There is a glimmer

Written by Sandra Lloyd

Fog is all around us.  It is thick, heavy, oppressive.

Somewhere, in humility, there is a mother on her knees, weeping.  She does not weep for herself.  She weeps for her children; for the grandchildren she had hoped to have some day, but now, she’s no longer sure that is something she can look forward to.

Somewhere in America tonight, an aged WWII veteran, tattered Bible in his lap, sits alone under the light of a small lamp, sorrow heavy in his chest. It was the 4th day of his fast.  As is his habit at this time every night,  he cries out to God, who has seen Him through 94 years, to please, please have mercy on this wicked and foolish generation that is squandering what so many of his brothers-in-arms died for, to please turn the tide.

In a tiny town in Texas, there is an old woman, widow of a pastor, they’d served faithfully together for 62 years, raised 10 kids, had 18 grand kids and 4 great-grands, and she pleaded with God, prevailing upon His mercy “just this once more”.  “God, its been a long road.  I know I’ll be coming home to You and Joe soon, but Lord, my kids and my grand kids still have some living to do, long as You plan to tarry, and I’m asking not because we deserve it, for we do not, won’t you please forgive us, this wayward nation?  Will you raise up a voice with Holy Spirit fire, soften the hardened hearts and consciences of wayward folks, like my youngest son, who once knew better, and remove the scales from our eyes once again?  Father, that fella in the White House, that old Satan has done a real job on him.  Stopped his ears, blinded his eyes, and filled his head with so many lies that he doesn’t even know the difference.  Got an early start on him.  Lord, isn’t there anyone who could reach Mr. Obama.  O, forgive me that I haven’t prayed for Him more.  I was too busy bein’ mad at him, if you want the truth.  God help us.  Bring us back to the old paths that we once knew, but have all but been grown over from lack of traverse”

In a humble and run-down Christian school, started and nurtured in prayer, sweat, prayer, sacrifice, and more prayer, a mere 18 students gather for chapel.  The mood is subdued.   Finances are tight, and the school may be forced to close, if the economy gets much worse, and support dwindles further, but faith is still alive here.  The students kneel around the chapel, and even the small ones seem to detect the solemnity of the moment.  Prayers go up, silently at first, and then one by one, from the lone Senior student, all the way down to the littlest pre-schooler, they each ask God to provide.

And He hears.

The Lord looks down across the various states.  Here, and there, another one bows a head, and cries out in confession: “Lord, I am tired of this existence.  Nothing really makes sense to me anymore.  I have wandered so far from how my parents raised me, and here I am, divorced, my kids couldn’t really care less if they see or hear from me or not, and I deserve it because all I wanted was ‘the good life’.  I’m so sorry, Lord.  I am so sorry for not being the man I should have been.  I know can’t go back and fix anything, but God, if You’ll have me, I’d like to ask for your forgiveness and if You’ll help me, I’d like to do better.  But I can’t on my own.  I have come to understand there isn’t anything good in me.  For all my conviction I could forge my own destiny, and make something great of myself, the truth is, I don’t like what I have become at all.  I have the money, but without my family, it doesn’t satisfy, and only mocks me.  I’ve indulged every desire, and everything is empty and disappointing.  God, I want to get back to what I once knew.  You are God, and I am a sinner and I deserve hell and worse.  I’ve used people, harmed those I should have loved the best and should have treated as fine gold.  I disappointed my folks when all they ever did was serve You, and serve me and raise me up on the Bible.  There is no one to blame but myself and my own selfish ambitions.  But Lord, for Mama and Daddy’s sake, would you consider giving me one more chance?  I know Jesus never sinned, and He died on the cross to take the punishment for these things I’ve done.  I come empty and with nothing to recommend me, but Christ’s willingness to die for me, and ask that you apply His atonement to my account.  I know there is no guarantee I can ever mend fences with Joan and the kids, but I’d appreciate if You would give me the courage and the words, to try to convey my apology, and seek forgiveness, even though I don’t deserve it and they may not be able to find it in their hearts to grant it”, and on he prays until he is exhausted, empty, and purged.

A phone rings in that small Texas town, and the old widow is startled from sleep.  “Must have dosed off prayin’ again.  Sorry Lord”.  She reaches for the phone and hears a familiar voice, her dear, wayward son.  It’s been 5 years.  “Mama” was all he could say, before his sobs came.  She clutches her heart, and prayer as natural as breathing, pours out to her beloved Savior.  When he could finally talk, he told her of his confessions before the Lord, “and Mama, I know it’s too late to say this to Daddy, but will you forgive me for how I’ve treated you?”.

“Son, I already have”.  They talked for nearly forty minutes, and now it was time to try Joan.  He’d heard she was living in Georgia now, with her new husband.  All-around good guy, from all he’d heard.  With shaking hands, he dialed the number his daughter Kelly had given him the last time they talked.  Good old Kelly, the baby, the only one who hadn’t written him off.

A chain reaction started to take place.  As people sought reconciliation, bitter hearts were released from prisons they didn’t know they were in, and eyes of those who had been wronged, were then able to see beyond their own pain and disillusionment, to their own faults and failures.  Fathers mourned for failing to be the leaders and examples their families deserved.  Mothers repented for putting self-fulfillment above the needs of children they brought into this world.  Teens who had so dearly hoped to see some sign that there was really something to this “Christianity” business, witnessed something they recognized as authentic, and were relieved to be able to give church another chance.

All across the nation, prayers began to waft heavenward as incense and pleasing aroma to God.  Prayers captured in censors by the angels.  Prayers God had longed to hear and the sorts of requests God delighted most in answering.  Prayers of confession and repentance.  Prayers of long-silent saints, begging for boldness to proclaim Christ, prayers for revival!

It started out a trickle.  Like the faint warble of a faraway bird somewhere deep in a vast forest, as sunrise approaches.  It grew to a murmur. Fog began to dissipate.  Heaven grew animated and excitement buzzed through the heavenly host of angels and saints.  The sound of portals opening, angels dispatched, swords flashing.  What a flurry of wings!  The enemy, beaten into retreat.

The angels responsible for gathering the tears of the saints for God’s collection, had seldom been so busy!  Flask after alabaster flask, filling and filling with the repentant tears of a vast nation.  The fog was indeed lifting, and the light of heaven was breaking forth on the countenance of many who hadn’t genuinely smiled in years.

