Are We Defeated?

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:7-11 NIV

When victory is not the end result--there lies defeat. Are we defeated?

I submit to you--that as long as we do things according to The Word--we will not be defeated, but know victory at every turn!

When we tell the truth--we know victory!

When we stand up for and promote righteousness--we know victory!

When we refuse to cave to popular opinion and reject the ways of the world--we know victory!

No matter what the doctor's report says--we are victorious!

No matter what our bank account shows us--we are victorious!

No matter what people think of us or who we support--politically--we are victorious!

No matter what temptation the enemy puts in front of us--we will not be tempted to live in opposition to God's Word--we are victorious!

With God going before us in everything we do--He is more than enough! In Him, we live and move and have our being! We are victorious through Jesus Christ!

So, keep going--living The Word, daily--never expecting or ready to concede defeat in anything. Just keep going and going and going--looking to Him--the author and finisher of our faith--knowing that no matter what happens on earth, in the end--we win and will spend eternity with Him!

Where Our Allegiance Lies...

For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots with arrows, he will consult his idols, he will examine the liver. Into his right hand will come the lot for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to give the command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp and to erect siege works. It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind them of their guilt and take them captive. Ezekiel 21:21-23 NIV

When our allegiance is criticized by those who have not lived our experiences, it warrants a deeper discussion and understanding of the values held and the need for those values to be respected, regardless.

Children are taught to "pledge allegiance to the flag" when they are young--at least that was true in yester-years. Now, I'm not sure what they're taught considering the fact that there are movements determined to teach children in kindergarten about homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderism and only God knows what else--and school districts are allowing this rather than acknowledging a parent's right to teach their children about any type of sexual behavior. So much time is spent teaching children things that have nothing to do with academics that it's no wonder our children have difficulty focusing and passing standardized tests--unless the answers have something to do with sexuality.

So, if no one is teaching the children about what allegiance means--as it pertains to the American flag--why would anyone be upset about the "physical position" one takes when facing the flag? Stand or sit--what is the big deal? In the case of the football player, Colin Kaepernick and his "sitting" protest--why is it a "terrible thing?" He is not the first to adhere to the "standards" set by others in acknowledging the flag when the national anthem is presented and he won't be the last. In America--the flag is supposed to represent the fact that we have rights and choices and none should be objectified when exercising those rights--especially since there was no desecration or mockery involved.

What I see--is people so blinded to their ideals of American political partisanship, that those complaining have forgotten about "what freedom means" for all. If students cannot be compelled to recite the pledge nor punished for not doing so--why are we vilifying an adult--is it because he is a black male professional athlete? Or is it that the last part of that pledge does not include him with regard to "freedom and justice for ALL?"

“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Liberty--synonymous for freedom sees to evade people of color--from times past to the present.
Whenever there is supposed to be freedom--it gets ignored and criticized unless one happens to be a funny-faced man with money who has trampled on others with his freedom to speak racist remarks and yet--he is promoted and touted as a "great man" by his subservient supporters. This is not to say he hasn't been called on the carpet for the foolishness that keeps falling from his lips, but since it does keep falling--he should have been "sat down" some time ago and banished from the public view.

And before anyone criticizes what was just said, think about what the funny-faced man said about Kaepernick--"go find another country" as if someone made him king. He hasn't even been elected and thinks he has a right to stick his nose in places it doesn't belong--or rather tweeting about things that don't concern him, but making it about him and politics. What a waste! Telling someone to "go find another country" proves the point about him being racist.

If one person's freedom is not recognized then none of us have freedom or we shouldn't especially when some use their "freedom of expression" to belittle and humiliate others. Either we're all free or the "allegiance pledged" means nothing for anyone. We cannot have it both ways.

If our true allegiance was to Jesus Christ--none of what is happening would be happening, but most of those who claim devotion to Jesus--lie every day with their actions and loose lips. When our allegiance lies with the ability of a mere mortal to do more than God, we get what we deserve--and then we become captives of the Babylonians (those who never worshiped our God)!

Considering Admiration!

Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6:5-8 NIV

We often choose people we set on a pedestal--those we greatly admire and then when their imperfections and flaws are exposed, we get angry and sometimes, we rebel by interjecting venom that poisons us and all around us.

Not all of us can be right at the same time in the same place, but we can be righteous in all we do. If we only do what is right--at all times--we never have to consider what happens if we do something wrong because we won't. Sound complicated? We live complex lives and throughout our journey, we make decisions based upon the information and experiences we have at hand. If our experiences and our information is limited, our views may seem a bit short-sighted, but when we broaden our experiences and gain greater access to information, the likelihood that our views will change are incredible.

For instance, when we were in kindergarten and learned all we needed to know about life--the experience was limited and the information provided was at a level that our undeveloped minds could handle. We thought recess was the greatest part of the day and for some, it was the storytelling hour.  
Every person in the class came away with different perceptions of what kindergarten was about, but we learned: to share, wait our turns, be respectful, and to move to the right when traveling--walking down a hall or driving. And many of us learned to be considerate and most of us--had a great deal of admiration for  our teacher. Unless the teacher did something really wrong--we admired them and remembered.

As we navigated middle school and high school and college--we discovered there was so much more to learning and being in a classroom that we began to think (and not just swallow everything told to us) and eventually--our views about things we learned in kindergarten changed. It's called--maturing--and it's a part of life that most of us enjoy.

