Pretty Little Killers

Living in the lush tropical paradise called Jamaica we are blessed to have fruit trees  growing almost all year round and so its easy to anticipate whatever fruit is in its specific season. Cherry is a wonderful little fruit that is round and red when ripe and is very delicious when blended to make cherry juice. It can be blended with pineapple or our Jamaican apple and gives a really great caribbean flavour that’s intoxicating and almost addictive when tasted.

I noticed midway last year that some nice little additions to my cherry tree were evident all over the branches and root of the tree. These flowerless but nice little blossoms were everywhere on the tree. I thought “wow, these little blossoms are so nice and the many clusters of them look quite decorative on the tree”. Honestly, they reminded me of little Christmas tree treats used to lively up one’s tree during the Christmas season.

After a while, something began to bother me though, because my tree is normally loaded with cherries but for some reason it looked dry, brittle empty and cherry-less.

An example of parts of the dry brittle fruitless tree

So I went to my husband quite concerned.

“Baby, what’s happening with the Cherry tree? There’s hardly any cherry on it. It looks dry and thirsty. That is quite unlike it to not be bearing. Do you know what is going on with it? I saw some nice little blossom thingy on it. I think it should be producing much more since its blossoming now”. (Cherry trees don’t exactly grow blossom my dear reader but I never knew that).

My husband replied “Sweetheart, those blossoms are not blossoms at all. They are actually parasites that are feeding off the tree so they themselves can live. The more they feed the more the tree will die. They are slowly killing the tree dearheart”.

“What? Eyes wide open, appalled and devastated, I responded… “so those cute little things are actually pretty little killers?”

“Uh huh”.

“Oh no.  Poor tree” I said fighting my tears.

“Now you feel sorry for the tree right?”  He said, smiling and reading me and my face like an open book.

My eyes welled up. He hugged me realizing my tears were not far from my cheeks.  I couldn’t believe it.  All this time, I thought those cute little blossoms were helping the tree but in reality they were killing the tree.  They feed off the life of the tree. In order for them to survive, the tree must support them surrendering its life whether it wants to or not.  They are invasive, parasitic and lethal .  I could only imagine what the poor tree must be undergoing.  They were choking the very life from the tree.  This tree that once bloomed and flourish with pride was dying and there was nothing the tree in of itself could do to survive.  It needed help. Help from something or someone greater than itself.  Everyday I would go out and try to pick off as many as I could.  They were sooo many and most of them were higher than I could reach. Also the limbs makes your skin itch big time when they come in contact with you. All those factors put together with the attraction of bugs and mosquitoes that the warmth produces were working against me helping it further. I lamented for the tree almost daily. It’s like I could feel the tree’s pain.

During the Christmas holiday, I was so tired after all the work that naturally comes with Christmas.  I went in and took a nap.  I awoke to smoke and was quite concerned   “Smoke…my son…my husband…wait, where is everybody?”  I ran almost frantically outside to hear my husband talking with someone and I was thoroughly amazed.

My husband brought a chair outside, stood on it and was pulling every single one of those little monstrosities off the tree.  Those little murderous fiends… and he made a small fire; burning them to ashes.  Yay! My heart bursted and overflowed with gratitude and love for this man.  He said “Surprise Baby!”  He had been out there for the last two hours diligently pulling, tugging and scraping every last one of them from the tree.  I was ecstatic and speechless.  He was bruised, bitten, battered and banged up pretty good. There were scrapes and cuts and swellings all over him because when the tree touched his skin and he scratched it, it became swollen.  I was so grateful I couldn’t say a word but smiled broadly.  I joined him in picking up the ones that did not yet fall in the fire.  I enjoyed watching the little suckers burn to dust… those, those, little hellions.  When he was through, I had to nurse him back to health. Sanitizing the cuts and stuff but I was so overjoyed, I didn’t mind his usual whining and whimpering about every little bruise. This time, the whimper was well accepted. Smile.

