{Edit: 29th Feb. this post was written in earlyJan 2020, when another fear wagon was being filled by the media. The current fear wagon of Caronavirus also comes under this, the media needs to have our attention by any means. To get perspective on this virus, the worst ever pandemic was 1919 influenza outbreak, it killed more people than died in all of WW1.
Being an influenza it was much more deadly, than SARS or Coronavirus.
Being an influenza it was much more deadly, than SARS or Coronavirus.
Edit: Feb 2021
1918 Influenza FACTS (link here).
It is estimated that about 500 million
people or one-third of the world's population became infected with this
virus.
The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States.
Population much smaller in 1918 too!
In Worldameter with Coronavirus as of Today 1st Feb, 2021, worldwide just over 2 million deaths or 2,239,275 and over 100 million cases (MUCH fewer deaths. 24/7 media would have us believe otherwise.}
*****
(This post includes links so you may have a clearer overview, not the way the media portrays!)
*****
My post title may puzzle some.
(This post includes links so you may have a clearer overview, not the way the media portrays!)
*****
My post title may puzzle some.
”God Has Not Given Us a Spirit of Fear.
Or perhaps another title might be
A Spirit of Fear Vs Fear of God!
******
******
So who has given us that spirit of fear?
This thought came to me in prayer for our land of Australia.
Like many I’ve a deep burden for aching hearts in our country, so much temporal loss.
But has it caused them, or us, to think of eternal things?
Like many I’ve a deep burden for aching hearts in our country, so much temporal loss.
But has it caused them, or us, to think of eternal things?
I pray so.
A spirit of fear is whipped up by the unrelenting media.
Because of these relentless attacks, we need to refer to facts on drought and fires in Australian history.
Plus some wondrous miracles at the end. 😊
Because of these relentless attacks, we need to refer to facts on drought and fires in Australian history.
Plus some wondrous miracles at the end. 😊
Sadly we are often myopic or shortsighted.
We (with the media) forget or ignore past history in midst of events.
(Sorry, it is long, cut as much as could, it's taken days to write.)
*****
UNPRECEDENTED
is the commonly overused catchcry of the 24/7 media in 21st century.
However severe and indeed extreme, grievous loss, widespread and long lasting, these events are NOT exactly unprecedented, if viewed in the light of Aust history.
What is Unprecedented is the 24/7 coverage we have of such events, on mobile devices, radio, TV, etc.
It is continuously unyielding and implacable in its influences.
The Worst fire in our history was in Victoria in size or area, in 1851, when 1/4 of state of Victoria burnt on Black Thursday, over 5 million hectares in this one event.
NOW the total number of hectares burnt in all fires this fire season in whole of Aust is 12.5 million hectares (as of 5th Jan, 2020)!
(Link here, if check it you'll see it mirrors the current situation in some ways)
This Total area burnt in Oz of 12.5 mill. hectares is 2 & half times that amount burnt in 1851 fire in one state.
It followed on two years of severe widespread drought in 1850 and 1851.
The Black Thursday bushfires, were caused in part by an intense drought that occurred throughout 1850 when the continent suffered from extreme heat, with fires around for a period before this conflagration.
Like most fires it was caused by man (80%+ are see link here), a fire left untended by some bullocky (bullocky - men who drives cart with team of bullocks).
NOW the total number of hectares burnt in all fires this fire season in whole of Aust is 12.5 million hectares (as of 5th Jan, 2020)!
(Link here, if check it you'll see it mirrors the current situation in some ways)
This Total area burnt in Oz of 12.5 mill. hectares is 2 & half times that amount burnt in 1851 fire in one state.
It followed on two years of severe widespread drought in 1850 and 1851.
The Black Thursday bushfires, were caused in part by an intense drought that occurred throughout 1850 when the continent suffered from extreme heat, with fires around for a period before this conflagration.
Like most fires it was caused by man (80%+ are see link here), a fire left untended by some bullocky (bullocky - men who drives cart with team of bullocks).
It’s recorded in 1851 that a ship, the Henry Edward (info here), sailing up east coast had its sails and rigging catch on fire from the ember attack of the fires.
Image of 1851 fire.
Worst fire in number of people killed was 2009, again Vic, a total of 173 died on Black Saturday, 2009. (link here).
