When Time is a Burden
Hi Everyone,
I hope all is well. I have a vision to share with you today that calls us to pray for the lost and and for those who feel there is no hope. We know that with God all things are possible, so we need to believe for these precious people to have hope in Jesus. We know that the Lord wants none to be lost and all come to the knowledge of him. So please read this and pray with me that we will see the hand of God move in their lives.
The Vision
Onions and a Watch and Chain
This was a two-part vision. The first part was a vision of chopped red onions.
The second part showed a group of people walking together, but only their legs were in view. There was a very large pocket watch that was dragging on the ground. Its large chain was carried by one or more in the group. The watch was about 12” in diameter making it about 40 times the size of a normal pocket watch. It reminded me of a group of prisoners with a ball and chain.
The chopped red onions, I believe, represent tears, sorrow, or grief. And because the onions were red, which represents sin, blood or blood shed, the vision suggests that physical pain or punishment may be involved and sin is the root cause.
The very large pocket watch dragging on the ground represents time that drags on. There are several people groups to whom this may apply. The first group that came to mind was made up of those that are waiting trial, or waiting for sentencing or waiting in prison for their time of incarceration to be completed.
Many of these people have little to no hope. They do not know the Lord and they feel alone or abandoned. Many people dread what is in store for them.
Awaiting Trial
I met and prayed for a young man who is being held in jail. It has been nearly a year and he is still waiting for his day in court. He has been charged with a crime, to which he pleaded not guilty. But he has been kept in jail without bond, as they would with dangerous men. The prosecuting attorneys continually cause delays, my guess is they are trying to find a way to build a stronger case against him. There was a video recording that supposedly exists, but no one has been able to see it.
Where is his attorney in all this? We don’t know. The United States Constitution’s Bill of Rights, states that the accused has a right to a speedy and public trial, so that the innocent are not kept in jail for an inordinate amount of time. If he is innocent of the charges, he should be able to return to a normal life as soon as possible. How is justice served when they hold the accused for months on end with no bail? He does not have a criminal record, and he is not a dangerous person. Those in charge have not honored his rights, but have abused their power by keeping him in jail this long. Even today there is still no court date for him to appear. I am surprised that his attorney has not raised a complaint!
United States Constitution - Sixth Amendment
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
This vision of the watch on a chain, shows the concern of the Lord. He sees the mistreatment of the innocent and the corruption in the courts. This young man is denied justice, by being denied his day in court. He is simply waiting, in jail. The court date has been cancelled over and over again. My guess is that if they presented the facts as they stand today, there would not be enough evidence to convict him. If the evidence is not there, what will they do? Are they going to fabric something from thin air? Now we look to the Lord, to expose every deed of darkness, to expose the wickedness in men’s hearts and to exonerate the lowly and the innocent.
In Solitary Confinement
There is no lack of wickedness. Politicians in Washington have done the very same thing to those held in the January 6th event in Washington. From videos on Youtube the very day of the event, which I saw with my own eyes, showed that these people were being escorted by security officers through the hallways of the government building. This was a set up to make it appear that these people having come to a political rally were anarchists and enemies of the state. This is an outrage. It could not be further from the truth.
But beginning in January of 2021, they were arrested and placed in solitary confinement for months. The Senators and Representatives, (most of which are lawyers themselves), were not allowed to speak to them. These people were denied their Constitutionally guaranteed rights. And they were denied legal counsel. Locked away for months on end, without a single person with whom to talk or without legal counsel is both cruel and unusual punishment. It is unconscionable to isolate people and forbid them defense, and the knowledge of what is going on outside their four walls.
This is the corrupt side of America. It is all about maintaining political control, and the wealth that comes through having power and influence.
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10
So We Pray
Lord, we are concerned for those who are held without legitimate cause. We pray that you raise up champions that will plead their case and help them to return to their families and loved ones. We ask that you put an end to this political persecution. We pray that you capture the hearts of those who have nothing but evil intent against the innocent. We pray that the hearts of these wicked leaders will be forever changed, that they will experience godly sorrow over their sin and will surrender their lives to you.
Even as the Lord was mistreated, and crucified, he prayed for those who abused him, saying:
“Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
The Lord asks us to do the same. When we are mistreated, slandered, and abused, we are to forgive.
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44-45
In Nursing Homes
There are other groups of people who are waiting. Time is on their hands, the days are long and burdensome. Those who are in nursing homes may feel unloved and abandoned by their own family members. They see their days on this earth as meaningless. They wish they could be at home with their loved ones, but they feel sad, and lonely and often rejected. Over-time, their hearts change and their thoughts become dark. They become resentful and full of bitterness. They feel hopelessly stuck in a place they cannot leave. Those that are angry and bitter become difficult for their caregivers to handle. So eventually, conflicts develop and either the resident or the caregiver strikes out against the other.
The management directs their employees to restrain or drug the individual. The nursing home becomes a place of emotionally incarcerated, bitter people. Because caring for the elderly and infirm in a nursing home may not be a pleasant job, some take it on just for the money or as the only job available to them. In this case less than adequate care is given to the residents. Many residents are mistreated. Some are not changed when they become dirty. Some are left in their beds and unturned, laying for long periods of time in their own filth, they get bed sores. To punish behavior that is “unacceptable,” caregivers have the ability to withhold food or fellowship with other residents.
At a nursing home we visited, we were told by a resident that one of his fellow residents fell from his wheelchair and was left on the floor for hours. No one cared enough to pick him up. At another nursing home, a diabetic man had nothing but junk food, sweets and sugary drinks on the table in his room. When we came into his room it smelled strongly of urine, and we realized that we were standing in a huge puddle on the floor.