Everytime I think of this incident it reminds me of my Jesus.  Our sins act like those parasites. They look good on the outside, (sometimes even cause us to feel good or justified) but underneath they are slowly killing us bit by bit.  Our unforgiveness, our lies, fornincation, rebellion, jealousies, puffed up pride, lusts, cheating… a mean you name it.  All these things that make us feel good, but underneath everything about us – the real us, is being lost.  We can’t help ourselves in our own strength (although for some reason mankind think they can fix themselves).  We need Someone higher than us to do so.  We need Someone who is willing to pay the cost in blood, sweat and tears to set us free.  Well like my husband did for this tree, Jesus did for us.  He took all our sins and washed them all away with his dreadful suffering on the cross just so you can be free, flourish and bloom in your purpose.  He loves you and wants you to be free to live life to the fullest in His grace.  He wants us to thrive…

My tree is now blossoming and I smile to myself when I realise just how much on a daily basis the tons of cherries that are ripe and are ready to be eaten. I mean – DAILY!  Its flourishing even more than it use to and I believe it is its way of saying thanks for freeing me to do what I was created to do.  It now provides much needed vitamin C for me and my family, others, insects and birds too.  Its wonderful to live life empowered and purposeful.

My son with a few cherries ripe and ready to eat… Yummy!

Now my son can reach up, pick, wash and eat.  Isn’t it great to be free on the inside as well as the outside?

A Moment of Silence…

Can we have a moment of silence please.

My sins are dead.  

They were crucified to a cross.

SSSHHHHH____________________________________________________________________ Shhhhh

Now please stand and give a tumultuous round of applause for the Man who did it all for you and me – Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Because of Him, You and I are free!

No one else would go (they were not worthy enough anyway) so He volunteered His perfect self to imperfection and now because of His loving sacrifice, we will live forever.

image: ptl2010.com

Thank You Jesus!

 

 

 

Kindness…

image by webclipart.about.com

I have found a little kindness goes a long way,

Its a virtue that can be shared no matter the time of day.

It can  melt the heart of the vilest person,

No matter the occasion.

 

Many times kindness is unrequited,

Painful,

Hurtful,

Unreciprocated.

 

However the joy it can produce after its done,

At times is second to none.

 

To understand True Kindness we have to look at the Son,

The epitome of all that’s perfect and true,

The One who first displayed loving kindness,

Which now worketh in us righteousness.

image by blisshabits.com

Kindness is a very big thing,

Keep it treasured like a diamond ring.

At times it burns,

when you for it yearn,

Yet no one is there to fulfill your desire,

No one is there to meet your need,

Sad indeed.

 

Even as our Jesus demonstrated kindness no matter the cost,

Even as He went all out to reach the lost,

So should we follow His example,

And after His life make our pattern,

Yes, our own sample.

 

We know our rewards are guaranteed,

Jesus always shows up in our time of need.

If people are not there,

And it seems they don’t care

Remember you are never alone,

If in your heart Jesus has found a home.

 

Show a little kindness today,

Believe it or not – It does go a long, long way.

By Amorelle Lewinson.  copyright 2013.

Never Part!

I have thought about it time and time again,
Why would you love me?
Put on flesh and die for me,
Just so I could be free?
I question and I ponder,
Lord it truly makes me wonder.

Wretched, wreckless, worthless,
Yet valued, treasured and spotless,
Your love has caused me to be.
Oh such sweet victory.

My eyes well with tears of joy,
I have no reason to be coy,
When all around me screams Why?
Sigh!

How then can I repay,
What exactly should I say?
Nay,
I will be silent,
And simply reflect,
How on me Your love has such effect.

The sweet savour of beauty,
I’ll make it my duty,
To forever treasure what we have,
Eternally holding it near to my heart,
This way, my Jesus,
You and I will never part!

Written by Amorelle Lewinson. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.

How could You?

Christ Crucified
image reblogged from: Soaring Eagle

How could You do it? When you knew it would cost everything?

It was brutal, murderous and shameful, that treatment was not suitable for my King.

Oh the hurt, the pain, the agony, So I could know You,

And reign with You in eternity.

Jesus carrying our sins
image by: jesussavesministry.wordpress.com

How could You? When You knew I didn’t deserve your love?

Your passion and gentleness? You were as harmless as a Dove.

Yet through Your hands they drove nails, Oh, it makes my body quails,

To think of Your sacrifice, And that is why its You alone I hail.

Nails through His hands
image by: Goodsalt.com

Glory to Jesus!

His Obedience – Just for us.

Obedience for us
image by: kevinnunez.org

Your sacrifice was awful, But I am thankful,

Because if it wasn’t for You, I’d have no hope of salvation,

To give me a proper perception,

Of what true love embodies, What love is and what love will do.

