorism.

The focus is not really about the plight of the people which is heart breaking. One group of people that I started hearing about (I was so clueless), are the Rohingya people. They are primarily referred to as Muslims and are from Rakhine state in Burma. They are constantly attempting mass migration throughout South East Asia, and their situation has resulted in a refugee crisis. According to Amnesty international, they are the most persecuted and unwanted group of people in the world. No one wants them, they are being thrown out of Burma, Pakistan, and Thailand and recently hundreds were put in boats, rowed out to sea and literally left to die.

Australia deals with their own migrants and refugees in their own way, setting up remote island detention centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea and have even gone as far as paying the people smugglers up to $30.000 to take their human cargoes back to Indonesia (NY Times 6/22/2015). Their own group of migrants tend to come from the Asia Pacific countries.

America deals with migrants from all over the world, but their main groups are from Mexico and the South American countries. They also have stringent immigration laws and border protection and controls.

No matter where you are, immigration and refugees will be hot issues. There are so many radical groups and terrorists groups all over the world and that has left a lot of people displaced. I don’t have a solution, but I believe that the word of God says to love our neighbours as ourselves. We have to be empathic and altruistic when dealing with the lives of people. We need to think rationally and take what we hear with a pinch of salt.

when we look over the years, even as early as the biblical days, the children of Israel migrated from one place to the other, until they reached Canaan which was the land promised to them by God.They faced tests and trials, which they overcame. God said that if a stranger is going to contribute to the land, that the inhabitants should provide for them, look at The book of Ruth.These days though, there is so much fear and doubt. Almost everyone look at strangers very critically. The media and terrorist groups don't help either.

A lot of people put their trust in man instead of God. Big mistake, as our trust and focus should be on God, an i am sure that God will give us the strength to overcome. He will make it plain. Love our neighbours as ourselves and maybe the world would start to heal and get better.

GOD's Gifts

I have not been able to write for a while, mainly because my computer broke down completely, and secondly, I had a few health issues to address. So in starting again, I would like to write about gifts. For me, the most valuable gifts come from GOD. First and foremost the most precious gift of all is our Lord and saviour JESUS CHRIST, GOD’s one and only son that he gave to us. He also gave us the gift of The Holy Spirit, the gifts of his Grace, Love and Mercy. He also gave us the gift and privilege of life. Our children are precious gifts from GOD. That's just naming a few of GOD’s countless gifts that are priceless and cannot be bought. These are unconditional gifts. I am eternally thankful and grateful to GOD for all these precious and gracious gifts.

We also receive gifts from our loved ones, and even though they have been bought with money, they are priceless and have a lot of impact on our lives when they come unexpectedly. Over the last year, everything seemed to be breaking down, of course, after so many years of constant use that is bound to happen. In January, GOD made it possible for us to have a new kitchen, the only thing was that we still had the old broken down equipment in it, and we were not financially able to replace them. Then a couple of months ago, our computer broke down.

What do you do when you are not in a position to do anything? You pray and let GOD take over. You trust and believe GOD and then wait for him to move on your behalf. And we did just that. Two weeks ago, out of the blue, we were blessed with a fridge and a computer. Then last week, we were blessed with a washing machine (we have been without one for over a year). We were overwhelmed! Look at how GOD will bless someone, so that they can bless you!

But the biggest surprise came this week. I don’t believe that the few people that I know, ever knew that I have not had a cell phone for over eight or more years, not because I did not want one, but because I could not afford one. I remember going to the Radio Shack store at the Cherry Hill mall and looking at the phones, especially the Blackberry phones and really wanting one. Over the years, I kept on waiting for when I could afford one, but I also knew deep down that the appointed time would come when I would have my own cell phone. Even when I had to complete forms that had fields for cell numbers, I used my daughter’s cell number and kept on waiting. What else could I have done? There were more pressing issues that took top priority.

To cut a long story short, it is going to be my birthday in a couple of weeks’ time. I was kind of feeling out of sort last Monday afternoon, so I told Maggie that I was going to have a rest. Going into the bedroom, my daughter was sitting on the bed, waiting for me with a gift bag beside her, which she handed to me, saying that it was my early birthday present. I am not one for opening gifts early, so I told her to hold on to it until my birthday. But she insisted, and said I had no choice but to open it. Inside was a brand new Galaxy S6 phone, paid up phone plan with twenty four months insurance all paid for! I started blubbering like a baby, even telling her to keep it for herself. She told me that she got it for me and that’s that! Was I surprised! I forgot I was tired, became speechless, cried and hugged her all at the same time.

She gave me one of the best phones around. Instead of buying it for herself, she put me first! When your child becomes such a blessing to you, you know that GOD’s favour is all over you. I am now on a learning curve! Technology has really advanced since the last time I had a phone. I am learning that you can do almost anything entertainment/communication/photography, all with a phone! I keep bugging Maggie to teach me what to do, imaging that. It’s never too late to learn!

I am having so much fun with my phone, it’s like a kid with a new toy. I am so thankful and grateful to GOD for all the precious gifts that he has given to me and my children. I am especially thankful for my children and so very grateful and thankful that GOD has allowed my kids to be a blessing to me.

Waiting on GOD’s promises is not easy, but he will never fail you. His words will always manifest at the appointed time. When you pray, there is always one of three possible answers, Yes, NO or Wait I have something better. GOD has always given me something better. Even this time with my phone too!

I'll leave you with some pictures from my garden taken from my phone.