Attention Deficit

Prov. 20:27 "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly."

Attention Deficit

I was sitting here this morning thinking, and like a dam bursting open my thoughts steered toward the attention span of human beings. It seems these days, this era is an attention deficit era where everyone is so wrapped up in themselves they can only see off in the distance. If someone were drowning, they'd have to let them and just watch the struggle from afar because of the distance between the two.

Basically, the only relationships that stay alive are the daily face-to-face ones because eventually everyone bores of any empathetic behavior unless it's going to benefit them. An email the other morning exclaimed, America's Loneliness Epidemic; how should we respond? I wasn't surprised at what the solutions were and being a Christian email I, a Christian knew where they were going to go with their line of thinking. 

With the rise of the 'me generation' loneliness is inevitable because everyone is focused on the 'me' of the equation and not the 'them'. From the email by Michael E. Stallard, Crosswalk:  "...loneliness triggers a host of negative effects, including a decline in physical and emotional health, greater incivility and violence, and a rise in addiction and suicide."

While the email went on with solutions, solutions I thought were pretty good but just one-sided and Bible Christian based. We don't live in a society of believers so I don't think any of these suggestions would rest well with a person contemplating suicide or a person so lonely they isolate themselves from the daily rush of traffic of ignorant negative people; being alone is a safer option.

It's very easy for me to say just trust in Jesus, but to a non-believer that might not go over well. It might be easy to say build lasting relationships with people who earnestly care but honestly, they are hard to find in an emotional deficit world of the 'me' generation. While the churches are catering to the generation by making their programs more alive and active with life, there is a depressed generation that is not turning to the church for moral support.

I totally get where these folk are coming from. The church sometimes is a big letdown. It shouldn't be that way but it is a fact to the people who need more than the church can give. The church that is supposed to 'accept all' winds up shunning the very people they need to reach. I personally think the church could benefit these lost souls if they helped anonymously. All of the programs I see where I live come with a nametag of "brought to you by the--name of the church". The lost and lonely want no part of the church so they miss out on the extension of help. Why does the church need to be seen as the one giving assistance/aid/love/compassion?

I know you'll say that God is the only way and spew all the scripture pointing to "no one enters but through me" scripture, I know, I get it! But the lost souls, the suicidal, the ones who NEED help don't understand at that point. They're lost, they're lonely and all we're worried about is having them know the bible? In time maybe spring the Word on them but right off the bat? They need compassion, an ear, a friend, not someone who is only there because Jesus called them to be there to spring the Word on them. Yes, they need to hear the Word but initially, they just need to be HEARD.

Community support groups, community activities brought to you anonymously by the church could reach the people without a nametag, reach them by not boasting of 'we helped you', reach them by opening a door of communication with the very society that has let them down. Lead them in a way that they should go. There ARE ways to help but again, the attention deficit society can only focus on the prize, not the race.

There has to be a starting point. Communities need to be willing to accept the church's help anonymously, the church needs to be willing to help anonymously, we the people need to be FOR the people in every sense of the word.

Non-coincidentally I stumbled upon one of my followers' blog posts this morning: 
I was already writing my post so when I was led to this one, it made me see I'm not alone in my thinking. He was writing basically the same line of thought as I was writing. It is so mysterious the way that God collectively links the Christian minds to universal thought processes. 

I believe Christians can aid the lost and the lonely. I believe showing people love, compassion, caring and understanding can all be attributed to our Christian faith without a bible-thumping mentality of connecting to the lost. People need to be listened to, they need to feel as if they matter. Tied up in the 'me' generation are people seeking help and not finding it because as I said, everyone is so wrapped up in their own thing, giving time to another person who might be on the brink is too much of an effort and cuts into your precious time of caring for YOU.

Yes, I understand that everybody has a life and their own struggles to deal with on a regular basis but is it too hard to reach out to someone who has seemingly become distant all of a sudden? Not asking the question of 'are you okay' leaves the window of help closed as you back off because you don't think they want to talk about something. Usually taking time to think can cost someone his or her life. 