His sacrifice for us
Image by: crossandblood.com

So now I really understand, As I journey through this land,

That true love is a person,

Its gift wrapped in the Father’s Son,

Yes! My Jesus – Love is  ALL YOU!

Written by Amorelle Lewinson. Copyright 2013

*Loving Me*

To Jesus, The Everlasting Love of my Life

His words to me
Image by Google

Its kind of difficult to put into words how I feel about You,
Someone who has been so faithful and true.
Words certainly fail at a time like this,
How I wish I could show You with a sloppy wet kiss.

My heart is entwined with Yours,
As Your passion and love for me like a lion roars.
My greatest desire is to please You,
To keep detangled from evil and all its properties eschew.

WOW! I get esctatic thinking of You loving me,
I just want the whole wide world to see,
That everything about You is as perfect as can be.

Your power and glory through me revelaed,
Will further my cause to never have your love concealed.
What greatness, what wonder, what grace,
Yes, that will keep me on the path of life.
And cause me in the end to see Your beautiful face.

 

By Amorelle Lewinson. Copyright 2013

 

The Love of My Life

To Jesus, The Eternal Love of my Life

His heart and Mine
Image by google

For my sins you hung,
Therefore to know You,
I count everything but dung.

Your sacrifice for me was truly remarkable,
You’ve given me the power to do the impossible.
I humbly accept Your grace and love for me,
It released my chains and bondages; Glory to God, I am free!

How amazing it is to tell the world of You,
How being with You never makes me blue,
Rather it removes my hurts, guilts and lies
Makes me soar with Eagle’s wings – Yes, I fly.

Oh what joy it is to know You,
All the sorrows You went through,
Was for a sinner like me,
To walk in power, grace and liberty.

My gift to you is Me.

All of me – mind, body, heart and soul,

Now and ever,

Even when I am bent, weary and old. 

By Amorelle Lewinson. Copyright 2013

The Dish of Justice

I believe sometimes we think that God is not concerned with injustices that are done to us through the enemy working in the lives of people. This is so not true. God is totally concerned because He says “…Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye”. Zechariah 2:8 – GW.  I have proof of this which I want to share just now. Brace yourself.

When I was in high school there was an awful incident that was happening in my area. I lived in a rather quiet and uneventful neighbourhood so this occurrence was like a real nightmare. There was a rapist who decided that he would get to any woman he wanted to by of course taking “it” by force.  It was horrible.  All of us females were in danger. He raped a lady once by tying her up, violating her all night into the morning, sleep in her bed, re started and left at dawn all the while she was still tied up. Once we found out we were quite dismayed and feared for ourselves as females.  At that time, I lived with my mom alone so we were even in more danger. The police never could arrest him because his face was never ever revealed.

Anyway, I kinda forgot about it for a while and went on with my daily life as usual. One evening I was coming from school and stopped at the bus stop to shelter the rain. I saw a lot of persons sheltering including a couple of men and young men but I was not one who was conversant with them.  Usually I just say “hello” and go on my merry way. This day was no different except this man decided to “give me a talk”.  Unknown to me, I was encountering the enemy.  “Hi baby, how you do?”  “I am good thank you”  “So come over here and mek we talk no man”.  “I am ok where I am”  “So is what? You feel you better than talking with me?”  “Sir, it has nothing to do with being better than you.  I am ok where I am and do not wish to communicate with you here or over there”  He continued: “But is what this now? She feel like say she a angel and me a what? [hisses his teeth in annoyance] Aa-yyy, lemme tell yah something girl…”  At this point I decided I would much rather walk home in the rain than listen to him.  So I said “excuse me, I am now leaving”.  Those who were standing before me parted themselves like the Red Sea did for the children of Israel and I walked out in the rain.

While being pelted with massive rain drops I reflected on the insolence of this man and shook my head.  When I reached home I was soaking wet but preferred that any day to being insulted and hit upon by this fein.  Into the wee hours of the night, I studied a bit then decided to retire.  I was real excited about sleeping in my room that night because my mom had just bought me my first bed and I was eager to sleep on it.  To make a long story short, I went to bed and about 3:00am I was awakened to my horror realizing that there was somebody else crawling into my bed.   At first I thought I was dreaming so I rubbed my eyes and recognized I was not dreaming. My mom was sleeping soundly to one side and another figure was attempting to enter my space on the other side of the bed.  At this point something sharp and pointy was poked into my side and the person whispered in a hoarse, rusty, husky voice “If you scream or say a word, I will kill you!”  I wrinkled my brows thinking “Seriously, this dream, rather nightmare is too real”  So I shifted and lifted myself to see if I was truly sleeping I was rudely awakened to the fact that all this was absolutely real and I was not asleep at all.  He repeated more convincingly “Do not say a word or I WILL KILL YOU” and he began to now rub his hands up my leg all this while prodding and pressing the weapon deeper into my side with his other hand.

