JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH AND MY HEAVEN
While I was a pupil at a Christian Pre-School on the island of Jamaica in 1962-64 I would often visit the chapel to avoid the bees that were stinging me out by the old broken down tennis court which was the only playground for our playtime at recess.
There in the chapel I would interrupt Sister Coke at her prayers. She would tell me to be very quiet as she had a lot to discuss with Jesus and He needed her full attention. Sometimes she would provide me with butter sandwiches and some milk to ensure my silence.
I rarely heard her say a word. So I wondered if she really was talking with Jesus Himself! One day I asked her why I could not hear them talking. She said Jesus is so close to her that she can hear Jesus in her very heart. I asked her if I spoke to Jesus would he talk to me? She said, “if you will sit quietly and try to listen that she was sure Jesus would speak to you.”
So, one day I did sit down in the back of the chapel and asked Jesus quietly in my heart, “Hello Jesus, Are you there?” Immediately, I heard a voice say, “Yes, I am always with you Mary.”
I thought to myself, that maybe I was just imagining this answer, so I asked, “Could you answer me in words I would never use so I know it is really not myself who is responding, but you?” Then I heard Jesus say, “I AM HERE! I promise to be always with you Mary.”
Then I was truly convinced that it was Jesus Christ who spoke. I don’t remember my conversations with Jesus after that time for a while.
However, a year or two later when I was 6 years old after my family had moved to Ohio I had a crisis of faith.
My family were living temporarily near my Primary School at The Howard Johnson’s Hotel while we looked for a new home. It took almost 6 months for us to find the right property. It was a ranch with bungalow set in the midst 36 acres of woodland, streams, fields and even a large pond right in front of the house.
So, you can imagine how I felt when we did move to this lovely new home and I was able to come back from school and go outside to play instead of staying home another night in front of the TV sitting in the hotel. I could not wait to explore it all!
Sundays my parents started to attend the local Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. I was not interested in spending another day indoors and told them I would rather stay at home. However, I was only 6 years old and they would not allow me to stay home alone or to miss Sunday School.
One Sunday when attending my Sunday School the lesson was based on the Scripture in Book of Revelation 3 Verse 20 ~
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone would answer and open the door I will come in and fellowship with them and reveal My Father to them.”
We colored the picture of Jesus knocking at the door of a cottage which was surrounded by a climbing rose. I remember thinking I wonder who lives there? Then our teacher who was what we as kids would call real “A Real Serjeant Major” insisted we learn this verse of scripture by repeating it word for word so as not to forget it. I started praying that God would excuse me from church so I could stay home and explore our ranch.
However, my could not help but think that I should probably ask Jesus what He thought about my plans to miss Sunday School at church.
Then I decided to challenge Jesus. I spoke to Him silently in my heart one night before going to sleep. I said that I did not believe He or His Father were really there watching over me and all the people of the world.
I told Him that if when I awoke the next morning, if He did not show Himself so that I could see Him in the eyes of my heart and hear Him clearly, that then it would be only right for me to be excused from attending Sunday School at church.
I added the condition that if I heard Him knock on my door that He could not bring God The Father with Him, since I was sure that The Father would be angry with me for being so naughty.
The next morning, I awakened to the sound of the birds singing. I could feel the sunlight shining in upon me in my bed. I remembered my prayer and kept my eyes shut asking silently, “Well then, where are you?” Suddenly, Jesus turned up close and personal, about 6 inches from my face laughing! I said, “Stop laughing at me! Why are you laughing?”
Jesus said, “Mary, we are overjoyed that you invited us.” I said, “Hey wait! I told you I did not want The Father to come in with you!”
Jesus said, “Mary, Our Father is not angry with you! Do not be afraid! We love you. We have been waiting for you to open the door to us. You know the way to heaven! My Father is in Me, and I am in Him. We are never apart.”
“Jesus said, Remember, you are able to find us at any time because you now will always know the way to heaven. We will never leave you. If you ever need anything, just call My Name.”
From that time onward, whenever I was in need of comfort or aid I would call out His Name, “Jesus!” Then Jesus would meet me and take me to Our Father in Heaven.
My Heavenly Father explained to me that Jesus is my Brother and that His Holy Spirit is constantly with me because I invited The Holy Spirit to live with me. Therefore, I can hear Him speak to me. And that when I invited His Son Jesus to reveal Himself to me then that was when His Holy Spirit came to live with me and to make a way to heaven so I could always be near My Heavenly Father.
He (The Holy Spirit) explained that they had work for my Mother and Father and me to do at this church. He reminded me of His Commandment, “Honor and Obey your Father and Mother that you may live long in the land that The Lord God has given you.” So therefore, I would be sinning and causing my parents to sin if I refused to attend church.
I grew up to become a wife and a Mother of six children who were born in Scotland, England, Sweden, Singapore, China and the United States of America. I now am employed as a Christian Street Pastor, Lay Speaker, Author & Blogger, Worship Dancer, Singer & Songwriter, and Prophetic Artist. I am a Mother of 6 children. I am not living in Wales where I was sent from a Welsh Village in Ohio to pray for The Lord’s People of Wales to return to Him in this Season of His Outpouring of His Latter Day Rains.
Another scripture, I find comforting is I John 5:14-15 ~ “And this is our blessed assurance, that which we have in Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, He listens to and hears us. And if we know that He listens to us in whatever way we ask, we also know that we have the answers to the requests made of Him.” And verse 21 ~ “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (anything that would take the first place of Jesus in your hearts. Amen.”
I now live and work in Wales, UK where with Jesus by my side and His help I am helping Him to prosper His Kingdom on earth as He wishes it to become (as in Heaven) among His People.
selahmaray.blogspot.co.uk
Youtube Channel MK HAMMERFIRE, MARY HAMMERFIRE,
ELECTRIC SPICE SELKIE
