A LINE IN THE SAND

Some of us are just now realizing A man has just drawn a line for all to see: If you’re not with me, you are against me and he won’t tolerate a “loyal opposition” as election winners of the past have graciously called those who, in their own eyes “barely lost the election.” 

This man demands not only obedience, but redefines basic terminology, turning logic on its head. Many times in our history peaceful rallies or demonstrations from crowds begging for their voices to be heard, when infiltrated by a violent infusion of criminals or hotheads, and the resulting chaos being widely considered to be just that: the majority were not blamed for incidents created by a few. Yet now the peaceful assembling of a crowd, also infiltrated by a few enemies of their cause, (friends of his?) this man labeled as a large vicious group aimed on warfare, when they came to plead their petition for fair inclusion which they believed--and still do--was jeopardized. 

The heartbreaking outcome is that most of our voters are too young to see the past few months, and the chaos to come, have played out just as Hitler’s swallowing Germany and then other countries and persecution of Jews. Labeling police ineffective makes martial law seem life-saving instead of threatening to freedom, along with removing weapons from law-abiding citizens, although it’s right from the Dictator’s Handbook. Most of us are too young or uneducated to see the outcome that will result from following this pattern of behavior by those we entrust to govern us. Only a few remain who remember the world-wide destruction and horror.

This man called his opposition Hitler’s Nazis. We have allowed so many words to become twisted into meanings foreign to their true nature:  This country was founded on moral principles of the Bible and worshipping God with freedom from influence or interference from Government and now we have meekly ignored the court’s rulings to protect us from any influence from worship . Family planning once meant marriage and becoming ready to form a family, teaching one’s own children to become good citizens and to follow the Lord’s precepts. Now it is understood to insure there will be no family through murder. Family planning, just as patterned by King Herod when he ordered murdered all Jewish children under 2 years old, to be sure he killed the Christ Child (he missed).  Or by following a false god who demanded worship through infant live sacrifice.  

Today very few object to being told their school children must not hear the word “God”, but may freely access and quote from Buddha, Islam, Harry Potter or witchcraft, and ignore any conflicting teaching by their parents, setting a barrier between children and any knowledge of the world’s history of mistakes they could avoid if they recognized today’s headlines compared with ???  (They will have no clue because history is being erased every day—statues torn down, history rewritten by a self-serving generation. Our acceptance of this new version of the world is demanded, despite objections by the generation who lived through this kind of upheaval least once before.   

BUT WAIT! Someone else has drawn a line in the sand; He makes a much better offer, good through eternity, but only if we commit our love and loyalty above all else and stay true to Him: Jesus Christ offers His great love to redeem us from this world where sin rules. He has never made a “campaign promise”. Every promise He ever made has been kept  in its time. And despite His hatred of Sin’s stranglehold on our world, He remains beside us amidst this unraveling world until He brings us safely Home. 

Warranty from a savior who gave His life for our own cannot co-exist with any promises issued by a man who---? rewards those who curry favor from a fickle master? wants to destroy any will but his own? 

Tough decision?  Not really.

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This I know

 Why do I feel compelled to write this blog? To bear witness of great love received and to share it with anyone who needs encouragement. I don’t know who will read my words, but it’s not my job to have it read—I just need to praise Him, and if there are useful words to bless a reader, God will find that Reader. Maybe it’s you. 

Meditating on experiences unique to me, yet often typical for His followers, I can see looking back many private lessons He prepared just for me. The illustrations I found may not brighten your path, but may focus your attention on happenings that left you wondering, “What’s going on here?” 

My wish is that instead of passing quickly or absent-mindedly through the series of life lessons He prepared just for you, Dear Reader, that you watch for His hand in the seemingly random turns you  find your life taking. Look within and notices how subtly (or suddenly) your GPS  (that is God’s Path Specifically for you) may change directions. Ponder about His possible purpose for sending them your way. Even though you may be slogging through a threatening rainstorm, when the clouds clear away you will often find yourself halfway up a long, steep hill, and realize He is still holding your hand! 

I don’t remember a time when I was not aware there was a God and His Son Jesus. That was always a    fact in my life just like I knew my earthly parents, all powerful, to be respected, and as I grew more aware, to be obeyed and loved. These were facts I was taught and never doubted. 

Even then I understood that after His death, Jesus was seen by many people, friends and strangers   alike—any court of law today would have trouble disproving those hundreds of eye-witness accounts! And don't forget the hundreds of prophecies in the Old Testament which predicted His coming--odds of any one man fulfilling even a few of these prophecies are astronomical, beyond imagining!

By age seven I understood the difference between acknowledging His existence and entrusting my future to Him, allowing His presence within my spirit and permitting His guidance forever.  By age eight, I followed Him in baptism, sealing my commitment to Him forever. 

And It puzzled me throughout my years that there were people who didn’t see this truth. How starved many children must have been, growing up without being taught of His great love and power, without being cognizant of the incredible world He created for us—the intricate, delicate balance of His creation from the star-filled sky to the bluebonnets growing in grassy fields beside sparkling rivers or roaring waterfalls, from tiny spiders weaving silvery webs to catch their dinner on the fly to mankind and the wonderful knitting together of a complex body topped off with a brain and heart capable of appreciating (and needing) relationships with God Himself and others of our own kind.  And if we someday learn there are sentient beings on other planets, they also will someday acknowledge Him      as Lord of All There Is.  

This background gradually prepared me to understand what God promised and that my decision and participation were necessary to receive the supreme offer of His life for mine. The Bible declares that all of Creation cries out to glorify God, even though man is often too blind to see. How could anyone doubt the existence of great love and intellect needed to enable the creation of all this extreme depth    of complexity and beauty? To look around this world and the wondrous workings of my own body    and think chaos just happened upon this grand scheme? Dear Ones, that  requires more faith than I   can imagine! 

                1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

                Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

            3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.   Psalm 19:1-3