You might be wondering how I know about this; I'll tell you I know because I've been there on the suicidal end and no one reached out. I know what loneliness feels like and I know that the blanket of inner struggle one deals with when no one is around to lift even one finger or an ear of compassion. And yes, Christians let people down more than you ever know. 

Why are so many kids on drugs for attention deficit disorder? Why are kids deprived of attention? I'll tell you why but you're not going to like what I say. Parents neglect children because they NEED an outlet too and in finding their 'outlet' the child gets left behind. We're not raising kids in a two-parent household. We're tossing kids in pre-school at an earlier and earlier age and sending them off to school to allow teachers to bear the burden of raising the children of the 'me generation'. We put kids on the ADD drugs (which by the way have the same suicidal side effects that you hear about from the drugs/medication YOU take) thinking the drug will help but the kid grows, can't afford to keep up the 'meds' and more times than not, the suicidal tendencies of the drug kick in while no one is looking.

While you were worried about you, someone died that you couldn't say, 'Hi' to or 'how are you' in a meaningful banter of words. I'm tired of talking about me and my disease, I'll live or die but somewhere out in the world as I'm writing this, someone is taking their life because YOU were too busy worrying about YOU. 

I reach out through words but slowly my words are not enough, the extent of my reach is not far enough, I'm alone in trying to convey a message that people are tired of hearing. Why are they tired of hearing it? Because they are busy with other things. 

Prov. 25:27 "It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory."

Eccl. 1:13 "And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith."

Advent: The Time of Spiritual Renewal

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV) “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.”

* author's note: This is a very worthy repost from Nov. 26, 2014

What Advent means to ME

The season of Advent is upon us and while many believe this is a season for the Catholic faith to celebrate the coming of Jesus’ birth, they are sadly mistaken. While the Catholic Church does celebrate through rites and rituals such as burning a colored candle each week as they focus on the coming of the Lord, many Christians such as myself celebrate Advent as a spiritual renewal.

This was a time in history documented and prophesied about in the Old Testament and came to fruition in the advent of the New Testament. The weeks leading up to Christ being born into this world are a pivotal proclamation to every single Christian. Our faith in Jesus Christ is solid proof, to ME, that the Advent of Christ is true to the biblical word.

Granted I don’t believe December 25th as the exact day He was born. But it is the day that man has chosen to appoint and celebrate as the day of Jesus’ birth. Advent to me is preparing for the coming of the Lord instead of getting all caught up in the commercialization of a sacred Holy Day.

We’re living in a world where people make up their own choices and minds with how to honor the King of Kings. Christians everywhere claim to be Christian but shrug off Lent and Advent and other spiritual expectancies that the very bible they claim to read speaks of and are happy just declaring they’re Christian’s. To me, that’s a mockery of Christ and the Holy Bible.

Yes, claiming to be a Christian is all well and good but it is more than just words, you have to put physical and spiritual ACTION behind those words for them to be believed. Even through my computer screen I can tell which friends are spirit-filled and which ones put on a show. When sitting in Church I can physically see who is there just to show people that they’re there. I am not judging people; I am confirming that I have eyes to see.

THIS is why a spiritual rejuvenation is needed throughout the year. THIS is why Advent and Lent are so dear to ME. Yes, I spiritually reflect throughout the year, but these two seasons take on special meaning to my spiritual growth.

I watch as a globe erupts in turmoil; races against races, wars against innocent, death to believers, fear in the loving. Satan is standing at the threshold of corruption, rising in great power throwing swords of fire at the earthbound physically and spiritually weak. The flames have reached every corner of the earth, blades of fire have licked the spirit of all as we sit and watch, waiting, just waiting to understand.

THIS is the season for true Christians to fully understand the biblical elements at work. This is where we gather our spiritual strength and prepare for the coming of Christ. We can’t shrug off what we are called to be; we can’t ignore and draw a blind eye of what is to come. We can’t walk and pretend that we’re doing everything in our power to prayerfully heal a nation in the throes of an uprising while we're too busy to reflect even once on the spiritual growth of our being. We’re not called to ‘just’ believe.

