It's funny how you can say something quite plainly, yet there will be those who will come back to you and say, "state it to me clearly. what are you trying to say?" As for me, all I can say is, "take what I said as what I said. I don't speak in riddles, I don't speak in clues. I say what I mean and I mean what I say."
See, most of what I keep being questioned on is when I start talking directly from the teachings of Jesus; somehow some people are confused on what He actually taught us and told us to do. Take the feeding of the hungry, for example. If you tell a lot of today's churchgoing people that we're supposed to do that, their answer is "well, my church takes care of that." Show me one scripture where Jesus said let the local denomination you attend do these things. If your local church does so, Praise God! But that does not absolve the individual from the responsibility of doing what Jesus told us to do!!
The Bible tells us in the last days there will be a great falling away. Most of my life I've heard about how the church is growing, but we know we're living in the last days so how do we reconcile those two seemingly conflicting statements? There's only one way to do so: just because butts are in the pews don't mean they'll be passing through the pearly gates! Correct me if you think I'm wrong, but that's the only way I can reach a resolution in my mind, heart and soul. Don't believe me? Read Matthew 7:21-23. But, that brings to my mind something else I've had people bring up to me.
When I start bringing up these topics, someone will inevitably come to me and tell me I'm condemning people or judging people. Not true. I'm speaking Biblical truth because of what I see and understand to be going on in this world today. I'm not in the face of an individual screaming they are going to hell because they don't believe the way I do. And I'm always willing to listen to someone who wants to use Biblical scripture to tell me that I'm mistaken. But when it comes as accusation, then I know it's not something that's coming from Holy Spirit. Yes, Holy Spirit will challenge me on things I've not gotten quite right, but it's never condemning and it's never harsh. And I try to never be harsh when I say these things. Galatians 6:1 says, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." I'm doing what I've been told to do by the Word of God and I never want to come across as judgmental or cruel or condemning when I do so, so if anyone sees that, then I definitely want them to point that out to me, just as they are told to do.
The sad truth is that today, while so many say they believe in the devil, they don't really. They don't believe that the devil is a deceiver. They believe the devil will only confront them face to face with something evil. While he does that, also, his best trick is to deceive a believer into believing something that is a twisted version of the truth. That's how he starts leading them astray and the end result is total separation from God. Just like this current movement of people asking, "How can a good God send people to hell?" That's the devil's trick! God won't be sending anyone to hell! Even Lucifer, himself, chose to go to hell! All we have to do to prevent that from happening is to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and acknowledge there is only One, True God! The Alpha, the Omega, the Beginning and the End. His name is I AM!
Sowing discord, discontent, hatred, malice, judgment, condemnation, mistrust and division are all tools of the devil. And if you're not seeing all those tools being used in this present age then you have blinders on. And I pray Holy Spirit will remove the scales from your spiritual eyes so that you can see you're being deceived.
Love is God and God is Love and Love is good!
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Monday, October 30, 2023
What Is A Christian?
In this present age, there seems to be a disconnect between calling ourselves "Christian" and being a "Christian." There are many people who think they are a Christian because they go to church or mass every time the doors open, but they never talk about Jesus when they're away from the church. There are those who can speak the Bible, quoting every chapter and verse, but they hate other ethnicities, immigrants, other cultures and sometimes even Jews. I love the scripture that says: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3.)
I once challenged a man who was speaking so much evil about certain groups of people and I reminded him that the Bible tells to love. This Baptist preacher told me that he did love them. I was left stunned. How can you speak about killing people you love? Or depriving them of the basic needs of life? That's not any kind of love that I've ever heard of! Jesus told us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and elderly and house the homeless. These are the ways we show love to someone. So many people think love is an emotion when it's not! Love is action. You can tell me 10 Million times you love me, but if you never do anything to show me love, you'll never convince me that you do.
Jesus told us on That Great and Final Day, He will tell many who spoke in tongues and prophecied and cast out demons in His name to depart from Him and when they question why His answer will be: you didn't give Me water when I was thirsty, food when I was hungry, shelter when I was homeless, etc. And they will say they never saw Him in those conditions to which He will reply: "When you did not do it unto the least of these, you did not do it unto Me." Love is action! Being a Christian means action. It means helping those less fortunate rather than saving all the blessings God has given you and building up a million dollar bank account. It means helping build homes and shelters for the homeless rather than building a million dollar mansion. It means not buying a $150,000 car and driving it past a single mother who is walking to work in the rain so she can support her children!
