There IS Hope

Job 11:18 "And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety."

There Is Hope

After a week-long bout of depression, I see that there IS hope in the future. The more and more I learn I can see and feel a future of Hope and promise. Knowledge is power, prayer is powerful, and moving forward is Hope-filled.

It all began last Saturday with a city-wide garage sales event. Not intending to hurt my feelings in any way, my husband commented after I said I love junk, I can’t wait to buy more, he said, “Careful, you don’t want to be like Lisa.”  Lisa is my neighbor and she is a hoarder. You know, like the kind you see on tv that they do TV shows about? Yeah, my neighbor is like that with flower pots, pallets, end tables and bikes and more strewn all over the place and three vehicles she doesn't use because ‘they need work’. I’m more of a nic-nac fan. But the comment hurt and it brought me to silent tears.

I came home with a cross, a carved angel, and two other angels to add to my collection. That’s what I like. I spent less than five dollars. My collection of angels began when my dad bought a beautiful angel for my sister and at the time, my ex-bro-in-law didn’t ‘allow’ angels in the house. His reasoning was it took away from thoughts of God and became idol worship. I know how sound that DOESN’T sound, so I switched with my sister, the angel for my beloved pig my dad had bought me. If you don’t know the difference between God and angels, then you need a little more than your Holy Bible, my friend. I also own a Precious Moments collection as well as Dreamscicle Cherubs, compliments of my mother years ago growing up. 

By Monday my hurt had festered and I didn’t feel like writing, walking or riding my bike. The funk was real and I felt like a shattered bottle on the ground. No, it wasn’t just that comment, it was also my feeling like a failure as a mother. I botched raising a good son and I feel the ramifications. He wants to move to Kentucky to meet his online girlfriend. Please, no comments or advice. This is a real hurt I need to work through. In time I may be able to write more. But the good news is, today he has a job interview! 

By Wednesday I was begging for prayer from my spiritual family. Finally, my mood wasn’t because of food. I am getting better on the food moods and I’m a bit confused looking at a twenty-year-olds body in the mirror and feeling like an eighty-year-old woman with leather skin and all! I need to meditate. Yeah, even that stopped for a few days and I FELT the difference of not meditating as my days WITH meditating.

Job 6:11 "What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?"

I’m going to go through this storm of my life fighting. If only it were just one illness, maybe I wouldn’t get down, but three? Why is God all about three’s? (Trinity ring a bell?) *winkwink* I have been fighting psoriasis my whole life, arthritis for about four years and now this disease that crept up on me like a snail crossing the busy highway!

Wouldn’t you know, that the healing remedy for all three illnesses require the exact same supplements? They're all tied together, like a woven blanket, the illnesses are just unraveling threads. The good news is I’m doing everything to heal all aspects and the recent purchase of Tea Tree Oil Shampoo and Conditioner has shown great results in just two days of use! So that perked me up a bit.

And don’t worry friends, I don’t care how down I get, I never give up on my Morning Prayer and worship and bible reading. NEVER! I am committed to God and worship only Him! He is the one helping me sail through this being my lighthouse in the storm. The angels are just for warmth when I need a hug, and comfort when I feel down. God has never let me down, and this path, as slow as molasses filled that it is, I’m HEALING! I feel it and SEE it.

All praise and Glory to God! 

Pss. 71:5 "For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art 

my trust from my youth."

Sunrise/Sunset

Sunrise out my front door

Deut. 33:14 “And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,”

Sunrise and Sunset

I love the warmth of a sunrise as it slowly moves up the horizon and clouds gently part as if they are welcoming the fresh new start of the day. The sunset is similar as the clouds bow down to sun bidding it a farewell until the morning comes around again.

Shoes fascinate some women; some are preoccupied with clothes, while women captivate men, and in my weirdness, I’m riveted by sunrises and sunsets! Since the first time at age ten of sneaking out of the house at four in the morning with my sister and cousin to watch the sunrise, the orb that appeared every morning like clockwork casting shadows across the land, fascinated me.  

Luke 21: 25 “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;”

I’m not as obsessed with the sun and moon as I am with God but they come in a close fourth, the second being the Christ man, the third the spirit. Yes, I believe in the trinity, Father, Son, Holy Spirit but that did not stop my immersion into reading everything I could about astronomy. I worship and praise only ONE God and I don’t give into idol worship.

As a child, I wanted to be an astronomer, an astronaut, an archaeologist or a nun. Well as life happened and the city life tried to swallow me whole, I matured in what was possible within my grasp and that was a life as a writer. Never did my consummation of the cosmos, archaeology or theology stray from me.