It started in the House of the Lord, preachers repenting of leaving what they knew, enticed or pressured, losing sight of God as provider, thinking only of getting the budget met, elders finally admitting that the ways of the world and the best marketing schemes, were useless tactics they’d fallen for, and they simply did not work.  Pastors who had gotten proud, or gotten themselves under yokes of bondage by failure to pray and continue in the Word, and most of all, to look to the Lord as the supplier of all, instead of getting  everything upon their own shoulders.  Others, lonely and pressured, who had succumbed to the lure of pornography and lonely women, wept in profound remorse, and repented before the Lord.

It was only a few here and there at first.  But it was genuine.  They started calling one another up, old friendships that had grown neglected.  They confessed their faults one to another, and pledged a new committment, by God’s grace and with His help, to hold one another accountable, and stop going it alone.

Next there came a wave of deep conviction in the hearts of those members which had various rifts and fallings-out with their brothers and sisters in Christ.  People who hadn’t spoken to one another in years started looking one another up, calling, confessing, repenting, reconciling, agreeing to simply disagree on the things that are not pertaining to salvation itself.  Many of them terribly petty.

Churches that had split from one another, held reconciliation meetings, held sessions of prayer together, and soon they were embarking on joint ventures.  One which had been struggling to start a bus ministry, but couldn’t get it off the ground, soon found itself the beneficiary of a used bus, and a generous love-gift from the other.  The youth, seeing something genuine taking place, came back out of curiosity, and soon were putting their elders to shame, with their own youthful enthusiasm and boldness.  Wise adults took their cues, and learned from the example.  The faith of a child, getting over what’s done and gone, looking to the future instead of nursing old hurts.  They may not have as much time or energy, but these adults started doing what they could, rather than seeing it all as the job of someone else.

VBS rosters filled, help showed up in droves, where congregations were aged, young families started to turn up a few at a time, with them, came babies, youth, a new generation to carry on the work.

And as aging missionaries all over the world, continued to press on even at seventy and eighty years old, the reinforcements they had prayed so long for, finally started coming.  Middle-agers, families with small children, nervous and insecure, they came on faith and a shoestring budget.  But the work would continue, after all, for whatever time remains.

All because someone cried with importunity, in humility, and in Godly sorrow, and refused to stop praying until something happened.  For that is the prayer, that availeth much.

Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

Gosnell is guilty, but Christian, so are you.  Obama is guilty, but Christian, so are you. Against thee, and thee alone, have I sinned, oh Lord my God.

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http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/love-letter-to-americas-pastors/

Thoughts of spring, of time and hope, of good and evil.

I don’t know what season it is where you live, but as the cold of winter begins to lose its hold, and green tips of crocus and daffodil begin to poke up between the dry brown winter brush, the coming of spring, like the changing of all seasons, is bittersweet.  As a way-marker, another season passes away, and yet a new one begins. How many more will there be?

I fixed my family a hot breakfast this morning.  There are many days that doesn’t happen because my boys are teens, they sometimes want to eat before school, and sometimes they don’t.  And hubby isn’t picky, cereal, oatmeal, a bagel, it’s all fine with him.  Me, I don’t even get hungry til eleven or noon.  Standing over a hot stove for 20 minutes or more,  then having to deal with a plumbing issue, I got a little too warm, so I went out and sat on our front porch swing for a while to cool off.

We have a nice porch.  Not fancy.  But inviting.  Screened in.  A work crew is putting up a new house across the street, so I rocked in the swing, watching them for a bit, before coming back inside.   I love the seasons we have in Virginia.  I would go so far as to say that I don’t think I could happily live anyplace that didn’t have those distinct seasons.

The years of my husbands and my life together have not been easy.  I came into the marriage with a great deal of woundedness.  I really and truly had not dared to hope that the love he and I share, would ever be available to me, much less that I’d be blessed with motherhood, with 2 such great sons.  This world can be a cruel place, and I think that people are tired.  I’d been through so much by the time my husband and I met.  I know he got cheated.  The first years of our marriage where fraught by devastating interference on the part of my mother-in-law, at the same time that I was still healing from prior abuse.  It took the unconditional love of both my Lord, and my precious husband, for me to feel safe enough to work though all that.  I do have several medical conditions which, in combination are impairing.  But I have no doubt that the years of stress that I endured in my 20′s are the very thing that set the stage for the later physical mal-functions.  Being so depleted, I did suffer depression for a long time.  And yet I fought it tooth and nail because by God’s grace and wisdom, He gave me a stubborn streak a mile wide.  The cyclic nature of my depression and mood issues was really almost like an echo of the instability of my life in general for so long. It was like when my mind got so weary it could no longer manage the burden, it was handed off to my body.  So the body compensated for a while, as the mind de-compensated.  Mental illness, depression, call it what you will. There is no darkness darker, and I’ll take physical pain any day of the week over the excruciation of deep depression.

I was sick in mind, body and spirit.  Exhausted and depleted.  I was that way as a newlywed, as a full-time RN with a new baby, and then two.  All through my 3os.  I was a good nurse.  I loved the job.  I loved my patients.  But when I got to the point that I was internally empty, to where even the “needs” of my patients caused me to feel resentment because I was so needy myself, when I could no longer keep a running “task manager” in my brain, and keep up with the demands of nursing, I knew I had to step back because my integrity would not allow me to give less to my patients.  The job of a nurse is much too serious a business to do any part of it “halfway”.  I expected it to be temporary.  Little did I know that although I would work in the capacity of an RN intermittently again, that this was the beginning of the end of my hard-earned nursing career.

I mourned that for a long time.  But I had my babies.  And I was grateful that the trade-off was the gift of being mostly a stay-at-home mom.  Few moms have that luxury anymore.  But it is a sacrifice.   We have lived in a house which was built in the 40′s, and maintenance, (much less improvements) has been minimal.  Thank goodness houses built in the forties were built to last.  Good, good bones!  So, it’s been a homey home.  Not a showcase, but lived-in and inviting, and not taking itself too seriously.  I have never been a frou-frou kind of gal anyway.  Neat and tidy is my standard, but I like things with some age and experience and history.  I learned from my Mama how to see the good in pre-loved furniture and decor, and how to spiff things like that up, way before “shabby chic” became a household word.

