A voice of one, calling from the Kingdom

Welcome, I’ll keep this short, as it is written;  “The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?”  Ecclesiastes 6:11  I’ve started this blog to promote my story called “The Kingdom”.   I will put extracts from it in my posts.   It will appeal to those who demand signs, and those who look for wisdom.  The story contains both.  For some, the King is a stumbling block, for others – the King is both the power and wisdom of God.

If you want to read the whole book you are welcome to.  I will send you the password.  Any constructive feedback will be welcomed.  The story can be downloaded here: The Kingdom

Thank you to Free Christian Images as http://www.fci.crossnet.se/ for the image I’ve used on the blog.

The Kingdom

Rebuilding with the bricks others have thrown

The King had given me a word to “rebuild the temple”.  He meant “rebuild my life”.

For we are the temple of the living God.  As God has said; “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:16

It was difficult rebuilding my life after a divorce and abusive relationship with a narcissist.  Where did I start?  Life had to go on even though I was one of the walking wounded.   I had to come to terms with myself and try and figure out what the hell had happened.  I felt like I’d had bricks thrown at me, and all I had to rebuild my life with was rubble and other people’s rubbish.

It happened because I’d lived life on other people’s terms, seeking my worth in their eyes.  Narcissists love to exploit people like that.

I lacked rule over my own spirit.

“He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls” Proverbs 25:28

At this stage of the journey, I needed boundaries.  I didn’t even know what the word meant.

What did I have to rebuild with?  Rubble, lots of it.  I got started with the bricks.  I have learned since then that with God, no experience is wasted.

Chapter 21 Stones deals with the vision I got from Nehemiah.  He’s a guy who in the Bible who built a wall around a shattered Kingdom.

Chapter 21 Stones

The Princess had been told by the King to “rebuild the temple”.  It meant she needed to rebuild her life.  She drew inspiration from the Kingdom, which she found entry to through the King’s word.

One night she entered the Kingdom and looked around. She saw a devastated city with a torn down temple.  It had been attacked, abandoned and neglected.  The walls that surrounded the city were also down in many places. There were places where it was all just piles of rubble.

It was still night as I left the city through the Valley Gate on the west and went south past Dragon’s Fountain to the Rubbish Gate. As I went, I inspected the broken walls of the city and the gates that had been destroyed by fire.

Then on the east side of the city I went north to the Fountain Gate and the King’s Pool. My mount could not find a way through the rubble, so I went down into Kidron Valley and rode along, looking at the wall. Then I returned the way I had come and went back into the city through the Valley Gate.  Nehemiah 2:13-15

The Valley gate for the Princess was the place where she had met the King as a shepherd.  The Dragon’s Fountain was an unsafe place where she had met people like Silver Tongue.  Crocodiles dwelt there.

The walls or lack thereof bothered her worse than the rubble.  The Kingdom needed walls.  Without walls, people would see the debris and think they too could dump their rubbish.  In the future, the Kingdom would not be a dumping ground.  People who trespassed against her would be taken to the rubbish gate, along with their rubbish.

What would she use for rebuilding?  In her dream, the Princess reined in her mount and looked at the King with a question in her eyes. He reined in his big white horse and turned to her. “Do not be disheartened. You are to use those burned stones for rebuilding the sections of the wall that are down” He advised her. “What? Retrieve out of that rubble the charred stones that have once been used?” she asked disbelievingly.

“Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble – burned as they are?”  Nehemiah 4:2

The King replied; “Yes. I will recycle and use what you consider to be wasted. It will take time to get those charred stones cleaned up and knocked back into shape, so that they may be used again in the wall, but do not be discouraged.”

“But now don’t be discouraged, any of you. Do the work, for I am with you.” Haggai 2:4

“Those that I can use the most are the ones who have been made whole in wounded places and strengthened in broken places.” – The Word for Today, 2 June 1997

Honk honk, the company we keep

In the previous chapter of the Kingdom “Pigs to Pearls” the friend I called “the Minstrel”  and I went our separate ways.  I’d gone the extra mile for him, but we reached a crossroads and I chose a different road.  Before leaving the crossroads I gave him the chapters of the Kingdom, where he had appeared in the story.  I always do it for friends I am going to part company with.   Unfortunately he took if for a love story, and we did not part on friendly terms.  He read those chapters to everybody, without context.  I had been a silly goose.  I had to learn not to give pearls to pigs.  I nearly stopped writing the Kingdom story at that point, but the main character – the King, wanted me to stick with it.  If you read my story you will see how He led a badly wounded princess to a better place and I believe He wants to use the story for His purposes.

So at this point in my journey, I had suffered harm and needed healthier people to be friends with.  A companion of fools suffers harm, but he who walks with wise grows wise.  Proverbs 13:20

I kept White Flower.  She liked to gossip but had good qualities.  Walking with her was difficult – but in the end, she proved to be true.  Deborah and Kate had joined me, and now we meet the Bright One and his wife Princess Neen, who I found while traveling through “the Flatlands” (Chapter 14).  They became friends with me, and my friends.  The Bright One and Neen brought in Prince Dom.  My kids brought in “Mara” and her son from across the road.  We were all following the Lord, in a natural, non religious way.

