A little girl leaning into the lion's cage. Suddenly, the lion grabs her by the collar of her jacket and tries to pull her inside to slaughter her, under the eyes of her screaming parents. The biker jumps off his Harley, runs to the cage and hits the lion square on the nose with a powerful punch. Whimpering from the pain the lion jumps back letting go of the girl, and the biker brings the girl to her terrified parents, who thank him endlessly. A reporter has watched the whole event.
The reporter addressing the Harley rider says, 'Sir, this was the most gallant and bravest thing I've seen a man do in my whole life. The Harley rider replies, 'Why, it was nothing, really. The lion was behind bars. I just saw this little kid in danger, and acted as I felt right.'
The reporter says, 'Well, I'll make sure this won't go unnoticed. I'm a journalist, you know, and tomorrow's paper will have this story on the front page. So, what do you do for a living, and what political affiliation do you have?'
The biker replies "I'm a U.S. Marine, a Republican and I voted for Trump".
The journalist leaves.
The following morning the biker buys the paper to see if it indeed brings news of his actions, and reads, on the front page:
"U.S. MARINE ASSAULTS AFRICAN IMMIGRANT & STEALS HIS LUNCH"
And THAT pretty much sums up the media's approach to the news these day's. H/T Mike Hewitt.
I have a strong desire to achieve and the beginning of the year is no exception. I want to become a better me. I need to grow in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom from the LORD. At the end of the year I want to look back and examine the progress I made. I don’t want to be the same person that I was at the beginning of the year, have the same problems, have the same desires; I want more.
I have to admit though that some of my goals have been on my list for a very long time but that’s only because I didn’t have the fortitude or a strong enough desire to accomplish them.
I remember reading years ago that every life changing event required a decision. I tried over and over again to make decisions and that never seemed to work until a couple of years ago I decided to be happy all the time. Sadness, depression, discontentment were no longer going to be a part of my life.
I was firm and determined to make that happen and sought the LORD for help. What I found is that is the key to accomplishing goals that we cannot seem to attain. They take more than a wish. They take more than a desire. They take more than a decision. They take determination with no turning back and help from God. Without Him there are somethings we can never achieve on our own.
Since it’s God will for us to be happy and have joy, He gladly joined me on my endeavor to make it happen His way. And I must say His way was far better and easier than my way. I quickly accomplished that desire and have easily been able to maintain it for going on three years.
This years goal is monumental; one that I cannot achieve on my own. The good news is that the Bible is full of scriptures to support my goal. Therefore, God will be with me on this journey to assist me in making it happen.
I had a similar goal the year before which I have partially achieved that will contribute to making this year’s goal possible.
Since it is so colossal my expectations are realistic. I know that with God all things are possible. Therefore, the goal is in the realm of having the potential of being accomplished this year. But if it isn’t, I’m not going to be discouraged. As long as I don’t give up, I know that what I seek I will find.
Now, hopefully this year’s blog postings will be sharing with you my progress and what I discover along the way.
My number one goal in 2016 is to follow God’s and Jesus’ example throughout His word of “God said”.
The past couple of years I have been able to catch myself each time a thought or word proceeded from my mouth that I didn’t want to see come to fruition. This year’s focus is to only allow the thoughts and words that I speak be of those that I want to happen. Instead of the not words, I’m going to focus on the have, want, desire or do words.
In the first chapter of Genesis God repeats “and God said” then what He said happened. It’s repeated for a reason. He’s telling us that what He said happened and what we say will happen as well.
This past year I have seen this happen repeatedly myself by saying what God’s Word says. So I know this is true. Now I’m going to take it a step farther. I want it to become natural. Just like my happiness is now natural for me. Sure I have to correct myself and get back on track but it’s easy and quickly done with less frequency.
The tongue is a very dangerous member of our body but to tame it we need God’s help. The tongue can destroy a person just by words spoken to them. I want the opposite. I want my tongue to always be a blessing and never a curse.
Okay God, let’s do this. My number 1 desire for 2016 is to be a blessing to other’s through the words that I speak and the thoughts that I think. I desire more for my life that I cannot achieve on my own. I know that with You we can make this happen.
