Shake the Deadly Snake

"We must not part with sin, as with a friend, with a purpose to see it again and to have the same familiarity with it as before or possibly greater ... We must shake our hands of it as Paul did shake the viper off his hand into the fire" Erwin Lutzer

This quote had my mind racing in multiple directions, with a couple of questions and some Bible story remembrances:

1. Has sin been my friend?

2. Do I part with it only to pick it up again and reengage?

3. The story of Paul on a beach on the island of Melita (Malta) after surviving a ship wreck, collecting kindling and being bitten, only to shake the deadly snake into the fire!

4. The natives thought Paul was a god, but alas, he was a messenger of the living God.

Let's take a closer look together

And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand (Acts 28:1-4)

I always found this story exciting, but today I am astounded anew! For the purposes of time saving, I simply cannot recount how heroic, brave and wise Paul was on the ship prior to the wreck: you must go into Acts yourself to experience the wonder of his presence in the midst of chaos. Suffice it to say, that Paul had a peace that truly does surpass all understanding And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7) I will say this ... Paul was being transported for trial in Italy, and yet, he treated all with kindness, and a love that is worthy of aspiration. 

Going back to Acts 28:1-4

• They escaped ~ everyone on that ship survived because they finally listened to Paul
• They landed on Malta
• The people were barbarous according to the Romans. The islanders were far from barbaric, showing much kindness by kindling a fire, and receiving each of the men, sailors and prisoners alike, that had been on that ship
• The men were already wet, it was raining and cold. They had endured life threatening conditions for an extended period of time 

Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire ... dear reader, what kind of stuff is this man made of? Where is the limit to his energy, inclination, devotion and desire to serve? In this vignette, we see a man thinking of others, admiring others, appreciating the Maltese for welcoming strangers with grace. And yet, it is Paul that is hard to ignore. He is Christlike and I cannot help but hope, to be like Him too ...

... there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand ... slithery snakes hide in the most dangerous places, don't they? A fire was built and Paul was adding sticks to keep it aflame. Out of the heat, a viper fastens to his hand: fascinating!

And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.  (Acts 28: 4-6)

• I am picturing the faces of the witnesses, seeing a venomous beast hanging by it's fangs, from Paul's hand!
• The islanders believed in the universal law of sowing and reaping. They assumed that while the man survived a shipwreck, clearly the snake bite and pending death by venom, was a natural consequence for being a murderer. You get what you give ... vengeance suffereth not to live
• One good shake and the deadly snake was returned from whence he had come. This has me thinking about my sin, and how important it is to know that when it tries to sink it's fangs into me and spread poison, I can shake it off and send it back to the hell fire from which it came 
• ... and felt no harm we cannot be injured by something that does not have a hold on us, dear one. Paul saw the snake for what it was, a harmless beast that had no power to persuade him to feel weak, subjected or swayed into swooning!

Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he is a god (Acts 28:6)

This is just plain old fun to read and suss out, dear one! How very exciting and as I said above, astounding, to envision this scene. Imagine the facial expressions of the islanders, watching, waiting, anticipating what they had witnessed before! They knew the viper was venomous and they knew from previous experience, what to look for ... swelling, and falling down dead. When they did not see this after a great while, and saw no harm come to him ... they:

• changed their minds
• and said he is a god

Life shipwrecked

Paul went from probable murderer, to a perceived god in a very short time span. There is an interesting point in this that I nearly missed: people really do believe that God has power over life and death. People really do believe that their sins are damning, and that we must pay for them, even when we sometimes, and perhaps often, (think of a life shipwrecked many times over) get a free pass. Eventually, there is a comeuppance, where we must pay for our past. Paul is a wonderful example of not only surviving his wicked past, but being a messenger of the saving grace that God bestows on all, because let us face the facts; you and I ought to have died long ago from all those snake bites we somehow survived, which takes us to the rest of this story. 