But then there are those who--though past the age of 50--still act like they are still in kindergarten. The saddest part of all is there are people who admire--the kindergarten mentality which makes one wonder--if the admirer--ever matured. And it is these people who concern me and how they evaluate admirable qualities in a person.

So, when we express admiration for a person or an ideology--perhaps we should consider the source of our admiration and evaluate our own maturity if we admire others who are immature and act as though they are still in kindergarten.

The ant--a tiny creature with a tiny brain, but obviously smarter than those of us with a larger capacity to think, evaluate, and assess and we don't. What exactly is there to admire about a non-thinking person? Absolutely nothing--unless we happen to be an ant. Let's choose to admire Jesus and become more like Him!

Have Mercy O God!

Listen to what the LORD says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say.  “Hear, you mountains, the LORD’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. Micah 6:1-4 NIV
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Listen! The LORD is calling to the city— and to fear your name is wisdom— “Heed the rod and the One who appointed it. Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house, and the short ephah, which is accursed? Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights? Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully. Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins. Micah 6:6-13 NIV

While many people do not believe what the prophets of old said are relevant to this day, I beg to differ. If we read--with understanding--and carefully consider how our lives today are parallel to the times when God used the prophets, we see the similarities--but will we hear and obey?

The biggest difference in what was done then and now is--God spoke through specific people warning the people--those willing to hear and speak what He said. Today, all who desire to know--have access to His Word and Holy Spirit--we have the means to hear without a middleman--if we choose to hear. When we choose to ignore God and all He has done for us--we reap the consequences of our actions and if we're completely honest with ourselves, we can hear Him asking us the same questions.

What does He require of us--to treat others with love, mercy and justice--and to walk humbly--showing humility in all we do--not boastful or bragging about what we've done or said and certainly, knowing how to be empathetic and compassionate. Are we doing it?

Are those who are dishonest and cheat others going to be receive anything from God? Yes, they will receive the appropriate consequence for their actions because God sees everything we have ever done and knows everything we will ever do.

Are the rich violent--either in action themselves or provoking others to act violently towards others?  Are we lying--just to get what we want or do we know how to speak truth? Are we allowing out tongues to rule us deceitfully, hoping others will not expose the deceit? While no one has to answer these questions asked on this blog, God is waiting--for us to respond to Him with answers that are truthful and without any attempt to conceal the reality of what we do. Are we ready to answer Him?

When we attempt to conceal our lies and deceptions--they are ultimately exposed for all the world to see (or at least in front of those we were trying to deceive) and we stand naked--with nothing to cover us, nothing to shield us from the onslaught of criticism that is bound to come. So why lie and deceive? The enemy has discovered the flaws in our nature and has used them against us so he won't be alone--in the lake of fire for all eternity. Don't be caught with defenses down! The enemy's job is to kill--we see the result of his influence, daily; to steal--the joy of everyone who loves; to destroy--any hope that others have for a better day; he is the father of liars--so he influences others to lie and the master of deception--always masquerading as something good until he gets close enough or has influenced enough people--to do the most horrific things we can imagine.

What can we do? Pray, pray, and pray. We pray for ourselves to hear God and then act in obedience to what He tells us and we pray for mercy--His forgiveness for our foolishness so we'll have opportunity to get things right before Him.

Have mercy upon us, O God!

Life, Light and Love!

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 NIV

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 John 2:3-6 NIV

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister. For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 1 John 3:9-11 NIV

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.1 John 4:7-13 NIV

There is no improving upon God's Word and when and if we ever learn to take it to heart, studying for understanding and acting with the Wisdom received from Him, we will understand Love and live--loving all as He loves us.

Where there is no love, darkness and hatred reign, but light dispels the darkness and there can be no light without love.

Isn't it time, we walked in the light of love towards all people--regardless of their religious beliefs or the color of the skin or their ethnicity? Until we learn to love, the world will never know peace. Until we learn to accept the fact that no one group of people is superior to another, we won't love as God loves--unconditionally.

Talk is cheap--and by the multitude of words is a fool known. Let's stop talking about love and start living love so the entire world will see God in everything we do!

Enough said!

A Divine Do-Over!

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him. Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:1-8 NIV

With many of the video games kids and adults play (we're Wii gamers), the player can start the game over if their score is in jeopardy. In life, we don't get many chances to improve our score when our decisions cause us jeopardy, but there is a divine do-over, that every person has an opportunity to receive.

We are born of a woman--a female whose reproductive system functions as God designed and that process includes a fetus living in "water" (amniotic fluid) until it makes an appearance in the visible world. This is the first birth. Because of our flawed and imperfect natures--prone to doing the wrong thing no matter how "religious" we think we are, we do not have the power on our own to change who we are. However, when we're born of the Spirit of Christ (the second birth)--having accepted the gift of salvation because of the work on the cross--Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, we get the Divine Do-Over.

I wish I had the time to really delve into this subject this morning, but I'll have to summarize because of my restricted time. If we look at the rest of this chapter regarding the life of Jesus and we get to the best known (hopefully) passage of scripture, we see why Jesus had to come. "For God so loved the world (the people in it) that He gave His only Son (He came in the flesh) so that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but have eternal life (after the first death). He did not send His Son to condemn the world, but to provide an opportunity for the world to be saved through Him" (John 3:16,17 paraphrased).

That was His purpose. The methodology was taking upon Himself the sins of the world and being crucified on the cross, dying (for a moment), being resurrected, returning to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, but leaving His Spirit in the earth realm so whoever receives Him, has within them the power to not sin, when we are obedient to His guidance. Hallelujah! We have opportunity to repent--from doing things our way which is usually the wrong way, and have divine instruction--daily--if we'll listen and obey--getting a second chance when our lives and souls are in jeopardy--a do-over--to get things right.