Winter has always been hard.  When my kids started school, I stayed involved as a room mom and volunteering frequently, and after some years of working on boundary issues, being on medication and ever striving to maintain an exercise program whether it entailed some gym time, swimming or walking, I saw some improvement in my over-all well-being.  Yet could never quite get over the hump in regard to fatigue and body pain.  With diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, and at first Sleep apnea and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and then only a few years ago finally discovering that I have Narcolepsy, a certain degree of permanent damage had already taken place in my body, not the least of which in my spine and joints.   Depression continued to be a problem and winter months, with short days, and cooped up indoors, I literally had to turn on all the lights in the house some days.  I would light candles and play instrumental music, all of which helped me overcome the inertia and get moving.  I learned to spend at least 15 minutes outside getting sunlight no matter how cold it was, and even invested in one of those lamps with the whole spectrum of light.  Those things all helped, but it was a constant vigilance.  I would hold on and wait for those daffodil green tops to poke out.  When I saw that, it was my sign that I had survived another dark season, and could soon look forward to working in my flowerbeds and being outdoors more.  So, as a survivor, Spring has a special place in my heart.  Counting as the seasons pass, moving from youth into middle age, watching my kids grow, losing my Dad, I’m in a different season now, but my awareness of the world and history and scripture, also tells me that the advance of seasons and years is moving forward for the world itself.  Times they are a-changin’, and not just in the way they always do from one generation to the next, but in ways the Good Book told us they would when the end was near.

Like most struggling families today, there were dreams of trips and vacations that never quite came to be.  Plans for home improvements, the financing and budgeting of which never quite came to fruition, due to some setback or other.  There were times we were disillusioned.  But we learned to concentrate on the blessings.  And we had so many.  As a couple my husband and I have always been able to laugh.  There were times we could be in the middle of an argument and we’d both be so weary from the struggle that one or the other would just decide to get over it and do something silly to make us both laugh, and that would be that.  Arguing is just not worth the energy.  But these were things we learned IN the struggles and wouldn’t have learned otherwise.  As a family we have always been able to laugh together.  The antics of our boys provided plenty of material.  And as a family we have always prayed together, discussed things, expressed our love, and been straightforward and honest.  My kids have never had to guess whether we loved or approved of them.  But they also have never been allowed to take that love and approval for granted.  Dad is the softer one.  Mama don’t give an inch.  They knew if they misbehaved, their teachers had my phone number and permission to call me right then and there.  Heck one year I was their school nurse during the elementary years.  (My last full-time position).  They are in high school now and their friends STILL come up to them and say, “man, why did your mom quit being our nurse?”.  I guess because I treated all of them the exact same way I did my own.  Tough love.

Yeah, it’s a time for counting blessings, as I am daily aware that both in the natural course of raising a family, the times we share together are finite and we are nearing that time when the little eaglets will leave the nest, but also “time” universal is winding down.

Life is beautiful but if you do it right, it isn’t easy, and even if you can manage to put a little aside along the way, the best it can provide is a false sense of security.  Treasures on earth are eaten by moths, corrupted by rust.  The honest guy doesn’t always come out on top.  People are tired of war, and crime, and struggle, and violence and hatred.  We all long for peace, but it seems there’s precious little peace to be found.  Everyone is looking for somewhere to place the blame.  Government.  Those dad-blamed Republicans.  Those dang Democrats.  Those corrupt Congressfolk.  The Muslims, the Jews, The church.  Many hate a God they don’t even believe in.  The homosexuals hold in contempt those who believe the Bible and it’s indictment of such.  Some professing Christians act as if they themselves are less of a vile sinner than the gay person, which is not true.  God’s law is one law.  Like the chain that holds up my porch swing, if we have broken one “link” the chain no longer upholds the swing, so if we break any commandment, we are in violation of God’s law.  I do not doubt that the feelings and attraction two gay men or women have for one another are real and powerful.  I just am aware that feelings can be deceptive, and most of all, they can be manipulated.  Homosexuality is no more wrong than any other deviation from God’s design for sexuality, though it does reside on a continuum of sorts.  We have so gotten the cart before the horse in the area of mates and “mating”.  There is no restraint and whatever causes the most sparks to fly, has become the acceptable indicator of what we choose to pursue.  Animals are ruled by their drives.  Humans are capable of more. Yet risky or risqué, trumps most things anymore.  The “pleasure button” has been so over-stimulated that people have ceased to be able to feel.

A people who are only guided by impulse and urges, will invariably seek the “greater thrill” to the basest nature.  When “straight sex” and self-gratification without cost, effort, or commitment are so freely attainable that they become boring and no longer titillating, the greater risk will be sought to maintain the “high”.  Each advance in degradation serves to only heighten the drive, but never satisfy.  As those who participate in these things ignore their conscience, the conscience dies within them, because they despise the truth, (that what they do is wrong) they begin to believe the falsehood that what they are doing is okay.   The current generation can hardly help being much more vulnerable to the temptations of “same-sex sexuality” because preceding generations insisted on throwing off the taboo.  For those who indulge the flesh, the “need” of their flesh consumes them and becomes their master, and in search of satisfaction, their “passions” seek that which is even lower, the violation of children.  This produces children who are damaged and who grow up confused.  Girls used by men, become women who can’t trust men, who seek solace in other women.  In their hurt they justify the aversion to the opposite sex, and the sin of the “fathers” are visited on the next generation in the form of same-sex attraction.  Because the female child looks to the father figure to cherish and affirm her, being sorely disappointed as she seeks a life mate, she has already ruled out the male half of the species, feels safer bestowing her love and affection upon a female, or in determination to never be victimized, may reject her femaleness and aspire to the relative safety of exhibiting masculinity within herself.  Because the male child looks to the father figure to set the example of how to be a man, yet the abusing male uses his power to dominate and violate, the male child rejects the notion of masculinity and waxes effeminate, or may go on to be a predator because he thinks doing what the dominant male did to him, constitutes “being a man”.  In each instance, it was the abandonment of God’s order that led to the alternate concept of what it means to be a male or female, and the abandonment of the “natural use of the opposite sex” for that of same-sex.  Sex and sexuality were meant to be powerful, to bind together two mates for life, and powerful they are. Much “potential energy” is contained within the essence of sex and sexuality.  But just like atomic energy, such potency is volatile, and very dangerous, and fraught with potential for damage and harm on a massive scale if mishandled or misappropriated.