Paul stays on the island for three months. Three days into his stay, he prays over the ailing, starting with the father of the chief, who lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux (Acts 28:8). He heals many more, but the point is, God had him begin with the most influential, those that should have been able to connect with their "gods" and be healed. This is important to note: there is only one God, and Paul demonstrated to the islanders that prayer to the living God, with faith in His healing power, is all they needed and, dear one, He is all we need too.

I am going to the top of this writing piece, to answer these questions, and I invite you to do the same:

1. Has sin been my friend?

2. Do I part with it only to pick it up again and reengage?

1. I do believe sin has been my friend in the past. There were things I knew weren't right in God's sight, but I disobediently did them anyway (because I liked them), only to suffer remorse with promises to Him that I would never do them again, and yet I did! When I look back on the things that appealed to me then, I am relieved to say that they no longer attract me. Now, when a venomous sin viper attempts to attach itself to my hand and fill me will poison, I shake him back into the hell fire more quickly than ever before! I'm not perfect, but I am progressing. 

2. Yes, the pattern of parting with sin and picking back up again was me, and sometimes still is, but less and less. The more time I spend with God, the less appealing sin becomes. 

The Maltese were exposed to a godly man. Godly people direct others to the Sovereign, not to themselves. I will end with this guiding principle, as a way for us to stay the course of living sin free, by resisting ungodly company and by delighting in the law of the LORD. 

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he mediate day and night (Psalm 1:1-2)

Obsession is Addictive

I can see how obsession can start, and how addictive it can be. Obsession is redundant and so is addiction. They are repeats of repeats that repeat until they circle back for some more of the same. How boring ... but not really, if you love your obsession. 

50/50

Have you ever felt misunderstood, dear reader? I will answer this question for you: of course you have! This is a normal daily occurrence for most people. The trick is to learn how to communicate effectively, with the goal being a meeting of the minds. With the news being what it is, agreement is at the 50/50 mark, meaning you believe one thing, and I believe another. It would appear that we are getting used to this strange divide of half half. 

Just to clarify, so that I am hopefully not misunderstood, I am a one trick pony, a dog with one bone, and I am very obsessed with what interests me. Anything that threatens my one attachment gets my ire up, and I can present like a riled up porcupine ready to spray my needles in all directions. 

• What am I obsessed with, you ask? Souls, I am obsessed with the salvation of souls. 
• When do I feel what I am attached to is threatened? When others aren't concerned with souls, and when they are cavalier about casualties of war.

Grey dim world

I know about war, and I am not cavalier about casualties. I have learned from personal experience what it is like to feel the slipping away of someone I love, to feel them going to dark places where I cannot reach them. I know the grey dim world of irretrievability and never again. I know. 

I know each human being came into this world equipped to live life with a spirit that enlivens them, and it is the soul that goes missing when horrible things happen. It is the soul that soars when healing occurs, and when the human hears and sees the divine. 

Murder is never acceptable

To take this life lightly is a choice, but to take someone else's existence lightly is cruel. God wants none to be lost, and murder is never acceptable, no matter the explanation from those that approve. 

Souls want saving and I will defend the weak, the vulnerable, the misunderstood, the threatened, the injured, the unprotected with my very being, no matter the perception others have of a situation. 

Even if a country "deserves to get attacked" ... children do not "deserve" to be orphaned or killed as collateral casualties. One does not "fix a problem" by causing catastrophic injury to the innocent. This is happening all over the world, and has for as long as wicked men thought it their right to take what isn't theirs from people that could not defend themselves. 

I hope that I am clear, about my love for the vulnerable. I am going to make an assumption about you too, dear reader. You care for the vulnerable too ... 

God is love

We are to love like He does

Hating sin is not a crime, in fact, it is Biblical

The sin of murder is hateful and never excusable

Thou shalt not murder (Exodus 20:13)

Silly Bunny

While the world is held hostage by a wicked clan of bandits that play cat and mouse with the susceptible, this silly bunny is attracted to a dangling carrot.