We all have a tendency to become obsessed with one thing or another whether it is politics, money, hair, clothes, men or women and my obsession of God is no different. I can never get enough of the Light that shines into my soul then floods out my fingertips in way of words being leaked to people who might read what I have to say.

Since I held my first camera in my hand my next fascination was capturing the sunrise and sunset so I could keep the image alive whenever I needed a pick me up on cloudy days. Yes, believe it or not, the ball of fire was a meditative healing spot for me.

As I think of the Thankful November momentum, I’m thankful for every single day that I wake and have the ability to see the sunrise and am able to bid my God a good morning via prayer. Ironically, in my own little mind I have become all I wanted to be as a child, a closet astronomer, still a wannabe archaeologist, as I love rocks and anything I dig up and find, and am some form of nun in my own aspect, as my life is dedicated to God. What about an astronaut you say, well I fly to the moon every night when I close my eyes so yeah, I’m my own astronaut too. Maybe THAT is why some consider me ‘spacey’. 

Rom. 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

While I strive to soar and not conform to this world. I have hopes that my spiritual family will accompany me one day wherever it is we wind up on the eternal plane. I realize that God brought me to this juncture in my life surrounding me with souls that He knows will meet Him in heaven and at least I’ll have a chance of having SOMEone being on the other side to greet me.

Since the Internet came into my life in 2003 there was never a better day to find many of the answers to my vast amount of questions that couldn’t be answered by leafing through the yellowing pages of life. NASA has visually shown me the cosmos where my love of astronomy flourishes.  National Geographic takes me on an explorer’s expedition and the King James Version of the Bible fills me with the Words that I need to sustain the blood pumping through my veins. 

So all in all the sunrises and sunsets fill my world in a kaleidoscope of color and vibrant life that keeps me feeding words to you via the life in me. Space, the final frontier, this is my mission, to explore the heavens, to seek out new souls and wondrous galaxies, to boldly go where all men will one day strive to be…with God!

All Glory to God!

Isaiah 61:7 (NIV) “Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.”

Sunset out my back door

Lent: Day Thirty-seven ~ God is Not a Religion

Luke 2: 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

God is Not a Religion

Pss. 86: 13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

“Religion is for people afraid of going to hell…Spirituality is for people who have already been there.” ~ Vine Deloria – Sioux

I hear so many times people saying, “Don’t shove your religion down my throat.” Maybe they are misinformed but scripture from the bible is not a religion; God is not a religion so when I post a scripture and you’re offended and tell me to stop shoving my religion down your throat, allow me to enlighten you.

Scripture is not a religion. Faith in God is not a religion. Now when a Jehovah’s Witness knocks on your door and tries to shove a pamphlet in your face, THAT is someone trying to force their religion on you.

I’ve been approached many times in the parking lot by a JW and as you’re trying to unload all your groceries, they run up and try shoving a pamphlet in your face. Now THAT to me is trying to force a religion on you. When someone physically approaches you and feeds you their religion as if it is the only one and the only RIGHT one that exists.

Spirituality is not a religion either and TO ME that is just what God and all His biblical testimonies are, primarily. The Buddhists don’t own spiritual awareness, the Native Americans don’t have the market cornered on spirituality. Spiritual experiences are for all whether faith in one God or not.

My spirituality is a deep rooted faith in one God. It is rooted in there being only ONE God, who had a Son through a divine Immaculate Conception, who then died for mankind and all his sins, thus bathing us in the Holy Spirit!

If religion is defined as the worship of One God, then yes, I am religious. I will walk with the Holy Spirit and share with you all that that entails, but I will not say that this is the one and only faith that you must adhere to in life or that it is the only RIGHT one. 

We are all of different creeds and I respect that. I cannot judge someone whose only faith is in spiritual awareness and I would hope that I am not judged for believing in the trinity.

When I was a child, I was raised Catholic and very much wanted to be a nun and dedicate my life to Christ but be it as it may, God wanted a different path for me and in every breath I took, He guided each step. He is the one who put me on this spiritual path. He did not sink me into a religion and guide me in the way of becoming a nun; He had different plans for me.

Spirituality is hard to find a definitive definition. Scientist define it “the search for the sacred”. There is a definition on spiritualism that is defined as: the belief that all reality is spiritual. Metaphysics: any of various doctrines maintaining that the ultimate reality is spirit or mind. If God did not want us to be spiritual beings why use the word over 600 times in the Bible?

Why did God take me on this journey? Why did He set my path on the spiritual aspect rather than a religious road? I think it is because He wanted me to know the differences in life based on spirituality.