But regardless of whether we are dealing with the issue of homosexuality, or human rights or politics, or religion, we are all deceived regarding who is our true enemy.   Some folks have no idea at all.  While even those who know that satan is the enemy of our souls, still fall prey to his efforts to rob, destroy, and kill.  He pursues us relentlessly, and though some seem to walk willingly into his arms, most of us never come to understand that it was satan and sinfulness that manipulated your abuser, it is satan and sinful human nature, that culminate in the loss of “rights and privileges endowed by our creator” at the hands of corrupt leaders. The only safety or hope of redemption is to turn the opposite direction and run back toward God.  That, in a nutshell, is what it means to repent of sin.  At one time, Humanity knew their God.  It is the sin nature that rebels, and evil waxes worse and worse until subsequent generations never even heard of their creator.  They think they came from nothing.  So they abort their babies and euthanize their elderly and handicapped, and then either shake their fist at God because breaking laws has consequences, or thumb their nose at God because they’ve convinced themselves that they’ve managed to throw Him off.

You know, I don’t know many “radical, militant” gay people.  Most gay people I personally know, are regular folk.  I have no desire to hurt them or to even dissuade them from their preference. That’s not my job.  I am happy to accept the things I cannot change (and the will of another person definitely falls into that category)  but I reserve the right to maintain my own convictions on the subject.  I don’t think that a man should “marry” a man and call it the same thing as a woman marrying a man.  Civil unions instead? I guess, but the purpose of marriage is procreation. Many gay people want to have a family but it’s not physically possible so there must be artificial intervention of some kind.  No matter what you call your arrangement,(nor the method you use), the “ingredients” for making a baby, remains God’s original “recipe”.

I went to nursing school with a gal whose grandmother was Mrs. Fearnow.  Of “Mrs. Fearnow’s Brunswick Stew” fame.  I don’t know if that is merely regionally known, or if it’s a hit across the nation.  But my point is, the stew is now made in a factory, by “The Fearnow Brothers” who may or may not be actually named Fearnow or related to Mrs. Fearnow in any way.  The recipe may be the same, but I bet you Amy would beg to differ with you if you said “I have eaten your grandma’s stew”.  Now, there’s a chance Amy Fearnow has actually eaten her grandma’s stew.  And what comes out of that can, though delicious, will never be the stew made for Amy by Grandma Fearnow’s own hand.

We can call a union between two men or women a “marriage” and the state can artificially “bestow” upon that “couple” the same privileges as a man/woman union, but a union between a man and another man will never be a marriage.  But most marriages between a man and a woman today don’t meet the Biblical definition of marriage either.  Compromise is a slippery slope.  Absolutes are considered evil by most of the world today, but if there are no absolutes, there are no reference points, all order breaks down, and what we are left with is the chaos before us today.

Gay people say “I was born this way”.  Yeah.  You were.  You were born a sinner.  That’s the point.  I was born a sinner too.  That doesn’t make my sin acceptable to God.  That’s why Jesus had to die.  But his dying would mean nothing if He had not also risen up to life again.

No matter what mankind tells himself, the unchanging facts are; in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  He created you, He designed your body.  “Male and female He created them” and charged them to be fruitful and multiply.  It’s His call.  Don’t think of His laws like civil law.  They aren’t like that.  They are more like the “law of gravity”, “the law of diminishing returns”, the laws of physics.  Who set those?  Do you have a choice in obeying the law of gravity? Can any Supreme Court judge or United Nations counsel overturn the law of gravity?  Is it “all relative” really?  Jump off your roof and see.  I’ll sit here and wait.

God will not tolerate sin.  Sin is a violation of law.  The wages of sin is death. Wages are not a penalty, they are simply the natural  outcome.  God’s not threatening you when He says that, He’s WARNING you.  We all age, we all deteriorate, and we all die.  After death comes judgment, and you and I have no advocate, no counsel, no scapegoat, but Jesus.  He is the Way.  He is Truth.  He is Life.  And no man comes unto the Father but by Him.

Man thinks he will  transcend his own humanity within a few years.  The capability is, in fact, within mankind’s power.  But God will not allow it.

This old world is winding down.  The Bible tells us that a period of tribulation is coming.  God will place your life on the scales.  It will not have “all the good you did” on one side, and “all the bad” on the other.  It will have His righteousness on one side, and on the other side there will be placed one of two things which will attempt to measure up to His righteousness and balance the scale.

It will either be the sum total of your doings in this life, or it will be the righteousness of Christ placed on your side of the scales.  Fair? Not to Jesus, yet that’s the offer.  He did not forfeit His perfection, but God accredits it to those who are willing to humble themselves to receive it.

God, knowing we are incapable of overcoming our own sinful state, arranged for His own sinless son to endure the “wages of sin” for all sinners.  A substitutionary death on the cross, dying so we didn’t have to.  The wages of sin is death, the loophole is God willingly accepts the death of One who is infinite and sinless, to atone for the infinite sinfulness of the sinner.  Then He credits to the sinners account, the righteousness of Christ.  Which will sit in opposition to the righteousness of the Father on judgment day and balance that scale, deeming you acceptable to enter into God’s eternal presence.  That is, if you are willing to accept it.  There is a catch, though.  It is free. You can’t earn it or pay for it.  You have to accept God at His word, that He is willing to extend this deal to you.  It means you have to nail your sin to that cross with Jesus.  You can’t have your sin nullified while still clinging to your “right” to remain oriented to your sin-nature.  Be your sin adultery (sex with someone you are not married to, whether male or female), lying, taking the Lord’s name in vain, stealing, coveting, failing to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy, murder, or having some other god.  Anything that you refuse to relinquish is your god.

Think about these things because you know, and I know, something is up in this world.  You may not be ready to accept the things I’m saying, but that doesn’t change facts and laws and principles.  You know as well as I do that we as humans are capable of being wrong.  The world is not flat.  The appendix actually does have a purpose, blacks, Jews, and the disabled are not a subhuman species, yet these are all “beliefs” that were once embraced as fact.  Optical illusions fool our brains all the time, we even enjoy it when done by a talented magician.  There is good and there is evil.  We may not agree on what constitutes each one, but Someone must be the arbiter if truth and the very fact that “good and evil” are universal principles, is an indicator that there are absolutes so moving the visible boundary markers doesn’t actually altar which territory is which.  We merely fool ourselves.  It takes a heck of a lot more faith than I have, to believe everything came from nothing, than to believe there is a sovereign Creator who designed everything with purpose.