He just doesn’t see the gun to his head and how keeping his eyes on the carrot is dangerous⁉️

Bunnies are like that : innocent, sweet, bright eyed and bushy tailed. I have heard a baby bunny screaming when trapped in a window well. They seem to know when to yell "Help, help, bunny down, bunny down", but when it comes to a carrot dangled in front of their furry face, they get to hopping after the enticing nutritious deliciousness.

Soft and fluffy, bunnies are cuddly and sweet. I have heard their paws are lucky, but one must be cut off of the bunny, and carried around as a keychain for this charm to be affective. That is easily done, since there are lots of bunnies, carrots, and hunters too. 

The sad thing about bunnies is their innocence. If a bunny was a human, we might call it naïveté, but since bunnies aren't thinkers, we will call it natural trust. They have no idea anyone wants to kill, skin, and eat them, but they sure do know when to hop away. They naturally, innocently, sense danger, and they unknowingly trust their instincts. But a good looking carrot can confuse a bunny and shut down his top speed hop away inclinations.

I have heard of tricks being for kids, and not silly bunnies. But I just don't think this is true. Tricks are for silly bunnies! That's how they get caught, fattened up, and killed! Bunny meat is delicious to any hunter. Once a wolf gets the taste of bunny, they crave more. If only the bunny understood killer instincts ... that might make him scream loudly and more often, like when trapped in a window well.

Oh to save all the silly bunnies, now that would be a feat. The wolves would starve to death, and cuddly cuteness would coat and cover the world. 

If only the bunny knew that the carrot that dangles is just out of reach ...

If only the bunny knew that the carrot is plastic and only looks carroty ...

If only the bunny knew that the one with the string has no intention of giving the bunny a real carrot, ever ...

If only the bunny knew ...

Adaptative Adjustments

I am delighted as I type, dear reader! I saw a picture that I will share here, that brought me joy, and I simply must give you the same pleasure. 

The observer

I have been studying human behaviours for decades and dare I say, since my childhood. People are a puzzlement with incongruence. What I mean is they act one way, but think another. This is a strange thing until of course you talk to a person, and figure out, everyone does what they do for a reason, whether or not it makes sense to observers. The observer if curious enough, must make the effort to try to understand. Sometimes the person we are watching has no clue why they do what they do, until someone takes the time to ask them, and then they hear themselves explaining the why for their behaviours. 

Here are some helpful ways to connect with the one that seems confused:

• Ask questions
• Listen for what is important to the person
• Hear with ears that long to understand
• Decide to stay connected without judging them for what you think is strange logic, even if it really is. They may be confused, and you can help them sort
• Stay if this is helpful
• Leave if you just can't make heads nor tails of them and their oddities. They may very well be obtuse, and like the uniqueness of being misunderstood! This is their way of standing out, and it doesn't have to take up too much of your mental thought life, or time 🤪

Adaptative humans

What I am appreciating today is how adaptative humans can be. We were created to be creative. We are interactive with our environment, and the wonderful or not so wonderful people in it. This is a God given gift set that is observable. 

Think on a child who for the very first time, grasps his own bottle awkwardly at first. It doesn't take long to learn how wide and strong a grip is required to hold it up for himself, so he can happily satisfy his hunger! Think on when you learned to drive your car, retrieve and send email from googles strange set up, or harder yet, have a wonderful visit with that crazy relative that always manages to make you mad. You had to adapt to the challenge in front of you, making incremental changes that secured a better outcome. 

And this is the human way

• We try something new
• We struggle to adjust
• We find a way to make it easier
• We don't notice the incremental changes
• We have adapted 

Adaptive adjustments

Now I must caution here that some adaptative adjustments can be unhealthy, unholy, and even damaging. We have witnessed this all over the world as people en masse, adapted to the plots and plans of those that were demanding demonically. Even so, when we humans give in the the evil side of ourselves, there is always wiggle room to get out of the straitjacket, to be playfully creative with something that seemed not long ago to enslave! 

