Want “revival”? Then let it start with you

Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. — Psalm 119:37 –

How many times have we as Christians ran to and fro, looking for revival, in hopes to touch the hem of His garment through mere man? A lot of us were taught this: ”We’re having a revival! Come to the revival! Let God revive you!” As if man could decide when and where God would show up and honor what is sometimes — if not most — a self-centered watered down program to bring in the masses to listen to a lukewarm gospel in the hopes of saving many.

This is not true revival.

Many times Christians desire to see their church do  a new thing, which actually is an old thing. They are living in the past of some movement of years ago, desiring to see the same thing. It must become very burdensome to the pastor to have someone who constantly is comparing the present with the past. The past is just that — the past. And a lot of times, what was done in the past was not a movement of God at all.

Then there is the Christian who say they desire revival so much, looking for it in others and yet there is absolutely nothing that is being revived in them, other than a type of self grandiosity. That is hypocrisy, my friends. I know. I used to be like that many years ago. I so much wanted revival that I thought just by carrying my Bible and Charles Finny books around about holiness, would surely start a revival. How stupid is that?! Oh, I could look good to the pastor, all right. After all, I had “passion and zeal” I was told. I also had a bunch of self-righteousness going on at the same time. Pointing my finger, thinking in my heart, if you people would just do this or that!

One Saturday, two other women and I went to church to pray. We had the sanctuary all to ourselves. We began praying for revival. I went off on some kind of tangent along the lines of this: ”Dear God, hear our cry, bring revival! Bring revival! There’s a stench in the camp! There’s a stench in the camp!” Oh, I knew I was sounding good, looking all spiritual and holy. Such pride. As I was praying, I began to smell something that stunk to high heaven. Still praying, I opened one eye and began to look around me. The stench was so close. Then I saw it. It was on the bottom of my shoe! I had tracked dog doo in the church. I became so embarrassed and stopped ranting. The women said, “What is that smell?” I sheepishly said, “It is me.” I could have died right there on the spot.

What I’m saying is, if you want revival, let it start with you. Sometimes, God does not begin a work in those around us, because we ourselves are walking in sin. It could be anything. Unforgiveness, hatred, self-righteousness, bitterness are a few things that come to my mind. Sometimes we can have our hands all over something and God will not touch it as long as we are the one trying to bring the change.

There has to be a time of brokeness before true revival comes.

I could be wrong, but I believe, true revival comes in the stillness of our soul after we have allowed God to show us our fault, our sin, our wrong doings –brokenness for how one has grieved God. Brokeness for how we have hurt others.

If true revival could be found in going to a church meeting, singing choruses, hooping and hollering and rolling around on the floor, don’t you think this nation would not be where it is today? What about in your own family? What about where you work? What about in your own neighborhood? What about in your own church/building? What about you?

True revival must begin with breaking up the fallow/hardened ground in one’s heart. We must have our hearts convicted by a Holy righteous God. There must be an awareness of sin that has seperated us from God, sin that grieves His heart, sin that hinders the true work of God that He has called for us in the first place.

O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
Now also when I am old and grayheaded,
O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to everyone who is to come.

Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high,
You who have done great things;
O God, who is like You?
You, who have shown me great and severe troubles,
Shall revive me again,
And bring me up again from the depths of the earth.
You shall increase my greatness,
And comfort me on every side. — Psalm 71:17-21 –

Has God shown you great and severe troubles, yet? The kind of troubles that only God can touch? The kind of troubles, so great and severe that it causes you to know you are but dust? That in and of yourself, you are nothing? That you are helpless in some events going on in your own personal life? That if it were not for the mercy of God, you would feel as if you are nothing more than a little grease spot?

If so, then you are a prime candidate for revival. More than likely, you have stopped running to and fro looking for that one thing to fix whatever it is that has caused you to be so low. You are in a good place. You are about to see the salvation of the Lord come to you in way you’ve not yet known.

Oh, I know, that does not go along with what we have been taught and with what most people seek. After all, revival is suppose to feel good. Would you believe me if I told you, true revival comes from within and not from without? True revival is something that can not be manipulated by man. True revival is always about the kingdom of God being built within you. Apart from man, apart from prying eyes, apart from outside influences that would manipulate you for fleeting feelings of what is called joy now days.

Do not look for revival to others to revive you. That is the Holy Spirit’s job. You will not find it if you are looking for others to begin it in you. You will only find it when you begin to pick up the Cross and die. LET the kingdom of God arise in you by allowing the Holy Spirit to convict you of all ungodliness — breaking up the hardened ground of your own heart. I can promise you when you begin to get to the other side, God will begin showing you great and mighty things. THEN, others will be revived. Why? Because they will see the darkness that once had you bound has been exposed by His marvelous light. Others will begin to see Jesus in you as you begin to move into His truth and life in a way that will cause others to think, “Where did this come from? It must be God.” They will then come to you and desire to know this God who has set you free.

That is the fruit of revival, precious Bride of Christ: one of causing others to desire to know our God. It is never about us or our works. But about Him who desires to see the lost being found, the blind being able to see.

How will they know unless we be first in being broken before the Lord? Let Him begin that wonderful work of breaking the fallow ground. It hurts but for a season, but the joy that follows is unspeakable!

If you truly want true revival, just make sure you deal with your own stench first. 

Things My Dogs Teach Me: Run to the Master

Above picture: Our little Beagle/King Charles Cavaliers in their daddys’ lap when they were just a few months old.

One day my husband had taken our dogs for their walk. He called me to tell me to come right away. Two big dogs were after our little girlies, and terrified, had gotten out from under their collars. I jumped in the car, my heart pounding and managed to find them not far from home. My husband had Dolly in his arms, but Dixie was loose. Two huge mongrel dogs that looked something out of a horror movie were running loose. One dog, barking and snapping, was jumping up on my husband trying to get to Dolly. The other dog was threatening our Dixie. I called for her and she came to me right away with bad dog following her. I picked her up and the dog started jumping on me, trying to bite us. A few people were standing around watching all the commotion. I yelled out to them, “Don’t just stand there, Help us!” A woman came over and grabbed that dog while I put Dixie in the car. As I was trying to get her in the car, the huge dog got lose and then tried getting into the car before I could even get the door shut! It was terrifying. Then the dog was trying to get in through a window and I had to manage to get back in and roll the window up with this hound from hell snapping at me the whole time. My husband still holding Dolly, with the other hound from hell, jumping up trying to attack him and little Dolly. I don’t know what emotion was greater — my fear or my anger. I got out of the car after rolling up the windows and went around to the other side to open the door for him so he could get in with Dolly. Both demon dogs after us both. I got the door opened and he got in as I was going around the other side to get in to drive away. I get in and see he had not been able to close the door because both dogs were still trying to get in the car! My husband was trying to shove them out with his leg. Oh, I got so mad. I picked up a magazine laying next to me, leaned over and smacked one of the dogs a good one telling him to “GET!” It was just enough to stun him long enough for my husband to pull his leg in and shut the door.

People stood by and did nothing. EMS happened to drive by during part of this and they too did absolutely NOTHING to help. Might not have been very Christian of me, but I told them all a thing or two before I drove off.

As I begin to start the car up, to move on, the dogs outside still would not move! I was blowing the horn and inching along and they still would not move! It was like an attack from hell. I have never seen anything like it in all my life. I was so angry, I actually wanted to run over them. But I didn’t. For the record: both our dogs were spayed when they were much younger, so this was not a case of male dogs going after female dogs.

I finally get us home, we take the dogs in and my husband says the leashes are still back where he lost them, so he goes back to get them. Meanwhile, I collapse in the chair with what was probably an angina attack. I did nothing but sit and cry, trying to breath, thanking God that none of us got mauled or bitten. Also praying that those dogs would not attack my husband when he went back to get their collars and leash.

That day, our dogs ran away out of fear. Before I had gotten there, they both ran in different directions. Dixie had planted herself under the front wheel of someone’s van. The woman not seeing her, almost began to drive forward, until my husband started shouting, “NO! NO!” The driver, not speaking English, did not know what he was saying, yet could hear an alarm in his voice that caused her to be still long enough for my husband to go and drag Dixie out from under her front wheel. Dolly on the other hand had ran down towards the main street where if she had gotten close enough, no doubt would have been hit by a car.

By the time I had gotten there, my husband had managed to get Dolly, yet Dixie had gotten loose. I had set myself up to be the Alpha dog with our dogs when they were just little babies. That makes me their master. I do not know how they would have behaved if I had been there. I’m guessing their behavior would have been no different as it is in their basic instint to either fight or flee from danger. Our little girlies, being timid little dogs, chose to flee. I can’t blame them.

