I've never seen anything like it. Teenagers running around with TV's, bikes, shoes, computers - it seemed strange. I am use to seeing people going to shops in a civilised manner, waiting at the check-out to pay.....but these kids broke windows, helped themselves to the biggest and the best....and they seemed unstoppable. The police only "held the line" while these looters walked pass the "once respected" uniforms with an expression of victory.
The whole London was in disarray. Glass was scattered everywhere, dustbins overturned and cars were set alight. It was a mess. Politicians came back from holiday to see the great city in chaos, extra police units were called for help -yet it wasn't enough to get the teenagers back in order. The situation was completely out of control!
It is quite cereal to live in London while something so extraordinary is happening. It was difficult not to get negative about the whole situation. The city was covered with a thick blanket of fear. Hopelessness filled the air. Most people felt disillusioned. People walked aimlessly through the streets searching for answers. Social workers and street pastors talked to communities and listened to stories in an attempt to get clarity as to why the riots took place. The public was and still is very angry. Most are disappointed by the actions of the youth, while others try to shake off the feelings of uneasiness. People feel unsafe, hurt.....shocked.
We all have questions....why, how when, who?
The newspapers wrote the craziest stories and published pictures of the looters. Sky TV and BBC also kept us up to date with the newest developments. You couldn't help but be amazed at the resiliance and perseverance of these presenters. Footage was shown of two determined presenters running with a camera trying to follow the crowd of looters, hoping to catch one of them in the act- and when police asked them to get out of the way they're were like: "Ok...hmm...yes.... anyway" they looked around and continued without "getting out of the way!" Why should they if they can get a good story?
Another Sky presenter was reporting when his cameraman went "down"....and you could hear him in the background reporting in a panicked voice.... "it is hectic, things are out of control, my cameraman just went down....stop the riots! Stop the looting!" When the cameraman eventually "recovered" you could see a few kids walking pass with a couple of flat screens tugged away nicely under their arms....
Conversations circled around the riots. Some stories are still fun to tell ....
But the mood quickly changes when someone mentions the destruction that took place this week, and the old furniture shop that was burned down. You can't but shake your head in dismay when someone mentions the fact that the shop has been in the family for five generations, and it is now completely burned to the ground, because of the rebellion of teenagers!
Everything in you just wants to shout:" Stop the looting!"
Many times I feel like this in my Christian walk. You frequently come across looters who try to steal your joy, your peace, your faith, your hope and your dreams. These looters normally don't even realise that they cause destruction, because they are two ignorant.They fill your life with the garbage of false philosophies and wrong doctrines. Looters cover your mind with a wrong perception of God and intentionally break the glass of your heart to leave you exposed and damaged.
Some even start fires in your life. The Bible says the tongue is a powerful organ, that can cause a whole forest to be set alight. You find fellow brothers and sisters criticizing, doubting or rejecting you with their words - and it sets precious promises alight in your life. One day you feel strong in your faith, the next day you search scriptures - trying to recover the lost revelations you once believed. And like the Brits, you feel discouraged and hopeless.
The questions start piling up - why did God let this happen? When did I start believing the wrong thing? How could this happen.....?
Many times I feel like this in my Christian walk. You frequently come across looters who try to steal your joy, your peace, your faith, your hope and your dreams. These looters normally don't even realise that they cause destruction, because they are two ignorant.They fill your life with the garbage of false philosophies and wrong doctrines. Looters cover your mind with a wrong perception of God and intentionally break the glass of your heart to leave you exposed and damaged.
Some even start fires in your life. The Bible says the tongue is a powerful organ, that can cause a whole forest to be set alight. You find fellow brothers and sisters criticizing, doubting or rejecting you with their words - and it sets precious promises alight in your life. One day you feel strong in your faith, the next day you search scriptures - trying to recover the lost revelations you once believed. And like the Brits, you feel discouraged and hopeless.
The questions start piling up - why did God let this happen? When did I start believing the wrong thing? How could this happen.....?
And after a while....the victim of looting become one of those who aimlessly walk through life searching for answers.....
Satan loves looting - he came to steal. He loves taking what God gave as an inheritance - the biggest and the best. He is a professional who uses people to do his dirty work for him. He did it all through the Bible.
Satan stole the identity of the Israelites and made them slaves in Egypt.....
He stole the calling of Moses and made him wander in the desert searching for answers .......
Daniel and his friends were robbed of their country and spiritual community and was sent to Babylon.......
And some ignorant and blinded people were used to help implement Satan's plan.
But God had a better plan......
God is the unquenchable fire, the One who never destroys but only encourages, enhances, uplifts and restores. He builds His Kingdom in our lives and help us recover our original design.
God gives back what the devil has stolen, and make things even better than before.....
God revealed the calling of Moses through a burning bush that did not burn out.....
God revealed His way to the people of Israel by using a fire to guide them through the desert by night.....
God revealed His protection to the friends of Daniel that did not get burned in the fiery furnace...
And God gave back everything that was taken from them.....and gave them the glory of His presence, a miracle life full of wonder and made them the head and not the tail, above and not beneath....blessed and not cursed.
God also used a man to implement His plan. He used Jesus Christ His Son.
He gave everything that the devil tried to steal back to us through the blood of Jesus Christ...and now we can take authority, put the looters back in their place, hand-cuff them in the Spirit and let justice take its course!
We are now free to walk in victory and not fear! We don't have to be hopeless any more, because God restored hope for us. We don't have to wander through life aimlessly because we are now called as the children of God to shine our light!
And now we can be used by God to encourage, enhance, uplift and rebuild the lives of those who are still the victims of looting.
We can reveal the unquenchable fire of God's love and give back Christ to those who are still walking aimlessly searching for answers!
Stop the looting!
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Amen to that...Michal and I feel like we've spent the last few days putting our "looters" in our lives and in our marriage...thanks for the encouragement Tish! God will always RESTORE what the enemy has stolen!!