I have been called to do what I am doing! I was put here at such a time as this to call Christians out to doing what Jesus told us to do! I cannot sit back and keep my mouth shut because I would be disobeying God if I were to do that. He has anointed me to bring the message to the church and to the lost that He is a loving, merciful God whose Grace is sufficient for each and every one of us. And for those of us who have known His grace and mercy to not turn around and show grace and mercy to the lost, we are but hypocrites and we do not have love in our hearts. My soul cries out in pain when I see Christians who aren't behaving like Christians! Because I know they're not filled with the love that I have known from my Father in Heaven! Being filled with His love makes me want to share that love with every single person I come into contact with! To do for each and every person on this planet what He has done for me! To wipe their tears, soothe their hurts, mend their wounds, feed their bodies and their souls, give water when they're thirsty and tell them that He loves them so much! No, I don't always hit the mark, but I keep trying. When the devil knocks me down, God reaches down His hand and lifts me back on my feet so that I can dust myself off and get back into action.
When you do kind things for your enemies because you love them, it amazes them! They don't know how to react to that! That, then, makes them pause and wonder how your Christianity can bring you to do that when their religion only makes them want to kill you, at all costs. When you pray for, and do good things for, those who use you and hurt you, you bring about a questioning in their hearts about their own state of salvation. But, of course, you can't do these things if you don't love your enemies and those who spitefully use you. Love is the key! Love is the answer! And there is no law or commandment by God that has ever said love is not good! Love conquers all! Love overcomes all! Love benefits all!
Because love is God and God is love!
I once challenged a man who was speaking so much evil about certain groups of people and I reminded him that the Bible tells to love. This Baptist preacher told me that he did love them. I was left stunned. How can you speak about killing people you love? Or depriving them of the basic needs of life? That's not any kind of love that I've ever heard of! Jesus told us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and elderly and house the homeless. These are the ways we show love to someone. So many people think love is an emotion when it's not! Love is action. You can tell me 10 Million times you love me, but if you never do anything to show me love, you'll never convince me that you do.
Jesus told us on That Great and Final Day, He will tell many who spoke in tongues and prophecied and cast out demons in His name to depart from Him and when they question why His answer will be: you didn't give Me water when I was thirsty, food when I was hungry, shelter when I was homeless, etc. And they will say they never saw Him in those conditions to which He will reply: "When you did not do it unto the least of these, you did not do it unto Me." Love is action! Being a Christian means action. It means helping those less fortunate rather than saving all the blessings God has given you and building up a million dollar bank account. It means helping build homes and shelters for the homeless rather than building a million dollar mansion. It means not buying a $150,000 car and driving it past a single mother who is walking to work in the rain so she can support her children!
I have been called to do what I am doing! I was put here at such a time as this to call Christians out to doing what Jesus told us to do! I cannot sit back and keep my mouth shut because I would be disobeying God if I were to do that. He has anointed me to bring the message to the church and to the lost that He is a loving, merciful God whose Grace is sufficient for each and every one of us. And for those of us who have known His grace and mercy to not turn around and show grace and mercy to the lost, we are but hypocrites and we do not have love in our hearts. My soul cries out in pain when I see Christians who aren't behaving like Christians! Because I know they're not filled with the love that I have known from my Father in Heaven! Being filled with His love makes me want to share that love with every single person I come into contact with! To do for each and every person on this planet what He has done for me! To wipe their tears, soothe their hurts, mend their wounds, feed their bodies and their souls, give water when they're thirsty and tell them that He loves them so much! No, I don't always hit the mark, but I keep trying. When the devil knocks me down, God reaches down His hand and lifts me back on my feet so that I can dust myself off and get back into action.
When you do kind things for your enemies because you love them, it amazes them! They don't know how to react to that! That, then, makes them pause and wonder how your Christianity can bring you to do that when their religion only makes them want to kill you, at all costs. When you pray for, and do good things for, those who use you and hurt you, you bring about a questioning in their hearts about their own state of salvation. But, of course, you can't do these things if you don't love your enemies and those who spitefully use you. Love is the key! Love is the answer! And there is no law or commandment by God that has ever said love is not good! Love conquers all! Love overcomes all! Love benefits all!
Because love is God and God is love!
Friday, October 6, 2023
On The Altar of Fear
I don't think about regrets. If anyone asks me if I have any, my answer is almost inevitably, "no." I don't have time for regrets because regrets involve things that happened in the past and I have two very strong philosophies about the past: 1. It's over and done with. There's nothing I can do about it, now, so why worry too much about what's in the past? 2. The man I am today is the sum total of all the things I've been through and experienced in my life, and I love the man I am today, so if I were to change anything about the past, that would change the man I am today, and I'm not sure if I'd like that man, much at all.
