Thinking Out LOUD – Bank Holiday Monday Minus Lockdown – Death

It has been a very long wait for the Bank Holiday: with sunshine, without lockdown, with a low Covid-19 death toll, and what happens? Several people have lost their lives and many others will never be the same again. Of those that will never be the same again, in addition to the victims; there will be Aunts, Uncles, Mothers, Fathers, friends, neighbours, acquaintances…the list goes on. People have been affected who are are either directly or indirectly connected to the victims. But it doesn’t end there! Whatabout the onlookers? There will be a ripple effect. The witnesses to the attacks; physically present, viewers of the footage shown to them by friends OR innocently reading about it only to have the video automatically start playing at the top of the screen! I ask myself what on earth is happening to the world we live in? Instead of everyone rejoicing at the fact we have been set free, and realising that we’ve survived to a date where so many haven’t; there are those who have taken up weapons and stepped out that day, ready to end someone’s life. I just don’t understand. Ken Marsh, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, seems to think that we (society) are numb to these killings, which are taking place.

“It’s not a mystery, it’s happening right in front of us. Unfortunately, we turn a blind eye to it and accept it’s the norm…..But it can never be the norm that people are losing their sons and daughters in this way, but that I don’t know why but society seems to think it is”

Ken Marsh, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation (The Scottish Sun)

I have to wonder if he’s speaking about another society, not on this planet! A society comprised of police that I, and many others, are not privy to. I don’t know how a rational, sane human being, with all faculties in place, could perceive this as the norm. Rather, I wonder if he’s trying to plant a subliminal seed! Yes, I said it! There has never been a news-report on such a disturbing act, where I’ve thought to myself “Oh dear, another one”, without looking up at the television or scrolling past the story on my newsfeed. If I have scrolled past it sis because I have thought to myself, “Not again.” As they increase, I still get the same feeling. In fact, this time it hit me harder. How many more lives have to be snatched away? Can the perpetrators of these heinous acts not put themselves in the place of the families who are to receive the news of the results of their actions? Don’t they even fear that the turn of events could mean they could lose their lives? Does it not worry them that this one action could lead to the end of their freedom…? How would they feel if they were in the same position and their loved one was put in that situation? Do their hearts contain no love for their fellow man…..? Are their hearts so hard and cold?

In the same article, Ken Marsh went on to say that as lockdown is lifted more people will be out and about, so gangs will begin to target their rivals. Were measures put in place, realising this was the case.

“And it creates this perfect storm of all these people coming back out onto the street, thinking they can just do what they want“

Ken Marsh, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation (The Scottish Sun)

He also said that people will be thinking they can do what they want.

• Who taught them that?
• Why do they think they can do what they want?
• Can they do what they want?
• Who’s stopping them from doing ‘what they want’?
• Do they realise the repercussions of doing ‘what they want’?
• Are the repercussions enough of a deterrent?

A stop needs to occur and what is currently being done needs to be revised. Whatever is currently being done isn’t working. Groups need to be set up to monitor usage on Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube (only ones I’m aware of with large British usage) because, unfortunately, I’ve known of people who have lost their lives after having disputes via these social media apps. It is said that if boos are put on the use of this, the perpetrators will go underground. Unfortunately, I don’t know what that means. Maybe groups already exist and they’ve already put a stop to many things that we don’t know about, but it should be made known so that just maybe, there will be a halt on attempts to this happening. However, having said that, I think of the United States of America and their penultimate punishment is death rather than a (long) prison term and it does nothing. There is still no fear for destroying the life of an individual they kill or harm and the many others in the ripple.

As I read the numerous stories of those that have lost their lives, it becomes more than I can comprehend. Why are people taking away the lives of others? Do they not realise the values of lives. It is these individuals that are numb to the situation and values of life, not my generation. It is Generation Z. Generation Z are the ones who hold our futures in their hands and they are killing themselves and depleting the lives of others without even batting an eyelid. If they are holding the lives of people in their hands (with pride) and are ever so ready to destroy it, something needs to be done and it needs to be done quickly. A young lady I know, who is of Generation Z, was a witness to one of the aftermaths, (where the young man survived). When I queried how she was, she stated that she was okay. She had seen the aftermath with the victim laying on the floor, but felt nothing…….God help us.