I did just the opposite.  I hollered and my mom awoke and jumped for the machete, which we had started sleeping with under the bed ever since we heard about the rapings in the area. She literally flew over us both chopping like crazy at him. She flipped on the lights and he began to wrap himself in the sheets to protect his face since his mask thingy had come off during the shuffle. He began to feel the impact of the machete blows so he reached up and stabbed my mom.  Funny thing is, I saw that he was about to stab her but I was terror-stricken by everything that I froze.  I opened my mouth to say “Watch out Mommy” but no words came out.  It was like “mo…………” and nothing else came out!  When she heard me say that she paused and to look what was wrong with me and got the injury.  The machete fell from her hands and she stumbled on the floor with the impact of the blow and the little culprit’s face was half revealed and that’s when I realized it was the guy from earlier the evening.  He shoved me then bolted through the back door entrance which he had pre opened when he broke in through the side windows. My mom said “Come on baby put on your sweater and shoes. We surely going after him.  How dare he try to mess with my child, humph. He really must be sick in his head or something!!”  

The whole incident was real traumatic for me.  For many days, I could not sleep.  At times I would wake up in the nights sometimes sweating like crazy with panic attacks and anxieties overwhelming me.  We ended in the court and just many tiring, dreary, unwelcomed  hours of trials, missing school and stuff.  He was arrested but it is alleged that his mom – a known woman of influence, bribed the jurors and so he was released instead of locked up permanently. I do not know how true it is.

After his release he would tease me whenever he passed me on the road and stuff like that.  I was so hurting. I felt like God had betrayed us and allowed him to go free.  I was angry with God. REAL UPSET.  I would be intimidated if I knew he was in my area because he and his friends would always be trash talking me and my mom. “Where is your God?  Ha ha.  My god get me off free like a bird. I am the real big man.  Oh yeah” Stuff like that. Sigh.  After about 2 years of fear, embarrassment and frustration, I went to God about it. I told God I felt like He had not cared enough to protect me from his verbal onslaughts {not even thanking Him that I was the only female, he never actually got to rape out of the many}.  I was so mad.  This is what the Lord told me “Vengeance is Mine.  I will repay and when I do, you are going to say to Me ‘Lord, You never had to do away with him like that’. I will repay in My time and My own way”.  I thought seriously “God you are truly working in slow motion”.

Three years following, I was now working and forgot all about it.  I had gotten over my fears and all was normal, whole and healed when I got a phone call from my mom. “Baby guess what?” “I don’t know what, tell me”  “September is dead”  “What?”  “How?  Are you sure?”  “yes.  He was attending a street dance in his area and was hitting on a girl.  The girl’s boyfriend came over and confronted him and they got into a fight.  He was drunk and so when the guy shoved him he backed away but was not able to control his steps.  He backed up right over the side and fell down the two storey building on a huge stone and splattered.  Literally!  His skull opened and brain flew all over the people and blood was everywhere” My eyes popped open and I froze in shock.  “What! Oh my God!  Lord You really never had to do away with him like that….ohhh.  I said it God.  I sure have said it.  Ha ha.  Well whether it was You who have done it or you have just allowed it Lord, It was a real horrible death”.  I hung up the phone and smiled realizing I said the exact words God told me I would’ve said five years ago. Amazing. Although he was so evil, I felt sad at the way he died.

Thinking about it, I figure out why it took so long for God’s vengeance to be performed.  He was giving him a chance to repent for all the injustices he had committed but he never did. He just went on and on with little or no remorse. That’s awful. It’s not God’s will that any should die but that all come to repentance but God can only put up with injustice for so long.  His vengeance is usually so severe that He really hates having to carry it out.  Albeit, He will only put up with wrong doings especially against His children for a time.  He will enact justice and when He does, it is usually well-done.

Many may not agree with the dishes of  justices that God serves up at times.  It leaves a nasty taste in people’s mouth but if my mom hauled me in the cold hours of the morning to chase after the culprit who almost violated her only child, what do you think God would do who is all powerful and loves us more than our earthly parents could ever do?  Think about it!