Now, all that being said, I read an article by a famous singer that I happen to know, though I don't know him well. The last lines of the article were a quote from this singer where he talked about the many lives and careers that have been sacrificed on the altar of fear. Up until that very moment I would have told you that I haven't let fear rule my life since 10 March 1985. May have even been a few years earlier than that when I finally stood up and walked out of the abusive relationship I had lived in my entire life to that point. But either way, I had long been convinced that I had never sacrificed anything on the altar of fear, but reading that article made me realize that I have sacrificed a lot on that altar. Fear is a tricky thing. It can be omnipresent and overbearing, but it can also be subtle and sneaky. Fear can even convince you that it is not even present when it's guiding every decision and move that you make. But, at it's core, fear is a liar. Everything you sacrifice on the altar of fear is something that even if your fear were to come true, you would most likely not lose the thing you're allowing fear to force you to give up. See, fear knows that the only way to get you to not do that thing is to convince you that something will happen to make you lose it once you go after it. Fear cripples you into staying in one spot when you really need to be moving to be in that place you should be in when that thing will fall right into your lap. Fear makes you turn right instead of left or makes you go north when you should go south.
I did not let fear trick me out of my life, though to be sure there were several times I almost sacrificed my physical life to fear. But, fear did convince me to sacrifice different lives I could have had which I have no way of ever regaining because those family members are no longer living or those opportunities will never come my way again. When I think of the possibilities that could have been there for me had I not let fear motivate me, I can only imagine how much different my life would be today. But, to sit around and dwell on the "what ifs" is one of the most wasteful things we can do with our time and energy. The "coulda shoulda wouldas" can also drive you into the deepest darkest pits of despair known to mankind. And that despair is inhabited by fear.
But, the "what-ifs" and the "coulda shoulda wouldas" involve regret, and as I've stated, I don't have time for regret.
In so many instances the very first words God speaks to men, in the Bible, are the words: "Fear not!" Fear is the enemy of faith; the slayer of dreams; the cancer of goals and the destructor of families. But fear is also a weakling. Fear never allows anyone to see it in full focus because it would have no power over anyone if they knew how puny, small and weak it really is. Fear uses tricks, smoke and mirrors and whispers to conquer its victims. And I know the One Word that fear hates the most: JESUS! The next time you hear the voice of fear, just utter that name and fear will flee like a grasshopper from a forest fire. Don't get me wrong, now, fear is not a quitter! It will come back time and time again trying to find some little chink in your armor that it can squeeze through, but you have to maintain diligence and be steadfast in your faith so that when fear tries, you call out the name of Jesus and send fear headed for the hills trying to find a rock it can slither back under.
I'm so thankful that God provided me with such amazing spiritual armor to put on every day but I am most grateful that He gave me the single, most-powerful weapon I will ever need to fight my daily battles: JESUS!
Now, all that being said, I read an article by a famous singer that I happen to know, though I don't know him well. The last lines of the article were a quote from this singer where he talked about the many lives and careers that have been sacrificed on the altar of fear. Up until that very moment I would have told you that I haven't let fear rule my life since 10 March 1985. May have even been a few years earlier than that when I finally stood up and walked out of the abusive relationship I had lived in my entire life to that point. But either way, I had long been convinced that I had never sacrificed anything on the altar of fear, but reading that article made me realize that I have sacrificed a lot on that altar. Fear is a tricky thing. It can be omnipresent and overbearing, but it can also be subtle and sneaky. Fear can even convince you that it is not even present when it's guiding every decision and move that you make. But, at it's core, fear is a liar. Everything you sacrifice on the altar of fear is something that even if your fear were to come true, you would most likely not lose the thing you're allowing fear to force you to give up. See, fear knows that the only way to get you to not do that thing is to convince you that something will happen to make you lose it once you go after it. Fear cripples you into staying in one spot when you really need to be moving to be in that place you should be in when that thing will fall right into your lap. Fear makes you turn right instead of left or makes you go north when you should go south.
I did not let fear trick me out of my life, though to be sure there were several times I almost sacrificed my physical life to fear. But, fear did convince me to sacrifice different lives I could have had which I have no way of ever regaining because those family members are no longer living or those opportunities will never come my way again. When I think of the possibilities that could have been there for me had I not let fear motivate me, I can only imagine how much different my life would be today. But, to sit around and dwell on the "what ifs" is one of the most wasteful things we can do with our time and energy. The "coulda shoulda wouldas" can also drive you into the deepest darkest pits of despair known to mankind. And that despair is inhabited by fear.
But, the "what-ifs" and the "coulda shoulda wouldas" involve regret, and as I've stated, I don't have time for regret.
In so many instances the very first words God speaks to men, in the Bible, are the words: "Fear not!" Fear is the enemy of faith; the slayer of dreams; the cancer of goals and the destructor of families. But fear is also a weakling. Fear never allows anyone to see it in full focus because it would have no power over anyone if they knew how puny, small and weak it really is. Fear uses tricks, smoke and mirrors and whispers to conquer its victims. And I know the One Word that fear hates the most: JESUS! The next time you hear the voice of fear, just utter that name and fear will flee like a grasshopper from a forest fire. Don't get me wrong, now, fear is not a quitter! It will come back time and time again trying to find some little chink in your armor that it can squeeze through, but you have to maintain diligence and be steadfast in your faith so that when fear tries, you call out the name of Jesus and send fear headed for the hills trying to find a rock it can slither back under.
