Unrest

Our nation right now is going down a road. A scary road. A road that if it continues, will leave this once united nation into a nation of division. As it is, we are already a divided nation. Division is crippling and it destroys any country, family, or church. It is an awful thing.

My heart is heavy because of the unrest in our nation. This nation was a nation where people were able to believe what they wanted to believe, people respected each other, and there were no forceful demands on what you were to believe or not. Now, it is not the case. It is a scary world we live in. A world that I worry about my son living in as he grows older.

So, what do we do? How as Americans do, we move forward? I am going to start by saying this. To the current issues we are dealing with, the lives that were taken. George Floyd was murdered by a cop who used unnecessary force. He did not use the training he was taught; he did whatever he wanted to do. In turn gave all cops a black mark.

I stand with the black community on this, this murder was unjust. No matter whon George Floyd was, he was a person, a person who begged for his life, and got no help. I do NOT agree with that, no matter the skin color. What that cop did, was wrong in every aspect. BUT. Not all cops deserve to be persecuted because of ONE cop’s bad mistake. Just because he was a cop, does not mean all police officers will do the same. To defund the police, would cause absolute chaos in our country. There is a better way.

Revelation 2:9-10 says this, (The Message)
“I can see your pain and poverty—constant pain, dire poverty—but I also see your wealth. And I hear the lie in the claims of those who pretend to be good Jews, who in fact belong to Satan’s crowd.
“Fear nothing in the things you’re about to suffer—but stay on guard! Fear nothing! The Devil is about to throw you in jail for a time of testing—ten days. It won’t last forever.
“Don’t quit, even if it costs you your life. Stay there believing. I have a Life-Crown sized and ready for you.”

We are living in a world that is challenging every person’s beliefs and faith. We as people who believe in God, and Jesus Christ, are having to stand firm upon what we know. We as believers know what is to come. Our world is in unrest. Tribulations and trials are beginning to come into our lives. The Devil has a hold on our world right now, and we as believers need to stand strong.

Isaiah 41:10 states, (The Message)
“Don’t panic. I am with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.”

We are not alone in this time. Christ is with us. He will never leave our side. He will give us strength; he will give us courage to do what we know is right. He will keep us steady. With everything going on in our world, Christ is what we need, Christ is what this world needs. So, let us be the Christ people need to see. Let us as believers be what this world needs, show what this world needs. Help heal this country, do not show hatred, do not show anger. Show love, be love, be understanding.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (The Message)
“Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.”

Love conquers all. It is because of love we have the salvation through Jesus Christ that we do. It is because of love that we can love others. It is because of love that we have all we do. Love one another.

When the Battle Rages

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. An age old saying that has a lot of truth. My truth lately is, when life give you lemons, go ahead and throw them at someone. Anyone else been there? Life right now, is overall going well. But there are some parts of life, that I will be honest, it gets me real angry. Not angry at God, or angry at someone, just. Angry in general.

When that happens, and my human emotions go to the forefront, rather than my Godly intuition, or instincts, it is hard to get back into check. That is what makes the enemy so good at what he does. He knows us, he knows what little peeves get at our very nerves, he knows the deepest things our hearts struggle with, and he gets us there often.

1 Peter 5:8 says,

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

This is how the enemy sees us. Helpless lambs, that he seeks to devour and destroy. He loves seeing the humanity inside of us take over the Godliness we have. I have seen in my life growing up how easy it is for the enemy to grab a foothold of someone and desperately hold on tight.It literally destroyed my family, the choices to hold onto sin and neglect the obvious hold the enemy had.

James 1:4 states:

“But each person is tempted when he (or she) is lured and enticed by his (or her) own desire.”

I am not saying that I am perfect by any means. I too have given into sin and my human tendencies took to the forefront of my life at one point. It was not until God revealed to me and showed me the paths that I was walking. He intervened on my behalf on more than one occasion. No sin is greater than the other. But it is quite easy for the enemy to grab a foothold in our lives.

It could be something as little and minute, and from that little harmless thing it grows into something bigger. Addictions grow more intense; life gets more and more out of your control. All it takes is one small foothold. I have even seen bitterness ruin a family, a generational bitterness, anger and hatred. It can easily destroy a family.

Sin can so easily entangle us and our lives. 

Romans 12:1-2 states:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Christ endured the cross so we could have a chance at destroying sin in our lives. He most of all, knows the human tendencies we have. He walked this earth as fully man, and fully God. He was sinless, but that does not mean he himself was not tempted. Even in the garden of Gethsemane, he pleaded with God to take the cup from him, he did not want to be crucified, he begged. But then He knew, his love for us overcame his humanity and he died a gruesome death so we could have a chance at life.

Even anger can be sinful if you let it consume you. The battle rages on for our hearts and our souls. The enemy is smart. He is cunning. He is always prowling to seek and destroy. Do not let him get even a little bit of a foothold. Put on your armor, fight with the sword of the spirit, the Word of God that is alive and active now. This world needs Christ. This world needs true followers of Christ to stand firm upon His rock. Be the change, be the light. Do not give into the enemy. This world is in chaos right now. Be love. Be Jesus. Do not judge, do not hate. Give grace, give understanding, show people that Christ is real through us.