There’s white or black, light and dark, hot or cold, pain or comfort, but what about everything in between? Which side do you choose when you’re in the gray? This happens most often with what’s right or wrong so how do we determine the boundary?
For one thing, there’s our guilty conscience that doesn’t always work, especially when we’re blinded by desire, like a child acting out of character when crying to get what she/he wants or taking candy when not allowed. Choosing to do what we know is wrong as an adult becomes more impactful and more difficult to undo. Maybe that wrong decision is something that could lead to jail or if not, something that can cause your life to spiral down. One decision can cause a domino effect for your future and bring about depression or a life of constant anger and regret.
Sometimes if you feed that temptation, submitting to it enough times can turn into a lifelong habit, almost impossible to get out of. For some, life is changed when they get arrested, jail becomes the blessing to help them stop and turn their life around, but what about others who have no one to stop them? Friends or family can only do so much to try until they’ve fully exhausted themselves after almost a life long time of codependency.
If we are truly looking for a breakthrough, look no further than the cross. As we can receive an abundance of counseling from friends or family, yet only the Lord can move mountains. When we are broken, the Lord is able to put the pieces together. First things first is coming out of denial and admitting the problem, realizing your powerlessness over it and surrendering it to God.
Start with the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
Then invite Jesus into your life to change you into a new person.
Some may believe that life is about accumulating saying, “whoever dies with the most toys wins,” yet the Bible says otherwise, it’s the bold truth that never leaves your face. You can run and hide from the truth, but it always seems to catch up and find you.
The truth of the matter is that life is more than collecting tangible items, as God’s greatest commandment is in Matthew 22:36-39 KJV, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
For some, emotions are like a volcano waiting to explode, yet others, like the ice sitting in Antartica, frozen for millions of years slowly melting away. Being vulnerable can be scary sometimes as it can bring about two extreme opposite results. If you can’t handle the worst result, you may hold yourself back to receiving the best. But my oh my, it’s a sad thing when our emotions get attached to the wrong people or things as they are here today and gone tomorrow…or maybe just eventually. Even if someone stays in your life for so long, no one lives forever. So why attach ourselves? We are bound to love our neighbor, basically, be in communion with other beings.
However, there can be seasons where people have failed us, for some that season never ends, and so we’ve placed our faith to bring about happiness in our lives through things or other non-human beings. Although pets bring much joy, entertainment and companionship, human interaction is still a part of the livelihood of our soul.
For many without pets, money or other tangible items become the reliance for joy, like that new car, new watch or purse, but we all know, that high doesn’t last for too long. We know material items can never love us back.
Then there’s money, probably the number one on most of everyone’s list. It can be the fuel to fulfilling the emptiness inside of us with material items and if that’s not enough, mind or mood altering substances.
After toiling trying to fill that empty hole inside that seems to grow larger, we repeat the same actions, only to realize for the hundredth time that it still leaves us all the more empty.
So why keep doing it? For the many things or people we can loose, we can never loose God and He will never leave us. Which is why, above all things we can subject our own vulnerable emotions in the hands of God and who better than the one that lives forever, the incorruptible, the one who will never leave us or forsake us who’s love for us is always unconditional. He never changes.
So the next time you think you can’t live without someone or something, ask yourself, is your heart in God’s hands? That is where it will be protected. Scared of your emotions? Let God have all of it and give a small portion of it to whom the Lord chooses.
I was having a conversation with an acquaintance about Jesus. She got into reading the Bible and going to church, but she felt that life was getting difficult in her path of seeking the Lord. She eventually turned from that path and got into Buddhism, chanting and meditating every morning with incense around a Buddha head. She said when she started doing that, she got everything she wanted, although she got kicked out of her place for her hostile attitude. This brings me back to the last time I was at a spa, when I was on my way out, I noticed their meditation room, the plants and incense burning. I remember the feeling I got when I stepped into that room. There was something very luring about it, a serene feeling familiar to being surrounded by nature, but it was different compared to feeling of being in God’s presence.
There can be much deception from the worship of false idols. I’ve heard many stories of other women being into meditation, mainly concerning the moment they decided to stop and start to worship Jesus. Many felt like they started playing for the opposing team & had angered the spirit of the team they turned their back on. But the God of the Bible doesn’t work that way & no one should ever worship Him to get whatever they want. The world tries shape our thoughts into thinking we need certain things, but ultimately, who knows us better that our creator? The very things that money can’t buy can fulfill our souls & bring us joy. Just think about those that seem to have everything tangible that the world wants, but still it’s not enough. The empty places in our heart, only God can fulfill.
