As a previous post mentioned I am reading through the Old Testament at the moment (will parts of it). The journey started with Jeremiah – moved on to Daniel and it now currently in Isaiah. All I can say about this book is WOW, GOD DON’T PLAY!

Honestly, when I was in my early twenties I simply logged for this “all to end”, I was not unhappy on this Earth, but the idea of it being over and getting to chill with the Creator seemed (and still does seem) much more appealing. However, as I near my 30’s and since my outlook on the lost has changed, I am more considered with those that are blind to the truth and after reading Isaiah 24 – I am just well “whew”.

I know that not “everyone” will be saved, I know that to be truth, but my hope still remains that EVERYONE is, especially all of my friends and my family. I am very well versed in Revelations and as I am reading the Old Testament (which is my opinion is a lot more descriptive and illustrative than one of my most beloved books) I wish for no one to suffer that fate.

We (the collective church) preaches SO MUCH on God’s love and forgiveness, which are both VERY well and VERY good and VERY true, but I cannot help but wonder, do we preach the truth on the devastation of here-after enough? Do we go into specifics, not just as “you will go to Hell” but actually what all that the separation from the Creator entails?

I will depart with this, a personal from Little 5 Points and I had a conversation a few weeks ago. He said to me, “I wonder how many of us are murders?” I, very intrigued by where this was going was glad he continued on to explain. “Not in the physical sense, but rather in the Spiritual. How many of us has killed someone, by not sharing the gospel [listening to the Holy Spirit when He tells us to talk], so they die without have accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior?” Wow is what I said then, and wow is what I still say now.

To God be the glory for ALL things; may we rejoice in His peace, presence and gifts that He has given us from life to salvation to death.  We thank You Father, Son and Spirit for all things – that which we know of and that which we don’t. May You strength us, may we cling to Your will, may we choose Your way instead of own on, in the name of Jesus we ask. Amen. 

It seems as if a day doesn’t go by in which a sentence doesn’t escape my lips which begins with “I can’t believe this generation”, “the generation we are in is so”, “for sure Sodom and Gomorrah had to be just like this because”, etc .. etc .. etc. There is no escaping the fact that the world we live in is getting ever more openly sinful by the second and sometimes it just makes me want to scream. Of course, as I was reminded ever so gently by my mother (while driving back from Labor day vacation), “no one is perfect, we all have flaws, we must leave the personal conviction up to God”. Understood, noted and accepted – I retorted back, but alas my repetitive vocalizations as of late would not allow the quick response to go unresolved within my mental faculties yet again. So as with a wonderful and simplistic, but caring sign I was offered a logical “next step” of my merry-go-round view of society presented by the next song that played on the radio …

Losing by Tenth Avenue North

I can't believe what she said

I can't believe what he did

Oh, don't they know it's wrong

Don't they know it's wrong

Well maybe there's something I missed

But how could they treat me like this

It's wearing out my heart

The way they disregard

This is love or this is hate.

We all have a choice to make

Oh, Father won't You forgive them

They don't know what they've been doin' (oh no)

Oh Father, give me grace to forgive them

Cause I feel like the one losin'

Well it's only the dead that can live

But still I wrestle with this

To lose the pain that's mine

Seventy times seven times

Cause Lord it doesn't feel right

For me to turn a blind eye

Though I guess it's not that much

When I think of what You've done.

This is love or this is hate.

We gotta a choice to make

Oh Father won't You forgive them

They don't know what they've been doin' (oh no)

Oh Father, give me grace to forgive them

Cause I feel like the one losin'

Why do we think that our hate's gonna break a hard heart

We're rippin' arms over wars that don't need to be fought

Cause pride wont let us lay our weapons on the ground

We build our bridges up but it's just to burn them down

We think our pain is own apologies and get them to stop

Well truth be told it doesn't matter if they're sorry or not

Cause freedom comes when we surrender to the sound

Of Your mercy and Your grace, Father, send Your angels down

[X2]

Oh Father won't you forgive them

They don't know what they've been doin'

Oh Father, give me grace to forgive them

Cause I feel like the one losin'

I feel like I've been losing

Oh Father, give me grace to forgive them

Cause I feel like the one losin'

God is good, great and wondrous, correct? AMEN HE IS (rhetorical question).

Dear Heavenly Father – We thank You for all that You have given your children – from merely being born, to sustaining us with Your Spirit, to offering salvation through Your Son. May we keep our eyes focused on You Father God, not allowing ourselves to be consumed with the world around us, but alas being consumed BY YOU and YOUR WILL for our lives. Thank you for being patient with us Father, as though we may have read the Bible a thousand time, simple concepts elude us. We are grateful for Your earnest understanding and our humility and humbleness. In the name by the One without which there is no hope, Jesus Christ, we pray, amen.

SiC ❤

“The battlefield is in the mind”, commonly heard quoted from Charles Stanley and Joyce Meyer.

It has come to my realization that there are only two main categories of people, but then we all get jumbled back together again. What are those two main categories? That would be those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior and those who haven’t. Sure when one turns their life over to Christ things about them change (or should), but likewise aren’t there nonbelievers who are kind, compassionate, extremely thoughtful of others and seek to do good? Sure. For as it is noted in Romans “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” and though you may try to be perfect in your daily thoughts and actions, at sometime you will fall again. However, the act of imperfection is not that the topic at hand; it is rather the mental trick that is used against us when we fall that is.  

What would that trick be? I am reminded of the phrase that Luna Lovegood spoke to Harry Potter about Voldemort in The Order of The Phoenix , “Well if I were You-Know-Who, I'd want you to feel cut off from everyone else. Because if it's just you alone you're not as much of a threat.”

Simple stated it is that nagging notion that when we think, do or feel something “bad”/imperfect that we are an isolated – weird failure, that no one will understand, and henceforth are alone in this life.

#1 As children of God, once you have accepted Jesus as your personal savior, the Spirit of God (for reals) comes and resides in Your being. Henceforth, right off the bat, you are not alone. You can ALWAYS talk to God (and He understands you more than you understand yourself, trust).

#2 There is an estimated 7 billion people in the world, you mean to tell me that you are the only person who has ever thought this thought, done this action or felt this feeling? Highly not likely (ok let’s just say impossible really), so know that you are not alone on a large human-network scale.

#3 Everyone should (and if you don’t then feel free to reach out to me) have someone they can speak to, in a safe, nonjudgmental fashion. No, not everyone is going to agree, but that is where common respect comes in – sometimes people just need to be heard and not talked to.

So rebuke the lie, YOU ARE NOT ALONE regardless of WHAT you are going through (as this lie doesn’t just extend to behavioral fallings).  

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for the truths You have given us and the wisdom You allow us to reach, in Your time on Your accord. May we not get caught up in past, current or future failings, but ever remembering that forgiveness is REAL and that we are NEVER alone. May we be not a stumbling-block for others, but lead, guide and uplift them towards/to You, for we wish no one to be forever “lost” and suffer damnation. Strengthen us dear Lord, as trying times are ahead of us all. In the name of Your son, Jesus Christ we pray ><>

SiC <3