God Help Us

God help us. Now there’s a statement that many will read and roll their eyes and feel there’s no need for Him at a time like this. However, now is a time when we need Him so much more than people realise. Mankind are so distant from Him that they focus on their personal needs rather than the needs of those around them. Our youth are killing themselves at the drop of a hat and a change needs to come. On a spiritual level, Prayer Warriors need to rise up and for those who are not on that realm, they need to pray to be. The devil comes for nothing else but to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Do you realise that? Do you understand? Do you feel the change in the atmosphere? A change needs to come in all levels of society but we need to be at the grassroots covering our children and our families. If things cannot be done because they are too far gone, prayer is the only thing that can help. As I type it’s come up on my newsfeed that a 35 year old man has been charged with the murder of Dea-John Reid. The 14 year old boy that was killed on Bank Holiday Monday. An adult should be the one that calms things down if they see youths fighting, but it was an adult that put a stop to it by ending Dea-John’s life. The sad thing is he won’t be, or wasn’t, the last. His killing happened on Monday but there have already been others since that day.

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

John 10:10 (AMP)

Are we at a dead end? No. It doesn’t matter if The Almighty God is your last resort, because sometimes it takes destruction before the remedy is realised. If you are somebody that already acknowledges The Almighty God, Who sent His Son to be your Lord and Saviour; to die for your sins, there is a hope. I have placed some scriptures below. Let the ripple effect be one that causes a good conclusion. As you pray for them, a change will come and it will extend to others as they share what they know. We all have our infancy in our walks with The Most High, so it is my hope that the scriptures will also lift you up, so that You will realise the importance of being a child of God. If you haven’t, it’s never too late to call out to Him, for He hears and answers prayer. Make a covenant with The Most High, its the best decision you can make.

²² This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction,

²³ since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God,

²⁴ and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

²⁵ whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion].

Romans 3:22-25 (AMP)

Additionally, Scripture tells us about handing it all over to The Most High, our Great high Priest. He sees, knows it all and is touched with the feelings of our infirmities: doubt, fear, infirmities, sicknesses, struggles.

¹⁴ Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior].

¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.

¹⁶ Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].

Hebrews 4:14-16 (AMP)

Below are some scriptures, which can be used as springboards for praying for our children. Receive and accept them. I hope they will give you the zeal needed as you pray:-

For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is righteous and just, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.”

Genesis 18:19 (AMP)

So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am commanding you today, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and so that you may live long on the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”

Deuteronomy 4:40 (AMP)

¹¹ Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you to fear the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worship Him with obedience].

Psalm 34:11 (AMP)

“The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You.”

Psalm 102:28 (AMP)

In the [reverent] fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And His children will [always] have a place of refuge.

Proverbs 14:26 (AMP)

3 ‘For I will pour out water on him who is thirsty, And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants;

⁴ And they will spring up among the grass like willows by the streams of water.’

⁵ “One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’; And another will name himself after Jacob; And another will write on his hand, ‘I am the Lord’s,’And be called by the [honorable] name of Israel.

Isaiah 44:3-5 (AMP)

“And all your [spiritual] sons will be disciples [of the Lord], And great will be the well-being of your sons.

Isaiah 54:13 (AMP)

“As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit which is upon you [writing the law of God on the heart], and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouths of your [true, spiritual] children, nor from the mouth of your children’s children,” says the Lord, “from now and forever.”

Isaiah 59:21 (AMP)

“They will not labor in vain, Or bear children for disaster; For they are the descendants of those blessed by the Lord, And their offspring with them.

Isaiah 65:23 (AMP)

¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful and miraculous things that Jesus had done, and heard the boys who were shouting in [the porticoes and courts of] the temple [in praise and adoration], “Hosanna to the Son of David (the Messiah),” they became indignant

¹⁶ and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus replied to them, “Yes; have you never read [in the Scripture], ‘Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared and provided praise for Yourself’?”

¹⁷ Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

Matthew 21:15-17 (AMP)

And He took the children [one by one] in His arms and blessed them [with kind, encouraging words], placing His hands on them.

Mark 10:16 (AMP)

The disciples were amazed and bewildered by His words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is [for those who place their hope and confidence in riches] to enter the kingdom of God!

Mark 10:24 (AMP)

¹⁵ Now they were also bringing their babies to Him, so that He would touch and bless them, and when the disciples noticed it, they began reprimanding them.

¹⁶ But Jesus called them to Himself, saying [to the apostles], “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

¹⁷ I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God [with faith and humility] like a child will not enter it at all.”

Luke 18:15:17 (AMP)

³² And we are bringing you the good news of the promise made to our fathers (ancestors),

³³ that God has completely fulfilled this promise to our children by raising up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten (fathered) You.’

³⁴ And [as for the fact] that He raised Him from the dead, never again to return to decay [in the grave], He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David [those blessings and mercies that were promised to him].’

Acts 13:32-34 (AMP)

³¹ And they answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus [as your personal Savior and entrust yourself to Him] and you will be saved, you and your household [if they also believe].”

³² And they spoke the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ] to him and to all who were in his house.

³³ And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their bloody wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

Acts 16:31-33 (AMP)

The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God.

Romans 8:16 (AMP)

Once again it’s just me, Thinking Out LOUD.