Think about it.

God’s Sovereignty, Responsibilities and proper perspective of the Believer in light of the times in which we are living

A few resources which may help Christians in becoming prepared as to how to respond to the changes that the U.S. Government may very well have in store for citizens in the months (and years?) ahead.

The Sovereignty of God and Political Responsibilities of the Believer

Perspective in the Midst of Departure from God

What does the Bible Say About Government

and a slightly different take: FREEDOM: Government can’t veto GOD-given rights

I pray that God give us wisdom to choose wisely, the positions we ultimately take up when forced to decide.  Definitely a matter of prayer.

Last evening as I surfed the various websites and blogs that I read regularly, I came across a video on one blog which was a clip from an episode of one of those prank television programs.  I love a good sight-gag or practical joke as well as the next person, but this one was downright disturbing on many levels.  The set-up was an office of some sort, with a receptionist at the desk, and an elevator at one end of the room.  Individuals would walk in, and without being able to understand what they were saying (Spanish? Portugese?) it was easy enough to discern by gestures and setting, they would ask the receptionist for directions and she would walk to the elevator with them, explain something and then point upward, and the citizen would thank her as the doors closed.  Of course the elevator has mirrors, and hidden cameras, and the occupant would look around, look in the mirror, if a female, she would generally primp and then the lights would flicker and the elevator would shudder a bit as if to maybe stop, then the lights went out.  Of course there was black lighting enough that the viewer can still see what is happening, but as you know when lighting goes from bright to very dark, it takes several seconds for pupils to dilate and eyes to adjust.  That few seconds was just enough for a little girl to slip out of one of the lower sie panels, holding her little doll baby, hair long and snarled, eyes deeply shaded with dark circles.  When the occupant’s eyes had adjusted they immediately see the little girl and begin to scream (all of them, even the men), and then the little girl screams as well,  heightening the terror.  After that the lights flicker, the elevator shudders again, the little girl slips back into her hiding spot, and the lights come back on.  The people in the elevator are then seen frantically pressing buttons and several of the women come out wiping tears.

Now, I ask you, when did cruelty become an acceptable form of entertainment?  What is next, the Coloseum, Gladiators, Lions?

This is disturbing not only in the cruelty, but in the visceral reaction and the obvious conviction that the victims had, that what they were seeing was real, and a threat.  No one moved toward the little girl to touch her and see if she were actually an apperition.  Frankly I consider it child abuse for a kid to play a part like that, whether “in fun” or in a major horror movie.  Playing around with themes of the occult and “undead” is no laughing matter.  I have seen home videos where people dressed for Halloween and sat by their door, posing as a stuffed scarecrow, and had grown men punch them in the face in visceral reflexive reaction.  What might an armed and terrified elevator-rider have done?

Yesterday I shared an article that stated that a “mentalist” has been invited to perform at Obama’s second inauguration.  And just this morning a “Forensic Profiler” described how he was able to “read between the lines” and determine Obama’s “super-ego subconscious meaning” behind his spoken words, and detect his confession of having stole the election.

The reblogged article by Joseph Chambers (Angels Holy and Unholy) which I shared with you this morning, goes into the underlying reason for these things.  The occult world is merging with our physical world at an alarming rate, and the reason that is happening is because we have flung open the doors and invited them.  Through Harry Potter, through the Twilight vampire obsession, selling witchcraft to our children in the form of books and games, and glorifying all these things of darkness.  When a culture is bound and determined to pursue and embrace what is mystical and dark and evil, that culture will find itself bound, period.

I have also run across several un-edited videos capturing the graphic, barbaric slaughter of little children by Islamic terrorists, as well as some Islamic ritual wherein they flog themselves, ripping the skin from their own backs.  Can there be any question that these Radical Islamic elements are fully indwelt by demons?  God help them! God help their victims!  Muslim children are born in families with generations of worship of a god they call allah, which I believe is satan himself.

Aren’t you thankful we serve a God who didn’t just leave us to our own devices and base nature?  He graciously gave us His Word which provides instruction on these things if we only will receive it, believe it, and obey it.  We are to set our mind on things above, not on things below.  Godly things, not satanic.  As more and more of the Earthly realm is overtly invaded by the demonic, it is all the more crucial for us to keep pouring the clean water of the Word into our mind.  Pray for all of those who are unsaved because they are subject to the whims and tortures of evil spirits, demons, principalities and forces of darkness.

We who are saved by Jesus and worship the ONE true God have no need to fear these things.  Isaiah 35:4 KJV Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

 

 

 

 

Guest Post by Amanda McCary~ “Disobeying God is Obeying Satan”

Obama has said one thing I strongly agree with. He said “America is no longer a Christian Nation.” He’s right. Many think we are but what has happened is that we’ve fallen from the faith. There’s been a great “falling away” from the true Word of God to a watered down, anything goes, be tolerant of anything gospel. God’s Word has never changed. We as a people, over time, have changed. “For many are called but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).

You have to give and glorify God so you can grow in the Christian faith. Why would you want to settle for anything else? Why are you happy where you are in your relationship with God? After all He did for you and still you value your life and the things in it more than Him.

You didn’t just evolve from apes and we didn‘t just pop into existence. God who is bigger than the universe made you and the Bible tells you everything you need to know. Please consider this: Your eternity is at stake. Maybe you know this in your heart and something has happened in your life that has gotten you off track .The worries of the world are easy to get caught up in. I’ve been there. I have been to a point where I said I was saved and just didn’t grow. I had no one to help show me what I was supposed to be doing and I was too lazy to read my Bible and feared it. I couldn’t understand a lot of it.

I spent a section of my life saved, but stuck in ignorance not growing in my faith. I had people around me that were professing Christians but to this day I look back and they were preaching to me that watered down, anything goes message. I never learned the seriousness of the truth, although I believed with all my heart that Jesus did die to pay for all of our sins and loved us unconditionally. However, it is time to realize that time is at hand. Every one of us needs to realize that we are not perfect and all guilty of sin. Jesus is the only answer here. We will mess up here and there but that’s no reason to give up or let our guard down.