I am so thankful for the opportunity for this Divine Do-Over that I simply can't thank God enough for His love and mercy. Surely goodness and mercy indeed follow me all the days of my life. It was His goodness that kept me when I couldn't see through the darkness and His mercy that keeps me on the path of light and love--knowing without Him, I can do absolutely nothing, but with Him--all things are possible!

Victory in the name of Jesus over all the enemy has attempted to do in my life and in the lives of my family (biological and spiritual) and friends is my proclamation all day long! Now, let's dance--thanking God for the Do-Over!

What To Do About The Message!

Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. “It is true, LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, LORD, are the only God.” Isaiah 37:14-20 NIV

What should we do when we receive a message that causes us anxiety?

We do what Hezekiah did--we turn our concerns over to The Lord since He has all the answers, we don't.

The doctor's report with bad news--spread it out before The Lord.

The bills we can't pay--spread it out before The Lord.

The disobedient child--spread it out before The Lord.

The tragedies occurring all over the world--spread it out before The Lord.

The divorce papers you weren't expecting--spread it out before The Lord.

The lawsuit you were just served about--spread it out before The Lord.

The violence and crime sprees the media reports--spread it out before The Lord.

The chaos and instability of this political cycle--spread it out before The Lord.

And once we spread our concerns before The Lord, we acknowledge we're incapable of resolving the issue and need Him in our lives. Then we listen, hear, and obey. That's what Hezekiah did and since we know that God is not a respecter of persons, He'll do for us what He did for Hezekiah--save the day.

We don't have to sweat the small stuff or the big stuff--just spread it out before The Lord and know--God's got this!

Fighting The Good Fight!

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I Timothy 6:9-12 NIV

How do we measure progress when we're doing something for the first time? What standard becomes our benchmark? We're still determining our direction with our boot camp.

What we didn't anticipate is a change in our scheduling that makes this attempt almost futile. I say, almost because I'm not one who gives up easily at the first sign of adversity. Unexpected events have taken me away from home during the crucial hours of our scheduling and that has thrown everything off course. But still we muddle forward. Leaving written instructions for someone to follow without being in their presence is not the same as being right there.

While we're learning how to adapt our methodology and accomplish our goal, I get a better glimpse of how God views us. Though He has set out the guidelines for us to follow in His Word, if we are not totally cognizant of His presence--at all times, we veer off track.

This then, is how we fight the good fight of faith. We must remember at all times, He is a very present help in our midst and we must look to Him for direction in all things. ALL things--every little thing--and never take Him for granted because He knows when we're faltering in our own wisdom and when we allow Him to guide us--we cannot go wrong.

So, instead of relying upon my memory for the first breakfast of this boot camp, I should have consulted Him--who would have reminded me to look it up and all ingredients would have been included. Had I consulted Him about the week of our plans, He would have provided me with insight as to what else would occur in our lives.

What to do, what to do! Adjust--all plans and determine if there is a need for continuation for another week or even for the next month--one day at a time. I'm waiting to hear but I will continue to provide the necessary building blocks that will ensure my grandson will thrive and be able to resist the temptations that are bound to be put before him.

Lord, though we know to seek Your wisdom in all things, sometimes we think we can handle the minor details without You. Thank You for bringing us back to the realization that You are our focus and without You, involved in all things, we can do nothing. Thank You for reviving us and strengthening to continue the good fight--every day!

Expecting From The Lord!

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. I Chronicles 4:10 NIV

So, the first day of boot camp didn't quite turn out the way we wanted it to work.

The breakfast I had planned was a miserable fail (baked omelette). Apparently, I forgot something needed in the recipe and we ended up with cheesy egg toast. 

Lunch was chicken salad, which for me was enhanced by using the cheesy egg toast for an open-faced sandwich.

Dinner--well, I have no idea since I didn't eat dinner and left the others to their own devices.  We'll get better as we go along--I hope.

A rocky start, but most of what we wanted to accomplish for day one--achieved.

Grandson is reading and analyzing specific passages of scriptures, relating them to daily living and other literature designed to open his eyes and open dialogue with us.

More next time--keep praying!

Lord, keep us focused on our task and always dependent upon You and enlarge our understanding of how to move forward in such a way that not only will our grandson learn a valuable lesson, but we will, too.

This Is It!

It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD. This is the day I have spoken of. Ezekiel 39:8 NIV

For the next few days, this blog will hit a little closer to home. We're conducting a boot camp (of sorts) to teach my grandson a lesson in "fortitude" and staying the course of being right even in the wrong places with the wrong people.

We have a schedule beginning from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. detailing what we're doing each hour or block of time set out. He won't have any free time until 4:00 p.m. and then we enter into our evening schedule of events until time for him to go to be 10:00 p.m.

When we love our children or grandchildren, sometimes we have to take "extreme" measures to get that message across to them in order to help them develop the skills and tools they're going to need to survive--teenage years, young adulthood into mature adulthood.

So, we including exercises to build mental fortitude, physical fortitude, emotional fortitude and spiritual fortitude. I'm sure I'll have to say in the coming days about what worked, how it worked and what adjustments we needed to make to ensure the outcome we expect.

We're trying to help him develop critical thinking skills and how to react to adverse situations that could cost him his life.

Pray for us while we take this unknown journey--striving to reach the finish line of excellence so he'll be ready for The Master's use!

