A Design For Death: The cares of this world!

    How can we live and be free, if we are weighted down by the cares of this world?  Debt from a broken down 20 year old car?  Rent that is due?  Medical bills  that are ancient and won't go away? Recurring "things that just happen" that further increase worry?  This is all designed to discourage, depress, and distract you....A Christian that has been set free by the precious purchase of your life in Christ.  So...how do we rate more than a sparrow? That falls to the earth?  Does God really care?  And if so why does the Christian suffer these things?  ( Or some do) I do not know about those who embrace the prosperity doctrines.
      The world  and everything in it ( especially Capitalism) is a design for death for us who live marginally trying to succeed in a world designed for material wealth.   So many homeless on the corners?  We probably made them.  Even though we might deny it. Saying quietly to ourselves, " Why can't you get a job?"  Consider their life, do you really know it?  NO we don't. And so I among probably many do suffer along with questions  about all of these things.  Paul certainly had reason to worry more didn't he?  Faced with death threats and stonings, and beatings all for what?  Preaching?  Words?  But they were not harmless little words were they?  They were the power of God, to show all those who were not part of a kingdom what God was really like.  And so we suffer yet knowing that we are truly set free when the Son does it and we know with a certain knowledge that there has been a power imparted to us greater than that which is in the world.  Still we can be distracted to despair just as if we knew nothing at all! Tha'ts right, and we must resist that type of thinking and it is hard, because we live in a world of requirements,natural ones that take a toll and require a price...Don't pay it with your head hanging low...rejoice in the Lord, again I say rejoice in the Lord....it is our life!  This world, look at it....it is passing away right before your eyes...wars, famine, hatreds, separation because of race issues, military incursions that won't go away and dis-ease with sickness prevalent and no way to receive proper attention emptiness in a world full "things to make us happy."


      So today do as I do, resist the pressure to cave in and despair.  God is greater, and knows what you are feeling.  " We have this treasure in earthen vessels!"  So if a man rages at you because you owe him (Paper with ink  on it.) MONEY... take heed of that attack and know that God cares more about you than that particular issue, even though it screams louder at that moment!      But I do not advocate complacency, we still must take care of our lives and do the best we can even though it is sometimes beyond our means to do  so on a timetable the world and men set for us.

Simple pleasures:

Walking through the streets

Seeing and feeling simple pleasures

The fall breeze, it's crispness against the skin

Neighbors, unknowingly being seen as I walk silently by, going about their lives, casual, easy

Quiet streets, dusk arives

My dog and I enjoying private times

Time for dinner, we walk home.

We Cry "Abba" Father

      I cry Abba Father because I inow without a doubt that he is truly mine.  Paul explains to the early Church of Corinthians that we (those who believe) have the mind of Christ.  In other words, we no longer think as we formerly did.  In all things Christ emulated his Father as one who " is greater than I."  Never taking the approach that he was above the one who sent him on his earthly mission.  But, as a Son had all the the rights accorded to him as an heir of his Father's kingdom.  That included power in the Spirit. Resurrection power.....
     So in these days in which I live I find  a split within myself having to  be in the world but not of it and living as one who will inherit just a Jesus did, an eternal kingdom devoid of all of the nasty things here on this little blue planet.  What are these nasty things?  Murder, malice, hate, jealousy, bickering,  backbiting, untrustworthy people and betrayers.  Have you experienced any of things today? Or are you dull and outside of caring that these things exist and need not to and we can be changed. "In the twinkling of an eye!"
   
     Have your friends deserted you? Your own family also?  Do you sigh everyday while watching and reading the despairing news?  Take heart then that there is an escape, and a renewing that can be had and obtained.   It is thru Jesus and him alone and the knowledge that he suffered for all of those things I mentioned above and he experienced every single one of them and was relentlessly attacked for what? His goodness?  Miracles?  Feeding people?  Teaching another way to ive?  The list goes on and on.  He did not deserve his punishment, but God made it so we could all be different, inherit life and eternity whthout the evil we are surrounded with every day of our lives.....there is another way, the truth, anf the life!
     
                                             As Jean-Luc- Picard always said:   MAKE IT SO!