I'm so thankful that God provided me with such amazing spiritual armor to put on every day but I am most grateful that He gave me the single, most-powerful weapon I will ever need to fight my daily battles: JESUS!
Sunday, April 30, 2023
Radicalized
Since 9/11/01 we've been hearing about "radicalized muslims" and how their sole intent is to kill 'infidels.' There has been a lot of talk about how Arabs are out to destroy the United States. And what had been rational Christian Americans began talking about the coming war with the Muslims and against those who want to annihilate Americans. But what I've been seeing and hearing is a bunch of "radicalized christians" who are guilty of the same talk and feelings they've been accusing muslims of. I talk to christians who are building up an arsenal to defend themselves, their family and their "country" but they're not talking about anything that's actually in The Bible. There is no talk of turning the other cheek, and if you mention it to them they'll tell you that Jesus did not mean to literally turn the other cheek. They go off into some justification of why they are allowed to kill muslims and Arabs and might even try to use scripture to make their point.
But, what is a "radicalized christian?" You'll note that I'm not capitalizing the C in the word christian for this post. Because I cannot bring myself to call someone a Christian who is not following the teachings of Christ. I cannot call them Christian when they're talking about hatred for God's children who don't believe or behave the way they think they should. Radicalized christians want to employ any means necessary to wipe out anyone who doesn't believe the way they do. Bombing buildings, killing people who don't believe they way they do and spewing hatred toward people who don't behave the way the radicalized think they should. They are no different than those "radicalized muslims" who are doing the same things. The oddest part of it all is that both groups are targeting some of the same people, yet they hate one another and will deny any common ground between them.
When did we start thinking that we can force people to be Christians? It's definitely not a new phenomena, I can tell you that. Back in the middle ages, the Catholic church burned people at the stake if they refused to accept the doctrine of that church. They declared war on peoples who were not willing to accept the teachings of the pope and follow the rules of Catholicism. So, what we're doing today isn't a new thing, it's just a rehashed version of what has been happening since the fifth or sixth century. And we have new targets today that the Church didn't worry about back in the middle ages. Not that the targets are "new," but people in the middle ages didn't go after those groups the way we do today, because today's church had to come up with a new enemy to fight after centuries of not being able to wipe out the non-Christian peoples of the world. Because the church seems to think we have to have a physical enemy to fight.
The Bible is clear that our enemy is not flesh and blood! Our enemy is the devil and his minions who are determined to knock us down and prevent us from truly believing and following the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus! He has deceived the church into believing that it's the people who aren't like us that we have to fight because if we're fighting people we're not fighting him. And he has us convinced that we have to hold our earthly governmental entities in high esteem and fight for them to be number one and reigning over the whole earth. As for me, I am not a citizen of The United States of America, nor am I a citizen of planet Earth any longer. On 10 March 1985 I was born again and gained citizenship in the Kingdom of God whose king is Jesus of Nazareth. That's where my loyalties and my heart belong, not to the state of Tennessee or the United States. Yes, I live in this place but I'm no longer a citizen, I am now just passing through on my way Home. When we travel to distant places, we don't get involved in their politics and local governments because we're just strangers passing through so why should we be consumed with their regional or local goings on? We don't and we should be treating the kingdoms of this earth the same way: we're just passing through so why bother getting involved in their petty business?
This world is going to hell. There is no way to prevent it. There is no denying it. Jesus said it, John prophesied it and I believe it. The signs they gave that would signal the literal end of this world are all around us. One of the biggest prophesied events to signal the beginning of the end times was the call to rebuild and the re-establishment of the nation of Israel. If you aren't aware the nation of Israel was re-established on 14 May 1948. That was the day the countdown clock started for the return of Jesus, the rapture of the saints, the millennial reign of Christ on Earth, the final war between God and Satan and the ultimate day of judgment and reckoning. Now, we weren't given a time frame of how long it would take between the rebirth of Israel til the return of Jesus, but we were told that the generation that saw the rebirth would not pass away before Jesus returned. And that generation is losing members pretty quickly these days. So the return of our Savior cannot be much longer. And I, for one, want to be ready so that when that trumpet sounds my feet leave the ground and I fly away to meet Jesus in the clouds to begin eternity in the presence of Almighty God.
Maybe I'm the "radicalized" one these days, because I believe that The Holy Bible is God's Word and that what is written in that Book is the Truth and Map that will get me to that place in the clouds with Jesus. Because I believe that we are to love each and every person on this planet as we love ourselves and as we love God. Because I believe we are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to those who thirst, visit the sick and incarcerated and take care of the widows and orphans. I believe in doing good to those who wish me harm and I believe if someone smacks me on the right cheek I am to turn and offer the left cheek and not take up arms and try to destroy them. I believe that good will conquer evil. I believe beauty will overcome ugliness. I believe the lion will lie down with the lamb. I believe God is love and love is God. If that makes me a radical then so be it.
