I've just returned home from a visit with my family back in the Northwest of England. As a bit of an update about the problem with my left leg (which had been steadily improving over the past weeks) whilst at my mother's house, I was larking about in the kitchen demonstrating a 'Cossack dance', then the day after, I was limping badly. However, I fought back with a vengeance using the Blood of Jesus, and today after my weekly visit to the gym, it is feeling loads better. Thank You, Lord for Proverbs 4 v 22, which tells me; 'Your Word is healing and health to ALL my flesh'
I love driving back to the Fylde Coast where I grew up. It seems, the nearer I get, the more liberty and freedom I feel. Why is that? Because God has not called me to be there, therefore there is no spiritual resistance. It's nice to enjoy a few days in that atmosphere...then it's 'back into the frae', as it were! It's just as important to be in the right 'geographical' location and church, as it is to know our gifting so that God can bless us, and use us, according to His plans and purposes.
I hope the following story will encourage anyone who may be facing some kind of threat in their local community. Ten years ago in 2003, a company called Canatxx from the USA, came to the Fylde Coast, wanting to store natural gas in the saltmines of the Wyre Estuary which runs into the Irish Sea. Soon after this, a stalwart group of people gathered together to set up resistance in the form of 'The Protect Wyre Group'.
In the meantime, confident they would win, Canatxx began buying up strategic areas of land near to the desired site, also endeavouring to curry favour with certain key people in the community. At the same time the PWG were gathering evidence of the dangers of storing volatile gas in that particular area, from various experts in the field. Plus, given the main industry of the Fylde Coast is tourism, the plans were set to devastate an area of natural beauty, not to mention the effect on wildlife, and the surrounding communities.
Apparently in Kansas a few years previously, in a similar situation where gas had been stored, there'd been an explosion causing loss of life after escaping gas had travelled about 8 miles underground.
Meanwhile, I was fighting the battle in the heavenlies (as I'm sure others were too). Thank God the planning application was refused. But the victory was short-lived as it soon became apparent that, undaunted, Canatxx were not for quitting! So, with more 'Say No To Gas' posters in every window, the PWG continued to fight on over the next few years, thwarting two further applications.
After that, another company called 'Halite Energy' arose, obviously confident they could win where their predecessors had failed. Meanwhile, though continuing to decree daily over the area during prayer, with two house moves over recent years, I'd lost touch with the progress of the campaign. However, whilst visiting this time, I got to wondering about it again, and happened to ask my mother if she'd heard any news about the situation. She said she hadn't.
Anyway, before leaving for the journey home, I went the petrol station to fill up my tank, and whilst standing at the till, my eyes fell on the local newspaper which bore the headline; 'FOR A FOURTH TIME...NO', and underneath was a picture of triumphant campaigners celebrating their victory! Oh the joy! After 10 years of battling, - they deserve to celebrate! But I give all the glory to God. He wanted to let me know, and I don't mind telling you, - it was an emotional moment. But it just shows what can be achieved using both 'the natural, and the spiritual' resources available to us, - plus, - that 'bulldog' refusal to quit! Hallelujah!
No comments:
Post a Comment