I’ve thought of that incident many times. I see myself in those dogs at times. Maybe some of you can too. Our behavior being no different than theirs. When there is danger, we sometimes get so spooked that the last thing we think of, is running to the Master. Tornado warnings have been something that has terrified me since childhood. I immediatedly panic. I am not quite as bad as I used to be. I think it has more to do with I just do not have the extra adreneline it takes to get all that upset. However, I do take it serious and can feel fear that almost borders along terror. I try to stay calm for the sake of those around me and even for my dogs. In that first stage of panic, the very first thing I think of is running for cover. I’m much too frightened to even ask God for help.

There have been times when someone has playfully come up behind me and smacked/poked/pinched me for whatever reason. My first instinct is to turn around and knock their head off. I do not like playful activities like that. Some people can play like that. I am not one of them. It seems I don’t have time to ask God to help me, it all happens so fast. Thankfully, I have yet to knock anyone’s head off, but have told them never to do that to me again or else.

Satan loves to use fear to keep us from running to the Master. He is very good at it. That old devil knows exactly how, when and where to strike.

But, if we consider ourselves a bond servant/slave to the Lord, should we not run to Him in any event, at all times? Many times, we automatically trust in our own resources we may have at the time. Once there was a time where I could head down the stairs in the event of a tornado warning and not think much of it. I was younger, able to go quickly, not concerned whether my feet would get me there or not. But now, it takes a little longer. I figure if I can get down without falling and breaking my neck, it is a good thing. I have to be more careful, more cautious as my legs do not have the strength or the speed as they once had. That is when I find myself calling out to God now. On my way down the steps. Whereas before, it was after I had gotten down the stairs and prepared myself. I believe the weaker we become or the more frail we see ourselves before an all mighty God, only then it is when we begin to fully trust in Him. We begin to see HE is the One keeping us and not ourselves.

It is easy to trust Him when all is well. Not so easy when things are not all that well.

What is the thing that may stop you from running to the Master? Has the enemy of your soul so blinded you with such horrible things to come (I speak as one who personally knows what that feels/thinks like) that somehow you find yourself running for cover, yet not calling out to His Name? Are you trusting in your own resources? What if those resources were taken away? Then what? Are you so angry (again I speak as one who knows what that feels/thinks like) with things you see or have had happened to you, that you have failed to run to the Master? What if those things get worse?

I believe that God is calling His people to a place of knowing Him in ways some of us have yet to know. If we don’t learn to run to the Master now, then how in the world will we be able to run to Him when things get worse? No doubt, there will be those who will never seek God, never run to him. At the same time, there will be those who will wait until things get worse — then, they will seek God, then they will run to Him. Do not wait. Run to him now.

Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon. — Isaiah 55:6,7 –

A question to the readers for now — please feel free to answer

I just had a discussion with my husband. He more or less told me I have become unfocused. That I had been writing and putting up some good things, but now, my focus has been changed.  I told him I wasn’t even aware of him reading anything I do on this blog. He rarely says anything and I hardly ever insist he read anything. But obviously, he is looking now.

Have I dear reader, become unfocused as he says?

First, please understand why I do the things I do. I put up things that interest me, I put up things to possibly warn, I put up things that hopefully God is showing me in my personal life and hoping it is a good thing, I share that with you. The last one, which allows me to be transparent before you, is the most dearest to me. For in doing so, I hope it is something that encourages and lifts you up.

When I began this blog 4 (?) years ago, it was to expose the false teachers in the apostate church. I have done that. Then it became mixed with my political rants. Not to say all the videos people were making about forced vaccines, Fema camps, martial law, etc. I spent all my time chasing phantoms and going down rabbit trails on the internet, thinking to myself I was doing a good thing by warning people of what I thought was coming at the time. So much so, that when my mother got sick, I could not see she was dying! I tell you that with a complete brokenness in my heart for that time. I told myself and the Lord I would never do it again. Lest I miss what it is He has set before me to live in.

However, I can not ignore what has happened the past week with the Texas explosion which I believe was a missle or drone. I can not ignore what happened in Boston. I see these events as dark, deceitful, staged. Does that make me just a paranoid kook? Or does it make me someone with their eyes open? Forget your political party in answering that question. Believe me, it would not matter to me who was in office, I still would have the same thoughts. If you can not answer without putting your political party aside, I believe you have no right to answer.

I am not a reporter — I am just a woman who tries to understand/discern what is going on in the world. I never just take anyone’s word on anything. I never just automatically believe everything told to me. I question everything. You should too. You even have the right, the responsibility to question me now. But before you do, please allow me to go on.

I believe a grand scale delusion is coming upon the whole earth. That delusion is already taking place within the church. It has for the past few decades with it’s many doctrines of demons. That delusion is taking place in the political realm. In the media. In all of society. When good is being called evil and evil being called good, know that judgment waits at the door. When a nation has child sacrifice, know that judgment waits at the door. When one does not love the truth, God will allow a delusion. I believe the whole world is being set up for a greater delusion. A delusion that will cause all, both great and small, both rich and poor, to pay homage to a man (I do not know who) as being a savior to all mankind. There will even be those within the church who will embrace this delusion. First there must come chaos and terror before this man/system/government can be set in place.

I also believe that I am not exempt from coming under a delusion. If there is anything in me, anything at all, that does not love the truth, then a delusion can come to me. I truly do not want to spend my time exposing what I think are delusions. I would much rather focus on the things of God, for that is where my heart truly is. Light, truth — such beautiful awesome words to me!

But I tell you, the things of the world sometimes do bother me. I hate this world. I find it hard to ignore some things. I’m not an ostrich with my head in the sand. It is hard for me to ignore any elephants in the room. So, please tell me….

Have I dear reader, become unfocused?

Before you answer my question, please let me ask one of you: If we can not discern now, how will we discern in the future? My question is a sincere one. It is not a trick question to get you not to answer my question. I do want you to feel free to answer.

As I try to discern the times, I need your help.

Please help me.

Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. — Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 –

Gold Plummets, but God says…

Men and the powers that be in the world think that silver and gold belong to them. But God says, ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. — Haggai 2:8 –

If we are trusting in anything other than God and God alone, we will not be able to stand in the days to come. If you hear nothing else I say, hear this: Everything, and I mean everything we have put our trust in is going to be tested. Only those things which are of God will stand. Man’s kingdoms are crumbling, but God’s Kingdom abides forever.

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. — Psalm 118:8 –

… Jesus said…“How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:23 –

What riches is it that you cling to?  What are the idols that you are putting your trust in?  

Gartman on Gold: We’ve Never Ever Seen Anything Like It: http://www.cnbc.com/id/100640665

Reach out of the Darkness

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. — Colossians 1:13,14 –

The following video is one of those old songs I liked as a teenager. But, I have to be honest about something. It confused me as the title is called Reach OUT of the darkness, yet it is sung Reach out IN the darkness. To actually reach out IN the darkness appears that one would be asking for the things in the dark. The words, “reach out in the darkness and you may find a friend,” bothered me for years. After coming out of the Occult, my interpretaion was of that friend, would be a demon.

I always especially like the lyrics that say, “I knew a man who I did not care for. Then one day, that man became a friend of mine.” That spoke volumes to me as a teenager. Over the years, I have learned I can have friends from all walks of life. Not to be confused with a sister or brother in the Lord. But friend. A friend who I know would mean me no harm and who knows I mean them no harm.

I guess it is how one wants to see it. As for me, from where I sit and in my personal life, I now see a meaning in this song as reaching out into the darkness to pull those who are in the dark into Jesus’ marvelous light of truth. Of course you can not force anyone and I dare not try. That is manipulation. And if one can be manipulated to follow God, one can be manipulated to not follow God. On the other hand, I would be lying if I did not say this blog is meant to lead others into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Of course it is and if that is not seen, then I am doing something terribly wrong.

There are those all across the world who are trying to reach out of the darkness that torments them. Others are perfectly content being there and have absolutely no desire to come out. Of those, I would say let them stay there. God is perfectly capable of reaching them. You can pray for them, of course. And if God Himself has not called you to go there, then do not do it. Focus your attention on where God wants you.

Jesus said: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” – John 3:18 -20 –

Jesus became not only my Redeemer, my Savior, my Lord, my King, but my Friend. He actually reached into the darkness of my soul and brought me into His Kingdom of light.

As children of the light, we are to reach out to others and bring them into His marvelous light. You never know, who will end up being your friend in the process, thus becoming your sister or brother.

Even now, if you are reading this blog entry — knowing that it’s main objective is to lead others to Jesus Christ and the truth — know it or not, you have come here, not in the name of Redeemed Hippie, but in the name of Jesus Christ.

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” — Matthew 18:20 — Jesus

Oh, and I do happen to think it is groovy that the Remnant of God, wherever she is, is coming together in pockets all over the earth in one way or the other. Peace!