But, what is a "radicalized christian?" You'll note that I'm not capitalizing the C in the word christian for this post. Because I cannot bring myself to call someone a Christian who is not following the teachings of Christ. I cannot call them Christian when they're talking about hatred for God's children who don't believe or behave the way they think they should. Radicalized christians want to employ any means necessary to wipe out anyone who doesn't believe the way they do. Bombing buildings, killing people who don't believe they way they do and spewing hatred toward people who don't behave the way the radicalized think they should. They are no different than those "radicalized muslims" who are doing the same things. The oddest part of it all is that both groups are targeting some of the same people, yet they hate one another and will deny any common ground between them.
When did we start thinking that we can force people to be Christians? It's definitely not a new phenomena, I can tell you that. Back in the middle ages, the Catholic church burned people at the stake if they refused to accept the doctrine of that church. They declared war on peoples who were not willing to accept the teachings of the pope and follow the rules of Catholicism. So, what we're doing today isn't a new thing, it's just a rehashed version of what has been happening since the fifth or sixth century. And we have new targets today that the Church didn't worry about back in the middle ages. Not that the targets are "new," but people in the middle ages didn't go after those groups the way we do today, because today's church had to come up with a new enemy to fight after centuries of not being able to wipe out the non-Christian peoples of the world. Because the church seems to think we have to have a physical enemy to fight.
The Bible is clear that our enemy is not flesh and blood! Our enemy is the devil and his minions who are determined to knock us down and prevent us from truly believing and following the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus! He has deceived the church into believing that it's the people who aren't like us that we have to fight because if we're fighting people we're not fighting him. And he has us convinced that we have to hold our earthly governmental entities in high esteem and fight for them to be number one and reigning over the whole earth. As for me, I am not a citizen of The United States of America, nor am I a citizen of planet Earth any longer. On 10 March 1985 I was born again and gained citizenship in the Kingdom of God whose king is Jesus of Nazareth. That's where my loyalties and my heart belong, not to the state of Tennessee or the United States. Yes, I live in this place but I'm no longer a citizen, I am now just passing through on my way Home. When we travel to distant places, we don't get involved in their politics and local governments because we're just strangers passing through so why should we be consumed with their regional or local goings on? We don't and we should be treating the kingdoms of this earth the same way: we're just passing through so why bother getting involved in their petty business?
This world is going to hell. There is no way to prevent it. There is no denying it. Jesus said it, John prophesied it and I believe it. The signs they gave that would signal the literal end of this world are all around us. One of the biggest prophesied events to signal the beginning of the end times was the call to rebuild and the re-establishment of the nation of Israel. If you aren't aware the nation of Israel was re-established on 14 May 1948. That was the day the countdown clock started for the return of Jesus, the rapture of the saints, the millennial reign of Christ on Earth, the final war between God and Satan and the ultimate day of judgment and reckoning. Now, we weren't given a time frame of how long it would take between the rebirth of Israel til the return of Jesus, but we were told that the generation that saw the rebirth would not pass away before Jesus returned. And that generation is losing members pretty quickly these days. So the return of our Savior cannot be much longer. And I, for one, want to be ready so that when that trumpet sounds my feet leave the ground and I fly away to meet Jesus in the clouds to begin eternity in the presence of Almighty God.
Maybe I'm the "radicalized" one these days, because I believe that The Holy Bible is God's Word and that what is written in that Book is the Truth and Map that will get me to that place in the clouds with Jesus. Because I believe that we are to love each and every person on this planet as we love ourselves and as we love God. Because I believe we are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to those who thirst, visit the sick and incarcerated and take care of the widows and orphans. I believe in doing good to those who wish me harm and I believe if someone smacks me on the right cheek I am to turn and offer the left cheek and not take up arms and try to destroy them. I believe that good will conquer evil. I believe beauty will overcome ugliness. I believe the lion will lie down with the lamb. I believe God is love and love is God. If that makes me a radical then so be it.
Sunday, March 26, 2023
Family
I've been thinking about family a lot lately; it's really no wonder what with the adoption of Xavier and Talia being finalized and then becoming the adopted Grandpa for little Alexander. When I think of my family I think of those 5 Godchildren, Sami, Xavier, Talia, JJ & Beka. And I think of my honorary grandson, Alexander. And I think about the children of my heart, Misty, Christy and Ben. And, of course, I think of my biological son, David Wayne and pray that I'm one day closer to seeing him and being able to tell him how much I've loved him over the last 38 years. And I think about those with whom I share DNA, my biological brothers and sisters, my foster brothers and sister and all the cousins from my Mom's side, Dad's side, Bonnie's side and Ann's side. When I really get started counting, I have a massively large family because it also includes the family that adopted me in, Janice, Dennis, Jordan, Philip, Tami, Mary, Terry, Hoyte.