“A man without a vision is a man without a future. A man without a future will always return to his past!”
I wrote this on January 1, 2016 but never posted it. This has been sitting in my blog as a draft all year. This past week I made my 2017 New Year's Resolution. I found this in my inspiration journal I have been keeping all year. Remarkably, this is the same goal I decided for 2017 with the same thoughts.
The desire for this resolution remained all year but the vision wasn't my focal point. The commitment somehow became lost in everyday living.
As I take a look over the past twelve months I see that I made progress on my goal. Therefore, 2016 wasn't a complete loss in fulfilling this desire. Countless times I declared "God said." statements followed by scriptures to combat thoughts that entered my mind. God was my Helper. I successfully faced challenges that in the past would have resulted in a way I would not have desired.
Today, I decided to take my art journalling to a new level. I have an index card taped to our front door as a reminder of the favor of God whenever we leave the house. I decided to purchase a pack of square canvases to paint including the saying to hang on the door instead of the card. For 2017, I will paint another canvas with the words "God said." to hang where we can see it often and not just when leaving the house. Hopefully, this will keep the vision in front of me all of 2017 until it becomes routine in my life stopping any potential negative thoughts from coming into my mind by continually thinking "God said" thoughts instead.
I have visions of our doors (front or back) full of "God said" statements in which we can pause to read before exiting the room.
With renewed determination I know 2017 will be even better than 2016. And 2016 was a GREAT year!
God spoke to my heart regarding a certain matter over six months ago. Each time I saw a tweet, an interview, a news story, or anything that contradicted what He told me I said to myself "God said" choosing to believe God rather than man. I never gave up. What God told me came true. If God has placed something on your heart do not lose hope with contradictions that the world would tell you differently. Stand on His Word and never stop believing.
Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Four years ago, I started a great adventure with the Lord, greater than any other in my past. I made a decision and I stuck with it. Never did I realize the full impact that decision would have on my life.
There were truths that I knew at the time. Deep inside I knew that I had to be prepared. That preparation has served me well.
Mind you, I had been growing stronger each year, maturing over time, so I wasn’t a clean slate. I had truths but I also had baggage that was weighting me down.
At times I felt like I was in a race against time. I was running away from my past into the future. Not that my past is horrible or anything of the kind. My past like most contained old destructive thoughts that were preventing me from enjoying the present. I had to stop looking back and focus on where I was and where I wanted to go.
As it turned out I was running from my past into the loving arms of my Lord. My Comforter, my Redeemer…My Loving Father.
Through this wonderful journey I learned how to squelch the deceiving thoughts that were robbing me of this wonderful life that the Lord had given me.
I learned how to remain happy even though the world wanted nothing more than to destroy that happiness.
I read the Bible every day multiple times from cover to cover each year. I studied the Bible from teachings I discovered from Bible teachers across the country. I allowed God to take control and teach me showing me the truth. At times it was overwhelming. God was flooding my brain so much so that I often had to tell Him that I needed sleep. Then we would begin again the next day before my eyes even opened.
Never did I expect when I made that decision that I would be witnessing the world out of control as insanity is taking over the minds of so many. This insanity is quickly spreading throughout the world. We see it on the streets with the paid protesters trying to insight riots dividing our great nation and ruining towns and cities, sex-trafficking rings in Washington D.C. praying on small children and so much more.
I see people whom I have grown to love say some of the craziest things and they actually believe the deceptions without using sound judgment or reasoning.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
A sound mind comes from God. The people who are saying and acting out in an insane manner are void of the truths of God in their lives.
The Bible warns us that there will be deceivers of the truth with wrong doctrines that will come as light. There are people attending churches or listen to the doctrines of their church rather than the doctrines of God. The only way we can know if we are being deceived is by knowing the truth. We won’t find the truth in the world. In fact, it’s the opposite. The only truth comes from God.
Last night, as every night, I thanked the Lord for the day and for His protection having tremendous gratitude for His loving kindness, grace, and wisdom.
I can only imagine what my life would have been like if I hadn’t made that decision four years ago and I shutter at the very thought.