Jesus does however want your full and undivided attention. That means no more compromising. No more priorities before Him. It’s seek the kingdom first, not seeking your job first or your wife, kids, bills or what you’re going to watch on TV tonight. It’s not that some of these things aren’t important. Jesus is telling us that if you trust in Him to provide all your needs you have no need to worry — therefore you will be at peace in your heart. He stands at the door knocking. Many claim to be saved, but what’s up with those still living life to the “fullest,” living it up, partying down with dreams set on  glamorous jobs, houses, cars, living a lifestyle of sin and no concern for what Jesus would do or what he thinks.

Do you just not know these earthly things are not important? Has fear set in? What happens when you die? What on this earth are you going to be able to take with you? God said not to lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, to live in the world but not to take part in of all the lusts and pleasures, but to focus on Jesus and obey. He will renew your heart and mind so you will be blameless and can enter his kingdom with him. We are born as guilty sinners, therefore born to die.

However, when God gave us Jesus that gave us a chance to be reborn spiritually for eternity. He did this so after we die we would be saved and live with him forever. God gave us free will to choose his ways or Satan’s worldly ways. If you choose Jesus then you must take all of Jesus and that includes his teachings. All of them. The Bible is not a salad bar. You cannot be a child of God and still participate in Satan’s evil actions. That’s the role of a Christian when you ask Jesus to save you. You give yourself to Him and honor him with obedience.

A Christian’s main reason for being on the earth is to be willing servants of God. It shouldn’t be a chore. We should want to proclaim to the world Jesus is the only way and that is primarily done by showing what He’s done for us by living his Word and not only professing we know Him . Obey, live out the commands of the Bible. BE A TRUE WITNESS. Do you know you are not considered an effective teacher if you teach or preach about Christianity but do not act on what He commands?

There is no other acceptable way to live other than what the Bible expects from us. You tell yourself,  “God doesn’t mind, it’s harmless.” But doesn’t the Bible tell you not to do the things you’re doing? If you only talk the talk but don’t walk the walk then you’re falling short.  Same goes for witnessing. You are not an effective witness to God if you claim to know Him but don’t reflect Jesus in your life. You are showing others that it’s ok to know God and still participate in anything you want to do.

This is a terrible doctrine and lie that is leading many people to hell. Are you one of these teachers? There will be a special place in hell for those who corrupt God’s word so let us all consider our actions. Calling yourself a Christian doesn’t mean a thing. Be honest. You should have faith and works as a Christian and your faith is only justified by your works.

James 2:19-24 (KJV):

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble. But wilt thou know was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Issaac his son upon the altar seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called a friend of God. You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

 

 

James 1:21-27 (KJV):

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he behold himself and goeth his way, and straightway forgotteth what manner of man he was.

But whoso
looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and CONTINUETH therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this mans religion is vain, pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself UNSPOTTED from the world.”

I’m sure some don’t purposely try to impose false doctrine on others but I do believe many of us are ignorant to the truth and ignorance is no excuse. God has given all of us a chance to seek out the truth. Once Jesus returns to earth or once you die you will no longer have an opportunity to plead mercy and say, “Well God, I’m sorry, have mercy, I didn’t know.” He’s given you a lifetime to ask for mercy and to be prepared for his return and it’s not His fault you decided your will was more important than His will.

Yes, you will be presented with truth beforehand whether it be your life on earth being over, or Jesus returning himself, you will have had the opportunity to know, seek Jesus and all his truth and time to act and obey. Just because you put it off because you’re not willing to give up your old sinful life and wait day after day after day isn’t an excuse. It’s selfish and Jesus wasn’t selfish when he died so you could have a change at life. You’re not promised a tomorrow.

Studying the Word is the only way to be sure of the truth. That’s why reading your Bible is important. So you learn the right way and can turn from the old. The Bible is God’s Word. Nothing in the Bible should be overlooked. It was all put there for a reason and a true believer will take it seriously. Don’t let others tell you it’s not relevant,and of no importance and that God is love and wouldn’t send anyone to hell. Yeah, God is love. That’s why He’s been patiently waiting for 2000 years so you would come around to the truth, but he is still going to judge those disobedient, who reject the truth and the outcome is hell.

You can’t do what you want and still think you’re going to heaven. Wake-up. Living a life just like everybody else who rejects Jesus, be it through, sexual immorality, drugs, greed, anger, malice, envy, etc. is against God. If you’re a Christian then you know what things are not acceptable to God or know to read the Bible to find out if you’re not sure. God is not as tolerant as you think he is. He destroyed people on earth before for disobedience and will again. God is love and proves that by giving us that opportunity to have eternal life, but he also seeks judgement on those who do not obey and trust in Jesus.

Disobeying God is obeying Satan. You say, “ I know I’m doing wrong I just can’t stop it.” Ask Jesus for his help. That’s what He’s there for. If you ask Him and sincerely want to turn from sin then he will change you. That’s the Christian faith. You change your lifestyle to reflect Jesus. You shouldn’t just confess your sins ONE time anyway. We should always talk to Jesus and ask Him to help deliver us from sin. When you ask Jesus into your heart at the beginning in the salvation prayer and you say, “Jesus save me, forgive me of my sins,” He will, and yes you still will sin occasionally because we aren’t perfect.

But why do you think it’s ok to go looking to sin and He will still forgive you? You have to be sorry, to be repentant of your sin (turn from, don’t do it anymore) in order to be forgiven and continuing in that sin is not being sorry. You may have fooled yourself but you haven’t fooled God. You need to stop it and ask him to forgive you, help you, guide you through out your walk with Him or this will become a pattern.

Hebrews 10:26:

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”

1 John 3:9:

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

I refer to these verses not saying that those saved can fall from grace, however I know it may seem as though I‘m saying that to some. The true believers will not remain in habitual sin. God will forgive sins and you will not fall from grace. However, I believe all should search their hearts who are living a sinful lifestyle. You cannot LIVE in sin. What I’m saying, and this is going to hurt many who believe they are saved just might not be saved like they think they are. They have deceived themselves.

I’m talking about false, professing Christians. No TRUE Christian will fall from grace. They acted on emotions and had no true change of heart or lifestyle. They choose that disobeying God has no real consequences. It’s almost like they think they got a free ticket by accepting the gift of grace to do whatever they want.