I just plain old love that God built into each of us creative thought and behaviour abilities, to provide ways back to factory setting. We humans are made for progress, especially when circumstances seem dire! God does not throw us off course, hateful humans try to though. When we recognize the difference between loving and harmful influences, we decide to respond differently. In difficult situations, the human spirit is ignited, and we become more purposeful!

Soulful steps

We have been wilderness wandering, dear reader. There are signs that we are ready to exit the dryness of the dessert. The lovely truth is, we have never been alone while in here, even though it has felt this way many a time. God in His compassionate mercy has been with us, and we get to trust in Him for our food, water, clothing, shoes, shelter, and more importantly then all the things we physically require to survive, we get to rely on Him to direct our soulful steps as we make our way to a more glorious experience of life here on planet earth. 

Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go (Nehemiah 9:19)

Underneath the snow and ice, there is life waiting to shoot from the thawing ground. Crocuses, the "light bulb flower" will appear, serving as the tiniest of floral reminders, that the risen Lord brings the newness of life with His lighting of the world. We need these heaven sent reminders, of Who is truly in charge of us, of them, of everything alive. 

I sure do hope the picture I shared today lifts your spirits as it did mine. Have a wonderful and blessed, God directed day 💖

Blinded by The Light

"Good laws protect Christians from persecution." 

In a fair and equitable society, law protects all citizenry. This standard of treatment is Godly, since He does not play favourites 

For there is no respect of persons with God (Romans 2:11)

This morning I went into the book of Acts. The powerful conversion story is told of Saul being blinded by the light, transformed from a man that thought he was being a good Jew, by killing anyone that was committing the crime of breaking the first commandment, into a man that lives and ultimately dies for his faithfulness to Jesus Christ.  Saul believes he is honouring God by hunting, persecuting, beating, and killing Christians:

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:2-3)

Saul was a man of principled conviction, as near to being the perfect representation of godliness that a human can get. God selected a man after His own heart, willing to go to extremes to defend the faith. 

Transitionary piece

Saul was the in-between man, a transitionary piece on the chessboard of life. He grew up in a system that was dedicated to honouring God, and he was committed to living his life based on the trajectory God had established for His people in the wilderness. There was a promise of deliverance from this lawful system, a fulfilling of the law through the Messiah, and Saul, just like every other Jew, knew this and anticipated it too. In the mean time, he lived the ways of his ancestry. 

How was he to know that the LORD of the universe would manifest in the flesh in his lifetime? The Jews were used to following rules while waiting ... God didn't give them a precise arrival date for the Son to make His presence known and felt. God is like that; He has a way of ensuring we don't get ahead of His timeline. Grin. He reveals what He conceals and hints at, at just the right moment.  

Off-roading

Going back to Saul being a transitionary piece on the chessboard of life, I point you to him as the model for us, of conversion! We think one way prior to our own blinded by the light revelation, only to learn that we were off-roading at top speed, far and away from anything resembling the will of God. I don't know about you, dear reader, but I am guilty of having been condemning of anyone that dishonoured Jesus' in my presence. While it is perfectly normal to display loyalty to those we love, especially the living God, condemning is not for humans, because as I said above, God reveals what He conceals and hints at, at just the right moment.

How am I to know who will be the next convert, from Saul, Christian persecutor and killer, to Paul, professing Jesus Christ as the King? 

Born free

I started this piece with a quote from the study notes in my Bible. In Acts, Paul is beaten by a Roman centurion, without a trial. When Paul shares that he was born free with the rights and privileges afforded Roman citizens, the guard becomes cautious of his treatment of Paul, realizing that this was no mere man, and that a higher power could hold him, the centurion, accountable for committing a crime worthy of severe punishment. For a full accounting of this intricate exchange please do, read the book of Acts. It is magnificent in too many wondrous ways to recount here, and I simply cannot do it justice!

I now direct our attention to what I want us to absorb and remember going forward. God does not play favourites. He loves so abundantly, that He puts up with our misguided "principled" ways, our self-absorbed silliness when we think we can defend Him by attacking others, and even our slowness in converting to His will and His way. 

