THE HORRIBLE MURDERS IN FRANCE!

Yesterday, Wednesday 7th January, 2015 in Paris the New Year came to an abrupt and brutal end for 12 innocent people who were simply carrying out their lawful quotidian jobs as journalists, cartoonists and policemen at the offices of Charlie Hebdo. The terrorist killings were carried out by a terrible gang of Islamists, proclaiming the Islamic tenet, "God is great!" and that their gruesome act was to revenge the satirical depictions of their Prophet by the controversial news magazine, Charlie Hebdo.

The whole world is shocked and outraged by these murders, they fit into the bizarre and terrifying patterns of beheadings, crucifixions, and mass murders of Al-Qaeda and its affiliates, especially, the so-called Islamic State, Boko Haram, Al-shabbab and other violent jihadist organisations. We mourn the loss of innocent lives by hoodlums, hijacking Islam to crush democratic values, enslave people and entrench a religious political system bathed in the worst forms of barbarity and rapacity, in the name of Allah.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with the overwhelming majority of Muslims and people of other faiths, people of no faith - well-meaning, decent, civilised human beings for whom Islamism is a scourge that must be defeated, an ideology that must be driven into the ground, and a warped form of religion that must be destroyed. Let's get out there with counter arguments, with acts of love and mercy, with daring bravery in the sight of brutal threats - proclaiming our collective humanity, our cherished democratic values and our belief and determination that Islamism is dead wrong, dead futile, and will never achieve any of its goals through mindless violence. Support Charlie Hebdo, support France: we need one another in these sad and tragic times!

WHEN YOU ARE DISCOURAGED

WHEN YOU ARE DISCOURAGED – PART 2

“Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way.” (Numbers 21:4)

The journey from Mount Hor would have been an easy journey, if the people were given help by the people of Edom. However, as we read in the story, the Edomites refused Israel to pass through their territory. Therefore, they needed to go round the land of Edom which made the journey longer.

Before this event, they had already had tough times concerning lack of drinking water, and basic provision such as food and meat. They had fought the Amalekites, and had heard the disturbing news about giants waiting to swallow them up in the Promised Land. The last thing they wanted was a long, rough journey round the land of Edom!

Notice this: discouragement doesn’t always come at once – it usually develops from negative experiences which continue to pile up until we feel overwhelmed and helpless.

David knew God very intimately and had experienced great favours from God. Yet, in many Psalms, he continued to plead for God’s help in so many overwhelming situations! In a particular Psalm, David cried out: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” (Psalm 42:5)

Elijah felt so discouraged in the face of bitter and unrelenting opposition that he asked God to take his life! “And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" (1Kings 19:4)

Is there a remedy for discouragement? Yes, there is!

When you are discouraged remember God’s previous acts of mercy in your life. David prayed: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…” (Psalm 103:2)

When you are discouraged, keep repeating an applicable verse from the Bible to encourage yourself in the Lord. There is always a promise of God for every problem that we will face in life. “Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David's two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” (1Samuel 30:4-6)

When you are discouraged, try your best to attend all Church meetings because the Lord will find a suitable occasion to speak to your situation and change things for you! “They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.” (Jeremiah 31:9)

When you are discouraged, do not bottle up your feelings. Speak to your Pastors. God has given them a charge to be concerned for your welfare, to pray for you, to advise you and to support you through the situation: “So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." (2Chronicles 20:20)

David said: “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” (Psalm 42:5). May God restore to you the joy of salvation and strengthen you with His unfailing love. Amen.