I will insert myself here to show what I’m talking about. I’ve had a really rocky walk toward the Lord. I thought I got saved when I was 9 years old because my church told me I should. Although I believed Jesus was real, I didn’t understand what the salvation prayer and being a Christian meant. I had no clue that confessing I know Jesus was supposed to follow with a lifestyle change. No one in my church took the time to show me what to do next. No one bothered to help me through it.

At age 13 I realized I was not living right and said a prayer again. A very special person at the time entered my life who gave the appearance of being a Christian. She was a regular church goer, and pushed me to go every time the church doors opened. She gave me everything I wanted, and seemed to be an excellent advice giver, a person of many flattering words. She was very active in charity work and church activities and church authority.

However, I can look back on this now and see clearly she was so false. She was all about tolerance. She was a Man pleaser to the max. Do what you must to just fit into the world. I was deceived by her and yet followed her. I trusted that she was Christian because she said she was. I don’t see Jesus in her at all, though. She also has told me recently that I shouldn’t take the Bible literally. WHAT! A Christian just said that! Anyway, I got more and more into a sinful lifestyle. This person I trusted had me believing it was ok and never told me truth about my lifestyle.

I did things that would cause my momma to crawl out of her grave and spank my tush. I never felt conviction. I looked for sin to get into. I didn’t even think about Jesus. Surely a Christian is supposed to think about their Savior right? At 19 I said the prayer again. No change in my life whatsoever. Then things got real bad. Drugs, sexual immorality, greed, envy, jealousy, ANGER, and a life of theft ruled me and I enjoyed every minute of it but still convinced myself that I am a Christian because I was a nice person and said a prayer and had some emotions.

Me being “Christian,”  I didn’t want to hang out with other Christians. I thought they were boring and goody goody and was more focused on having sinful fun that seemed innocent. Years went by and no change. Then at 28 something clicked when I got pregnant with my little girl. I guess I just started thinking about someone other than myself. I didn’t want her born into my current life and witnessing my actions. I started to really think hard about my salvation. I would no longer be hurting myself but hurting my little girl. I was not a good example.

I began to ask myself questions. What am I doing for God? What proof has my life shown that I am really a Christian? I realized I had lied to myself for years. I was still lost and only fooled myself. From that moment on I had a genuine change of heart and asked Jesus into my heart, to forgive me, to save me and pleaded “ I know I don’t deserve it Lord but please don’t let me go to hell.” I knew I needed him from that point on. I was delivered from many things.

I have a love for Jesus and a desire to not disobey and hurt him and his name. I realized I had been all over the world confessing I know Jesus while living an awful sinful lifestyle and I never was a true witness for Jesus. I was a false witness. I just showed others that believing in Jesus still means that they can do whatever they want to do. This breaks my heart to this day because I wonder how many people might end up in hell because of my witness. I do know I can’t change much of that now. I can however, strive to obey from here on out and pray that God uses me as a true witness.

At some point a true believer, if they are paying attention, will feel guilt over an action,  activity or things they say. This is the Holy Spirit trying to tell you that you’re doing wrong and need to stop and back-up. So you really are not only hurting yourselves when you sin but you hurt others as well. People who are lost in the world can only see Jesus in us. It’s up to us to make sure they are seeing the true Jesus. You really don’t want to be responsible for anyone else’s blood on your hands. I love you. I do not tell you these things to pick on you, to purposely make you angry but to show you biblical truth. We have strayed from the truth and many are going to hell that do not realize it.

If I’ve stepped on your toes and this has made you angry maybe that’s because you are one of these people. Please do not give into the anger. Pray. Ask God to help you through it and help you change. This is more important than anything taking place in your life. You can hate me, but I told the truth and I’ve done my job. If you are mad at me for proclaiming biblical truth or feeling guilt and still refuse to except the truth then maybe you weren’t God’s child to begin with. I say this so if this is you, then you can still get right with God. I’m not trying to be mean. Truth hurts, but truth also saves. There is a heaven and there is a hell and few will enter God’s kingdom.

Matthew 7:13-14:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”

Would you be prepared if Jesus came back today? Are you watching for his return like he instructed? I only care for you. Please get right with God through Jesus before it’s too late. Time is ticking. There may not be a tomorrow.

Email comments to: mccaryamanda@yahoo.com

Used by permission of the author, also featured at RaptureReady.com

 

Out of my mind, back in a couple of days!

You guys were lookig like you could use a break to catch up anyway!

It has been a busy couple of weeks with a lot happening.

 Stepping back to rest and regroup.

Plenty to read here even without the daily news so

 I hope you will browse around the ole archives and read some of the vintage stuff dating way, way back to March

And explore the labeled pages across the top of the blog for all sorts of hidden goodies you probably never even realized were there.

I’ll be back on Wednesday, fresh and ready to slog through the countdown to the US election and TEOTWAWKI

Whichever comes first.

Don’t forget to watch the debate!

What Really Happened in the Garden of Eden -Part II

What Really Happened in the Garden of Eden -Part II by Wyman Au   Re-blogge from Gods Hidden Nuggets for the EndTimes

What Really Happened In the Garden of Eden- God’s Eternal Purpose Revealed          Part II   

The Garden Scene/The Garden Sin Adam and Eve may have lived in the garden for many years before they gave in to the serpent’s temptation. They were carefree, had no children, asexual, and in daily communion with God. They had no hunger, no sweat, no sorrow, no pain, no bondage, no lack, no strife, no problems, no violence, no sickness, no disease, no sin, no evil and no death! They were vegetarians or fruitarians, who ate the fruit of all the trees except one in the garden. They were healthy and would have lived forever. Prior to sinning, A & E were clothed with glory. The Bible said that the serpent was very subtil and wise Ge3:1, and perhaps very attractive. The serpent stood upright and could talk like a human. The serpent may have befriended and encountered A & E many times. He laid a trap for them, even as he can for all of us 2Ti2:26. This is what temptations are all about- traps of the devil! The devil was a murderer from the beginning and is the father of lies Jn8:44. Satan seeks to steal, kill and destroy Jn10:10. A & E believed the serpent’s lie about becoming as wise as gods Ge3:5, disobeyed and broke God’s only law and became wise, knowing good and evil, and also became perverted and corrupt. Their eyes were opened and they realized their nakedness and sinfulness. Ro5:12 states by Adam, sin and death entered into the world, and was passed on to every man!