This is the day!

Recognizing The Foolish!

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips. The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright. The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure. A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated. Proverbs 14:6-9, 16, 17 NIV

What is a mocker? A person who makes fun of others--appearances, values, and beliefs. They attempt to humiliate at every turn, thinking themselves to be superior to others.

One example of a mocker is the atheist who makes fun of other Believers. They say things like: our praying to an invisible God may as well as be praying to a spaghetti monster. Another example of a mocker is someone who makes fun of another person's disabilities by exaggerating facial expressions, voice tones, or movements. And then these mockers think--they are wise in their own sight.

The "wise in their own sight" are often looked upon as being foolish because they never listen to others when people attempt to admonish them because of their attitudes or behavior. We see this every day--those who think they know something when they don't.

I  (and many others) am extremely offended by the latest attempts of Donald Trump to "reach out to African Americans" on a number of levels. First of all, he's not reaching out to a group of people when none of them are in his immediate presence. Secondly, if he wants to "reach" people, he might want to start off with more factual information about who they are rather than statistics that are easily debunked. Using a broad stroke of overgeneralization to describe any group of people is insensitive and negates the accomplishments or achievements of others within that group. What he said was racist and derogatory. Not all Black Americans are living in poverty; not all Black Americas are ignorant or stupid (the underlying meaning of his saying, "your schools are no good"), and most of the young people--the teens (his 58%) are high school students who are concentrating on avenues that will earn them scholarships for college.

His entire speech about reaching out to African Americans was mocking.  "What do you have to lose taking a chance on Trump?" Considering the ethnic persuasion of the audience he was addressing at his rally, he wasn't talking to Black Americans. His campaign manager, Kellyann states, "all his rallies are open to the public and African Americans can attend." This is particularly interesting when a man--with brown skin--of Native American heritage was removed from one of his rallies.

Reiterating his approach, "What the hell do you have to lose?" We lose the hell altogether that a Trump presidency represents and keep reaching for heaven--knowing there are no racists there. In recent news--a white man--claiming to belong to racist group--admitted to stabbing a black man when saw the man kissing a white woman. Not that their relationship was any of his business, but he took upon himself to try to kill a man simply because of his skin color. That's what the foolish evoke in others--that's what Trump ideology is creating in a society in which many of us had hoped was behind us. So, no--we don't want Trump's brand of anything and that will ring loud and clear on November 8th.

And this is how we recognize the foolish--when they do really stupid things--in a public forum and think they are believable. Love trumps hate and mockery!

Not Guilty!

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright? Proverbs 20:9,11

No matter what we do or have done in the time we've been on the earth, none of us can say, we've never done anything wrong--unless we were physically incapable of acting on our own.

And that's the key. If we are able to make decisions about anything, chances are--we've made a few wrong ones. Even small children--learning to walk and discover--find out the hard way that not everything should be put in one's mouth or they shouldn't touch everything they see. How much children are harmed by their discovery activities depends upon the parents' detail to attention in keeping them safe and harmful events--limited.

So, if small children are known by their actions, how we can reasonably conclude that adults are not known by theirs?

When we promote hatred of other people simply because of their religious beliefs, skin color, or how they look--what does that say about us?

When we constantly promote the engagement of negative attacks upon others--what does that say about us?

When we think we are superior to others and totally discredit the thought processes of others--what does that say about us?

When we think we can chastise others and are never receptive to chastisement for what we do--what does that say about us?

We are known by what we do and say--and warrant greater judgment by God because we are adults--not children. The children--who do wrong--usually don't know what they're doing, but adults--especially those who claim to know Christ--have no excuse.

When we know The Lord and are cognizant of The Word and live it on a daily basis, we cannot say, "we're not guilty" when we do wrong. And if we claim we're not guilty of ever doing anything wrong--we lie and proclaim the devil is our father.

The one thing I will not be guilty of doing in this lifetime is saying, I've never done anything wrong. I hear Holy Spirit when He speaks and though I'm sometimes slow to obey, I do obey. I obey even I don't understand why He wants me to do certain things, but I know--if He says it--it can't be wrong.

Therefore, I will continue to live like the King's Kid that I am and hope to be known for being His--always willing to admit when I'm wrong and correct my behavior.

Unlike some--I cannot say, "Not Guilty" of ever being wrong, but I know that love--will make it right!

The Heart of The Humble!

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. “Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.  “Do not slander a servant to their master, or they will curse you, and you will pay for it. Proverbs 30: 5-10 NIV

The heart of humble speaks!

Think for a moment about the speaker in this passage of scripture and then read the entire chapter. Agur--acknowledges his human failings and speaks to them to others.

He understands The Word of God and warns people about attempting to change it.

He understands that lies and falsehoods--however they are cloaked with deceptive language are not acceptable.

He understands that neither riches or poverty will make a difference in how God treats people.

He understands what most people--especially our politicians, don't--the deceptive practices--on behalf of both parties--are not acceptable to God.

Though my thoughts this morning were not to make a political statement with the scriptural reading, this fits so well, especially in light of the so-called, "regret" uttered by a person who smirks as he speaks. No humility shown whatsoever and no real apology made about all the things he's said. And in the next breath, focuses his attention on his opponent to talk about her.

What was even more amazing to me was to see his new campaign manager, lie with a straight face, but her eyes gave her away along with the false smile that didn't come from within.

