To each his own. To me my own.

Posts tagged “Religion

First of 2023

Well hello… my little weblog. I must admit it took me a while to muster up the (guts?) to write a few words here. Some time has went by, perhaps with it a bit of my confidence in writing anything intended for public view.

As with life, there’s been so much take place since I last shared anything on here. A recap wouldn’t even suffice. So, in lieu of a particular subject matter in mind – I’m just gonna wing it. Which ironically seems to be the route I take most days now, anyway. I abhor plans.

The C-19 has really took it’s toll on the world the past two years. Another post entirely, I know. I’ve yet to take any ‘vaccine’ and have never regretted my decision. Thankfully, neither has my immediate family. None of us have no plans to in the future. There’s so much more I have to say on the subject, and likely will later.

I’ve always been a Christian, though prodigal so many times. But oh, how very lukewarm I was. Downright chilly, in fact. That all changed January 2022 when God brought me to my knees and to the brink of death. Those of you who have chosen to lay down your cross and follow Him, probably remember the day you did it. I’m no exception. 2022 was a new year of discovery for me. Embracing the new end goal. And man… What. A. Goal. When you lay down your cross and give everything to Jesus, the calming peace He gives you is indescribable. It chased all the anxiety, turmoil and urge to please others clean away. My entire thought process changed. Now, I only aim for my actions down here to please HIM. This feeling… it is one that I have yet to be able to put into words. Maybe I’ll be able to someday soon. Then again, perhaps it’s so Holy and articulated for something so much greater than our little minds down here… that I won’t.

Hopefully any gentle reader will forgive this post being all over the place. A wing and a prayer seems to be my best refuge.

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Paths

This morning I was reminded of a beloved poem by my friend Shawn over at Happy Publishing. I always like where this particular piece takes me – back to the root of it all, which I so need reminded of from time to time.

Uninstructed

“I am going to send you down to earth,”
Said God to me one day,
“I’m giving you what men call ‘birth’–
Tonight you’ll start away;
I want you there to live with men;
Until I call you back again.”

I trembled as I heard him speak,
Yet I know that I must go;
I felt His hand upon my cheek,
And wished that I might know –
Just what on earth would be my task,
And timidly I dared to ask.

“Tell me before I start away,
What thou would have me do;
What message would you have me say?
When shall my work be through?
That I may serve on earth,
Tell me the purpose of my birth.”

God smiled at me and softly said:
“Oh,  you shall find your task.
I want you on life’s path to tread,
So do not stay to ask.
Remember,  if your best you do,
That I shall ask no more of you.”

How often, as my work I do,
So commonplace and grim,
I sit and sigh and wish I knew
If I am pleasing Him.
I wonder if, with every test,
I’ve truly tried to do my best.

~Edgar A. Guest


The Demise of a Planet

Didn’t sleep worth a darn last night. I woke up at 2:30 thinking it was about time to get up, and when I went back to sleep I dreamt a horrible series of dreams.

It was so very real, as most bad dreams are prone to vivacity. I was watching the news on television, and a reporter came on to make the announcement. The earth’s axis had tilted in a most unpredictable manner, and at this time it was strongly recommended that you locate any loved ones to ‘spend time’ with. It was known in my dream just what that translated to, there wasn’t even a question.

The battle began in my head – how do I get my family together? What will my daughter do? After all, she’d be torn between me and her Dad. What about Keith’s daughter? And of course Keith was thinking of his family. How do you go about doing this? The mayhem, oh my gracious, the mayhem that ensued. Every mode of transportation seemed full, gas stations were already in ration, the roads were full of vehicles. Many resorted to walk as far as their feet would take them.

Emotions everywhere were off the charts. There were no dry eyes anywhere to be found. How are you supposed to act when you’re told you won’t be here much longer, that none of us will? How do you choose the appropriate family members to spend your last bit of time with, if they’re local enough to even get to? Would I make it in time to see my precious mother, father and daughter? I finally woke as the decision was about to be made for Keith and I to part ways in order to each be with our families. I tear up as I write this, just as it tore me up in my dream.

What a horrible dream.

But was it really? As I sit here writing this, I begin to tie it in with yesterday’s message. Empowered by the Blood of Jesus. Because if you believe in this Blood, this most precious Blood that Jesus Christ shed for us, and accept it – you’ll never have to say goodbye. What a gift, of which I am so undeserving. Yet it’s there for the taking… Praise God for this.


I Saw God Today

Once in a blue moon, a song comes along that makes a such a big impact on me that I must share it and the lyrics. George Strait is a master at such songs. This particular one doesn’t need a description… the title represents it very well.

Really, when you think about it, it’s amazing what all we can see God in within our everyday lives… if we only pay close enough attention.

Here’s a video – you’ll have to overlook the typos, but I did admire the fact that whoever did this compilation adores daisies as much (or more) than I do. Unfortunately, you do have to watch (listen) to it on youtube since it’s copywrited music… but that’s becoming par for the course. It’s my hope that all of us are able to see God in our own day today… blessings to everyone for a warm and wonderful weekend.