I am glad they got into formation with me.  If I had been a goose I could not have flown on my own.

Chapter 20 The circle of friends

Friendship had compelled the Princess to go the extra mile for the Minstrel.  It is written “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” Matthew 5:41. She had gone the distance, but upon reaching the crossroads chose a different road.  It grieved her that she had to take the children ahead with her, separating them from the Minstrel’s children, but that had been his decision. 

The King commanded the Princess to leave the crossroads with these words;

“Let your eyes look straight ahead,

Fix your gaze directly before you.

Make level paths for your feet

And take only ways that are firm.

Do not swerve to the right or the left;

Keep your foot from evil.”  Proverbs 4:25-27

So the weary Princess walked straight ahead at the crossroads, swerving neither to the left or the right. On the left the Minstrel stood yelling taunts, telling her to go.  On the right Silver-tongue lurked in the shadows with flowers, flattery and pleas, calling her to return.  Looking straight ahead, she fixed her gaze on the road before her, and did not look back.

The road up to the crossroads had been rough, but this part was easier, the path firm and level.  She wondered how lonely it would be, but now she was taking more care about those she met on the road. A righteous person is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.  Proverbs 12:26.  At this point of her journey, she had suffered harm and needed healthier people to be friends with.  A companion of fools suffers harm, but he who walks with wise grows wise.  Proverbs 13:20

To her delight, accompanying her were the new friends she had found in the Flatlands, who joined the friends she had already made.  On the road she saw Princesses Kate, Deborah, Nina, the Bright One, Prince Dom, White Flower, and even Prince Honest, White Flower’s husband, straggling along in a loose column together with her and the children.

And there were others too, all in a varying formation, within hearing distance and keeping an eye out for each other.  Her children brought in Princess Mara and her sons from across the road.  The fellowship was born from the faith they all shared in the King.  They formed a home group where they met each week to worship the King and support each other.  She called it the “circle of friends”.

Honk if you love Jesus

Fighting the good fight

I was born under the (Mazzaroth) sign of wounding, and if trod upon, I would instinctively sting an aggressor in self defense.  We November people are good at it, but it makes us enemies.  What would Jesus do?  He had his share of aggressors and enemies.  He said;

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Matthew 5:38   

Do you ever feel like doing this?

That is so hard.  It seems foolish.  We should defend ourselves, right?

The Kingdom way is the opposite of the world’s way.  Jesus knows that the devil is able to exploit any situation where we lash out in retaliation, and He can’t defend us.  If we act in the opposite spirit, we take the power away from the devil, and allow God to act.   This I have found to be true.

In the next chapter (Chapter 19 Pearls to pigs), I did not turn the other cheek, with predictable results.  The devil had a field day.

Luckily the Lord sent me a guide for this step of the journey, Kerri (Livia in the story), an experienced warrior in the Kingdom.  She became my mentor and friend, and helped me through the difficult places on the narrow path.

Chapter 19 Pearls to pigs

After the school holidays, the Princess crossed paths with the Minstrel.  She had seen him come out of the gate from Cherry’s house across the road while she was picking the children up after school.  She was angry; for White Flower lapped up the gossip at Cherry’s place, and repeated all the things he had to say about her.  

Proverbs 25:23 – As a north wind brings rain, so a sly tongue brings angry looks.

The gossip rang in her ears as she walked past the Minstrel.  He did not realise he had written himself out of the story and sure of himself, had patronised her.  If he had kept silent, she would have ignored him.  Instead he got her attention.  She stopped and glared at him.  Eyes shooting sparks, and speaking only loudly enough for his ears, she said in an even but icy tone of voice; “I don’t respect you. Leave me alone.  Stay away from me!” and with that she walked off.  Unprepared for the cold, hard side of her, and finally realising he had not been in control, he staggered back with a look of shock and dismay. She had stung him hard.

She knew the King would not approve of her retaliation in this manner, but it had come unbidden.  It was in her nature to sting if trodden upon.  She was pleased at the hurt she’d inflicted. It would only be a hurt to his ego, which needed readjusting anyway.  It was time he learned of her low opinion.  She had trusted White Flower to set him straight, but realised later that White Flower had her own agenda, and could play people off against each other, adding gossip to conflict.

Proverbs 16:28 – A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

The Princess approached her Father the King. “When I gave him his part in the Kingdom story I thought I made it clear that I had enough and wanted to walk away.  If he could not treat me with respect I said I wanted to be left in peace, and not be bothered by men like him.