Intense bushfires are not uncommon in southern Australia. The region is one of the three most fire-prone in the world. Within the last two hundred years, the area has experienced and documented at least twenty-five major fires (see link), beginning with Black Thursday in 1851. We have trees and undergrowth which are naturally highly combustible. Many depend on fire for germination.
This 2019 -20 fire season, although not as severe as those two, or even many others I could name, may be perhaps longer lasting and wider spread than these events.
Our local 183,000 hectare fire started in early Sept (or late Aug not sure), but we were smoke affected from 6th Sept till 25th Dec. when the Lord miraculously gave us 2 days of rain and
put our two fires out, a great Christmas gift. Praise Him!
Another key issue of course is population has increased greatly.
Many more areas become naturally fire-prone as populated habitats.
Image of 1851 fire.
 |
| (From this post see link here, describing weather could be today, 117F in Melb ie 47.7C, but these temps not counted by BOM - see below) |
Intense bushfires are not uncommon in southern Australia. The region is one of the three most fire-prone in the world. Within the last two hundred years, the area has experienced and documented at least twenty-five major fires (see link), beginning with Black Thursday in 1851. We have trees and undergrowth which are naturally highly combustible. Many depend on fire for germination.
This 2019 -20 fire season, although not as severe as those two, or even many others I could name, may be perhaps longer lasting and wider spread than these events.
Our local 183,000 hectare fire started in early Sept (or late Aug not sure), but we were smoke affected from 6th Sept till 25th Dec. when the Lord miraculously gave us 2 days of rain and
put our two fires out, a great Christmas gift. Praise Him!
Another key issue of course is population has increased greatly.
Many more areas become naturally fire-prone as populated habitats.
Fire and man go together!
****
Re Unprecented Drought:
****
Re Unprecented Drought:
Over a century ago in 1896 it was time of one of the most severe droughts in recorded history in Aust. The temperatures reached protracted long periods of over century 110F+ heat, up to 50C day after day in some outback towns .
However these temperatures are not on records! Why?
The Aust Bureau of Meteorology c. 2010 (could not find exact date for this, tried multiple times and ways) removed all pre 1910 records from Aust. records (link here to BOM) and others here.
This is not commonly known and skews all temperature records totally.
Any current record temps are only in last 100 years.
Why did they do this?
They said the early method of records are unreliable, with limited or poor use of a Stephenson Screen thermometer, thus inaccurate.
However there are other facts that prove they were wrong to claim these inaccuracies.
There were 437 deaths just on east coast of Aust due to severe drought of 1896! (link here).
However these temperatures are not on records! Why?
The Aust Bureau of Meteorology c. 2010 (could not find exact date for this, tried multiple times and ways) removed all pre 1910 records from Aust. records (link here to BOM) and others here.
This is not commonly known and skews all temperature records totally.
Any current record temps are only in last 100 years.
Why did they do this?
They said the early method of records are unreliable, with limited or poor use of a Stephenson Screen thermometer, thus inaccurate.
However there are other facts that prove they were wrong to claim these inaccuracies.
There were 437 deaths just on east coast of Aust due to severe drought of 1896! (link here).
(Also many recorded deaths that decade in droughts in northern hemisphere, including USA.)
If that many people died from heatstroke on only east coast of Aust. THEN the records cannot be that wrong!
That heatwave was unprecedented.
No global warming then, or pollution.
No UN either, to cloud, confuse the facts..
So when you hear the phrase in our media of “Smashing all previous records..." as I did yesterday,
it should be
“Smashing all records since 1910..!”
I don't know if other countries have done this but I would not be surprised.
It's so convenient for the global warming argument and 1992 Agenda 21 by the UN, (link here), which is simply out for control by "sustainable development".
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power,
and of love,
and of a sound mind.
Note Order:
Power by the Spirit indwelling,
Love fills us
THEN the Sound Mind!
Yay!
Fear of the Lord, THAT is saving and keeping fear.
it should be
“Smashing all records since 1910..!”
I don't know if other countries have done this but I would not be surprised.
It's so convenient for the global warming argument and 1992 Agenda 21 by the UN, (link here), which is simply out for control by "sustainable development".
but of power,
and of love,
and of a sound mind.
Note Order:
Power by the Spirit indwelling,
Love fills us
THEN the Sound Mind!
Yay!
Fear of the Lord, THAT is saving and keeping fear.
It keeps us from the dread and terror the world and Satan likes to instill.
Our Saviour gives peace, perfect peace in the midst of storm.
