I receive the magazine HEPHZIBAH HAPPENINGS. It is published three times a year. The Hephzibah House is a Private Christian Boarding School for troubled girls.
It was founded in 1971 by Dr. Ron Williams. He is a Retired Marine (1960 - 1966)
"Brother Williams and his wife, Patti, had nine children of their own (7 boys and 2 girls); all of whom are married, 1 of whom went to be with the Lord in June of 2007 after a battle with brain cancer. Patti went to be with the Lord on January 29, 2011. He has 37 living grandchildren and six great-grandchildren." http://www.hephzibahhouse.org/index.html
I don't know about others, but I get so frustrated about why despots, evil and ungodly leaders live such long lives. And in August's edition, there is an article called: "What About the Prolonged Days of the Ungodly?" by Pastor Don Williams. (Senior Pastor) He is Pastor Ron Williams and his late wife Patti's son.
And it so struck me .. And it reminded me that these evil, murderous people have nor had fear of the Lord.
Joseph Stalin (USSR) (millions perished and he lived until 75); Mao Zedong (China) (10s of millions died and yet he lived to be 83); Fidel Castro (Cuba) (multitudes died) and he's still alive at the age of 86; Pol Pot (Cambodia) (slaughtered over one million people - infamous Khmer Rouge - died at 70); Kim Jong-il (N. Korea) (to this day 1,000's of Believers are in death camps - he died at age 70). (aside: Not to mention the, as yet unnumbered, people who are killed under the Islamic Regimes - like the late Saddam Hussein (Iraq) - dead by hanging at age 70 - found huddling in an underground hide-away .. and not luxurious at that.)
The part that really stood out, is The Fear of the Lord. With Pastor Don Williams' permission, I am going to share the following:
The Fear of the Lord
Before we go any further, let us review the fear of the Lord. To fear the Lord means to reverence and respect Him. This means that when one fears the Lord he will hate what God hates. (Prov 8:13)
He will keep God's commandments (Deut 6:2, Ecc 12:13). He will love the Lord wholeheartedly (Deut 10:12) and will serve Him in sincerity and in truth (Josh 24:14).
The Scriptures also define for us how it will go well for those who fear the Lord:
1. God's Watchful eye - "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;" (Psa 33:18)
2. God's Protection - "The angel of the LORD encampeth round them that fear him, and delivereth them." (Psa 34:7) "Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. (Psa 115:11)
3. God's Provision - "O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him." (Psa 34:9)
4. God's Pity - "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him." (Psa 103:13)
5. God's Mercy - "But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; " (Psa 103:17)
6. God's Blessing - "He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great." (Psa 115:13) "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life." (Pro 22:4)
7. God's Wisdom - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Psa 111:10)
8. Prolonged Days - "The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened." (Pro 10:27)
9. Strong Confidence - "In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge." (Pro 14:26)
10. Fountain of Life - "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." (Pro 14:27) "The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil." (Pro 19:23)
When I saw Proverbs 10:27, I was perplexed. But Pastor Don Williams wraps it up.
"People around you may not care and you may even suffer persecution for the stands you take as a result of fearing the Lord, but God promises blessing and reward both now and in eternity for those who love and fear Him. "
"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and with as the green herb." (Psa 37:1-2)
I thank Pastor Don Williams for allowing me to share with you his article. I would like to encourage anyone, if so desirous, to get on their mailing list. The publication is free.
Isaiah 62:4 "Thou shall no more be termed forsaken ... but thou shall be called HEPHZIBAH, for the Lord delighteth in thee."
It is my desire that anyone reading this be blessed.
Pam
God's Clay
- Pam
- Angola, Western NY, United States
- Jesus Christ became my Saviour 31 years ago. Shortly afterward (5 months to be exact) I married the love of my life. Two years later we celebrated the birth of our son . . . then only 10 weeks later my husband died very unexpectedly. But because he had trusted in Jesus Christ as his Saviour, he has been in Heaven for 28 years now as of July 2, '11. I have 3 handsome cats: 1 Burmese (Wizard), 1 Siamese (Ghost), and 1 long furred Tabby (Gibbs). : )