There’s a story in the Bible of a Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well. Jesus knew she had been married several times & currently not married to the man she was living with. He told her about the living water in John 4:14 KJV “But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
We sometimes seek after things believing it can fulfill us. The lady in the Bible was seeking for that something in men, which she never got so she moved on from one to the next. Ultimately, what she was looking for to fulfill that empty part of her soul was only found in Jesus. The living water is given by the Lord, fulfilling that part of us that seems to never be satisfied with the things or people we rely to make us happy.
Sometimes we start to worship things or people, becoming obsessed, clinging too tightly that if it, he or she is gone from our lives, we feel there’s no reason to live. Our lives had revolved around such a thing or person. This can be dangerous. But worshiping God, who will never leave us. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Also, Hebrews 13:5 says,”Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Although sometimes it may not seem like He’s there, He is.
Throughout the Bible we see God’s character. The gospels in the New Testament, read the witness of God in the flesh, aka, Jesus. If you are aware of God’s character, you can start to see the defining line between the one true God and false gods. It is important to know who God is, His character. Galatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith..” 1 John 4:7 says, “ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.”
The Spirit of God brings love, joy and peace and with that comes His power that heals. 1 Corinthians 1:29 says that, “no flesh should glory in his presence.” Psalm 16:11 says, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; “ Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus..” Luke 5:17 says, “ …and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.”
Having an understanding of His presence, there is now a reference of discernment between the Spirit of God and false gods or wicked spirits. The Bible says in 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God..” Some that are in darkness look for hope or help in the wrong places. This may be worship of false gods, playing with witchcraft, new age, tarot cars or getting involved with the occult and other demonic rituals. This opens the door for the demonic to come in, ruin your life and hopefully take you to hell with them.
The Spirit of God is all powerful. Through Him curses can be broken and demons tremble at His presence. We can’t make ourselves holy or pure by our own works, only God can purify us and He has through Jesus taking the cross. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
My prayer tonight is for those that are involved with such deceptive groups, organizations or activities will have the strength from God Almighty to turn from all of it and that God will begin to break curses off of their life, that they will once again have peace in their mind, heart and home, that they will be able to sleep fully and peacefully and will once again gain back control over their life rather than being controlled by a wicked spirit. I pray that God will bring joy, healing and restoration into their lives, purify their minds, and fulfill their soul with hope. In Christ name we pray. Amen.
The First Amendment text reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Our first amendment constitutional rights are being taken away from us. How did we get from the Freedom of Speech to censorship? Laws are being passed that prevent us from saying or asking certain words that may offend others. Why is it our job to make sure certain people don’t get offended? Some are being censored because something said was taken out of context. It seems, the government, big-tech and the mainstream media believe that they need to think for us. How did we raise a generation that doesn’t seek truth, but believes what the majority of society tells them?
Certain conservatives are being censored, canceled and demonetized by giant tech companies, having published true stories. One being NTD news, one of the only that showed live videos of many witness to voter fraud. What’s even more terrible is the fact that mainstream media channels like MSNBC are putting out false news trying to make people believe that Biden will bring a more booming economy than Trump, which is nothing but a lie. Look at the stock market, almost all industry sectors have been going down his first week in office. For a President to be so quick to sign 30 executive orders his first three days, it sounds like he’s fulfilling his promises from the green notes. The orders he’s passing, it almost sounds like he wants to hurt this country on purpose. But the mainstream media is making it sound like Biden is doing such a great job. So sad that so many people are being lied to, only to find out the truth later when his poor decisions finally manifest.
Orders are being passed that will prevent us from asking or speaking our mind, we now have to watch what we say to make sure no one is offended. People will get offended no matter how hard you try not to offend, there are just sensitive areas that bring out emotions. Someone’s sensitivity should not turn into another’s responsibility. If someone says something rude about your gender or race, defend yourself with words, not with violence, then shrug it off. It’s not our job to change someone’s opinion. If a biological man believes he’s a woman, why is it our responsibility to support denial? Having heard several stories already from several men struggling with their gender identity or homosexuality, they’ve discovered a connection of their lifestyle with having either no or a horrible relationship with their Father, but when finally loved and accepted, healing came.