Because the Lord lives and I walk with Him every day, I know I can face today and tomorrow with joy, peace and a sound mind.
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
So often lately I’ve been noticing people trying to instill fear into our lives causing me to work even harder than normal to remain happy.
I have become more cynical and grumpier in my thoughts than normal and want to make it stop. Last week, I remembered two teachings I heard many years go called the Christian Survival Guide and Christian First-Aid Kit. I found them and have started to re-listened to each of the teachings in the series. The teachings center around this verse as well as others in John 14, 15, and 16 which were Jesus' last instructions on how to live until He returns.
As I was cleaning the kitchen this morning, I was thinking about this verse then realized how great a sin it is when we allow our heart to become troubled. I understood that letting that happen removes joy in our lives. As a result whenever I start feeling troubled I immediately shake it off since I don’t want my thoughts to take away my happiness.
However, I never realized how great a sin it was to become troubled. It’s like saying I don’t trust you Jesus. Or telling Jesus He’s a liar and I don’t believe what He’s instructed me how to live. That I know more than He does and I don’t care. It’s turning my back against God which is the last thing I ever want to do.
God is the only One who I trust these days as well as my family. But even with my family, they have their own lives to deal with. But God’s main priority is me and you as well. His main reason for choosing us to exist is for us to be His child and for Him to be our Father. To provide everything we need to survive. He is the only One who really knows us and who loves us unconditionally at all times.
I’ve tried to love others like 1 Corinthians 13 and it’s difficult. Not impossible, but difficult since we’ve been programmed to believe what the world thinks.
There is a radio program I have found myself listening to that I stopped several years ago because it got on my nerves which it is once again. It’s based on fear-mongering with no trust in God. Don’t get me wrong this program is like so many others. They instill fear with the promise of having an answer.
Even the commercials on this show do the same. If we stand back isn’t that what commercials often do? They produce a fear in us then they make it sound like they are the hero that has come to our rescue. Isn't that what politicians do? For some ungodly reason they don't believe God has given us the ability of providing for ourselves. The truth is that they want us to become slaves to them.
Quite frankly, I’m fed up with all of that. I love my life now, like I never have in the past since I know and understand the Word of God and how the Bible is our guide for successful living.
We live in difficult times but God wants us to be happy in spite of what is going on around us or to us. We are only on this earth for a short time in comparison to eternity. We never really die, we just leave this realm for another one.
God’s intention was for us to live for eternity here on Earth until Adam messed that up. Our bodies were meant to last forever until Adam messed that up. He lived for almost a thousand years. He ushered in all the things that cause death. He had everything and was able to be deceived into thinking he was missing something. There was only one thing that God instructed him not to do and he allowed his mind to drift away from trusting God and he did the vary thing that God didn’t want him to do and he lost everything as a result. That's what a troubled heart will do. It causes loss in our lives.
Every day we do the same thing. We are never content with what we have and we are never content with God’s instructions. For some reason we feel we know more than God. That we know what’s best. What fools we are.
Jesus told us not to be troubled. If we would meditate on it for a few hours we will realize how dangerous it is for us to be trouble-minded. Being troubled no longer gives us the ability to make rational decisions. It clouds our minds. It’s takes away the ability of God handling the situation for us. He cannot intervene on our behalf since we’ve decided to take His place.
It took me getting sick and tired of the life I was living each day. I am still sick and tired of what the world tries to do to my thoughts. It tries to rob me of the truth and I refuse to be deceived any longer. God told us when all fails to “stand.” When we are about to give up and have tried everything we can, to “stand.” Well, I’m standing. I’m standing on the Word of God. I’m standing against the deception in this world. I’m standing against the lies of the enemy.
We are at war and I’m a warrior. Our enemy isn’t people. Our enemy is satan and his demons. There is a real spiritual war going on and we are the “spoil” so to speak. Well, I’m nobody’s spoil. I’m standing against evil. I will fail now and then but just like a fighter in the ring, I might go down for a few seconds but I will get up time and time again. I will win this war. I will win the fight. God told me I would if I follow His ways and I believe Him.