The One Who calmed the storm upon the sea of Galilee will calm the storm of our heart with
"Peace, be still"!
Or Ps 46:10
"Be still, and Know that I am God".
*****
MIRACLES IN THE FIRE!
There have also been many miracles of God’s preservation in midst of fire.
In some cases, I've heard towns saved miraculously as fire danger was "somehow" averted, or in Vic many individuals thought lost are perfectly safe!
I’ve been praying for these miracles and I’m sure you have too.
In Cobargo, NSW a pastor and his wife fled their slight timber structure building, going to help friends defend their more defensible house.
They called others to pray for mercy.
For two days they believed their home gone, till finally able to return, they miraculously found it all intact.
(Link here, listened on iPad, couldn’t on phone though.)
The image shows the fire lapped the front right edge and stayed by God’s hand and all around the whole perimeter.
In front of shed is the large crude cross which is used in Good Friday parade each year and stored there.
Fire stopped just before the foot of cross. Words roughly painted on cross are “life transforming power".
This is a dear friend of a friend's home, all around home burnt, but same lapping of edges, but even bikes not burnt or her rose garden!
Had to leave in hurry & couldn’t damp down anything, but with others prayed!
Another believer in Mt Torrens, S.A, property where the fence line was licked with flame but stopped!
(More of stories here)
It reminded me of story of Elisha and the servant surrounded by the Syrian army, and the servant was terrified. (2 Kings 6:16->).
.. he (Elisha) answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."
¤¤¤¤¤¤
"And the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. Ps 34:7
Thank you for your patience if you've read this far.
I'd just like to close with a meditation on the real reason for today's ever present disasters.
Yes, we live with constant assault by media, but we need to measure it in light of God's word, not man's word.
"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
And not only they, but ourselves ... even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." Rom 8:22, 23
The fall of sin affects creation.
One day it will, praise God, all pass away (verse here).
¤¤¤¤¤
Till then we must pray on!
Especially for our Christian PM Scott Morrison, and all leaders everywhere, in US, UK, Europe, Israel, Middle East, Asia, etc.
Our PM is accused falsely of much by media beat up of flawed facts.
If PM does things on national level, he's condemned. If he leaves it to rightly State to handle it, he's rediculed as inept, same result in both cases.
This post applies I am sure to other countries too as Satan, as the Prince and Power of the air (see verse) and the Father of lies (verse), is the author of confusion. His spirit and cohorts, our adversaries are busy at work in those who will not walk in God's light, especially the ungodly media.
Oh dear Heavenly Father, please please have mercy upon us, we never deserve any of Your gifts especially salvation in Jesus, but oh Lord have mercy upon poor sinfilled Oz.
For we have no might, neither know we what to do but our eyes are upon Thee.
With God all things are possible, especially rain to end the drought and put fires out, please.
Please also comfort, help, strengthen all hurting hearts everywhere. Keep us faithful in prayer, please.
May blind eyes see, unbelieving hearts believe and seek the only hope in the saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In His sweet Name, Amen.
May the Lord bless our nations and leaders EVERYwhere! and in great grace & mercy and save us from ouselves.
Prayer hugs,🙏🤗
Shaz in Oz. X
I’ve been praying for these miracles and I’m sure you have too.
In Cobargo, NSW a pastor and his wife fled their slight timber structure building, going to help friends defend their more defensible house.
They called others to pray for mercy.
For two days they believed their home gone, till finally able to return, they miraculously found it all intact.
(Link here, listened on iPad, couldn’t on phone though.)
In front of shed is the large crude cross which is used in Good Friday parade each year and stored there.
Fire stopped just before the foot of cross. Words roughly painted on cross are “life transforming power".
Had to leave in hurry & couldn’t damp down anything, but with others prayed!
(More of stories here)
It reminded me of story of Elisha and the servant surrounded by the Syrian army, and the servant was terrified. (2 Kings 6:16->).
.. he (Elisha) answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."
¤¤¤¤¤¤
"And the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. Ps 34:7
Thank you for your patience if you've read this far.
I'd just like to close with a meditation on the real reason for today's ever present disasters.
Yes, we live with constant assault by media, but we need to measure it in light of God's word, not man's word.
And not only they, but ourselves ... even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." Rom 8:22, 23
The fall of sin affects creation.
One day it will, praise God, all pass away (verse here).