This is not a time to wear a mask and delight in the show of the Christmas spectacle; this is the time to be spiritually awake in the depths of your soul. This is not the time to look around at all you don’t hold in your hands; this is the time to be grateful for every little thing you DO have. This is not the time to walk in confidence knowing you have a faith and belief in God; this is the time to meditate on all you are, all you hold true and all you hope to one day become THROUGH the blood and power of Christ.

THIS, my friends, is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Pss.118:24) 

God's Not Dead

GOD’S NOT DEAD

Eph. 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

If you’re a reader of my blog, you know that Lent is an extremely delicate spiritual season for me. This is the time of deep meditation, insight, prayer and connecting to the Lord my God. It is a time where metaphysical events take place in my life and I don’t take them lightly, I take them to heart. Not only was I born during Lent, I have a very deep spiritual connection to the greater things in life and the Higher Power, God.

I have a few Native American friends and I have the utmost respect for them because of their spiritual connections to the earth. I believe my spiritual connection is not far removed from their spiritual connections and for that reason we bond. Our souls know one another and we respect each other. It is out of that respect I would never post scripture of my Lord on their wall and tell them, ‘this is who I like’. We are different but we are the same. I honor the difference.

Friends mostly respect me and I try to respect my friends for our different beliefs even if we are all Christians believing in Jesus Christ. I respect the Catholics and different religions but they would never post a picture of the Pope on my wall, or JW or Mormon memes out of respect for my belief. Just as I would hope no one would post satanic or witchcraft post on my wall out of respect for MY religious beliefs.

On March 22^nd, a friend who knows I don’t agree with anything Ken Ham teaches because I feel he is a false prophet who is teaching lies, posted a link of KH. Was I delighted to see this post? No! Did I even click the link? I would never! I get a really bad spiritual feeling from this guy and I mean BAD! How can I explain my blood trembling in my veins? What scares me even more is I now know respected Christians actually believe this false prophet.

As with all believers we are entitled to believe what we want when we read the Bible but I realized I am very different and thought strange for my beliefs, while others can drink in the false beliefs of dinosaurs frolicking with humans in the beginning of time, I do not share that belief and I’ll tell you why, God!

Can I prove what God says to me? No, because it’s between Him and I. Can I show you in some way how God talks to me? In all my posts I thought that this is what I was conveying but maybe I’m not as good a writer as I thought. Did you read how it came to be that we were led to Nebraska? Have you even read what we endured as my man went blind? Did you brush up on the story of his sight being restored? It was all God people. He spoke to me, He led me, I listened and I followed Him.

If any of you have read my story you should know that I shouldn’t even be alive today and a follower of Christ no less. I wasn’t raised in a religious household, I was sent to Catholic school but that was the extent of religion in my life. I was raised by generational alcoholics, and surrounded by alcoholic/drugs addicts. I married into a like family that was full of alcoholic’s, drug addicts and people who believed lies. My entire 20 yr. marriage was based on lies that I was told.

I wasn’t raised in the computer world either. I only got a computer in recent years so Google did not shape the person I am today. The Holy Bible did that and God Himself spoke me into being. I wrote and read a lot of books, the kind you hold in your hand with yellowing and dog-eared pages. Hearing God speak to me and move me became my way of life. I saw myself as resting in the palm of God’s hand and sometimes I gazed up at Him and saw Him holding my hand leading me in one direction or another.

My life is shaped by God’s truth not MY truth or mans truth. Even when reading the Bible God would lend me His truth, through soft whispers or loud resounding echoes. And the very reason I don’t believe in KH lies, is because I don’t feel he is spreading God’s truth but his truth as HE interprets the bible. Every one of us has a right to interpret God’s words as we hear them but falling under a spell of a false witness, to me, is not being led by God.

After hearing about KH and feeling what I felt I had to do a little research to see if ANYONE out there had the intense belief of the same things that shaped this young child, not a grown woman, not a child raised in religious theology, a young child LISTENING to God. There has to be someone, God wouldn’t lie to me I know that, so after some deep meditating and prayer I searched and was being led once again.