Who is Who???

Thought I would share with you another one of my friend’s poems.  He is such a gifted writer.  Hope you love this one. I have renamed it but all contents remain the same.

God’s people of the bible is so much unlike

What I hear and see in my everyday life,

And it makes me wonder how far gone are we,

In our efforts to become what God said we should be.

 

They didn’t epitomize what society stipulated,

Nor did they follow suit to what so-called leaders dictated.

But they were resolute to defend what they believed,

Not like some of today’s believer who portray a people deceived.

 

The faith they demonstrated was at a total different level,

Their obedience to God must have marveled the devil.

Today we half-believe God’s promises to man,

So we each rest our hope in a contingency plan.

 

The prophets then were God’s voice of the day,

They didn’t sugar-coat whatever God told them to say.

They notified man how God required them to live,

Today, the message is all about what God wants to give.

 

Failure of God’s servants were never the deadly iron clamp,

Help and encouragement was always present within the camp.

Back then others helped to bring the hope of God to sight,

Today you mess up and your brethren pronounce your final rite.

 

Fellowship and love needed no microscope to behold,

The assembling of believers was a joy deep in the soul.

Today church is in session and the seats are filled with space,

Because we have sent the hurting to find solace in another place.

 

Care for the poor and destitute was not placed on the back bench,

It was a cause of concern that was practiced being deeply entrenched.

Each man counted not his possession with selfishness and greed,

Today’s some folks have abundance but the hungry they neglect to feed.

 

Fear of the Lord was not periodically seen as holiness was respected,

Words and actions of saints were checked continuously and personally inspected.

Now those outside are constantly correcting those who should be upholding what is true,

It makes you marvel at the dysfunction and wonder who should be leading who.

 

Copyright (c) 2010 Aniph Frazer

 

% No Regrets %

If you have any kind of true relationship with God, then you ought to know you have to protect it at all cost and that may mean sacrificing somethings or giving up some body you reeaallly love.  I know what it feels like to make a difficult decision for the greatness that is within me when speaking heart-wise. I had to give up someone I loved for the ultimate love for Jesus.   After an encounter with God who granted me a whole new experience and told me that He was doing a new thing in me back in 1999, I had a challenging decision to make.  I was in an environment where I was being mentored (unknown to me back then) and I knew some things had to change.  I wanted to get higher and deeper in God but I was in a relationship that was slowly heading in a sexual direction I was not ready for and did not want it go quite yet at all.  It was quite distracting and taking up much of my time.  What do I do? Do I try to balance this relationship with the young man I love and a relationship with God whom I also love?  Could I? oh It was such a hard decision to make. (Quite painful on the heart actually)  I knew that I had to choose however…God or him?  (Oh man it was like torture).  Nevertheless, after much deliberation and heart aching agony, I chose God and today I am not sorry.  I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful son and totally have no regrets.  Interesting to note is that after all this time, I had an engaging conversation with him recently, he told me that even though he has a lovely girlfriend and a beautiful baby; he is not ready for marriage at his age until possibly 5 years from now.  He is almost 30 years old.  I thought to myself, “I wonder if I had chosen him over God if that is the kind of lifestyle I would be living today?” Quite possible.  (What a pity)

If you find in God the treasures that he has in store for you even to the slightest degree you will know that only a true sacrifice of yourself is worthy enough for Jesus our Lord and Saviour.  Listen to what He tells us “… anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life” - Matt 19:29. God is true to his words and so we know any kind of sacrifice that we make for him, will be rewarded.  He made the ultimate sacrifice with his life: he died a brutal, horrific death for us. (What more could anyone ask for really?)  The least we can do is give ourselves to him, body soul and spirit without regrets. Let me ask you: What do you have in your possession or in your heart that you need to sacrifice for Him today?  A television program he’s telling you to stop watching?  A particular friend he keeps warning you about? A relationship you know you need to end? A bad habit to change that has been bringing you and him shame and embarrassment? A place he’s telling you to stop going?  An offering of your last that he’s prompting you to give? A book he says you are to cease reading?   Whatever the case may be your love for him should cause you to obey.  He says: “If you love me, you will obey my commandments”. – John 14:15.  If you find you are disobeying his voice because of your own desires I have one question to ask you “How much do you truly love Him?” 

copyright © 2010.