Just walked down the street to the coffee shop
Had to take a break
I’d been by her side for 18 hours straight
Saw a flower growin’ in the middle of the sidewalk
Pushin’ up through the concrete
Like it was planted right there for me to see

The flashin’ lights
The honkin’ horns
All seemed to fade away
In the shadow of that hospital at 5:08
I saw God today

I’ve been to church
I’ve read the book
I know he’s here
But I don’t look
Near as often as I should
Yeah, I know I should

His fingerprints are everywhere
I just slowed down to stop and stare
Opened my eyes and man I swear
I saw God today

Saw a couple walkin’ by they were holdin’ hands
Man she had that glow
Yeah I couldn’t help but notice she was startin’ to show it
Stood there for a minute takin’ the sky
Lost in that sunset
Splash of amber melted in the shades of red

I’ve been to church
I’ve read the book
I know he’s here
But I don’t look
Near as often as I should
Yeah, I know I should

His fingerprints are everywhere
I just slowed down to stop and stare
Opened my eyes and man I swear
I saw God today

Got my face pressed up against the nursery glass
She’s sleepin’ like a rock
My name on her wrist
Wearin’ tiny pink socks
She’s got my nose, she’s got her mama’s eyes
My brand new baby girl
She’s a miracle
I saw God today.


Tick-tock

I’ve always been told time goes by faster the older you get. The older I get, the more true this saying becomes. Time is going by so fast now, it’s making my head spin. In the midst of wishing the weeks away in hopes for Friday and the weekends arrival, this subject’s obviously weighing heavy on my mind this morning.

I remember back in the late eighties, when my daughter was just a baby. I’d gaze at her and wish I could foresee what she would look like, who she would become. I would think ahead to the turn of the new millennium, and stand in amazement of how old I would be – the ripe old age of 32. I wondered what I would look like then, how I would’ve aged, and how others would perceive me at that time. That time got here extremely fast.

Since then, another decade has passed. It’s been almost that whole decade ago since the worst terror attack our country ever experienced. To me, it just doesn’t seem real that we’re going on the ten-year mark of that catastrophic event.

Just why is it that the speed of time increases as you get older? It always takes me back to the prophecies of Daniel, ones that my dear grandmother used to quote to me very often – particularly this one.

Daniel 12:4
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

God told Daniel after giving him some of the most remarkable prophecies found in the Bible, to ‘Shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end’. He then gives Daniel two signs that would help us identify ‘the time of the end’.

1) The ability to travel from one place to another would be unlike anything seen before in history.

2)And knowledge would increase at a rate… and to a point… unlike any time in history.

We don’t need to look very far to see both of these prophecies have been, and are still being, fulfilled. Makes perfect sense to me.


Dirty Dreams

Another night with very little sleep. Seems like I was up every hour. And these damned dreams, I’d like to have a night or two without them.

Last night I dreamed I was in a station wagon with an old girlfriend, who happens to be the mother of one of my daughter’s friends. She was driving erratically, and took a course off the road and down an embankment into a nearby field of sorts. We almost flipped going down it. Once we got to the ‘field’, we were stuck – we got out and noticed there was mud literally everywhere. We were then greeted by a couple of little dogs, fortunately they were friendly. Thick, heavy, orange mud abounded all over the place. I was barefoot, and everywhere I stepped was this mud, going in between my toes. The saving grace was there were also puddles of water here and there, they were muddy as well but held enough water to rinse off – albeit temporarily. I was then introduced to four ladies who are the sisters of a dear friend of mine (a different friend, not the driver of the car).

Obviously the key word in this dream is Mud. I didn’t like the interpretation of it.

  • To see mud in your dream, suggests that you are involved in a messy and sticky situation. It also suggests that some internal cleansing is needed.
  • Walking in mud interpretation #1: To dream that you are walking in mud, suggests that you are feeling weighed down by a situation, problem, or relationship. You are feeling frustrated.
  • Walking in mud interpretation #2: To dream that you walk in mud, denotes that you will have cause to lose confidence in friendships or relationships, and there will be losses and disturbances in family circles.
  • To dream that mud has gotten on your clothing or body, signifies that your reputation is being attacked and called into question.

Well, enough already of the dream stuff.

I heard something that was absolutely a scream on the news this morning. There’s this new ‘company’ out there called Eternal Earth-Bound Pet, completely founded, operated and ran by atheists. For a nominal fee, this ‘company’ promises lifetime care for almost all domestic pets if their owners are transported to heaven within the next ten years. All of the atheists who are signed up across 20 states are self-professed sinners and blasphemers, and guarantee they will be left behind when the rapture comes and the chosen are lifted.

Earthbound Pets Website

The group insists that this offer is real, as real as we christians believe the coming rapture to be. The founders are striving to assure us believers that our animals will “live in loving homes, not in animal shelters or pet mills”.

You’ve gotta be kidding me. These idiots have no idea how their very own quality of life will suffer after the imminent rapture (that they are now monetarily profiting from) occurs. There will be catastrophes of epic proportions everywhere. Pain, grief, sorrow, depair, desperation….you name it. Do you think they’re gonna worry about living up to some contract for pets of the persons who will now be considered lucky and blessed in their eyes? It’s gonna be a job for them to be able to keep their own pets alive and intact.

So, thanks for the offer, atheists – but no thanks. I’ll continue to rely on the fact that my dear Lord has a plan implemented for our dearly loved furbabies, as he has a plan in place for everything and everyone. I will make no deal with the likes of you. The Lord created them, and upon his return for us I trust and believe our dear pets will be taken care of in a way mannered by Him.

And Him alone.