Carleen Sabin:

What are you Feasting on?

Yesterday was my husband’s and my anniversary. Married for 25 years – I wanted to do something somewhat special for my husband. So I chose a particular restaurant. After we began eating, I remembered the last time we ate there and I had said, “Never again will I come back here,” as the food was just not all that good the first time and neither was it last night. Huge disappointment. I told him I was sorry for choosing this place while biting my tongue as not to ruin our anniversary by complaining about the food. As usual, dear husband was very gracious towards me.

I left feeling grateful that at least I had food to eat. Plus, I didn’t have to cook, but still would have rathered stayed home and eaten a simple sandwich or frozen pizza. It would have given me the same results — one of having eaten something.

As a diabetic, I have learned I have to eat whether I want to or not. If not, I become weak, shakey, confused, disoriented and even crabby. There have been times when I have just grabbed whatever was around me, shoved it in my mouth and swallow just so I could begin feeling somewhat normal/better. But that isn’t enough. I had to learn what it is I am to eat. Grabbing a cookie here or there just to make the hunger  go away so I could continue on with what I was doing, is not the same thing as a healthy diet. I have had to literally learn to stop what I was doing and go fix something somewhat nutritional.

Sometimes, we all feast on things that fill us up, so to speak. But they aren’t always nutritional. The food last night was bland, the salad fixins, being especially bland, probably due to being hybrid veggies. Yech. The meat had a taste of not being freshly cooked. The shrimp? I don’t even know what that was suppose to be or where it came from. The Brownie surely would taste good, I thought. Uh, but no. If I had known it was not going to taste like one of my own, I would not have wasted my time. The only thing that tasted good was the one strawberry dipped in chocolate, but I very well could not make a meal out of that, now, could I?

This has not been an easy lesson for me to learn — to eat correctly. It takes self-control and an ability to focus. Two things that have never been what I would call any virtues on my part. Still not anything great on my part, but God will continue that good work of not only teaching me, but helping me in learning to take care of this temple in which He dwells.

The things we feast on, are the things we become.  If I feast on things that have hurt me, I will become unforgiving and bitter. If I feast on those things that I find confusing, I will become paranoid and suspicious. If I feast on those things which bring fear, then I become paralyzed. If I feast on the things which I hate, then I will become hate.  If I feast on that which makes me angry, I will become rage.

Ah, but, if we feast on… “… whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. – Philippians 4:8 –

…if we feast on these things, then the Kingdom of God is being built within us. The world around us is going to hell in a hand basket, but we as sons and daughters of the living God, are not of this world. His Spirit lives in us to do His work — however He sees fit, whenever He sees fit. It is His doing, not ours.

The feast we are to feast on, is not the things of this world. But His Word. We are to be so full of His Word that His anointing to do good, to speak truth would be so like getting up from a table feeling completely full that we could not but help shout the things of God! Doesn’t that excite you, Church!? It does me!

We do not have to partake of the garbage of this world. We don’t have to go scrounging around in garbage dumps to find that which God wants to feed us. He has given us His Word. The Bible — a living entity. The only thing on this earth that can change a heart from darkness to true light. The only thing that can impart grace to the hearers. The only thing that can renew our minds in the way God desires. The only thing on this earth that is … living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. — Hebrews 4:12 –

Why? Because Jesus is the Word! …and His name is called The Word of God. — Revelation 19:13 –

That WORD is alive, He lives!

Christian, you do not have to settle for less. You have the living God in you and He desires to feed you from His table. One of a complete feast. Do not eat just anything. Do not let yourself go hungry! Feast on that which is alive!

Is there ever a time of too much seed?

The Parable of the Sower

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” — Matthew 13:3-9 –

The Parable of the Sower Explained

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”                                     — Matthew 13:18-23 –

I purchased a grow light, and loving turnips, some turnip seeds. When I received the seeds, I could not believe how tiny they are. I thought to myself surely nothing is going to grow from that. I was disappointed. But, I went on and set them up under the grow light. After just one day, they began to change!  After three days, they were sprouting! So I have me some cute little baby turnip seeds growing in my basement.

I made a mistake in putting them in the little pods. Thinking that nothing could grow from even one tiny seed, I put more than one seed in some of the pods, hoping at least one would grow. Well, most of them are growing and guess what? The pods I filled with extra seed are growing all clumped up together. As of now it would take tweezers to seperate them. But if I should try, I suppose I would kill them. So I will leave them alone and see what happens.

It made me wonder if we Christians can ever sow too much seed (The Word of God) in one place. I had my niece over a couple weeks ago helping me clean house and she began asking me many questions about the things of God and the Bible. I got excited because I could see God was setting eternity in her heart. I love talking about the things of God to anyone who is interested and here she was, full of questions, truly wanting to know. I began sharing with her, and to the best of my abilities answered her questions. I thought to myself dear God, am I giving her too much at one time? Help her to contain all of this. To remember Your Word.

Paul said: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.   — 1 Corinthains 3:6-8 —

Paul was speaking about how he and Apollos had given out the (seed) Word of God. He gave God the glory by saying that those who plant and water are not anything. One plants and another comes along and waters that which has been planted. Just like my turnip seeds — I planted and watered, but it is God who is making them grow.

So in answer to my own question, is there ever a time when we can plant too much seed in one place? I don’t think so. If my little plants grow into a jumbled little mess, God is perfectly capable of sorting it out. I may mess it up, but God is still the One who gives the increase.

However, the ground has to be broken up, tilled before we plant seed in an actual garden. Pray that God break the fallow ground of the heart, so that the seeds you plant will take root. No matter where the seed falls, remember , it is still eternal seed. Even if you ever feel like you have messed up in not planting correctly, remember it is God who is giving the increase.

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. — Isaiah 55:10,11 –

To Soar like an Eagle

Have you ever tried to make yourself fly? As a child, did you ever jump off a high place, open your arms and flap about, hoping the wind would take you away? I did. I never gave it much thought until one morning I had a dream I could fly. I went out before day break, stood on top of the picnic table and jumped. I thought for sure I was going to take off. But, I didn’t. It really surprised me when I hit the ground.

I love the following passage:

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. — Isaiah 40:30,31 –

I’ve heard a few sermons over my life from the above. My favorite one was by Leonard Ravenhill, but I’ve lost it over the years. If any of you know where I can find it, I sure would appreciate it.

I want to share what little — and trust me, it is very little, what I know about the Eagle. Maybe some of you can add your knowledge.

First off, did you know the Eagle is much different than other birds?

An Eagle has great eye sight. He can see his prey a few miles from the earth. It is said he does not eat the dead things. He goes after that which is alive.

An Eagle will not let their offspring hang around forever. They actully push their young out of the nest to teach them to fly. They will push them out and the little eagle can become beaten and cut up from the thorny nest.

Other birds hide when there is a storm brewing. But not the Eagle. Why, he comes out of his nest and flies right into the eye of the storm and lets the wind take him for one heck of a ride!

I have tried to make myself fly over the years. I would wake up and tell myself, “I’m not going to let anything get me down. I’m gonna soar like an eagle today.” After all, those who write books have made it sound so easy. But, I could not. I tried the “positive confession” thingy many years ago. That didn’t work either. All it did was make me feel worse when I could not live up to the latest teaching.

Man’s ways are works of the flesh and are not to be confused with the things of God.

If you notice it says, those who wait upon the Lord, are the ones who will mount up with wings like eagles. Sometimes what we call waiting, is nothing more than being in a passive state. God never calls us to be passive. Nor can we say we are waiting on the Lord while we are still doing our own thing. Sometimes God has to remove us from a situation, change our surroundings, put us in a place dreadfully alone where we can do nothing but fearfully watch all that surrounds us. The last thing we want is to be pushed out of the nest and be thrown in that mess!

We may even become used to the place God has set us. When that happens, all we can do is peek our little Eagle head up every now and then, look over the nest to below, and squawk about the conditions we see. Then we go back to sleep taking a little eagle nap, waiting for something to come along and drop a morsel in our mouth.

But one day without you realizing it…

You learn you are flying! It is not something you did. It is not something you can boast about. You may not even be able to pin point when you got thrown out of the nest. You are able to see the scratches and wounds you received when parent eagle had thrown you out, but the scratches and wounds do not matter. They will heal. You are content to be flying.  You come to realize you have been set free to go after that which is alive!

You see things differently. Those things you once had your eyes on? You still see them, but they no longer cause you to want to take little eagle naps. No longer are you squawking, instead you are having the time of your life, looking at it all in astonishment, knowing that the One who pushed you out of the nest, is right there flying along with you! Your eyesight is much greater now. Your desire is to be free. You desire to fly above the storm. You find it is only things of the Spirit that matter now. Why eat dead things when God is life!