I think of the love, the giving, the caring and the enjoyment we get from just being together or talking on the phone. Often when we talk we don't speak of anything of any importance, we're just talking to one another to assure one another that we're still here for each other. We catch up on what's going on in our day to day lives, the headaches, heartaches, frustrations, joy, happiness and gifts we receive daily. I'm not in contact with a lot of my DNA family; it's by their choice, not mine, but I still think of them, pray for them and long to hear from them. I miss them because they are not a part of my day to day life and I so wish they were. But, they have chosen their own family, a mix of DNA and chosen members, for themselves and for whatever reason they chose to not include me in that circle.
But the truth is, my Godchildren aren't just my friends' children whom they have gone through the motions of saying this is your godchild and that's the end of it. For me, my Godchildren are my children! I consider myself to be one of their parents! They can come to me and talk to me about anything and I won't judge them, but I will try to influence them to make the correct choices in order to lead a good, stable, healthy and successful life. But, if they do something wrong, I'm gonna be right there to tell them they did wrong, as well! I've adopted the parenting style of my foster Mom, Ann Hale. Hands on with love and caring, hands off with trying to make them do what I want them to do and allow them to make their choices. It is, after all, their life and they are the ones who will live it. But that brings me back to that one word that can mean so many different things to so many different people: family.
God places us into a family when we are conceived. The vast majority of the time that family will be there with a person for the rest of their life. Sometimes God places someone into a family at conception that will not participate in that life after birth. And sometimes children are born into a family that just cannot maintain a family unit and those children are then placed with non-DNA families and they live a rich, full life with those who chose them to be part of their family. But, there are so many families out there like mine that are mixture of the two types and that's what makes it such a rewarding, rich life for those who are part of that circle. They know they were chosen and even those who are connected by DNA have chosen to remain a part of their life. They are among people who love them and accept them, support them and encourage them.
I've come to the conclusion that family is merely a group of people who love one another. Who want to participate in this journey we call life with those who are a part of that family whether by blood or by choice. I've seen DNA families that may meet the legal definition of family but they don't fit what I believe to be God's definition, because there is no love between the members. And where there's no love is a place I do not want to be.
I think of the love, the giving, the caring and the enjoyment we get from just being together or talking on the phone. Often when we talk we don't speak of anything of any importance, we're just talking to one another to assure one another that we're still here for each other. We catch up on what's going on in our day to day lives, the headaches, heartaches, frustrations, joy, happiness and gifts we receive daily. I'm not in contact with a lot of my DNA family; it's by their choice, not mine, but I still think of them, pray for them and long to hear from them. I miss them because they are not a part of my day to day life and I so wish they were. But, they have chosen their own family, a mix of DNA and chosen members, for themselves and for whatever reason they chose to not include me in that circle.
But the truth is, my Godchildren aren't just my friends' children whom they have gone through the motions of saying this is your godchild and that's the end of it. For me, my Godchildren are my children! I consider myself to be one of their parents! They can come to me and talk to me about anything and I won't judge them, but I will try to influence them to make the correct choices in order to lead a good, stable, healthy and successful life. But, if they do something wrong, I'm gonna be right there to tell them they did wrong, as well! I've adopted the parenting style of my foster Mom, Ann Hale. Hands on with love and caring, hands off with trying to make them do what I want them to do and allow them to make their choices. It is, after all, their life and they are the ones who will live it. But that brings me back to that one word that can mean so many different things to so many different people: family.
God places us into a family when we are conceived. The vast majority of the time that family will be there with a person for the rest of their life. Sometimes God places someone into a family at conception that will not participate in that life after birth. And sometimes children are born into a family that just cannot maintain a family unit and those children are then placed with non-DNA families and they live a rich, full life with those who chose them to be part of their family. But, there are so many families out there like mine that are mixture of the two types and that's what makes it such a rewarding, rich life for those who are part of that circle. They know they were chosen and even those who are connected by DNA have chosen to remain a part of their life. They are among people who love them and accept them, support them and encourage them.
I've come to the conclusion that family is merely a group of people who love one another. Who want to participate in this journey we call life with those who are a part of that family whether by blood or by choice. I've seen DNA families that may meet the legal definition of family but they don't fit what I believe to be God's definition, because there is no love between the members. And where there's no love is a place I do not want to be.
Sunday, March 5, 2023
Fire & Brimstone AKA There are Consequences for Our Actions/Behavior
I am not one to preach fire and brimstone because I don't think fear is a very good motivator. If you scare someone into doing what's right, they will eventually lose their fear and they will no longer follow what they were following due to fear of the consequences if they didn't. I think love and reward are much better motivators because love and reward will never lose their attraction and each and every one of us desires love and reward. But, that being said, I do think we, as Christians, have made a huge mistake in leaving out the talk of fire and brimstone, entirely. I cannot recall the last time I heard a preacher speak about hell in straightforward language and described as the Bible describes it. We've somehow taken hell off the table because we're afraid people will either not believe it or because we think it's too harsh.