The humble heart--speaks from the heart--and the sincerity is seen and heard. The humble heart--when it knows a wrong has been committed, will apologize--specifically--to the wrongs done. The humble heart--seeks private as well public exoneration of any act in which they are sincerely sorry about and want to make amends. The humble heart--does not seek public attention for acts of charity or compassion. The humble heart--knows God and wants to please Him, not people or a political party.

That's what the humble heart does!

When we see what people do--in the public eye--we know whether or not they  have read The Word, understand The Word, and live The Word. We know, by what we see and hear--who truly has a humble heart and who doesn't.

Americans are smarter than some give us credit for. We know humility when we see it and when we don't.

Where People Fit!

Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. Proverbs 29:1,2
Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.Proverbs 29:6
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.Proverbs 29:7
Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.Proverbs 29:8
If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace. Proverbs 29:9
The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright. Proverbs 29:10
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. Proverbs 29:11

Throughout a person's life, they go through stages--trying to determine where they fit in with life's scheme of things for them.

I believe that however a person turns out--in life--begins with the foundation that is laid when they begin seeing themselves in the environment in which they find themselves. And as such, when people realize what their surroundings are and they can make a difference or simply accept it--they are in position to choose their end in life. Being born into a poverty-ridden environment doesn't mean that's how a person how to end their life. Being born into a gilded society where a person has everything done for them, doesn't mean they will be a better person for it and many end up being morally corrupt.

What I've discovered about many (not all) people who had to work their way to what they wanted (nothing given to them except moral standards), they are more inclined to have a benefactor's heart. They always want to help someone--without fanfare or recognition--just to make sure someone has a chance for a better life.

At the opposite end of this spectrum--those born with "silver/gold spoons" as feeding utensils, usually (not always) end up looking down on those who did not have what they have and have no compassion on those who do not what they were given at birth. They tend to go through life thinking the world owes them and they do for others when they can derive attention for it.

Looking at The Word of God, we see primarily how people fit into specific categories in our general society. Now, note these adjectives are not the labels earned at the beginning of life, but rather near the end of life.

The stiff-necked--after many rebukes--those who refuse to change their ways.

The righteous--those who do what is right according to God's Word.

Evil-doers--those who plot and plan to do evil to others for their own gain.

The wicked--those who thrive on doing evil and enjoy it.

The wise--those who respect and adhere to wisdom from above.

The fool (stupid, idiot) those who have been taught what is right, but rebel against it to go their own way and keep finding themselves in a rut--never moving forward, always blaming others for their outcome since they refuse to accept responsibility for what they do or don't do.

The bloodthirsty--those who do not care about the bloodshed of others in their quest to accomplish their own missions.

Thinking about what we do and why we do it--we should be able to find ourselves in one of these categories. Where do you fit?

Do We Understand?

Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them. Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully. Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse. A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father. Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor. If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable. Proverbs 28:4-9 NIV

When we are given specific, implicit instructions as to how to live to please God and ignore them, we're opening the door for Satan to walk in and rule. And we see this on a regular basis.

To backtrack our history for just a moment, within the educational systems, across the nation, we see the result of taking prayer out of the schools. When this country allowed a demented woman to convince lawmakers that "prayer in schools" was a violation of the constitutional rights of others, Satan and all his imps--stood on the sidelines--cheering, and turning somersaults, salivating at the opportunity for destroying the minds of the young. Gone--respect of teachers or anyone in authority; teens who feel like misfits deciding to take the lives of innocent people, and many school buildings are more like--airports--with metal detectors at the doors and security personnel searching back packs. Can we see them?

When sociologists decided that "corporal discipline" was child abuse, lawmakers once again (blinded by Satan's plans) told parents their kids couldn't be spanked. As a result, we have a society in which kids rule because parents are afraid to discipline them and when parents have no control over kids, neither does anyone else. When we take away authority of parents--we set our society up for failure. Do we see it?

Then, with the outcries of another few demented people, it became unconstitutional for prayers to be said at government facilities, and school events, and other public events and don't dare mention the name--God--that apparently has the enemy so shaken that he trembles every time the name is mentioned. Even with the celebration of Christmas--the Christians' celebration of Christ's birthday, has almost been forsaken--because of the commercial aspect pervaded by all those seeking wealth. Can we see it?

And now, the group that openly and reverently honors the enemy--that master of deception--Satan--is allowed to influence young minds further, by promulgating "the nonsense of religious beliefs" as after school clubs. Parents--who were duped into believing that prayer violates constitutional rights from their earlier era, are probably the ones who will allow their children to attend, "Satan's clubs."Are we paying attention?

There is a profound difference between people being religious--ardently acting upon one's beliefs--and being a follower of Christ. Satan's followers are religious--they ardently act upon what they believe. Some Christians--ardently act upon what they say they believe--based upon the denominational doctrine. Believers in Jesus Christ--simply live according to The Word--not denominational banners. Why? Within The Word--there is life--and instructions for living life--that pleases God. So, if we're not living according to The Word, not heeding instructions, we are praising the wicked (figuratively and literally), and the prayers being offered are detestable to God.

Do we understand, yet?

Tooting Your Own Horn!

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:1,2 NIV

I can remember as a kid hearing the "older folks" say, "When you have to toot your own horn, you're just making noise." They would go on to explain that when a person has really done something worthwhile, praise coming from other people about the accomplishment means so much more than when a person exalts themselves.

That makes sense to me. Hearing someone else tell you how great you are at doing anything does two things for the average person. It bolsters confidence and instills humility at the same time.