Citizens of heaven

When we are blinded by The Light, it is because He wants us to see Him in all His glory. He wants to light our path to understanding that to love like He does, we must treat one another as though we are all potential citizens of heaven. 

There is no cruelty, hatred, or mean-spirited selfishness in heaven. Heaven is filled with the converted, those that had Saul to Paul conversions, from spiritually blind darkness, to seeing in technicolour sharpness! 

We are to notice and discern the darkness, but not be drawn into it, dear one. The greatest conversion is from self-centredness to Christ focused. 

I pray you are blinded by The Light today, dear reader ✝️

I pray you have your own road to Damascus conversion 💖

Slave or Brave

Have a nice day

Imagine going into McDonald's or Tim Horton's and waiting in line. After a short time it is your turn to approach the counter. You say hello, place your order, pay, and wait. After giving the cashier money, someone back there puts together what you asked for, and lickety-split, you have a sandwich, a delicious double double, and a donut cuz you ordered the combo. You say "Thank-You', they say "Have a nice day", and you are on your way. Oh the good old days!

Logic tell you

Now imagine going into the same places without a thing on strings hanging from your ears to cover your lovely nose and mouth, expecting to exchange money for courteous service and product. Imagine your surprise when you are told you will not be served. Imagine being told you can't place your order, they won't make it for you, and they won't take your money for product. Lastly, there is no way you will be told  "Have a nice day", because they want you out of there and you won't leave without completing your transaction. Your logic tells you that you are a customer and they are paid employers with something to sell, this ain't no social visit! Alas, the threads to their uniforms are frayed and starting to unravel : they have called the police to deal with you!

What the heck

The ludicrous nature of this situation is laughably tragic! Hospitality is the name of the game for restaurants, and these two crazy ducks nicknamed Micky D's and Timmie's have clearly lost their noodles, since they refuse to do what they are waiting around to do, namely take cash in exchange for food and drink. Tim Horton's sells smiley cookies for campers for goodness sakes ... what the heck 🤪⁉️ 

Not the point

A friend of mine was refused service at a Tim Horton's by employees that ran from the counter when she ordered a cookie for her daughter. When Melissa Hallman asked to speak to the acting manager, all the staff hid in the back room. Within 12-13 minutes the police arrived. Melissa just wanted a cookie for her daughter, but really, dear reader, she wanted to be treated like a customer, not the plague while wearing her lovely face naked for all to see! She even offered to leave a tenner on the counter, and for them to keep the change! To no avail. A customer that witnessed the scene bought Melissa a cookie for her daughter ... how lovely. Except this is not the point. If the lady had taken her mask off and all the other customers had followed suit, perhaps everyone could pay for their own cookies, and eat them too!

A man of principal 

Next on the scene we have Nic Crowe. Nic is in his early twenties. He wears a broad and friendly grin while interacting with others, and he displays some of the best please and thank-you manners I have ever seen and heard. Nic is a man of principal, and he lives by a policy. When he goes into a restaurant and attempts to order and pay for food, he goes in with the face God gave him, minus any facial garb. The principled policy part of Nic's plan, much like Melissa's, is to stay until he gets served, if and when he is denied based on being bare faced. He refuses to leave because he will not accept the lawlessness of being told he must wear a mask to spend his money in an establishment. 

Nic did this recently at a McDonald's and the staff called the police. Three officers showed up to arrest and fine this young man for the crime of trying to order and pay for food. This was not the first, nor will it be the last time, Nic will choose to challenge the new world order system that evil is trying to impose. Nic is brave not a slave, and I love him ever so for being a man after God's own heart. 

God is watching

You may think it easier to just put on that stringed thing, get the food, and get out. This couldn't be further from the truth for people of principle. For them it is next to impossible to compromise integrity, even if they are hungry and thirsty. The bad taste left in the mouth after lying isn't worth the pretending. Melissa and Nic are two humans of the rare and unique variety that simply cannot betray themselves, knowing that God is watching. 