You find you are not trying to hide from the storms. But you are somehow flying right into it! Oh what does it mean!? It means you are seeing the whole picture, not just the things that had you hiding in the nest. You are able to see the majesty of all creation, made by the hands of a Creator who told us some things must come to past. You are no longer surprised, bitter, angry, afraid or anxious of what is to come. You have spread your wings and the Lord is showing you His hand on everything.

Bride of Christ, believe it or not, our strength is being built up for the real battles to come. God desires us to soar. To fly high above all the dead things, seeing that which is alive. HE will bring it to pass.

The things of this world will pass away, but His Word endures forver and ever.

WAIT UPON THE LORD

faiwsu:

Are we called to forgive ourselves?

When modern psyhchology began entering the church, I knew right off it would lead to greater deception. Enabling the church to become more self-absorbed with  having a touchy/feely experience, rather than picking up our cross, and die.

So many times over the past few decades I have heard/read/seen those who tell us, “You need to forgive yourself.”

Really? I need to ask where in the Word of God does it say that? It doesn’t.

Jesus upon the cross said, “It is finished.” He did not say, “Now go and forgive yourselves.”

The thief comes to steal. Is it not theft to claim for ourselves what is meant for God? Is it not theft to rob God of the act of forgiveness, when we take it upon ourselves to “forgive” ourselves? I think so. But, if we listen to the modern day pop psychologists who have managed to infilitrate the church and teach their brand of Humanism/Secularism, they would have us to believe we can actually add to the Words that were spoken out of the mouth of the Perfect Sacrifice.

Too many times, I have seen hurting individuals spend their time “trying to forgive myself” when all they needed to do was to accept the forgiveness of God. “Oh, but I have,” they have told me. “No, you haven’t.” “Yes, I have.” “No, you haven’t, because if you have, it would be enough.”

Many times people like to stay in that place of looking how to forgive themselves as it somehow feels good to them. What feels good about it, you may ask? Well, it certainly may appear to feel better than picking up your cross and actually dying. In the meantime, a person is getting by with singing the same ol’ song of woe is me, woe is me, when all along they can either accept the total forgiveness of God or not.

Once again, Jesus said, “It is finished.”  

If the enemy of our soul can get us so wrapped up in what we have done, he can keep us from truly repenting, and accepting the forgiveness of God. Self is ugly. I do not care how well we try and present it, how well we try to clean it up — self is ugly. God is not impressed by how well you forgive yourself. He is only impressed with His Son. For the church who say they trust in God, to refuse His forgiveness in search of their own methods, not only brings reproach to the truth, but is robbing God of what is rightly His. HE is the One who died on a cross for us. HE is the One who rose from the dead. HIS blood is the perfect sacrifice.

To think an act of some form of self-forgiveness is on the level of God’s forgiveness is not only ridiculous and deceptive, but blasphemeous. It is one of making the truth of no effect. You may as well say, “God, your forgiveness is not enough, so I’m gonna go and try to find my own.”

What if you had a child who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He tells you he is sorry. You tell him, “ok, all is forgiven, we can move on now.” What if the child told you, “But I can’t. I just feel awful about taking that cookie. I’ve got to find a way to forgive myself.” Would it not be a slap in the face to you? Would you not want that child to move on? How much more to God when we refuse to accept His total forgiveness with His authority?

If you are running yourself ragged trying to do what God never intended for you to do in the first place, stop it. “It is finished.” 

To the Un-Churched Christian

If you happen to be in a Church building and you are being blessed and being allowed to be a blessing in the way you know God intends, and if you are being taught correct doctrine, I do not begrudge you. I truly am happy for you. I hope you continue to be blessed. However, this article is not for you.

This is for those who once were involved in a Church = building. You gave your time, your love, your service and your money out of committment to God. But, you began to see some things that alarmed you: false teachings, idolatry, theatrics, manipulation, the occult, witchcraft — all being done in the Name of the Lord. When you began to see those things, your heart was first surprised, then saddened, and then you dared trying to warn others what you were seeing. Not out of sowing discord and/or gossip as some of you were accused. Not out of rebellion as some of you were told. But out of a deep concern and love for the truth. Surely, they want to know, you told yourself. But, you found out, they did not. You were more or less poo pooed, shunned, ignored, and as you walked out the door for the last time, no one cared. After all, that Church building no doubt many times had prayed words like this: God, bring in those who You desire and send out from among us who you do not.

Like me, you too, probably said it at one time or another. Because isn’t that what we were taught? That only those who could follow the program were welcomed. Those who wanted to help the pastor with his vision, were esteemed. That you were not to question.

You find out you were just another casuality as you remember the ones who left before you. When you watched them leave, you did not go after them. Instead you looked upon them as if they were the ones with the problem. And now, sadly, you know what it feels like to be one of them.

Leadership taught they were not to be challenged, or else you were unteachable, rebellious, etc.  You probably felt confused. Why is it wrong to point out error?  You may have thought. So you caught yourself sitting at home as you tried to understand why it made one guilty for just having a desire for the truth.

You may have began to feel sorry for yourself, as you may have began to believe you didn’t matter in God’s kingdom. That thought alone made you wonder if you were guilty of the sin of pride. Before you knew it, that condemnation began to bring you down, perhaps even making you depressed. After all, God’s Word does warn us of the sin of pride. Is it pride to have the desire to share what you believe God laid on your heart, only to be ignored and at times admonished by leaders? I don’t think so. I can only suggest this: If God opened your eyes in the first place, there is a reason for it. It was and is His will for you to share what has been laid on your heart concerning the things you have seen. You were right in wanting to warn the sheep of the leaven. They were wrong in wanting to shut you out.

You were made to feel you didn’t count, you weren’t important. Some even took your desire to be a blessing and perverted it with words like, “You are thinking too much of yourself” — “why, he (the preacher) is a man of God, you just need to follow him and God will lead the way” – you had to show yourself worthy of using any gifts in that church, — worthy being if you were faithful enough to clean toilet, bake the brownies, give your money, sit in the nursery watching unruly kids, go everytime the church doors were opened. Never mind if you had a number of things outside the church that needed your attention: sick parents, illnesses of your own or others, etc., just being plain worn out from having to participate in programs that meant little to nothing or having to listen week after week to what you believed was dead preaching. Not to say the total heresy in some cases.

Some even accused you of just being rebellious towards authority. Uhhh, what does that mean exactly? That we must find a church and must submit? Submit to what and who? Someone else who decides how you will be used? Submitting to never questioning and just going along to get along? NEVER.

You were led to believe that you must go to church or else you were in total defiance to this scripture:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. — Hebrews 10:25 –

And to that I will ask those who want to use this scripture to lord it over the rest of us, what exactly does that mean to you? That those of us who have seen what is sometimes heretical teachings come straight from the pulpit, that somehow we are just to suck it up, and get with the program anyway? IF you have found a place where you are able to get true fellowship, a place where people actually care about your needs as much as you do theirs, a place where you are welcomed and are used in the way God intends, then thank God for it, instead of trying to bring others under some kind of condemnation for not finding it. It is a gift — pure and simple.  God does not love you any greater than the Christian who has not been able to find what you have found.

So what does the unchurched Christian do with that scripture? Friend, I wish I knew. What can I offer you when I too am in the same place? I can only say this and only hope it is something that brings life. For I have been alone so long, now, sometimes I can not see straight. Yet, I keep telling myself, doesn’t it go back to Jesus? Isn’t He always suppose to be more than enough? I am constantly reminded of the thousands of believers all over the world who are in prison. Alone. Forsaken by man. Unchurched Christian, you too, may be in a type of prison.

Like me, there may be times where your soul cries out, “I need… I need… I need.” There may be obstacles that you can not control which get in the way of you getting what you know you need. Fellowship being one of the greatest needs for the unchurched Christian. If you find yourself totally alone and your soul is begging for something that just does not seem to be happening — or even meant for you at the time — then what are you to do?

I believe  that God sometimes purposely allows us to be in a place where we begin to see everything we ever trusted in, become as dung before us. Did you once care what man thought of you? He will put you in a place where it will not matter what man thinks of you. Did you seek man’s approval? You will find only God’s approval is enough. Did you like being noticed because of some gift or talent? God not only wants you to see He is the giver of gifts and talents, but desires you to be free from the yoke of performance. Has there been anything in you at all (get real with yourself now) that liked being seen as spiritual? Some of you know what I am talking about. Like me, you carried around certain books to make sure everyone knew what you were reading. That is spiritual pride and God hates it. He desires to strip you from any pre-conceived notions of what spirituality looks like.