Being called a Jesus freak is okay with me. I’ve already stirred up thoughts with this Lenten series and some have been good, while others I can sense are tired of it all already. I’m not called to please you, I’m called to please my Lord and Savior who is guiding my fingertips. I am guided by the warmth washing over me by the Holy Spirit and what comes out in these posts are for all to walk away with and think about.

You can walk away in agreement or disagreement that is for you and where you are in your journey of life. All I know is that God is my divining rod. I can choose one way or the other, I can believe in all He has shown me, or I can shrug off all He has conveyed and take a different path. That is free will.

If you pick up a bible and read it, do you walk away with questions, enlightenment, doubts or unbelief? Enlightenment to me is an AHA moment where a lightbulb goes off in my head. And when I read the bible, I walk away enlightened by the knowledge that God has placed on my heart. I have read many different doctrines and the Holy Bible is the only one that gave me clarity.

God is not my religion, He is a way of life for me. I am a very spiritual person who sees God in everything, and I do mean everything. The land, the trees, the soil, the animals, and yes in human beings whether they have the Light of the Lord in them or not, I see them as spiritual beings set on a different path than me.

My religion is my church (Christians) and my church family (where I go to praise and worship) where we are all set on the same path walking hand in hand with the same beliefs. You can poke fun at me, laugh at my pain, correct me because I’m not grammatically perfect, scoff at my imperfections but please, don’t make fun of my spiritual beliefs. I judge no one and don’t care to BE judged.

God is not a religion, He is a spiritual journey. Embrace it.

1 Cor. 16: 18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

His Sacrifice

Heb. 10: 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

His Sacrifice

He did not come as a flaming fire

The manger was His birth.

Angels danced and sang that night

As Jesus graced this earth.

Some won’t hear, some won’t see

He will rise and awaken thee.

He came in silence on a starry night

The great Emmanuel

The sages bowed before Him

A Savior’s tale to tell.

Some won’t listen, most won’t agree

His blood was shed for you and me.

He walked a wrinkled furrowed path

Our sin was His to bear.

Nailed upon the tattered cross

Yet not many gave a care.

Some will watch, some will flee

God in man now trinity.

He came to show us how to love

Not live in prideful hate

He offers us a straightened path

But narrow is the gate.

Some will follow, some will be

A Light for all of the world to see.

Matt. 7: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Fuzzy Friday

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
***

I say fuzzy because I sit in amazement at society. They embrace the Twilight series as gospel, and are overlooking the message that God gave. Man can not serve two masters.
Meaning you can’t serve God, and accept the evil that wants to filter in through many different avenues.

Someone posted about the ‘dislike’ of this very topic, and the Christians came out in force defending the ‘entertainment’ that they were allowed because God don’t care what they watch or read.

From Eleanor*: Free Will. At the end of the day, if I am a good person, kind to others, believe in a Higher Power, I know in my heart that Jesus/God doesn't mind what I watch or read for entertainment. And that is how I rest my head at night in peace. Forgiveness and tolerance is the greatest gift HE gave.
 

Luke* responded: Forgiveness and Tolerance.... hmmmm... Was it tolerance he showed to the money changers, desecrating the house of his Father? Forgiveness was his gift at the cross, but every time Jesus encountered someone trapped in sin and offered his forgiveness, it was followed with the command- "Go and sin no more."
We have ALL sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, and yes, we can approach him after every fall, every stumble- but there is nowhere I read where it says "you are forgiven so that you may go chase after sin" and I'd prefer someone to enlighten me where that is, if it exists.
Furthermore trying to justify a movie by the existence of other movies is like saying that cheating is OK because there's an abundance of cheating and lying in movies and TV. Granted, sinners are everywhere, but there are those who are in it to seek it and those on their way out. Where shall we find ourselves when we get that call?
 

Theodora* wrote: We as Christians are called and commanded to be the examples to others...In Ephesians 4: 17-27 we are instructed...by the apostle Paul"So i tell you this , and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated for the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity with a continual lust for more. vs 20 You however did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him, were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus, You were taught with regards to your former way of life TO PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; To be made NEW in the ATTITUDES OF YOUR MINDS and to PUT ON THE NEW SELF created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness"

Paul goes on in Ephesians 5:-17 to instruct us further "For you were once dankness, but now you are LIGHT in the world. Live as children of the light (for the fruit of the light consist in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness but rather expose them .For it is shameful to even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible. This is why it is said: "wake up O sleeper rise from the dead
and Christ will shine on you."
Be very careful then how you live- not as unwise but as wise making the most of every opportunity because the days are very evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LORD'S WILL IS.

This went of for 57 replies! People are really waking up to God’s call. I’m just wondering if they are hearing or justifying their actions? I need no responses...I’ll walk around in the fuzz.

 

John 10: 21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

*names changed to respect the author's