Simple

     I just want to live a simple life
to praise God in a chaotic world
How do I praise God when it's so hard to find/
Peace of mind among those so blind
Every day it's a race/ the world's pace such a rat race
Moving along life's crooked road
My mind is straight /my vision clear
From the one who gives sight to the blind
and a renewed spirit to those who find
A precious gem in a field so dark
Light my way forever/  never dark

Losing Your Soul, Spirit, and Mind; A consequence of Godlessness

     I have seen the consequences of those who are far removed from God.  Not only is it sad but fearful.  I have seen reason and emotion stripped from individuals that leaves them absolutely empty inside and lacking much that makes a person whole and healthy and mentally clean.  What we believe in and or "who" is so important to what makes us a human being.  The what's can be summed up in things like "mother earth", the moon and stars, spiritual things unattributed to a "God" or creator and all of the other categories such as angel worship, Mary worship, paganism, polytheism and so forth.  Unexplained ufo's, ancient aliens and military bases or the moon or even far fetched secret compounds run by the military with super sophisticated flying saucers are at best vain imaginations.  These come from minds, that are (I think) searching for answers and instead are filled with every sort of deception instead.
     The absolute authority with which individuals speak as experts on these things are astounding and more often than not lead to arguments and opinions that are extremely hard to break away from or into to pursuade perhaps that there are other possibilities.
     When we stray, (and we all have) "for all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God" it is easy for forget the original commands given to us by a God who knew our frame from the very beginning.  Thou shalt have no other Gods before me, honor your father and mother, do not covet, steal, committ murder etc, etc.  We become our own master and rule over and unruly flesh nature.  There is nothing to tame the "tongue" and unruly member if the heart is sick.  Slander, lies, backbiting and gossip are just a few of the characteristics of our nature.  ONE  thing and One thing only saves us from that......Jesus Christ.....who poured out his very life for all of us.    Why am I so certain?  Because I live it daily and for 30 plus years and still like Peter confessed..."away from me Lord, I am a sinner!"  Praise be to God, he saves us from ourselves and redeems us and brings light instead of darkness.  He reveals, opens, and increases our love. NOT only for ourselves but for others.
     Now in regards to the consequences of a life lived without God or fear of him.....being cut off eternally from the one who can save you.  Take the time while it is still called today, ask, seek, and knock, you will be surprised.   But ask the right questions.......to the one who hears, all the time.  As for those I have seen  recently stripped of their natural love, affection and left empty from the ravages of life without a God...it was a famly.....member..............

Astounded:

     I will be astounded when it's all over.  It is said in the scriptures that no one knows when that time will be, but I believe I will see it.  I have seen lately the direct results of some people's hearts that had a direct bearing upon my family's well being.  My last blog was about that.  Today I got another dose of this present reality. Love is "waxing cold before our very eyes" and those who move in this mode inflict harm on innocents by a cold heart.  I moved clear across this country with little or nothing just 300.00 dollars on  hand and lots of prayer coupled with anxiety of course ( I tried to stiffle it.) This 300 came from my boss who knew my circumstances and was moved to help me.  I thanked God for this and set out in hope to start over again.
     Today after circumstances again unfortunate, my car's front end crumpled from a pothole and so I will fix it and go on and continue to be of the same mind Paul had, " To be content in any and all circumstances."  He said he had found the secret in Christ.  I intend to do the same.
     I know there are wonderful people still out there, with love that overflows, I hope to meet more of them along the way, and be built up again in my Spirit!  My inner man needs this....... from one who is in Christ forever....
     

OOPS! Here I go Again: Putting my faith in God and defying circumstances!

Oh, NO!  I just finished a 2-week stay in a camp ground in a small 8x8 tent with three humans, 3 cats and an 85lb. dog!  What the!  And I did not do this on purpose or camp for fun.....My landlord took back my house on short notice of 3 days and dispossesed us of our home of 3 1/2 years.   And on top of that I quit my job of three years that was a blessing and traveled 1900 miles across country to be taken in by a relative...thankfully.
     All this because of a man's heart that  "waxed cold" like the scriptures warn us Christians of in these last days.  Confronting him face to face and telling him he did not care for people did not phase him at all.  Let this type of thing be a warning to those with kind hearts that there are people who will trample and crush without remorse.
     I have at times been fearful of this type of circumstance especially since 2007 and in a shaky economy.  At best I managed to tamp this fear down and and keep going on doing the best I could do, but there are times when change overtakes planning and then my faith must be sufficient for the task ahead.  Often as a Christian I am moved by those less fortunate than I and those on the street who must hold cardboard signs and ask for handouts.  I do not judge and often I help when I can.
     So I will land again on my feet with God's grace and try and let the peace that surpasses understanding be in my heart.    Thank you Jesus for a safe trip! in a 20 year old car......with three humans, three cats, an 85 lb dog and many rest stops along the way!