God’s Life for Our Life- He Knew He Had to Die For Our Sins  read the rest

 

Homosexuality is sin and those who practice it want you and me to stop saying so.

“For those of you who want only to be at peace with
everyone I have a special word for you. These folks who promote homosexuality
will not simply allow you to remain on the sidelines as they permeate the land
with their filth. If you are not with them then you are a target” – Ron Graham  “Them that Defile Themselves”

Frankly this is not a post about the rightness or the wrongness of homosexuality, but rather about our duty as self-professed followers of Christ and believers of His Word, to align ourselves with God’s position on the matter.  (And to do so based not on personal feeling or preference, but upon the immutable truth of God’s law).  You see, Gay Pride parades are not really so much about sodomites asserting  their right to sin, as they are about daring anyone to do or say anything  about it.  The dare is not really aimed at Christians, but at our God.  And I would even go so far as to say that the dare does not originate with the cross-dressers, transgendered, gay and lesbian folks who march in these parades (and push for “gay rights”), but originates from their god, (their father, satan–John 8:44)

Just as Solomon said, “there is nothing new under the sun”, every society that eventually embraced homosexuality did so only as an end-stage progression of their rebellion against God, with the extreme end of which being their decline and ultimate demise following relatively close upon the heels of that choice.

I wrote a post recently in which I stated that there was still hope for America, but do not misunderstandme on that.  It is not the hope for a return to our previous glory and prosperity.  There are always consequences and just like with individuals,  as a nation our sincere repentance makes provision for God to withhold his rightful wrath and condemnation, and brings us back into the sheepfold of safety, but does not erase consequences.  Consequences are not wrath and punishment, they come about as a natural fulfillment of immutable spiritual laws.  Just like the law of physics says if you release a rock from a 7th story roof, it will fall downward by the law of gravity, spiritual law says when we defile our bodies and veer outside God’s design for our bodies and sexuality, we suffer consequences (Romans 1:26-27) such as STD’s and  psychological and sociological consequences.  There is hope that America can repent and experience some degree of revival thus averting some judgment and wrath.  But I’d say at this point it’s more a matter of damage control– The difference between a fiery crash-landing with mass casualties, or something less painful and traumatic.  God doesn’t say if unbelievers turn from their wicked ways and repent, He will heal their land.  He says if MY PEOPLE, which are called my MY name…. (Christian) shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways…  You know the verse, and the principle behind it.

It is time for Christians to examine their own sincerity and committment, if not their basis for calling themselves Christian.  Salvation by grace only, through faith in Christ alone and obedience to God and His Word.  Our beliefs, our moral positions can’t be based on opinions, feelings, and certainly not political correctness.  We do not get to call ourselves saved while rejecting God’s authority over us.  And that is really what homosexuality, and all  willful sin, is about.  It is the human tendency to want to be the sole authority over self, and to have the freedom to dictate our own standards and moral code.  But a thing, by virtue of being what it is, cannot simultaneously be “not that thing”.  That is a convoluted way of saying “you can’t have it both ways”.  Something can’t be “true for you, but not true for me”. (Law of Non-contradiction, or in the words of Aristotle:”one cannot say of something that it is and that it is not in the same respect and at the same time”).  Nothing can be both true and “not true” at the same time. So look at what God says about homosexuality  Leviticus 18:22, and 20:13.   (These verses are the most clear and straightforward in the King James Bible, as is true in general, which is why I avoid other translations which often tend to soften or really outright change the meaning altogether of what God said).

As a professing Christian, there can be only ONE position;  God’s!

A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8).  (And comes off looking pretty foolish, take Jay Carney HERE, who knows the truth but is obligated by political correctness not to say it).  Even gays knew at one time that what they are doing is wrong, despite their vociferously asserting otherwise.  Then it becomes easy to lie with conviction once God gives that person over to their sinful choice.  Christians who waffle or shrink from the truth, are themselves in danger of wrath.  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. –Romans 1:32

Come on, people, choose ye this day whom you will serve, are you a man or woman of God, or are you a mouse?

The Evil Day: Are you ready to stand?

Got Your Armour On?

Breastplate

The breastplate is the LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

The breastplate covers the heart, the motives, the desires of our inmost being.

Shoes

The shoes are the preparation of the gospel of peace

The shoes protect our feet, that nothing may impede our carrying out the goal of winning souls for Christ.

Shield

The shield is faith

The shield covers the body and quenches the enemies’ fiery arrows, Satan’s barbs

Helmet

The helmet is our salvation

It protects the mind from spiritual attack

Sword

The Sword is the Spirit is the Word of God

Can be weilded against unbelief, pride, hatred, etc.

The more of the Word you have hidden in your heart, the “bigger” your sword is!

Belt

Having your loins girt about by truth

The belt is the truth of the whole Word, and also it stands for the believer’s integrity.

This truth-belt is what holds the entire ensemble together.

Tale unto ou the whole armor of God, that ye may be abe to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand.

******************************

Ephesians 6:10-20

Ref: Bible Pathway Devotional Dec. 2010

It’s Really Not That Complicated

Life’s circumstances can be overwhelming.

As human beings we often follow a convoluted path through our challenges, demands and finding the answers to our questions.

God is certainly complex, but His solutions are actually very simple.

The simple truth of Christian living is this:

There is only one day.  (That’s today).

There is only one God.  (The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the great I Am)

There is only one way to God (through Jesus)

There is only one course of action God requires for every single obstacle and question you face (Converse with God)

Conversing with God consists of two parts, hearing Him, and speaking to Him.

Hear God by studying His Word

Speak to God about everything by petition, praise, and always with thanksgiving.

Abiding by these things will simplify the complicated, soothe the anxious heart, and declutter the troubled mind.  Apply it to whatever is troubling you today, and see what a difference it makes.

If you don”t know what to do about some specific thing, you can at least do what you know to do.  If you do what you know to do, you’ll be surprised how other things will fall into place!   Study your Bible and pray!

Simple prayer for today:

“Lord, please make me what I ought to be, and please prepare me for what You know lies ahead of me.  In Jesus name, Amen”.

 

 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. –Proverbs 16:9