See, if you have done any of these things and have found it hard to break free, God loves you so much that he desires you to be more free than you can imagine. I know it hurts right now, to be without a church and true fellowship. God knows I know. But the time spent now in getting to know Him in the stillness of your life, surpasses anything the church building can ever give you.

Many times this scripture comes to me: And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Luke 22:31-32 –

We know this had to do with Jesus telling Peter that he would deny Him. So what might it have in common for us — the unchurched?

You will feel yourself being sifted many times over during your time of aloneness. You may even begin to question God, causing doubts like never before. BUT…. He is still with you. He has NOT forsaken you. He truly wants you to know HIM. NOT fleeting emotional feel-goods that church services bring. NOT the little pat on the backs affirmations the pastor may give to you. NOT that euphoric feeling one gets when they perform in church knowing their gift is being adored and appreciated.

Though you were led to believe you were the problem, the problem is not with you, precious Remnant of God.

The problem lies with those who desired to put a yoke of performance/bondage on you through deceit and manipulation.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.– Galatians 5:1 –

I’m going to guess, since you have been alone, a part of you has died. Perhaps that part that used to care what others thought. Remember how you bowed to it in order to be accepted?

Some of you truly are house bound. Perhaps illness or other events not under your control make it impossible for you to get out and even try looking for a place if you even wanted. To you, I would say, do not let anyone put a yoke on you. I heard one preacher say if you can’t get to church, then crawel. Really? Church is that important? Well, to some, I suppose. In which case, it could be a type of idolatry. Yes, idolatry. There are those who are addicted to the the idea of going to church = building. I will not expound on that one right now. Perhaps at a later date.

I must say that preacher’s words really irked me. Did he even mention that maybe just maybe, someone could try and offer you a ride to church? No.

You are being changed

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
— 2 Corinthians 2:17,18 –

The things you are going through are not meant to bring you depression or any other negative thing. Though you may battle with those things. They are meant to change you from an image of what you may have thought you should look like, to one of what God thinks you should look like.

… He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; — Philippians 1:6 –

Notice something here: it does not say, He who has begun a good work in you will complete it as long as you go to church every time the doors are opened. Or as long as you follow the pastor on every thing that comes out of his mouth. Or if you tithe, bake brownies for fellowship dinners, teach Sunday school, etc.

No, it does not say those things. Now granted, Jesus can and does use these things to help bring about that good work. But they are not what finishes it. It is in Jesus, and in Him alone.

God tells you He has not forgotten you. He has not forsaken you. That He still will use you wherever you are. If you are alone as a alone can be, He still can and will use you. Your life is not in vain. It is not meaningless.

There will be those who will judge you because you are off on your own. Have they made a real attempt to know you, to understand what you are going through, the things you may be dealing with? Have they even heard your voice? Do they know if you have health problems or if you have been dealing with a family issue? If not, then pay no mind to these people. They have no right to speak into your life if they have not taken the time to know you, really know you.

They will load you down with more bondge as you begin adding them to your I need you to accept me list. No, friend. The only thing you need right now if you find yourself unchurched for the reason I listed above, is God. Use this time to try and draw near to Him. Then when it is time for you to go out and try to find that church = building, you will have died to so many things, that the approval of man will mean very little to you. All that will matter to you, is what God thinks of you.

Are these parents wrong? I think so.

More than once, I have had loved ones on ventilators. It is not an easy thing. Sometimes doctors will tell the family  there is no hope. In some cases there is not, and in other cases, God proves the doctor wrong. Such as in my mother’s case. We were once told to, “go home and make arrangements.”  Funeral arrangements, that is. We all went home devasted, each praying in our own way for God to have mercy. I had a prayer meeting that night and brothers and sisters in the Lord braved a winter storm and came to my house to pray. Nothing changed. No improvement. Until that one day. I was at the hospital early in the morning so I could catch the doctor and talk to him. A friend had come up to sit with me. I got upset seeing my mother like that day after day. I walked out of the room and then had to leave the hospital. I walked home in the snow. Not a long walk, but long enough to calm down.

No sooner had I walked in the door, when my friend called me to tell me the doctor had come in and said Mom was improving.

God was merciful and brought my mother back home to us a few days later.

My family and I did not allow doctors to take her off the ventilator, even when they told us there was no hope. We clung to a hope none of us could explain.

But what about the case below? A 28 year old woman lays with brain cancer, begging to let her parents let her die. Her parents refuse saying it is suicide to let her die. Really? Suicide? I don’t think so.

When government healthcare takes over, we all may  be looking at these kind of scenarios. As Christians do we force our beliefs on a loved one? What if that loved one is a Christian? Should we not allow them to make that choice themself, if they are able? What if they are lost and we just are not sure where they stand with God? Then what?

Most of us would cling to life if we were not sure where a loved one would spend eternity. We want that one last time to tell them the Gospel, that one last time to present truth to them in such a way where we hope they choose Jesus as Savior. Yet, how can any of us be for certain of who goes where when they leave this earth? Only God knows. Still, we desire to see that none of them perish, but come to everlasting life through Jesus, THE Lord and Savior of all mankind.

Yes, I do believe we will be forced to face these kind of things down the road. My personal thought: it is wrong to force someone into living in such a way if they choose differently. It does not mean I would help them with suicide: I would never hand anyone a gun or a bottle of pills and tell them to end their life. However, if that person made it clear to me, they were ready to leave this earth, then I would let them go. Yes, let them go. Sometimes, that is the correct way of looking at death. Sooner or later we have to let go. We have to be willing to trust God. If my loved one is able to tell me they are tired, having fought the good fight as well as possible, I have to believe that. I have to let them go. If my loved one is able to tell me they want to live, then I will do everything in my power to see they live. If they are not able to tell me one thing or another, then I will choose life and put my hope in God. Where else can I go?

Article gotten here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/paralyzed-terminally-ill-patient-fight-death-article-1.1174383#ixzz28MMF4RZD

UPDATE: Grace Sung Eun Lee has now changed her mind and wants to live.

My thoughts in green

She is paralyzed from the neck down, tethered to breathing and feeding tubes — but Manhattan bank manager Grace Sung Eun Lee still managed to mouth four words Wednesday.

“I want to die.”

Doctors are trying to honor Lee’s wish, but her devout parents believe that removing the tubes is suicide — a sin that would condemn the 28-year-old to hell.

I believe this is wrong. To believe it is always God’s will to force one to be hooked up on tubes or you will go to hell, is wrong. It makes God look like a sadistic monster. His word says, “My grace is sufficient.” That would include being off life support as well as on, if one chose.

They’ve gone to court to keep the terminally ill brain-cancer patient on life support, turning a heartbreaking family tragedy into a right-to-die legal battle.

The case has put medical ethics and religion on a collision course, with lawyers arguing in two courtrooms while the patient at the center of the fight can do little more than blink her eyes.

“The thought of her dying, my heart tremors, everything goes black,” Grace’s father, prominent Queens pastor the Rev. Manho Lee, pleaded to a judge.

Her mother, Jin-ah Lee, does not believe her always dutiful daughter has given up on life — or that her death is inevitable.

“Despite all this confusion, she wants to go to heaven,” she told the Daily News. “I keep telling her she can get better. God’s going to save you.”

It is easy for someone else to say these kind of things when they are not the one suffering.

The congregation at Antioch Missionary Church is praying for Grace, who mentored young people. The day after the Korea Times wrote about the case, a Korean church group took out an ad that declared: “Giving up life is not the will of God.”

I must say, I find this statement arrogant. Once again, so easy to say if you are not the one suffering. There does come a time when God calls us home. Some are taken in a flash. Others are given time. When/if it looks hopeless, who is to tell anyone who is suffering in such a way, to hang on? IF you have reached the end where all you have to depend upon is medical equipment, then perhaps, perhaps that is God telling that person He has done all He is going to do in that particular situation. Is it so wrong for a person to want to let go? Something to think about.

Lee’s Korean immigrant parents say she is depressed and not in her right mind.

“We believe that our daughter is really heavily medicated and unable to make her own decisions,” her father said Wednesday.

No doubt, this does happen many times. Doctors keep patients drugged up and then a family member has to be able to discern what is going on. As loving family members, we have to be aware of this and we can not allow the effect of drugs to dictate the actions of our loved one. I suggest if there comes tiome where you are faced with this, first try and get your loved one off any mind-altering drug before you go along with any decision. 

But her doctors at Long Island’s North Shore Hospital say she’s competent and has made her wishes clear.

“She is very tearful when she thinks about dying, but she consistently asks that the breathing tube be removed and she begs us to do that,” Dr. Dana Lustbader, chief of palliative medicine at North Shore, testified at an emergency hearing last week.

Before last fall, Lee was a vibrant young woman who came here from Seoul as an eighth-grader and graduated from the University of North Carolina.