I remember a woman who was beside herself, because she was in her wheelchair with a dense foam pillow pressing against her legs and forced under the arms of the chair so that she was unable to move. She could not lift herself up to adjust her position, which is necessary for all who are in wheelchairs, in order to maintain blood flow to the legs. She was in agony, tied down to her chair. It was like being placed in stocks for days, with no relief. I asked that it be taken away so that she can adjust her position and not cut off the circulation to her legs. They said, “We can’t do that, because she will stand up and fall.” I told them that they must find a better way, because she could develop blood clots in her legs.
A friend of my husband died in a nursing home. It was a situation of neglect. He developed bed sores because he was not moved. Because of the lack of cleanliness, the sores turned into MRSA and he died.
A nursing home can be a very miserable place of abuse and neglect. It can be a prison for those who cannot leave. Time is a burden for them. There is nothing to do, and they merely watch TV and wait for the next meal to come.
We All Need Jesus
These people need Jesus! We all need Jesus! He is our hope and our peace, for without him there is no hope for this life and the life to come. But with Jesus all things are possible.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
When we become born again, everything changes. The veil that covers our eyes is removed and our spiritual eyes are opened.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
I have learned that even though our circumstances may not change, the way we look at things does. With new eyes, we see people in a different way. We have eyes of compassion. We take on a different point of view, no longer seeing things from a worldly standpoint, we see things from an eternal perspective.
Our treasures are no longer on this earth. Our treasure is in heaven. Our thoughts are no longer about how to satisfy our fleshly desires, but how we can please the Lord. We see people’s need for a savior, and we pray for those who are spiritually lost and will spend eternity in hell, if they do not know the Lord.
I share with people in nursing homes about their need for the Lord, for he is their savior and the only way to eternal life with him. They do not need to live their lives in despair. From their wheelchairs, through their own prayers they can touch the heart of God. They can in agreement with God, change the world. They can pray for circumstances, current events, and people of every nation. Their prayers can heal bodies, restore families, and provide for the needs of the people around them.
God hears the prayers of his people. He knows what we have need of before we even ask. Everyone needs the love of God and the salvation that he offers in his Son Jesus. There is no one that should feel that their lives are worthless. When we have the Lord, we have the power through prayer to effect changes in others’ lives and to see God’s plan unfold.
“With God all things are possible!” Matthew 9:26
In Slavery
There is one more group of people who I see that time is a burden for them. Those who have been sold into slavery. Today we call it human trafficking. It seems to describe slavery with a word that is less descriptive of the reality of pain and suffering. People are sold to serve others to do hard or dangerous tasks. Some are placed in work camps and when there is a tissue match, their organs will be harvested and sold for transplant. Many of the young are sold into the sex trade. Every day these people wish to be free of their torment, but each day brings only pain and abuse. Time drags on for them.
Lord, Set the Captives Free
We call on the Lord for his divine intervention on behalf of these people. Lord Jesus, have mercy! Lord Jesus please raise up champions that will expose the perpetrators of these crimes against humanity. Lord have mercy and set these captives free!
The following is a passage from Isaiah which Jesus read from the Old Testament. It prophesied about him as the coming Messiah.
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:18-21
Jesus is always the answer. He is the Messiah–the Christ. He is Emmanuel, God with us. He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega. Jesus is our hope for this life and the life to come. He is our healer, our deliverer, our song, our joy and our delight. Jesus is the Prince of Peace; he is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He is the treasure that we seek. Everything that we need can be found in him. He is the Bread of Life, the Bread of Heaven. He is the Great I Am!
Let us know him. Let us give ourselves to him, surrendering our wills to his will. Let us read his word, for his word is truth and life. It is the truth that sets us free. Let us abide in him, and know his peace. Let us be filled with his Holy Spirit, and be obedient to him as his loving children.
We can know him, and know his presence and his blessing, but it begins with repentance. So we ask ourselves:
Have I sinned?
“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
Will he forgive me?
“If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12
“I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25
How will I know that I am born again?
When you see with new eyes, when you have love for the Lord and love for people, when you no longer want to sin, or go your own way, then you will know that God has given you his Holy Spirit to indwell you.
When you have a love for his word, when you want to talk with him and to enjoy his presence, when you think of him and want to please him, when you want to be used by him, and want to pray for others’ salvation, then you will know that you are truly filled with the Spirit of God and are born again. Hallelujah!
A Prayer for Salvation
So, if you have never asked the Lord to be born of his Spirit, please pray this prayer with me.
Dear Jesus,
I acknowledge that you are God and you belong to the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. You are one with the Father and one with the Holy Spirit. I know that without the shedding of blood, that sins cannot be forgiven. I thank you that you paid the price of my sin by dying on the cross and shedding your blood for me. I ask that you forgive me of the sins that I have committed by thought, word or action. I ask you to fill me with the Holy Spirit and give me new life. I ask that you write my name in the Book of Life, so that when I die, I will be with you forever, for all eternity. Please lead me and guide me as I surrender my will to yours. I no longer am my own, I was bought with your precious blood. I belong to you and you are mine. I declare this day that you are my savior, my Lord, my redeemer, my healer and my provider. Thank you Jesus! I choose this day to die to my selfish ways, and to live for you. Amen!
Please share this post with others. It is imperative that we share the good news of the gospel of Jesus. He is our hope! Be blessed in your walk with him!