I'm usually amazed at some of the things people say to me; especially since I don't see me the way others see me. I'm competitive--by nature--and I'm usually competing with myself--always trying to find a way to do something better. As a kid, while other kids were outside playing, I was in the house reading a book because I wanted to be a better reader. When we (the girls) played sports with the boys, I wanted to be a better player, so I didn't play like the girls (Miss Prissy); I played like the boys and was a tomboy until after I was fifteen years old. I loved playing touch football and beating the boys we played against. But it was because of those boys that I learned how to swing a bat and release after a hit without knocking someone out with the bat. I learned how to play basketball really well competing with the boys because they were taller and I had to try harder.

As an educator, I am always surprised when a colleague tells me what other students say about me. Personally, I thought my students hated my guts, so when either students or instructors tell me how my former Hearing that makes me feel like I really have to step up my game--to keep the momentum going because I don't want to disappoint me or others. students recommend me to others--that's invigorating, yet humbling. And though I think I'm a pretty good teacher, but I've seldom said that to anyone. I'm creative and always looking for new ways to present basic--humdrum information because I don't like being bored.

When introducing myself to a new class, I simply tell them my name and give them their first writing assignment--to Google me and then write about what they discover.  They share what they discover with the class and we move on from that point. I want them to know--I know about writing, but I don't think I should spend class time trying to convince them.

So, when implementing this particular proverb to my daily life--I'd rather hear what others have to say about me than to say anything about me. Since I don't see me as others do, I probably wouldn't do a good job of telling anyone anything. I see me with the flaws and imperfections, but thankfully, a number of people look past them or don't recognize them until I say something about them.

More importantly, I strive to please God, not people. I know if I live according to His Word, more than likely He'll be pleased, even when I don't think I'm good enough--I know, He still loves me. And maybe, just maybe, I'm a little too hard on myself. But I'd rather look at me--with a critical eye, than to look at me with an appraising eye and attempt to say anything about me.

What I've discovered about most people is this--if they have to tell who they are--chances are--they are not all they think they are. The more people brag about themselves, the greater the likelihood that others will see their flaws and not their accomplishments. That's what happens when we have to toot our own horns; we invite closer inspection.

Watching Exchanges!

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Proverbs 26:4 NIV

Beginning to understand this proverb better each day.

I've stated before that I read articles from several different digital mediums and when I find one interesting enough, I post a comment. Depending on the subject of the post, I usually get quite a few responses--some agreeing, some disagreeing, some humorous, and some--just downright hateful. I've been able to spot the bigots and the racists who simply comment to make their voice known. I get it.
They want everyone to know what they think, but not who they are since most hide behind profile icons rather than pics of themselves. Silly me--everyone knows who I am because I am not ashamed of who I am, my positions on anything and I certainly don't allow the idiots to intimidate me.

Now, though some--even those who don't agree with my stances on things--have applauded my restraint in responding in like manner to those who are hateful, I have decided--those types of exchanges just aren't worth the effort. So, now--instead of responding to those who only want to spew their vitriol--I simply hide their post. Problem solved.

It's not that I don't think Holy Spirit won't keep a rein on my fingers, but it's just so tempting to be like those who simply want to hate others. But I'm thankful that love reigns in my heart and I don't want to make my Father ashamed of me--by acting the part of a fool.

God is always watching what we do and say and more importantly, He knows our hearts and He knows those who are truly His, from those who claim they belong to Him.

The most amazing thing about some of the online posters is most of them claim to be Christians. From their comments they believe they are an authority unto themselves and nothing anyone else thinks--matters. And no matter what anyone says, they want to set them straight--if you don't think like they do--you're a worthless sinner or worse yet--for them I guess--a "clueless Libtard."
One lady--Kim Smith--told me, I needed to "read my bible better" and I "couldn't be a Democrat and a Christian." I guess someone forgot to tell her that Believers belong to whatever political party they choose. What most don't understand is--a true Believer--looks at the whole picture, not just selected portions and makes a decision. It's like looking at a buffet table--loaded down with all sorts of food--but when a person knows they don't like certain foods, they simply don't put those on their plate. It doesn't mean they choose not to eat anything.

And that's the way I choose to select the political dynamic that best suits the goal for the masses, not just for a handful of people. I don't necessarily agree with the platform policies of either of the four parties, but there is one, I'm sure will best benefit "all people" whether I particularly agree with the candidate or not. Here's the thing--I will never vote for a person who shows no demonstrable aptitude for hearing and obeying Holy Spirit--no love, no self-control, no self-discipline--just rashly speaking and refusing to accept responsibility for what they say and do.  No--this isn't a political commentary, but it just goes to show how knowing what God says--reveals itself in our daily lives.

So, watch exchanges with people--and if they don't agree with you--let it go--it's their prerogative and if they get nasty, let them--hide their post and walk away from it. If we act like they act, then we are no better than they are.

Many Benefits!

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. Proverbs 25:28 NIV

Picture it--a walled city with holes punctured by battering rams--and an entire army from the enemy coming through to either capture or kill those within the walls. Such is the person who is incapable of controlling themselves because they lack discipline--their lack of self-control allows the enemy to come through to capture or kill.

How does that end? The end result for anyone who lacks self-control is disaster--whether it is from a lack of self-control with eating, greed, speaking without thinking, drugs or alcohol, or stealing and lying--whatever it is that refuses to be disciplined in a person's life--will end in disaster.

But we yet have hope with receiving Holy Spirit into our lives! One of the many benefits of allowing Him room to reign in our hearts is self-control.