This was me before Jesus

Still can’t say I’ve learned to wear a leash very well.

eldad75:

My last say for a while

In light of America once again choosing Communism over freedom, I have decided for now, I will not be putting up any more articles at this time. I am being completely selfish right now: I care only about my immediate family and for those who love freedom. I have had some family isues that need to be taken care of over the past three years, that no longer can be put on the back burner. My family is my top priority.

I have never, not once, cared about being popular or accepted in the blogging community. In fact, the past few months seeing what some Christians and bloggers have had to say in not voting, has really steamed me. I will speak to that: Your self-righteousness in NOT voting is sickening. The way some of you have tried to steal the rights of others to vote by leading them not to vote, is not only appauling, but makes you a thief. I have nothing but disdain for you. YOU helped bring the demise of this country. YOU helped build that. Don’t even come here and tell me how soverign God is, when you sat on your butt and did NOTHING to stop the onslaught of Communism in this great nation I love. And for those who may accuse me of the “Sin of nationalism” like one particular discernment ministry did, how dare you?! Who do you think you are? Some self- appointed prophet? All I ever wanted was freedom, but you, but you, you have brought people into bondage with your self-righteous judgment for those who wanted to see their country saved from the likes of Marxists and Communists. I have absolutely no respect for you. So as the nation goes to hell in hand basket, as you keep on exposing those false preachers/prophets/evangelists/teachers, make sure you put yourself on your own list! I do not give a royal rip about you or your ministries.

For those who are as disheartened over this as I am: Yes, our God is soverign. Yes, He is on the throne. To you I pray for you as for myself: peace in the coming storm. I pray you will be able to find joy among the circumstances that may arise, that you find your joy in Him who loves us and has not foraken us. I pray that your strength will be in Him and Him alone. I pray that He will give you the things you need. That you will be patient and come to full understanding that this world is not our home. May He watch over you and yours and bind you together in ways that you have not known. May you continue to test all things and when having done all, STAND. Even if it means standing alone.

Don’t know how to vote? Vote AGAINST Obama!

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. 

Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.

–Dietrich Bonhoeffer–

I’ve been putting this off long enough. Sure enough it will tick off some people but I am willing to chance it. I will say what is on my mind and try to say it as diplomatically as possible. If I loose readers, so be it.

Everybody knows America will be choosing a new leader — that is, if votes really matter — within a few weeks.

I am not into Kingdom/Dominion Theology where it is taught the church has to get everything lined up in all the affairs of man so Jesus can return. But there are many who are. It doesn’t matter to them if Romney is a Mormon or not, just as long as they pick someone who can help bring in their values,hoping to speed the return of the Messiah in one way or the other. Others speak out and tell others not to vote because well, golly gee, we have to choose between the lesser of two evils all of a sudden. Really? This is the first time? This is the very first time we have had to chooses between the two? I don’t think so. Man’s government will never be perfect. Never. Never has been and never will be. The people who refuse to vote for a man because of his religion, whether they want to see it or not, are stuck in the very same mindset as the ones who vote for a man because of his religion. Both are wanting their kingdom/values/beliefs brought to earth.

Then there are others, like myself, who just want to stay free. Free to think whatever I want without the thought police coming against what I believe. Free to say whatever I darn well please without fear of someone knocking on my door and hauling me off to some state run detention center for some creepy psychoanalysis run by a bunch of nazi-like new age communist humanists. Free to keep what is mine and choosing who or how I bless others through what God has blessed me with, instead of government who desire to steal from me to give to those who prop up everything I am against. I want to be free to eat the foods I want without government regulating everything that goes into my mouth. I want to be free to worship without government telling me whose religion is more important than another, compromising freedom for a fake and phony peace with those who desire to see Christians and Jews murdered in the name of their god. Free to leave anyone I choose an inheritance without government demanding some kind of death tax or other means to steal what I may lay up for anyone else. Free to own a gun if I want and free enough to use it if I have to. Free to have and own my own buisness without somebody who dares to say, “You didn’t build that,” forcing all kinds of regulations upon me just to shut me down! Free to plant vegtables in my own backyard that has not been controlled by government, for pete sakes!

My emotions have run so high the past four years, I have not been able to see straight at times, causing a wearing down in my body and mind. I purposely have withdrawn from political causes on this blog for that reason. I refuse to let myself become so overwhelmed by the likes of evil men that they rob me of any joy God may have in front of me. However, I must speak. I will not passively sit back at this crucial time in American history and pretend all is well. I will not.

In all of my almost 60 years on earth, I have never seen such an onslaught of deceit, wickedness, debauchery, perverseness, lies, fraud, deception, blatant acceptance of evil, cowardness, appeasement that is being shoved in the faces and down the throats of decent Americans whose only desire is to be left alone to live their life the best way they see fit.

I do not like Obama, his Czars, his government, his lifestyle, his wife, his mentors, his causes, his beliefs, his father (whover he is) his mother, – absolutley nothing about him. I can’t stand him. I’m not afraid to say so. So given the choice between a Communist/Muslim/ pathological liar over a man who does not have his spiritual ducks lined up like mine, who at least gives the impression he desires freedom — I would be a fool not to vote for the lesser of these two evils.

Let’s be real, some Christians actually voted for obama in the first place being a Democrat all their life. Now some of them see how miserably wrong they were — and still will sit home on election day because they just will not vote any other way, because, well, my grand daddy voted Democrat and my grand daddy before him. I’m not breaking a family tradition. What ignorance and pride!

And if you are a Christian who voted for him in the first place, what little discernment you have.

Some start trying to rationalize their not voting with stupid arguments such as: well the disciples and Jesus didn’t vote. Of course not! They were under Roman law and they did not have the choice to vote! But does anyone really think that given the choice to choose between the lesser of two evils — one who they knew had it in for them, whose desire was to take away their freedom, and was going to do everything in their power to stop them from spreading the Gospel, throwing them in prison, even killing them, over one whose desire was to let them live in peace and did not want to rule with an iron fist… does one really think they would not have chosen?

Then there are those who say I’m just gonna trust God. Really? How? By sitting home in some ivory tower in hopes that everyone else will vote in the one whom you know in your heart of hearts you would have chosen if you had the guts. By staying home with an attitude God’s will be done, they have made their choice to do nothing to hold back the onslaught of wickedness. They can say they are trusting God until the cows come home, but the truth of the matter is, they are no better than a person you are stuck with in a fox hole. Enemy fire is all around you. He refuses to fight, refuses to take a stand, sitting there just hoping the enemy will go away while you are defending the very place he resides. Such cowardice!

Do you know what is worse than that? Having a third person in the foxhole telling him, “Don’t shoot, we might get killed! Let God take care of it.” May I never be stuck in a foxhole with such a one. I would be tempted to throw you out!

Oh and let us not forget the sovereignty of God right now. Yes, the sovereignty of God. If you believe God is sovereign, you would have to believe God gave America two choices. Whether or not your candidate was chosen or not. Personally, I didn’t like any of the choices. But it is not going to stop me from voting.

How about those Christians during Hitler’s day? I wonder how many of them stayed home and said God’s will be done. They were probably the very same bunch who sat in Church and seeing their Jewish neighbors being hauled off, sang their worship songs all the louder! Shame for such silence! Shame!

So you can stay home if you want. Just remember: if a new leader is elected for President of the United States and the onslaught of our freedoms are halted, you didn’t build that. You didn’t make that happen. Those who marched off to the voting polls made it happen!

When the ship is sinking

I have always been fascinated with the sinking of the Titanic. I remember watching a movie on T.V. with my parents when I was small. Sitting next to my father, I listened to him explain what had happened that awful day back on April 15, 1912. He made a point to tell me all the money in the world could not save those who perished. It did not matter how rich they were. Or how important.

Even at such a young age, I had terrible empathy and was able to put myself on that ship. As well as I could, I imagined what it must have felt like to be one of the ones who got off that sinking ship; how safe they must have felt. I felt for those who were singing; how brave they were. I felt for the captain; who willingly went down with the ship. I felt for the terrified who went to their watery grave.

I liken this world and the things of this world as a great ship. It is sinking. Friends, it does not matter who you are or where you are — We can not trust in ourselves, our prestige, our riches, our talents, our abilities, our strength to bring us through what is coming upon the earth. Neither, can we trust in any man and/or government.

When the ship is sinking you want to get as far away as possible. When the Tiatanic was sinking, no one was running around trying to find ways to plug up the hole. But this is exactly where I have been for the past few years. Running myself weary trying to plug the holes of the coming destruction by thinking about it, talking about it, shouting about it, screaming about it, raging about it. Being consumed by it.