I found this page loaded with Evidence of God. Believe or not; listen or don't; ignore and walk away, it is YOUR choice!

After the post of the false prophet on my facebook wall, I felt a severe level of disrespect for my belief. I was told to read Gen 6 as a way of understanding KH. (Personally, I don’t need to understand him, thank you. I listen to God. HE is all I need to understand.)

Gen 6: 5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Taken out of context this scripture means one thing to you and meant a lot more to me when reading Genesis 6. It jumped out at me, it clung to me, it whispered over and over in my ear. It meant to me that this is the epitome of KH. He is NOT of God and BIBLICAL truth. He is a scientist making millions off of feeding the dinosaur theology to people. (I won't link to the books he is selling our children. Go dig for yourself the books of people riding on dinosaurs.)

I thought my birthday was ruined, darkened by a false prophet who believes dinosaurs were on board Noah’s ark, babies mind you, not the enormous ones that supposedly roamed with Noah and his people and helped Noah build the ark.

God guided me to Ephesians 4. It is the King James version.

GOD would NOT let my day be ruined. I prayed for people, I meditated on God’s word and assured Him I would not be misled. I spoke to Him and He spoke to me. My birthday was taking on the glimmer of sun, sparkled upon by the receiving of a ‘Double Knockout Rose of the Star family’ and a huge cookie wishing me a HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

We settled down to watch a movie. We hadn’t picked one out and Steven said, “You pick.”

I signed onto NetFlix and a big bold BANNER across the screen read: GOD’S NOT DEAD!

I didn’t need to pick a movie, God picked our movie for us.

What a wonderful birthday gift from God Himself! Thank you sweet Jesus!

Ex. 15:13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

Lent: Day forty-four ~ Salt & Light

Matt. 5: 13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Have you ever eaten a softened boiled potato, plain? How does that taste? I prefer a little salt on my food; seasoned up nicely otherwise it is very bland. Your life as a Christian should be making an impact on those around you just as the salt does to the potato, by adding seasoning to their life. Not a bold chili-pepper type of seasoning, just a tad bit of salt.

God is calling us to be the salt and Light of the earth.

Salt as a preservative ~ In ancient time salt was used to keep meat from spoiling. Salt in those days was as important as a refrigerator is to us today. If we faithfully represent Jesus, we can leave a positive effect on those around us.

Salt adds flavor ~ Just as salt can add a welcome flavor to your potato. Even if we’re not the brightest bulb in the world, we can allow the Holy-Spirit to shine through us thus adding a nice touch of flavor to those around you.

Salt penetrates ~ It doesn’t take too much salt on that potato to make the entire meal have extra flavor. A godly person has that penetrating capability to those around them.

Salt makes you thirsty ~ When you walk in a godly fashion through pain and strife and overcome obstacles that others struggle with, people want to know where you get that peace and strength from; they thirst for the same tranquility in their lives. We are called to be salt of the earth to show them that through God, they too can find the inner peace.

Salt spreads nicely ~ It doesn’t take an enormous amount of shaking of the salt-shaker to season the whole plate of food. Think of it this way, thousands of years ago, Jesus seasoned just a small batch of potatoes. Me sharing what Jesus has done in my life is the most effective form of spreading the Gospel.

Salt can lose its flavor ~ Matt. 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

This is what happens to believers who allow sin to rule their lives, they lose the impact they could have had on people when delivering the message of Christ.

Salt in excess can backfire ~ I remember my mother used to make chicken-noodle soup and share it with me, it always had way too much salt so I got the recipe and made my own, sharing it with her. She told me that mine tasted better than hers! Why? Because I used less salt.Too much salt is not a good thing.

One can spread too much gospel and actually deter people from Christ. Spreading the Gospel should be lightly seasoning lives not overpowering them to where they flee from Christ.

We are called to be the Light of the world. The Light within you comes from Christ. It can be a beacon for all to see. Just as a lighthouse is a guide, you can be a guide for others who are struggling in their belief. You don’t even need to be a lighthouse; just a simple candle in a darkened room can give just the right amount of Light.