With Holy Spirit guiding us--we shower others with love, we know peace and joy, we are compassionate and kind, gentle in reprimands and corrections, but firm in our convictions and faith to do what is right and submitted to Holy Spirit's guidance to help us be in total control of what we say and do.

If our spirit-being has been ravaged by the holes punctured by the enemy, we may be setting ourselves for rejection by people and Holy Spirit's guidance. For when our spirits are low--we put our souls at risk when depression seeps in, and clouds of doubt about who we are and what we can do--creep through the holes and blind us to the truth--we are more than conquerors--not because of who we are, but because of who He is.

Perhaps, for some--it is time to allow those holes that have been punctured to be sealed with Holy Spirit so we can receive His many benefits and know wholeness and Holiness, not holeyness (full of holes).

Is it soup yet? Time is marching on and we don't know the day or the hour of His return, but we can live with the expectant hope of living with Him in glory, when we allow Him to live within while we wait. There are many benefits we can receive when we receive Holy Spirit and allow Him to reign.

Holy Spirit, You are welcome to take up residence in my heart, to guide me all the days of my life and to reign with full authority in teaching me--reminding me daily of God's Word--keeping me full of love and self-control.

Avoiding The Pitfalls!

Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company;for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble. By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength. Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers. Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths. Proverbs 24:1-7 NIV

There are some snares and pitfalls we can avoid in life, IF we simply take the time to think about what we do--BEFORE we do it. This is not a one-time lesson in life, but an on-going life lesson we must learn, if we are to survive to share our testimonies of how we overcame.

For teenagers--the path to adulthood is an obstacle course--at every turn, they must watch for the snares and pitfalls that are waiting to keep them from enjoying success as an adult. Those snares and pitfalls come in the form of "wrong" friends and giving into the influence that peers force upon others--if they want to be "cool."

Being "cool" is not always the best route to take to navigate high school or in some cases--middle school. For the peer pressure comes earlier and earlier and even in some elementary schools--kids are pressured to join in or be square.

I've been there, but I was considered square because I wasn't interested in doing anything that could get me in trouble with my mother. "Back in the day" as some would say, at 14 years-old, I had the responsibility of taking care of my brothers and sister after school. It was my responsibility to make sure dinner was cooked (meat, vegetables and a starch), everyone ate, and kitchen cleaned before my mother got home from work. When things went wrong at home and she wasn't there, I handled it--from the ninth--through eleventh grades--I ran the house. My mother worked two jobs to support us and even though she wasn't around much, she had instilled a fear in us that made sure we didn't get into trouble. But then, I was raised in a community of less than 200 people and everyone knew everyone's business, so there was little chance of getting away with anything.

That's not the case today. Kids have greater obstacles to withstand if they're strong enough and wise enough to stand up to their peers. The experimentation with drugs and sex can be overwhelming and the temptation to great to resist, but we must teach them how and show them by example--how to win in life. It's not easy, but it is necessary. The first obstacle we must teach them to overcome is how to survive in a drug-culture in the schools. Drugs are prevalent everywhere--and it doesn't matter if it is an affluent or an impoverished community--the more access to money kids have, the greater the likelihood that kids will move from the cheap drugs to the more expensive ones.  But illegal drugs--are bad news--for everyone and we see the results from the crime in the streets, to the overdoses in the hospitals.

So, while we're praying for them to successfully navigate the murky waters of temptation, we must also teach--and re-teach  them how to be confident enough in who God has called them to be, that they can resist the temptation of the evil set before them, and not be concerned about what others think.

Lord, be merciful unto us as leaders in churches, parents, and school administrators and give us wisdom--abundantly--so we can help our children live and succeed as You would have them to do.

Maintaining Our Focus!

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. LORD, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the LORD and the king. 1 Chronicles 29:17,18, 20 NIV

Do we know who our God is that we can keep our focus on Him?

Our God--the One who created all things and without whom--nothing was ever created.

Our God--the God of heaven and the bible.

Our God--who is love and loves us so much He willingly sacrificed Himself when He came in the flesh of man--His Son--to take our sins upon Him, that we might have eternal life.

Our God--the One who provides for our every need.

Our God--the One who provides us with wisdom from Him, and never thinks little of us because we asked for more wisdom.

Our God--the One who heals all our sicknesses and diseases.

Our God--the One who forgives our sins when we repent and seek Him.

Our God--the only One who has prepared a place for us to spend eternity with Him.

David understood the significance of making a distinction when talking about The Lord, Our God, because so many were worshiping gods they made with their own hands and thought those things they made had power. They worshiped their gods with human sacrifices and burning children--thinking (influenced by the god of this world--Satan) that their sacrifices would mean something or save them from something. They did not realize that nothing made by the hands of man has the power to save anyone from the wrath of God--who removes His hand of protection when we choose to go our own way--rejected Him and His wisdom.

It is not that God destroys anyone or anything, but that He allows the destruction because of our disobedience. And there are some now who think we are headed for destruction because of this election cycle. This election cycle--has proven and revealed where the hearts of people really are. Satan has truly blinded some to the truth by wrapping up the wolf in the guise of being a Christian--who doesn't even know what the term means. More hatred and vitriol has been spewed towards others who disagree with the candidates and their supporters than I've ever seen.

I am absolutely sure--God is not pleased with our behavior and I am just as sure that we shall all feel His wrath when He removes His hand of protection and we find ourselves captured--held in bondage-by allowing the enemy to influence our decisions.