I suppose I had to get to this place. One of a feeling of complete helplessness before I could see and know, I never could nor will I ever, be able to plug up even one tiny hole of evil. Only God is powerful and big enough.

When a ship sinks, you want to get away as far and fast as possible, or not only will you go down with it, but the under current will drag you with it.

I believe a type of under current of this world are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like — Galatians 5.  These things will pull us under if our eyes our constantly on the the things of this world. None of us wake up one day and say to ourselves, Gee, I think today I will practice a little adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. No, we don’t think such a thing. Yet, we may find ourselves there in some way or the other and wonder how we got there. Even if we find ourselves in just one catagory, it is more than enough to start the sinking process. Hatred and outbursts of wrath started to sink me. Just try staying afloat in that stuff. I can tell you it is like trying to stay afloat in a cess pool of debris and garbage. You come up, hoping for air, only to find there is nothing there but putrid water that has engulfed you. The remedy for that? GET OFF THE SHIP! Get as far away as possible! The Lord is your hiding place! There is no other! Your abilities, strengths, talents, fame, riches, will not save you.

If you find yourself in any of the things written above, I believe the under current has taken you down. And maybe it’s time for you to jump ship or/and get away as quickly as possible.

For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. — Psalm 32: 7, 8 –

I’ve had my eyes so focused on the flood of filth and deception in all of society that the most important thing I could forget to do, is to extend a lifeboat to anyone else who may be sinking. But how can someone who is sinking themself, offer anything to another? I don’t believe they can. If so, very little. If you find yourself being overwhelmed, remember none of it takes God by surprise. No, not one thing. Let this be your prayer to our Father:

Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy. — Psalm 61:1-3 –

One last thing I remember about watching the Titanic movie with my parents: I remember feeling very safe as my father held me close to him. How much more God wants us to know this about Him? That we are safe, eternally safe, if He is our Father.

A note about the the 2nd video below: It was made in the 1950′s. If you pause it at 4:13, you will notice the painting says, “The Approach to the New World.” Look at it closely. What do you see? The Statue of Liberty and war ships. I found it interesting and odd.

Violinsounds:

JMFiorato1986:

A Month to Live

I lost a dear friend a few weeks back. She was my Chiopracter. We did not talk on the phone every day. Nor did we see each other outside of my doctor visits to her. But, when we did see one another, it was always a good time and most of the time, a time of fellowship. She was not intimidated by my personality, as some. She could get by with humoring me and still knew when to take me serious. She laughed a lot and her smile is something I will always remember. Before I met her, I felt my life was destined for a lifetime of physical pain. Not having much hope in Chiopracters, hearing they were quacks all of my life, I gave her a shot. Karen was no quack. She cared greatly about her patients. She was never in a big hurry to scoot you out of the office. She listened well and more than once prayed with me. She gave me hope that I would not have to live the rest of my life in pain.

It had been a while seen I had seen her last. Well over a year. It was a surprise to me when my husband reading the newspaper, told me, “You had another friend to die.” I could not believe it. Who? How? What? When? She was one of the most healthy people I knew. She took care of her body, ate all the right foods, exercised, had no bad habits, etc.

I was able to find out she had just found out she had liver Cancer and was sent home with a month to live. She lived two weeks.

Knowing her as I did, I can only try and imagine what the last two weeks of her life were like. I doubt very much she was concerned about the things of this world. Other than for her children and husband and those closest to her. I imagine she was thinking more on the things of God. Not being overcome by the things of the world, not looking at world events. Other than knowing she was going to be taken home and would not have to live in this strange and foreign land any longer. She probably did a lot of praying for her family and friends. I can only hope I was one who may have been on her heart, even if for but a few seconds.

I began to ponder on my own life. What if I were told I had two weeks to live? Would it make any difference? I’ve heard people say that if they knew they had a few months or so to live they would visit someplace they have always wanted to go, go back to a place they always loved, go on a cruise, etc.

I thought about those things and came to the conclusion there really is not one place I would like to visit or anything I would try to do. It takes energy, stamina and strength to even begin doing those things. I have none due to poor health. None of the health issues in and of themselves life threatening, but combined can make every day life chores and events hard. Sometimes causing life to appear empty and void of any meaning.

A few days after Karen’s death, I began to notice  a change taking place in me. Something in me had began to die. A calm, a quiet resolve began to settle in. I had been terribly angry over world events. Terribly bitter and unforgiving towards those who had hurt me the past few years. I had been searching out world events daily so I could know what was going on. Feeling a huge repsonsibility to shout from the rooftops of the evil coming through government and any and all aspects of society.

After Karen’s death, I began to not care  – much. I began to see how the past four years had robbed me of so much. Being physically weak can and does rob a person of certain joys in life. A few days into my grief of Karen’s death, I reached a point where if I could not do anything different, at least I could stop handing my emotions over to the things I can not control.

I got the Shingles four years ago about this time http://redeemedhippiesplace.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/what-was-the-deal-with-job-2/ and it was not a nice time. Before Karen’s death, I had gotten myself back into the same state of mind as I had four years ago: As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly. — Proverbs:26:11 –

It is folly when a person does not learn the lesson God has in front of them. I sensed I was about to have to repeat that lesson again.  No, I am not saying God gave me the Shingles to teach me a lesson. Staying upset constantly can make one sick in one way or the other. Tearing down our bodies defenses. Having the Shingles did teach me a few things, but I had forgotten. I guess sometimes it takes a certain amount of pain — in one way or the other — for some of us to learn. But, I thank God, at least I did not have to experience that particular painful malady again.

I also had asked a brother in Christ and his family to pray for me. I did not go into details other than telling him that I was angry. I trust that he and his family did began to pray for me. It was not long after that, I received the news of Karen’s death.

I began to see that most if not all my life had been of constant striving. Not of material things, as I am probably one of the least materislistic people you would ever meet. Not one of competiveness, as I’ve just not cared for that sort of thing. I much rather would spend time alone on creating something than competing. I ‘ve not strived towards goals as I am not goal oriented. Never have been and don’t see myself ever going there. Probably has more to do with my being led by emotions in almost everything I do. If I don’t feel like doing it, then I don’t do it. Not a good thing, but never-the-less, it is who I am. I really I’ve not strived to “be somebody” important. Not being one who is easily impressed, I don’t spend my life trying to impress others. That is why if you happened to run into me in public, you probably would see me in sweat pants and a T-shirt with no make-up. Those who truly know me, know these things are true.

Having said all that… the thing I have strived for has been peace of mind. I probably can count on one hand how many times I have had it and I can tell you, it was short lived. As soon as I thought I found it, then something came along and unhinged me. Sicknesses of family members, aging parents, dying parents, loved ones in nursing homes, loved ones with Alztimers, family problems, world events, etc. I literally would stop living. Taking on emotions I had no control over. Sadness, anxiety, fear, grief, etc. More than once, I felt like Dorothy on the Wizard of Oz who told the wizard, “I don’t think you have anything in that little black bag for me.” Which led to self-pity, that led to shame for feeling ungrateful for what you do have! What a vicious cycle.

I wish I could tell you I found the secret to peace of mind. But I haven’t. I do know the Word of God says:

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You. — Isaiah 26:3 –

That right there tells me that should be enough. It is hard to have peace if our eyes are on the world and things of the world. I can not do it anymore. I simply can not. If you are my friend and know me, then please be happy for me if I can not do this any longer. It takes too much energy, strength and stamina. I don’t have it to spend on such things. I long for that peace of God in all things.

We do not know how much time we have on this earth. A year ago, this coming October, I had a friend who went in the hosptail thinking she was going to get to come home. But she died just a couple of days later. http://redeemedhippiesplace.wordpress.com/2011/10/21/in-memory-of-ellen-another-redeemed-hippie/ Now, there is my friend Karen, who was given a month, but had only two weeks. I want to learn to live as if I had no tomorrow. God help me and may God help you, whoever you may be.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6,7 –

Don’t let yourself get droopy

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. — John 4:13,14 –

Recently, parts of America had a heat wave. My state being one of the areas. The heat kept me indoors except for watering my tomatos I had planted a few weeks back. My husband and I had to leave the house for a bit and I noticed the plants were just a tiny bit droopy. We won’t be gone long, I’ll get to them when we get back, I thought. 

We were not gone long — maybe a little over an hour — but when I came back, the leaves of the plant were all curled up screaming “Give me water!”

“Stupid me,” I said to myself, “I should have watered them earlier.” But, I went on and watered them thinking they were going to die anyway. A couple hours went by and I stuck my head out the door to look at them and could not believe it. They had perked up. Their leaves were no longer curled. They were standing straight and strong.