Whatever the reason, we just don't really talk about what the future holds for those who will be left behind. That's where we leave off the conversation: left behind. Left behind to what? To continue living as people have been living for thousands of years? No, not at all. Yes, there will be a time when mankind is left on the earth after the saints are ascended to heaven with Jesus through the clouds. But that situation will not last. The anti-christ will be allowed to rule this earth for a time, but then will come the battle between good and evil. When that battle is concluded those who did not choose to follow Jesus will face judgment. If their name is not found in the Book of Life, they will be cast into outer darkness where the flame never dies and their soul will suffer torment along with the devil and his demons. To spend eternity in an unquenchable fire and in utter darkness where light cannot live. But the worst part of that situation is that there will be no presence of God: no goodness, no love, no hope. Jesus said there would be gnashing of teeth due to the extreme torment.
We've all heard people joke about the partying and fun they will have when they get there, and maybe some of us have even joked about it, too. But, hell is no joke and it's not going to be a party. But, please don't say that God will send people to hell. God will not send a single human soul to hell. There's only 1 who will be sent to hell by God, and that's Lucifer, Satan, the devil. Every other soul that will be in hell will be there because they chose to be there. No, they may not have consciously chosen to spend eternity in a lake of fire, but when they chose to not accept God and Jesus, His Son and they chose to not obey the commands of Jesus, they chose to send themselves to hell. And the saddest fact of all, to me, is that there will be far more souls in hell than there will be in Heaven. That's such a tragic thing for me to comprehend. How anyone could or would reject the loving God who gave His One and Only Son to die in order to take away our sin so that we could spend eternity with Him in His glory. The requirements for Heaven aren't even difficult. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and repent (turn away) from sin, while feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, visiting the sick and incarcerated and taking care of widows and orphans. Love each and every person on this planet as God loves us. After all, they are also His children, whom He loves just as much as He loves you and I.
Whatever the reason, we just don't really talk about what the future holds for those who will be left behind. That's where we leave off the conversation: left behind. Left behind to what? To continue living as people have been living for thousands of years? No, not at all. Yes, there will be a time when mankind is left on the earth after the saints are ascended to heaven with Jesus through the clouds. But that situation will not last. The anti-christ will be allowed to rule this earth for a time, but then will come the battle between good and evil. When that battle is concluded those who did not choose to follow Jesus will face judgment. If their name is not found in the Book of Life, they will be cast into outer darkness where the flame never dies and their soul will suffer torment along with the devil and his demons. To spend eternity in an unquenchable fire and in utter darkness where light cannot live. But the worst part of that situation is that there will be no presence of God: no goodness, no love, no hope. Jesus said there would be gnashing of teeth due to the extreme torment.
We've all heard people joke about the partying and fun they will have when they get there, and maybe some of us have even joked about it, too. But, hell is no joke and it's not going to be a party. But, please don't say that God will send people to hell. God will not send a single human soul to hell. There's only 1 who will be sent to hell by God, and that's Lucifer, Satan, the devil. Every other soul that will be in hell will be there because they chose to be there. No, they may not have consciously chosen to spend eternity in a lake of fire, but when they chose to not accept God and Jesus, His Son and they chose to not obey the commands of Jesus, they chose to send themselves to hell. And the saddest fact of all, to me, is that there will be far more souls in hell than there will be in Heaven. That's such a tragic thing for me to comprehend. How anyone could or would reject the loving God who gave His One and Only Son to die in order to take away our sin so that we could spend eternity with Him in His glory. The requirements for Heaven aren't even difficult. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and repent (turn away) from sin, while feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, housing the homeless, visiting the sick and incarcerated and taking care of widows and orphans. Love each and every person on this planet as God loves us. After all, they are also His children, whom He loves just as much as He loves you and I.
Beauty Is In The Eye of The Beholder
For those who are truly aware that they are not beautiful or handsome, it's not a matter of feeling sorry for themselves or thinking badly of themselves. They simply have looked at themselves objectively, and have accepted the truth that they are not a madly beautiful woman or greatly handsome man. But, they also have "tells" that let them know they are accepting the truth. They have heard the difference when someone mentions how they look. They have heard, 'oh, you look nice,' or the like, but they never hear someone say, spontaneously, 'oh how pretty/handsome you are!'Oh, they may hear someone say that they are handsome/pretty/cute, if they mention that they are not. Normally a relative or a good friend will almost immediately tell them they are, but that doesn't really ring true to the person of average looks. That relative or friend only says they are when they hear the person saying they aren't.