I am more than a conqueror. Satan may count me as a sheep for the slaughter but this is one gal who will not be slaughtered by him. Jesus has given me dominion over satan and I will not relinquish that dominion back to him. He may get it for a brief second but I’ll grab it back from him and kick his sorry ass back to hell where he belongs.
Romans 8:34-39
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I’m a warrior. Thankfully, God has instill that into us so we have the ability to “stand” against evil. To “stand” against the robbers who come to steal, kill and destroy us. To “stand” against those who want us to make them lord in our life. To “stand” against those who say they will “save” us. Yeah, right. There is only one Savior and that is Jesus.
It’s remarkable how our lives change the instant we have that attitude. It’s remarkable how excited God becomes when we “stand” with Him. He floods us with knowledge to be a conqueror. He arms us with the weapons we need to fight off the enemy, who is satan. The power that comes to us is remarkable.
I’m am so grateful, I made that decision several years ago to listen and obey God to the best of my ability knowing that it would be an every day challenge. But it’s a challenge I’m willing to accept to enjoy this wonderful life that God has given to me. Thank you, Lord for always being by my side so I no longer have a troubled heart or walk alone.
So many people today avoid God because of either condemnation or conviction only because they don’t understand the difference. When God convicts us, it is out of His love for us. It is His way of guiding us away from potential trouble. Condemnation on the other hand is from satan. It's critical that we can recognize the difference so that we can retain joy in our life.
Conviction is God’s way of speaking to us. For example, if a thought comes such as “I really need to…”, “I shouldn’t have…” that is from God. It’s His way of trying to show us a better way of handling a situation. It isn’t meant for us to feel badly about ourselves. It’s His way of saying we can improve. How often have we spoken too quickly only to regret what we said. God will convict us of that so that we can avoid that regret in the future. He will try to urge us to take a few seconds before reacting to see if what we are about to utter is appropriate or necessary or even possibly to allow Him to coach us in a better way to handle the situation or give us better words to speak.
Condemnation on the other hand is from satan who tries to tear us down. Words such as “you’re such a loser”, “you’ll never get it right”, “what makes you think you deserve…”, “you always say the wrong thing”, “no one likes you.” He will personally attack you. Those thoughts we need to chase away with a stiff warning to satan that you are not about to fall into his trap.
Satan will try to bring to your attention your weak areas. Especially those things which you regret doing. He will bring things that happened years ago back to your thoughts to make you hate yourself, or cry, or become angry. Those are not from God. God doesn’t remember your past mistakes. God only cares about your future not your past. That is extremely important to remember.
Granted we will be judged on everything we’ve done in our life on the Day of Judgment. However, if we are born again our sins are forgiven and we can come boldly before God’s throne. As long as we have repented of the sins we are aware of committing all will be good. It’s impossible for us to repent on all the sins we’ve ever committed since we often aren’t aware of all of them. God knows our heart. He knows whether we are repentive or not. God knows if we’ve make Jesus Lord of our life, or if we’ve made ourself lord and savior.
Don't get me wrong, sin is deadly. Sin will rob us of God's best for our lives. Convictions are areas where we are committing sin which we need to take seriously.
I saw a tweet that started to arise anger inside of me. Instead of reacting immediately like I would have in the past, I waited for Jesus to bring a scripture to my attention. It didn’t take long before a minister tweeted a sermon "What Kind Of Christian Are You". I listened and immediately the minister quoted a verse from the Bible which was a direct answer to the situation. There are times, God brings to my attention where I'm wrong. Or gives me a different way of examining the situation. We never know where the answer will come from but we will always know when it is God speaking to us through other people.
I’ve learned to trust the Lord more than myself and He always comes through. What a wonderful Father we have that He is always present in our lives to guide us, comfort us, teach us, and shower us with His love.
Whenever I start to hang my head in front of failure’s face,
my downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
A children’s race, young boys, young men; how I remember well,
excitement sure, but also fear, it wasn’t hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope, each thought to win that race
or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
Their parents watched from off the side, each cheering for their son,
and each boy hoped to show his folks that he would be the one.
The whistle blew and off they flew, like chariots of fire,
to win, to be the hero there, was each young boy’s desire.