Our modern society is no longer about healing, truth and finding the root of a problem. Our solution is to not face it, to deny and censor anyone or thing that would bring focus and attention to it. We come up with words to define and normalize it, following prescriptive drugs. No one wants to dig deep. People have become immune to pain. When words or memories resurface, society is not allowed to speak about it. Our society needs healing. Some of us have come from crazy upbringings and are mentally and emotionally messed up, we don’t even know what healing is.
Although protecting someone’s feelings from getting hurt sounds like a good act, in the long run, we’re adjusting to never facing the fear or the truth. The command of leadership trying to dictate our actions, keeps us frozen, allowing our minds to be controlled and believing that we don’t know what’s best for ourself.
Walking without knowing where to find truth is like walking in the dark with a blindfold trying to find the light switch. Jesus is the light of the world and sheds light on the truth. The Bible reveals the truth about life, our purpose on earth, the imperfections of humanity, the make up inside of all of us that keeps us stumbling ever in need of a savior. Having pride, most want to exalt human kind and deny the Creator. Who knows us better than ourselves than the one who created us?
The biggest mistake is to think that humans can be perfect. Another is to think that humans are capable of being holy by their own words or actions. Lastly, that the pope or any spiritual leader is a perfect man. An automatic or quick judgement would be to say that the bad person is the murderer, but it wasn’t a murder who pushed for the killing of Christ. It was a high-priest, in other words, a Pharisee who wanted Jesus crucified for the reason of blasphemy. They didn’t believe He was who He said He was, the Son of God. His ways were different from their religious ways. They hated how Jesus made them feel unrighteousness, which sounds very familiar these days.
Years back, I would exercise around a block by work and I would see flowers off the side of the sidewalk. I found out later that it was where a business man was shot by his partners while he was taking a walk, shortly after he told them he wanted out of the illegal business they were involved in.
I’ve heard more stories as such. It’s a sad thing that most of society worships money and power to the point that they would orchestrate illegal acts that can harm others and put their loved ones in danger. Some would go through great lengths to cover up their mess, in business, in personal dealings and even all the way up to the government.
It’s not about having faith in the honor or legitimate practices of people in power as we are all flawed in our flesh, weak in temptations and without strength to speak the truth and stand up to the pressures of the crowd. What the majority is for or against or what comes from the mainstream media now has the power to set what is right from wrong & rather then looking into other news sources, we just follow along. One of the most disheartening circumstances is to be in a position where someone is intentionally going behind your back and ruining your reputation. Even more hurtful is when the person listening to the lies accepts it as truth without question.
Too many times The mainstream media would present news without showing an actual video to back up the information, more like a hearsay, while other news channels that others aren’t too familiar with will show live videos or recent recordings of first-hand information, such as many people giving their testimony under oath about fraud. But the mainstream media doesn’t show any of it. In fact, they censor it.
Imagine a world where citizens of a country are fed lies, where the truth is hidden from them & the elite and the government take away their rights. Most tragically, our First Amendment, freedom of speech taken away. We can deny it as much as we like, but the truth is, we are humans, flawed and tempted, capable of being corrupt and wicked. However, we are each individuals that can think for ourselves. We don’t need others telling us whom to hate or who the bad guy is. We’re all born with instincts, although sometimes it gets buried in mud. The Lord can resurrect it.
Jesus said while on the cross in Luke 23:34 NKJV [34] Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. In other words, “These humans on earth don’t know what they’re doing.” A desire to be righteous, too be seen as good, admired, or feel better than someone is something that all of us are guilty of. It’s human nature. Fighting against are human tendencies takes super-natural strength.
But the pressures of life, can throw us off causing us to question our own decisions and forgetting about our purpose. We make decisions based on the pressure from others, the belief that what is true, becomes false because that’s what more people believe. Not wanting to feel like a fool, not wanting to have others hate you, reject or despite you, you follow along with the main belief that everyone holds true, not listening to the loud voice within you. Then you make the wrong decision and spend forever in shame and deep regret, wishing you would’ve made the right decision and not have been influenced by the pressures of society.
It takes much faith in God to walk in fear and trembling across a high bridge that can shatter at any point. The truth is that we should only fear God. Luke 12:4-5 NKJV says…[4] “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. [5] But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! People don’t want to dig into big issues that need resolution, instead turn away and make believe it doesn’t exist. We’ve put a band-aid on our problems, a temporary fix that will always arise.