Instantly, I was reminded, isn’t that the way we are when it comes to God’s Word? If we go days, weeks, without cracking open the Bible, we begin to get a little droopy. We tend to forget what our true calling is. We become slack in our ability to reach the lost … or even wanting to. We become so caught up in the things of the world, forgetting our home is not this earth, but a Kingdom which awaits us. (I speak to myself right now.)

Somebody, somewhere knows exactly what I am talking about. You (like I) have gone far too long without being in God’s Word. You have (same as I) let the cares of the world bring you down so low that you may even be wondering if God has forgotten you. No, my friend, God has not forgotten you. He is just waiting for you to come to Him and HE wants to give you drink. It is not a drink man can give you, or a drink your church or pastor can give you. But an intimate drink of water that only He can provide.

The drinks of this world which we may try to satisfy ourselves are polluted. They may satisfy for a while, but sooner or later, we come to the realization they are void of any real substance. We have not fed our spirit by such things, but our soul. Becoming more soulish than ever. I have been and am, so very guilty of this. I want to rise above the soulishness. It is a hard thing to do at times. At least for me.

I pretty much see things in black and white. Rarely, is there a grey area. Opinions and emotions take over. Causing me to forget quickly, you are a child of God. Stop behaving like you aren’t.  Such soulishness! God is very displeased with such a thing. But He does not cast us off. He does not say, you’ve gone without for so long, you are on your own. No. He is such a gracious God. Understanding that we are but dust. He knows. He knows exactly where, when and how we began to stray. His greatest desire is for us to run to Him with all our soul.

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. — John 6:35 –

I am a diabetic. Not severe, as of yet. Anyone with diabetes knows you have to feed yourself ever so often or you become weak and perhaps a little disoriented at times. Even though you don’t quite feel hungry, you know you have to eat. There are times I do not eat because I do not have what would be called a healthy appetite. I eat because my body tells me to, and by then, it is a little bit too late. I’m shoving anything I can get my hand on into my mouth just so I can feel normal again. Whatever that is.

That too reminds me of how we feed ourselves sometimes. We know that we are hungering for something in this world. So we fill that void with everything we can get our hands on. And like a diabetic will do at times, we shove anything down as quickly as possible in order to satisfy.

Friend, that just will not do. You will end up mal-nourished, weak and disoriented in the things of God. You and I have the responsibilty (yes, it is our responsibility) to feed ourselves accordingly. But not to worry. God gave us a Book, the Holy Bible to feast upon. What a wonderful, beautiful AWESOME Book! We know it is unlike anything on this earth. So why (I ask myself the same question) would we just lay it aside?

Just like my tomatos plants that became revived after just a little watering, you too can be revived in such a way. I exhort you to get back in His Word. FORGET the things of the world for a while. Just try it for one day. Turn off the radio, turn off the T.V, turn off the T.V. preachers you have learned to trust in. Turn me off, for pete sakes. Hear God for yourselves. Let HIM speak to you.

Do not cast your seed to man. No, not one of them! You will get droopy. Sow to the Spirit and become alive again!

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. — Galatians 6:8 –

Beware of the Scab Pickers

When I was a young girl, I loved bike riding. I enjoyed the thrill of seeing how fast I could go, sometimes unaware of bumps in the road or some other object that would cause an instant crash. One crash I landed on the side walk. My knee was a bloody mess. Even though I did not require stitches, it took days if not a few weeks to heal. Mainly because I kept picking at the huge scab, not allowing it to heal on it’s own.

There are all kinds of wounds and afflictions we suffer from in life. Some can be taken care of by something so simple as an aspirin, while other things require time and surgery. Either way, it is God who brings healing in His way and in His time.

I’ve learned over the years that there are those who will continue to see you in your afflictions even though God has healed you. Why is this? I believe one reason is, as long as you are weak in their eyes, they get to look strong. Sometimes people just do not want to see you overcome.

Some people are just plain old scab pickers. They are the ones who the enemy of your soul will use to come along and open up old wounds after God has either healed or in the process of healing. I’ve pondered why they do this thing. I believe it is because they are not content with seeing you whole. They themselves have issues that keeps them in the dark and they love it so. You may even be trying to walk in the light with these people. God knows. Spending time and energy in edifying them, pointing them to the light/truth. You may even think they have been hanging on to every word you have spoken to them. Only to find out that what they have really done, is retained all they have learned about you in hopes of using it against you one day. While you are walking in the light with them, they are walking in the dark. Sound familiar?

I had this happen to me a few weeks ago. A friend (I use that term lightly) of over 40 years decided it was ok to take an old issue and try to open it up. IF I had given her the power, she would have been able to hurt me. However, I chose not to give her that power knowing God had already taken care of the very thing she was relishing in — a weakness I have had to overcome over the years. One where I did so with truth. And with trusted individuals God had/has put in my life. Obviously she was not one of them.

These people usually are manipulators, rarely walking in the light. I used to be very thin-skinned with such people. Not anymore. People can only hurt you IF you give them that power. When darkness comes against you, how can it have any power over you, if you are in the light? It can not.

How to deal with a scab-picker? Perhaps, the Word of God has a few things pertaining to this:

“Do not cast your pearls among the swine.”

This is when you are doing your best to be an edifyer to the person in question. You have lovingly and patiently done it over and over in hopes they get the message. The message is one of simple truth and light. However, there are those who still want to wallow around in the mud. When they refuse to listen or manipulate — we are to move on.

“Flee from all appearance from evil.”

Is it not evil when person in question is trying to manipulate? That is witchcraft, friend. Do not be entangled in it. Move on.

“If they do not hear you, then shake the dust off your feet and go on.”

Christians make a mistake when they continually over and over go around the same old mountain with some people. Unless you happen to like to play the martyr then by all means stay in that place of being used and abused. However, though God tells us to pick up our cross, to be a light, to help, etc., that does not mean we are to enable others. When we enable others, we are not pointing them to God, but to ourselves.

Scab pickers — like leeches — love to suck all the life out of you. If God has healed you in an area, and you know it to be true, do NOT give the scab pickers power in your life. After all, it was not the scab picker that died on the Cross for you.

“IT” is a Baby!

About two weeks ago I got to see an ultra sound for the first time. I am going to be Great Aunt to my niece’s TWO little twin boys! How exciting for us all. Not one, but two babies. I told her, “double the trouble and double the joy.”

Watching those little fellows — as tiny as they are — I wept with tears of joy. How precious! I saw a tiny little foot and when I asked how big it was, the lab said about 4 centimeters. If I am right, that is about a little over a quarter of an inch. But I could see it…. right on the face of his brother! I could see their profile and even said, “That one looks like his daddy.” At least to me, he did. I could not take my eyes off the life (lives) growing in my niece. They were alive! Alive and safe and sound in their mama’s womb. They were getting a little rowdy in there. The lab tech said they were fighting. I couldn’t tell who was winning.

Her due date is in October. But she may deliever before then. I can hardly wait to meet them.

A lot of people will tell you “it” is tissue, just a blob. They lie. I tell you, it is a baby. A tiny little soul being created in God’s image. Everything about those little babies are thoughtfully being formed and created by a God who loves them.

So the next time, anyone wants to tell you the lie, that “it” is not a baby. Tell them they are either ignorant or an out right liar. STAND FOR LIFE.

“I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days.”

Deuteronomy 30

You are the Light of the World

I shouldn’t be, but I am. Still constantly amazed at how dark the world is getting. Families being ripped apart, nation against nation, marriages being tested in ways they never thought possible, children so rebellious that those whom have passed on a couple generations ago, would be shocked if they could see the youth of today. There is little respect — if any – for the elderly, the sick or the unborn. Politicians lying through their teeth just to get a vote. Good being called evil and evil being called good. Society is a cess pool of putrid filthy dung. I could go on and on, but I digress.

I look around and cry out to God, How long, oh God, will You continue to hold back Your wrath and judgments?

I’ve learned the past year or so, that you don’t have to be a blazing fire to make some kind of impact in one way or the other against the darkness in those around you.

Imagine if you will, cock roaches. You see a few during the day, but it is at night when they are most active. You step into the kitchen and turn on the light and then you see them everywhere. What is the first thing they do? They scatter back into the crevices from where they hide.

This is the very same thing that darkness does. It will always try to hide it’s deeds, lest they be exposed.

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12,13 –

Did you see that? It says “DESIRE.” It does not say if you have it all together, or if you have all your ducks lined up, it says if you DESIRE. If you are a child of God bought and redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, then you have THE Light of the World within you. Even if you think your light is as small as a pin head at times, you still have THE ONE TRUE Light in you. The darkness is growing so much that even that tiny little light exposes what is in the heart of man.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew. – 5:14 -16 — (Jesus)

Yet, in the meantime, let us not be surprised and may we not forget:

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

John 15: 17 – 19 (Jesus)