Nothing to do with it

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God– having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.  They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,  always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”  2 Timothy 3:1-7

This was a bad week for our nation, and a foreshadowing of times to come.  Sadly, it confirmed what “terrible times” we are indeed in.  We saw a nation of people blindly following a conceited, narcissistic, slanderous, Godless  leader, and an evil ideology.  What is even sadder, is that WE have allowed this tragedy to happen.  WE have allowed God’s word to be perverted, without resistance.  WE have allowed our  homes and churches to be places of ungodly “tolerance”, rather than beacons of light in a dark world.  WE have vilified God himself, and rejected HIS word by our complacency.

Let’s be clear – socialism is NOT a Christian value – the redistribution of wealth is the embodiment of covetousness – wanting…stealing… the fruit of the labor of others IS SIN.

And what of “social issues”?  I’m not about to pussy-foot around on this one.  Abortion IS murder.  Period.  A child is not a “choice” once he or she is conceived.  Abortion is about a life, not a social issue.

And as for me paying for your birth control, well – if you sold your vote for a few bucks worth of pills or prophylactics, then you sold your integrity and virtue.  Ladies, if that is something that you opted for, then you are one of the “weak-willed women” that the Bible talks about – loaded with sin, and swayed by your evil desires.  I say that with a sincere hope that you will re-examine yourselves and return to God and his truth.  The Bible tells us that the wounds from a friend can be trusted (Proverbs 27:6), so please take my words as just that – the wounds from a friend.

And gay marriage?  God calls homosexuality “detestable”.  (Leviticus 18:22)  It is a sin, NOT to be celebrated.  Are there other sins that we all experience?  Of course!  But we in no way celebrate those sins!  Marriage is between one MAN and one WOMAN.  Period.  And a relationship outside of marriage is adultery.  A government that spits in the face of God and codifies, celebrates and protects sin is actively rejecting God and his protections.  We are not better off when we celebrate sin.  Our “tolerance” opens the door to God’s judgment even further.

These are just a few examples of what we are to reject as Christians, and we are told, in no uncertain terms, that we are to “Have nothing to do with them.”  We must be willing to stand up for the truth – in our homes, in our communities, in our nation, and in our churches.

The question for you today is whether you are FOR GOD or against him.  God has put before you life and death.  CHOOSE LIFE!

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your protection in our lives, and your provision in our lives.  We thank you for giving us your word to guide us in our lives.  We ask you for strength to hold fast to your word, and the strength to stand by your word and in your word when those around us choose the darkness of sin.  Give us wisdom and strength to proclaim your word in a world that is filled with evil, treachery, godlessness, sin and darkness.  Lord, let us be light to those who are in that darkness.  Help us to live lives that are pleasing to you.  Thank you for the hope of salvation, and guide us to bring others into that hope.  Lord, give us inspiration today, especially when we are hurting.  Inspire us to hold on to you when our own faith is weak.  Bless us, Lord, even in these terrible times.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

Copyright ConnieD. 2012.  All rights reserved.

 

 

I’m not Him

“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ”  James 4:6

It is easy to think you’re your own little God, and your own little Jesus.  I’m so guilty of that.  All too often I think I can fix every last problem if I just work harder, do more, stay busy, stay active, and buckle down.  I think that I can figure it all out, and rescue myself from the darkest of pits.  And I’ll share my thoughts about my efforts with anyone who’ll listen.  I can’t be still, and know that HE is God, because I’m too busy being Him.

I had a revelation today.  Yes, my own revelation, written by me, for me.  Oddly enough, this revelation is true.  100% true.

And what is that revelation you ask?

It is:  I’m not Him.

Now, why would I have the need to state the obvious you ask?  Because those are easy words to mouth, but much harder to get those things into my heart.  I’M NOT HIM!!!  AAAAaaarrrrggghhh!  I’M NOT HIM!!!  And the worst part is, I know that I’ll probably continue to struggle with his simple truth!  Why?  Because I’m totally guilty of being proud.   Proud in the ugliest ways.  Lucifer was proud, and we all know how that turned out.  Not a good scene.  Not a good outcome.

So here I sit, stewing in my sin.  I’m angry with myself for even thinking that I could fix the things in my life that need fixing, but that only God can truly fix.  I’m a sinner in need of forgiveness.  Nothing about that has changed since yesterday, but today I’m totally and utterly aware of that fact.  You know, saying “I’m a sinner” is easy when you talk about things like being frustrated with a family member, or needing to get control of your tongue, or something like that.  But when I sit here, face to face, with a sin that goes to my core, it’s a very stinging, bitter moment.  So what can I do?  Only one thing – suck it up, and go to GOD, yes, the REAL GOD, the ONE AND ONLY GOD, with a heavy heart, and ask HIM to forgive me.

Lord, thank you for smacking me in the head today, for letting me see that my biggest problem is me.  Thank you for being willing to forgive my greatest sins, even in light of how offensive they are to you.  I don’t deserve it, and your greatest, gracious mercy is amazing to me, but I thank you for it.  Lord, forgive my pride, forgive my arrogance.  Deliver me from the trappings of my own mind.  Save me from the fate that Lucifer befell.  I ask you to grace me with the humility to look to you first and always.  Help me to find peace in the stillness, and to wait for you with hope and expectation – not because of my ability, but because of your love.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

Copyright ConnieD. 2012  All rights reserved.