We live in a broken society where dignity is compromised, morals are laughed at and people will sell their soul for money or power. The integrity and morals of our society have been plummeting and rather than cleaning up the mess, our leaders are willfully blind to it not wanting to turn away or resolve. Money, greed and power corrupts our soul and some go through great heights to hide the shame.
My prayer tonight is that the truth will come out in all the chaos and mess that’s happening in our country. The leaders and planners of violence and corruption will be exposed, judgement will be brought forth and that the mainstream media will no longer be able to blind the public with lies. I pray that truth will win and the root of corruption in our government will be cut out. Keep us safe during this time of lawlessness and chaos. In Jesus name. Amen.
We can be physically killed in many ways. According to the World Heath Organization, the number one cause of death is heart disease, but what about what kills us on the inside? What kills our spirit/soul?
There are many testimonies out there from people who were dead for a period of time and came back to life. They’ve have commonly said that the worst part of hell wasn’t the heat of the fire, the horrendous stench or the constant screaming, but was the eternal separation from God.
The book of Isaiah 59:2, says “… your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”
Sometimes we feel like we’re living hell on earth. There are cities, neighborhoods or indoor spaces that can feel hellish. Some of us have a strong sense of what has happened in a space when we walk into it or can feel a dark presence close by. Some of us have walked into places that feel like the devils party & also walked into places that feel like heaven on earth with angels all around.
There is that spirit within us that’s screaming for a touch of heaven, a moment with our Heavenly Father and being at peace in His arms of unconditional love. Some have been corrupted in a state of innocence and carry false guilt throughout life. There’s that association of heaven in all of us that can become buried or suppressed to avoid the recall of trauma. There’s also the actions that we may take that can be sinful because of the UN-fulfillment of our spirit, leaving us feeling all the more empty and the continual sin grows the hole in our soul. Then we become immune to our sin, no longer seeing the stain on our dirt-covered robe and the more sin, the further apart we get from the unconditional love from above. We separate ourselves unknowingly or unconsciously.
However, the Father above is always waiting for the prodigal son/daughter to come home. The big lie is, is that you can never go back. God has already paved a way back home through the cross. The story of the prodigal son reflects this going back to Him.
Luke 15:18-24 NKJV [18] I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, [19] and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”‘ [20] “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. [21] And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ [22] “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. [23] And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; [24] for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
The story of the prodigal son illustrates the love, forgiveness and mercy God has for us. He awaits our return to Him. Just like the laws and rules of this country, there are such as heaven, but the punishment for our sins has already been paid for with what Jesus took on the cross. Upon believing and confessing, we can receive grace and once again be reunited with Him, feeling spiritually fulfilled once again. It’s one thing to feed our flesh, but feeding our spirit is only through our connection with God.
Matthew 4:4 says, “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” It is our relationship with God, the speaking to, listening and having faith in Him that keeps us alive on the inside.
I pray that the gift that God brought into this world 2000 years ago to show us how much He loves us will be clear and evident for all & they will feel His peace, joy and love this week regardless of any hard circumstances. I pray that they will hear God’s voice in their heart, heal and turn into His path, that they will know without question, with full truth and confidence that God loves them unconditionally, they are never alone, You are with them and always waiting for them to reach out to you.
Remembering the birth of our Savior from 2000+ years ago. Merry Christmas!
I try to recall the times I felt like life was beating me up, when times got so tough I’d try to not allow myself to stay beat down and now just getting off another roller-coaster. With Christ, I can lift up my hands and know that He has me grounded.
When times get tough, I try to remember that it’s just an obstacle course. There’s falling on your face and being humiliated and sometimes emotionally crushing, but the hand that pulls me out of it is the saying, “God is good all the time.”
If I had to climb a 70 foot mountain, days later, a 30 foot mountain would not be a big deal. I have to remember that God’s love is also allowing us to go through hardships, only to make us better fighters, being able to take on harder circumstances thrown at us.
The Bible says in Philippians 1:6 NKJV [6] “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
As sometimes we may walk away from where the Lord leads because we may feel we can’t, unable or may not identify ourselves with it, but to remember that there’s one that knows us more than we know ourselves, our creator. As a way to prepare you for the blessing He has for you, sometimes it requires hardship. Then & years later looking back and saying, “I get it.”
vange 
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