Now, this is not about people feeling sorry for themselves, or people who are digging for compliments. This is about those people in the sea of humanity who are average or below average in the looks department. We all know they exist. In fact, most of us will talk about them behind their backs and talk about how badly they look or even think of ways they could make themselves look better, but no one wants to say these things to the average or below average looking person. Instead, if the subject is brought up, the immediate response is to lie to them and tell them that they are, in fact, cute or pretty or handsome or good looking. But that person already knows they're not. And 99% are okay with it and they're not trying to get anyone to lie to them or feel sorry for them. They are just stating an established fact.
There are those who are, in fact, beautiful people who cannot accept their appearance as being beautiful or handsome. If someone tells them they are, they'll argue that they're not or that they don't feel or believe they are. Most of these people have low self-esteem and are truly not aware that they are appealing in their appearance. But, these people respond to spontaneous comments about their appearance on a regular basis. Their response is negative because of their inability to truly see and accept their appearance due to their low self-esteem. They will sometimes bring up their looks as being below average in order to hear someone tell them different, but it's all part of their low opinion of themselves, not due to a need to hear someone tell them they are beautiful or handsome.
Of course, there are those on the extremes of this issue: those who truly believe they are the most beautiful/handsome and those who truly believe they are the ugliest. There may be a few of them who are correct, but their attitudes about themselves are off-putting because their ego is either super inflated or truly flattened. No one really wants to spend time with either of those extremes.
But, why do we judge a person based on their physical attributes? There are beautiful people who have the worst morality and would steal, kill and destroy without thinking twice. And there are those who have absolutely no physical attribute that will grab attention and their hearts and souls are filled with love and kindness, compassion and empathy. Why do we gravitate toward the physical appearance when it's what is in the soul and spirit of people that we are in need of? The most beautifully wrapped package could contain the deadliest of poisons. A plain paper bag might contain the most coveted gem. Truth is, the most gorgeous diamond of all time, the Hope Diamond, arrived at the Smithsonian Institute in a plainly wrapped parcel box.
Why can't we judge a person's beauty on the fruits of their life rather than their physical attributes. To be honest, most people cannot take any credit for their appearance because it was merely their genetic makeup that gave them the looks they have. It's in their behavior and their honor that we should judge their beauty. The Bible tells us to judge the fruit: look to see if someone is caring, compassionate, empathetic, sympathetic, giving. Those traits are the ones that should be present before we label someone as beautiful or handsome. After all, even the ugliest person on earth is the most beautiful person on earth to the ones who love him or her.
Now, this is not about people feeling sorry for themselves, or people who are digging for compliments. This is about those people in the sea of humanity who are average or below average in the looks department. We all know they exist. In fact, most of us will talk about them behind their backs and talk about how badly they look or even think of ways they could make themselves look better, but no one wants to say these things to the average or below average looking person. Instead, if the subject is brought up, the immediate response is to lie to them and tell them that they are, in fact, cute or pretty or handsome or good looking. But that person already knows they're not. And 99% are okay with it and they're not trying to get anyone to lie to them or feel sorry for them. They are just stating an established fact.
There are those who are, in fact, beautiful people who cannot accept their appearance as being beautiful or handsome. If someone tells them they are, they'll argue that they're not or that they don't feel or believe they are. Most of these people have low self-esteem and are truly not aware that they are appealing in their appearance. But, these people respond to spontaneous comments about their appearance on a regular basis. Their response is negative because of their inability to truly see and accept their appearance due to their low self-esteem. They will sometimes bring up their looks as being below average in order to hear someone tell them different, but it's all part of their low opinion of themselves, not due to a need to hear someone tell them they are beautiful or handsome.
Of course, there are those on the extremes of this issue: those who truly believe they are the most beautiful/handsome and those who truly believe they are the ugliest. There may be a few of them who are correct, but their attitudes about themselves are off-putting because their ego is either super inflated or truly flattened. No one really wants to spend time with either of those extremes.
But, why do we judge a person based on their physical attributes? There are beautiful people who have the worst morality and would steal, kill and destroy without thinking twice. And there are those who have absolutely no physical attribute that will grab attention and their hearts and souls are filled with love and kindness, compassion and empathy. Why do we gravitate toward the physical appearance when it's what is in the soul and spirit of people that we are in need of? The most beautifully wrapped package could contain the deadliest of poisons. A plain paper bag might contain the most coveted gem. Truth is, the most gorgeous diamond of all time, the Hope Diamond, arrived at the Smithsonian Institute in a plainly wrapped parcel box.
Why can't we judge a person's beauty on the fruits of their life rather than their physical attributes. To be honest, most people cannot take any credit for their appearance because it was merely their genetic makeup that gave them the looks they have. It's in their behavior and their honor that we should judge their beauty. The Bible tells us to judge the fruit: look to see if someone is caring, compassionate, empathetic, sympathetic, giving. Those traits are the ones that should be present before we label someone as beautiful or handsome. After all, even the ugliest person on earth is the most beautiful person on earth to the ones who love him or her.
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