So, what do we mere mortals do? We maintain our focus on God's Word and living it so others will know who we are--not by what we say, but by what we do--aligning our lives with The Word. We stay positive and when the negative nannies throw venom our way, we stop the flow with love and correction, turning the focus to Him, not us.

God is love--and for any who do not know how to love those walking the earth, they cannot love God. My choice in this election cycle is following the dictates of Holy Spirit who will only speak as God directs.

Walking in Darkness!

Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. I John 2:8-11 NIV

Political Alert!

When John reminds us that we as Believers should be walking in the Light of God's love and yet we see--those who claim to be walking in the light hating--what are we really demonstrating to the world?

I'm more inclined to believe "the world" knows how to treat others better than those who claim to know Christ--based upon what I see on a daily basis in the media. More specifically, the Republican party is always "acting" like they're more religious than the Democrats, but from what I see--with all the hate-mongering promoted and encouraged, I'd rather be known as a Believer than a Christian with all of the "religious" trappings that apparently mean nothing to those espousing the claims. I have seen more hate and fear-mongering from those who claim to know Christ and follow Him than I could have ever imagined. I am ashamed and embarrassed by the behavior of those who claim to be Christians, but obviously have no clue as to how Christ wants us to live--loving one another.

If we have not love--one for the other--we do not belong to Christ and all the religiosity we demonstrate, won't mean a thing.

Loving one another does not mean we have to agree with one another, but it should mean we respect one another enough to accept that we all have differing opinions, and simply agree to disagree without all the name-calling and bashing others.

I cannot imagine that God is happy with much of what He's seeing in our behavior. We have literally defiled our relationship with Him because of politics--which is a disaster in this country--and in a few months, it will all be over--no matter who wins. But will we be able to restore broken relationships with others because of differing opinions? I don't know.  Some of the things I see--cut quite deep and restoration of relationships may not be possible and that's a shame.

As Believers--we should not promote or support anyone who promotes fear or hate. It's really just that simple. Love--covers a multitude of sin and when we love--unconditionally, we are able to forgive, but hate--is a cancer that runs rampant and is not satisfied until it kills. The enemy's job--kill, steal, and destroy, father of liars, and master of deception. 

If we ever expect anyone to have any respect for the word, "Christian" we'd better start cleaning up our acts or no one is going to be believe we are "followers of Christ" when we promote hatred of people--for any reason. If we promote hatred, we lie when we claim to be followers of Christ.

Followers of Christ--true Believers--have various skin tones, colors; come from various backgrounds and come in all sizes and though we love the same God--read the same Word, we have various differing thoughts about how we do things--as it relates to being a Believer, but everything we do--should be aligned with The Word.

Our role--while in the earth--is to love people to Christ--not turn them off from hearing the Gospel message. And quite frankly, I'm becoming tone-deaf to some people who claim to be Christians, but are promoting agendas based on political party affiliations rather than The Word of God. The Gospel Message is the only we should be promoting and not just by beating people up with The Word, but in our treatment of everyone.

It is time for us to stop walking in darkness--doing the deeds of darkness, but to live in the glorious light of The Lord!

New Release!

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Still Waiting For Peace!

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God. Galatians 6:10, 16 NIV

If we're still waiting to see peace in our midst, it must be because we have not followed the rule. The rule--coming into verse 10 and referred to in verse 16 is to "do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers."

Who is in the family? Everyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior; everyone who has submitted to God's will and keeps the greatest commands--to love Him and Love everyone else; everyone who lives according to The Word and not just their opinion of The Word--this is the family of Believers--no matter what denominational banner they carry.

Until we understand this rule--doing good to all who are in the family--we delay seeing the peace that is promised to us and we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Now, doing good to all does not mean we condone wrongdoing simply because people are in the family. Children are in families and it is the responsibility of the parents to correct them when they go astray and guide them into living right--according to The Word. As members of this vast family of Believers--it is our responsibility--when Holy Spirit guiding us--to correct those in the family who are going astray.

How do we know when they're going astray? Any time we support a person who promotes hate and fear-mongering, has no respect for self or others, lacks a moral compass and doesn't have a clue as to what or who Love is--we delay peace and mercy from showing up in our lives.

It is not enough to keep hoping and a-praying God will change a person's heart--their heart won't change no matter how many people are praying for them until they want their heart to change. And we must stop making excuses for those who will not accept responsibility for what they say and do. Making excuses for a wayward child's behavior and never setting boundaries for them leads to believe that everything they do is all right and they never understand the difference between right and wrong.

In the political arena, we're dealing with a spoiled-brat who does not understand boundaries and never accepts responsibility for all the foolish things he says and yet, those who support him are quick to defend him--explaining and clarifying what he meant (but didn't say) and then they blame the rest of us for "misinterpreting" what he said.

At what point is someone with an ounce common decency going to stand up and tell this man to stop doing stupid! And when he continues to refuse, everyone supporting him should back away from him before they are labeled as unstable as he is. There are some things that should never be uttered--not in a joke--not for any reason and when a person crosses this line and is given a pass--they'll be looking for a pass for the next stupid thing they do, that may end up with disastrous consequences.

I don't know about anyone else, but I want the peace God has promised and though I do all I can to do good to and for others, my peace is delayed because of the complacency of others who refuse to correct poor behavior.

But if peace does not reside within a person, they cannot promote peace to cover their surroundings by being obedient to God. So, I guess I'll be waiting--patiently--for the peace that resides within me to overflow into my surroundings onto others and the peace will continue to flow like molten lava until all are covered--doing good for the family of Believers.