The Lord said, “Your people are talking about you when they meet by the city walls or in the doorways of their houses. They say to one another, ‘Let’s go and hear what word has come from the Lord now.’  To them you are nothing more than an entertainer singing love songs or playing a harp.” Ezekiel 33:30-32

“I did not write the story to entertain the small town gossips.  Why did they even read it or talk about it?  How was this their business?  It was between me and him, and you know I did not intend to have what I wrote interpreted as a love story!” she replied in exasperation and disgust.  “Nor did Ezekiel, the prophet this word was about” the King replied, reassuring her “Do not be discouraged. I want you to treat this as a learning experience. What would have happened if my prophets had given up delivering the word that I gave? I want you to carry on writing about the Kingdom.”  Shaking her head and walking off, she replied “I am a seeker, not a prophet.  Why did I think you wanted me to give him the story of the Kingdom where he appeared in it?   Where was my head at?  It has only led to trouble.”  The Lord called her back to His side and spoke; “This is not just about you.  The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And I am faithful.  Your story about the Kingdom is my story.  It is about me, belongs to me, and to those who seek me.  It needs to be shared, for I will use it to speak to others.  Remember this though, as your brother the Bright One warned you,”

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.

Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves”  Matthew 10:16

“Do not give dogs what is sacred;

Do not throw your pearls to pigs.

If you do, they may trample them under their feet,

And then turn and tear you to pieces”  Matthew 7:6

The King had never said a truer word.  “Lord, although I called him a toad, I know you would not have been happy with me calling him a pig!” “Well, have you ever heard of a pig becoming a Prince?” the King asked, smiling. The Princess laughed at the Kings wisecrack and felt a lot better.

In the days that followed the Princess had to endure slander attacks from the Minstrel, the one who she had counted as a friend.  Yet she had not done him any wrong.

“He speaks falsely,

While his heart gathers slander;

Then he goes out and spreads it abroad.”

“My close friend, whom I trusted,

He who shared my bread,

Has lifted up his heel against me.”  Psalm 41:6-9

Then his mother and his friend joined in the attack, even though this did not concern them. She had done them no wrong either, and they did not know her.  Why did he have to involve them?  He had gone crying to his mother.  It was like a divorce!

Attackers gathered against me

When I was unaware.

They slandered me without ceasing

Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked.

O Lord, how long will you look on?  Psalm 35:11-17

The King sent His trusted servant Livia to her.  Livia had been a friend of her first husband, dating him before he married the Princess.  Now she had become a friend of the Princess.  The Princess needed a healthy friend and regarded Livia as her mentor. Livia was a warrior who knew how to fight dragons.  Coming and going from the north, she kept a watchful eye on the Princess and children ever since the days of the Pits.  Now Livia had recently made a great journey south and settled in the same town as the Princess.  “Help, I am getting attacked by all these dragons!” the Princess told Livia.  Not surprised, Livia said “You are better off without him for a friend.  He was not a safe person. The King promises a blessing for times when you are attacked like this.  Listen to the word of the King;

“Blessed are you when people insult you,

Persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad,

Because great is your reward in heaven,

For in the same way they persecuted the prophets

Who were before you.”  Matthew 5:11

She replied “Thanks, but I do not feel very blessed at the moment.”  Livia replied “It will be okay.  You will get through this and he will be replaced by healthy friends.”  The Princess frowned. “What about the kids?” she asked anxiously, adding “I doubt they are going to play together anymore!”  Livia shook her head.  “You have got to be safe.  It was too much of a price to pay for them to play together.  They will find other friends.”

Look where you’re going

At the end of the movie Castaway, Chuck Noland (played by Tom Hanks) is left standing at a crossroads with a decision to make, after delivering his final package, which bore angels wings on the address.   He’d been through a lot – a plane crash, 5 years on a desert island, and finally a rescue at sea from the raft he made.  If he chooses one way, “there’s a whole lot of nothing to Canada”.  If he chose to go back to the woman who gave him directions, it may lead to love, and rest for his soul.  After all, she owns the ranch with the angels wings.

Castaway, final scene: youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=tvGHSvfnlsQ&feature=fvwp

So he’s standing in the middle of the crossroads, looking.  In the Kingdom, I too had come to a place where I had to look where I was going.  The word was;

““Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 

My friend had come to his own crossroads, but he wasn’t going my way.  We were both solo parents, and our children loved each other like siblings.  I was worried about what would happen to the kid’s friendships but the Lord let me see I wasn’t responsible for my friend’s bad decisions.  All I wanted to do was heal from an abusive relationship, not deal with his rubbish.  I’d pretty much written my friend out of my story “The Kingdom”, but gave him his chapters as I told him what I needed from a friendship. Duh!

This character appears as “the Minstrel” in Chapter 7 Onset of Winter, Chapter 8 The Mourning After, Chapter 14 The Flatlands, Chapter 15 True Beauty, and Chapter 17 Dalliance.

I wanted him to look at where he was going.  It was a foolish move.  He was so ego driven he interpreted it as a love story.  But that’s for the next chapter.

I chose my way, the ancient path.  It was a good way, and it has led to rest for my soul.  My friend chose his way, “a whole lot of nothing to Canada”.  He let go of diamonds to sift through stones, and never did find a mother for his girls.  Our children also had to part ways at the crossroads, but reestablished their friendship 5 years later at their new school.  They are still best friends.  Their Dad tried to reestablish contact with me as well, but I’d taken a different road.  He is still mad at me and yelling horrible things, 16 years later, from hundreds of kilometers away.  I’ve chosen to ignore him.  His voice gets fainter the further I travel.