But remember even a candle can lose its brightness. When we allow sin to permeate the environment the candle becomes dim. You need to keep the fire stoked by trimming off the excess wick so the flame burns brighter and brighter.  This is how obedience to Christ keeps us shining for all to see.

If you are being salt and light, you are impacting the world! Through your actions, behavior and treatment of others all lends to your Christian character. You can either guide the ships into a safe harbor, or drive them further out to sea. The Lord calls us to purify our souls and allow people to SEE the PURITY in you; you then become salt and Light to the world.

I hope by the end of reading this post I made you hungry, and not for potatoes and chicken noodle soup either, hungry for CHRIST! Now go on out into the world and add a little salt and Light.

Praise be to God!

Lent: Day Thirty-six ~ God Uses Christians

“We are the Bibles the world is reading; We are the creeds the world is needing; We are the sermons the world is heeding.” Billy Graham

God Uses Christians 

I know a few people who have asked, where is God today? We’re living in a dying world with nature rearing it’s ugly head in ways not seen in centuries past. With wildfires, drought, starvation, evil corrupting what’s left of society, where IS God?

While I’m not blind to the world around me, I see the fires, death and destruction all peaking at an all time high. Sometimes people feel God has forgotten us and just left us to fend for ourselves; He hasn’t left us, He is USING us.

When our cousin Mary died on the 20^th of March, we were hit with the shock then the sadness of her being so young. Didn’t Mary have more to do? Couldn’t she help from earth instead of heaven?

Since the age of sixteen Mary has been called to go on mission trips to Ghana to help the needy. This is what her entire short life was dedicated to. While I have never felt the call to go on a mission trip (they’re not trips as humans tend to understand) Mary devoted her life to helping others. She was a part of the Rotary Society and their mission was assistance to the needy.

Mary’s work for God was done. He used her in so many ways and even in death the donation of her corneas was going to make some family exceedingly rewarded. I know that from first hand experience. Her Light shone for all the world to see. Even when she herself was in excruciating pain and very near the end, her light, love and laughter drew a crowd who all wanted to pay their last respects to this Godly young woman.

God uses us for His work. While we might think our lives are insignificant, if you’re a Christian, He is using you in some way that maybe not even you know. People need to see God alive in you, not treated as a passing fancy one week, throwing out scripture the next. They need to see Him in you daily, which is how He stays alive in this world.

I have a friend with Parkinson’s disease and is fighting other illnesses as well. While she doesn’t understand why this is happening to her, I’m assuming God is using her. I think He’s using her to show others how to carry an illness with strength. Other people fighting illnesses will look to her and say, “How is she staying so strong?” And she’ll answer, “The power of God in me.” Having lived her life dedicated to the Church and to Christ they will see God living in her and God using her. She becomes a living testimony.

This is what God is using Christian’s for. To be alive in Christ! Be His voice, be His Word and be His rock. This is no small task either.

I often wondered where I fit in to the grander scheme of things. Am I being used? Well of course I am! I call to mind a sermon from Pastor Mike a few months ago. He was speaking on being used by God. He said that someone wrote to him and said that they felt insignificant and that all they could do was pray. He got all excited at this point and said, “ALL you can do is pray? That is one of God’s biggest jobs is to use people to pray!”

This is why I take prayer so serious. It cannot be undermined, it cannot be simplified, it has to be done with the power and strength of the Lord and with everything in you, not just a passing verb.

God is out in full force using Christian’s and we know it. Maybe He’s using you to care for an elderly person, maybe He’s using you as a Samaritan, maybe He is calling you to do mission work, maybe He’s calling you to be a Light to others so that they see Him in you, maybe He’s using an illness to show people strength or maybe He’s using you to fervently pray. Whatever the case may be, God is using Christian’s globally to bring forth the Glory of God.

So no matter how insignificant you may feel in this world, if you’re a Christian, know that God is busy using you in ways you cannot imagine. In life and death we are all part of the kingdom of God. Our testimony will live when our bodies are laid to rest. Our light will shine forth the eternal power of God.

Job 36:24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.