One boy in particular, whose dad was in the crowd,
was running in the lead and thought “My dad will be so proud.”
But as he speeded down the field and crossed a shallow dip,
the little boy who thought he’d win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arms flew everyplace,
and midst the laughter of the crowd he fell flat on his face.
As he fell, his hope fell too; he couldn’t win it now.
Humiliated, he just wished to disappear somehow.
But as he fell his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
which to the boy so clearly said, “Get up and win that race!”
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit that’s all,
and ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
his mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.
He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace.
“I’m hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn’t try to race.”
But through the laughing crowd he searched and found his father’s face
with a steady look that said again, “Get up and win that race!”
So he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last.
“If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought, “I’ve got to run real fast!”
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight, then ten...
but trying hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently. A tear dropped from his eye.
“There’s no sense running anymore! Three strikes I’m out! Why try?
I’ve lost, so what’s the use?” he thought. “I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But then he thought about his dad, who soon he’d have to face.
“Get up,” an echo sounded low, “you haven’t lost at all,
for all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
Get up!” the echo urged him on, “Get up and take your place!
You were not meant for failure here! Get up and win that race!”
So, up he rose to run once more, refusing to forfeit,
and he resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn’t quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he’d ever been,
still he gave it all he had and ran like he could win.
Three times he’d fallen stumbling, three times he rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.
They cheered another boy who crossed the line and won first place,
head high and proud and happy -- no falling, no disgrace.
But, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place,
the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud,
you would have thought he’d won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his dad he sadly said, “I didn’t do so well.”
“To me, you won,” his father said. “You rose each time you fell.”
And now when things seem dark and bleak and difficult to face,
the memory of that little boy helps me in my own race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
And when depression and despair shout loudly in my face,
another voice within me says, “Get up and win that race!”
The event coordinator came by and started talking to us. As I looked down there was a strange looking bug that I believe I have seen in a picture or gif which she almost stepped on. As her foot brushed the bug, with it’s see through tail and head, another one appeared then two more each time her foot moved by them.
As she walked away, a grasshopper landed within inches of the four bugs which was immediately pounced upon by a large number of flies which started eating the grasshopper. The four other bugs, which were elegantly formed (if you like bugs, which I do not) joined the flies.
I quickly turned away in disgust at the sight as the other two women continued to look on.
This caused me to awaken. Yuck. I thought. I laid there briefly and felt so alone like that grasshopper must have felt. Then I felt helpless like the three of us watching the grasshopper be devoured unable for any of us to come to its aid.
The feeling of being alone is not a pleasant feeling. That feeling can happen anywhere even in a large crowd of people or in our household among our family. We can be surrounded by people and still feel alone.
These days I often feel helpless watching evil slowly invading my world an those I love and care for.
I am so thankful to have the Lord in my life. I immediately remembered that I am never alone. First, I have myself. God has given us the ability to speak to ourselves. Second, I knew that God was there with me as well as Jesus and the Holy Spirit within me. I was not alone. They were awake ready to give me comfort and reassuring me that I will never be alone or helpless. The angels surround us as ministering spirits to protect us at all times.
I quickly went back to sleep comforted and the memory of the grasshopper put to the side.
I’m not sure what brought on that dream or where dreams come from. I do know that when dreams stop is the day we die. That means our mind has ceased to function.
That dream has many lessons about life if I were to meditate on the events but I will save that for another day.
I thought about that crazy lady attacking Mr. Donovan leaving him maybe believing he’s all alone in fighting a battle against crazy fans which caused me to remember Rebecca Schaeffer, whose life tragically ended when she was only twenty-one by a crazy fan.
We are all in a battle in this life and our enemy is satan and satan only. He is here to steal, destroy and kill. That is his only mission in life— to separate us from God. If he can deceive our thoughts he can take away anything that is good in life.
Last night I won another battle against the devil. I am never really alone in life. I may fall over and be devoured by the enemy but I will triumph even in death as I leave this world into a new one for eternity with the Lord.
Daylight always brings clarity to a situation but last night I quickly triumphed over darkness. It’s going to be another wonderful day.