¤¤¤¤¤
Till then we must pray on!
Especially for our Christian PM Scott Morrison, and all leaders everywhere, in US, UK, Europe, Israel, Middle East, Asia, etc.
Our PM is accused falsely of much by media beat up of flawed facts.
If PM does things on national level, he's condemned. If he leaves it to rightly State to handle it, he's rediculed as inept, same result in both cases.
This post applies I am sure to other countries too as Satan, as the Prince and Power of the air (see verse) and the Father of lies (verse), is the author of confusion. His spirit and cohorts, our adversaries are busy at work in those who will not walk in God's light, especially the ungodly media.
For we have no might, neither know we what to do but our eyes are upon Thee.
With God all things are possible, especially rain to end the drought and put fires out, please.
Please also comfort, help, strengthen all hurting hearts everywhere. Keep us faithful in prayer, please.
May blind eyes see, unbelieving hearts believe and seek the only hope in the saving power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In His sweet Name, Amen.
May the Lord bless our nations and leaders EVERYwhere! and in great grace & mercy and save us from ouselves.
Prayer hugs,🙏🤗
Shaz in Oz. X
PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ... link HERE. Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on.
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8 comments:
A fact and faith filled post Shaz - I can understand why it took days to write. You are right - the media (and some govt depts) are very clever at skewing facts and figures to suit themselves, and in the media especially, to sensationalize things to increase sales/views and increase the $$....
Thank you for being so faithful to bring these posts.
May God richly bless you and keep you safe
Maxine
I sense two major points coming forth from your post dear Shaz. The first being that yes, such devastation is frightening for believers and non-believers. For those of us who have never seen, let alone experienced, such fires in real life, it is so sad to see people frightened and in tears. It is what we do with these events that is important. Do we fall on our knees and pray knowing that God is in complete control even if we do not know why; or do we take what man says as truth? God is not a man that He should lie..(Numbers 23:19) We pray daily for your country knowing that God can equally allow such things to happen here. Your stories of miracles encourage us to continue to pray!
Thank you for taking so much time to write a post with thought and details in it. The facts are irrefutable and yet the media and politicians want us to believe their slant on truth. Facts just get in the way!
I am continuing in prayer for the fires and am greatly encouraged by the miracles you've shared with us. May God bless Australia and the rest of this world as Satan continues to try to dominate the hearts and minds of man. Although it does look as though he's winning, at least here in the US, we know that our God is victorious in the end. We just need to keep our minds fixed on Him until that time.
Blessings and love,
Betsy
I heard today that you have received more rain, thanks be to God! But that it won't last long but I will continue to pray for it and that it comes soon, we know God can change that at any time he wants.
I am trying to think how far back our record temps seem to go, I know that I am shocked at times how far back when we reach close to the record, and I think wow they were dealing with the same thing way back then and it got better. It is just so sad when we see the snow melting away that once use to be there, or our mountains where there use to always be snow and is no more for us to enjoy, that is very sad and I hope it reverses itself. Especially for all the poor animals in the arctic.
What Great pictures of the homes that were saved, it is always miraculous when we see pictures of these things, I can only imagine being overcome by thankfulness when you come back and see so much charred all around but your home still standing, Praise God!
May our leaders always look to God for guidance in all they do and say, and our hope always be in our God!
Hi Shaz, I thought I would pop over here today, we too have been reading of the terrible droughts and fires faced by our earlier settlers, using National Library of Australia's Trove Newspapers to read of devastation from both drought and fire (floods too). Also remembering my lessons in local Aboriginal History, as nomadic tribes they burnt the land as they moved camp each year, meaning less of the build up we see now of debris from our volatile plants... A very interesting read... Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy your visitors... Megan
Really enjoyed reading that Shaz, I know it must have taken you an age so many thanks. Sending hugs my dear friend. Angela xxx
Appreciated reading this informative post! You are so right, the media is quite often very misleading in their information - and no wonder when so many of them are not ones who know the Lord or care about the truth...just whatever fits their opinion and better helps them. I needed these reminders today that "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and a sound mind." It is so easy for me to yield to the circumstances around me as I did today in fear of certain circumstances I am facing and dishonor the Lord by my unbelief that He cares and will provide whatever it is that I need. Thank you for faithful reminders! Have been seeking to fill my mind with God's promises, and continue to pray them for God's mercy on not only the U.S. but nations such as yours around the world.
Amen.
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