Slave or brave

We are all in the same position at this point in time. We show up as slave or brave, because we are either worried about what others think of our choices, or we are concerned with what God thinks about who we are in front of others. Mel and Nic are ambassadors for Jesus Christ. They are devoted to God. Their appetite to fit into fallacious fast food shenanigans is non-existent.  

Big fat hairy lie

I have heard people say "I'm so done with this" but they are not. They can't be, because evidence of their inner workings point to them still giving in to what is clearly, a big fat hairy lie! If you give in to a lie and perpetuate it, you are a liar.

I am laughing now, dear reader! I cannot help myself. It will always be incomprehensibly ridiculous to witness the outward manifestation of fear of reprisal on so many faces, especially when it is evident that freedom is everywhere and needs only to be grabbed and worn like a glorious garment that adorns! 

Nic is a young man with conviction. 

Mel is a petite female with conviction. 

Neither of them are super heroes with extraordinary human capabilities. What they do have though, dear reader, is the strength and power of Christ surging through their spirits and showing up in their brave stance to fight an invisible enemy that wants nothing less, than to have them bow down to him in submission. He wants this of you and me too. They will not, I will not bow down ... how about you, dear one?

I will end with a challenge and scripture:

Be brave. When you display bravery it will empower others, perhaps even the fast food staffers. We all need someone to model courage for us. Why not be that someone? 

Know this:

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Philippians 4:13)

There is nothing in the world like divine strength 💖

 

Fight or Flight Deactivation

Did you know that each of us have approximately 250 people in our circle of influence?

Wow! That is a very big deal if you want to take what you say and do seriously, because seriously, you have impact!

Reciprocal nature

I know that I have influence. To pretend otherwise would be silly simply because I have so many people that I interact with on a daily basis : proof of influence! We 

exchange ideas, share feelings, and create action plans together. We commiserate, lift each other up, and we rage against the machine. We also pray, laugh, and most importantly, we talk reasonably to one another, encouraging one another to be godly and trust in Him. I just described friendly and loving exchanges, with positive impact type of influences of a reciprocal nature. 

I know that I have influence that irritates too. We all do for goodness sakes! Imagine that one relative ... the one that when they open their mouth to speak, you just plain old wish you were deaf and blind! Hahahhaha, ok that made me laugh! You know you are an irritant, and you know that the people in your life are too. Which brings me to my topic.

Concerted effort

I am going to use my influence to suggest that we all make a concerted effort to deactivate our fight or flight responses to the over stimulation of our sensibilities. One of the things I love most in the people closest to me is their love for the truth. With lies flung here there and everywhere by the monsters with the microphones, the truth lovers are going absolutely mental! And rightly so, because with the repeated lies injury has been outlandishly caused far and wide. Righteous indignation is a natural response, and that fight feeling is valid.

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:26)

Be ye angry-anger makes sense in some circumstances

And sin not-do not give in to the urge to sin using anger as your fuel

Let not the sun go down upon your wrath-resolve your anger before the day is done

Neither give place to the devil-don't let the devil influence your choices

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly (Proverbs 14:29)

Believe me when I tell you, dear one, that I completely understand the work involved in overriding the fight response. It has been an unwelcome companion for most of my life. It is a spirit that attempts to dismantle my good sense, while masquerading as protector. The demonic suggestion is that I must fight to protect myself and others. The divine command is to trust in God as Judge, read scripture, and pray. 

Fists up in fight mode

OR

Palms up in prayer position

Feigning innocence

When we look at the tactics of the enemy, we see a controlled demeanour, a calm that perhaps belies the natural nervousness that humans feel when they are felonious. There is containment of hatred. Their actions speak louder than their words. They are murderous while feigning innocence! Fakes and frauds are most excellent actors, wouldn't you agree? They trust in the plan that they have signed their names to for all eternity.

Now we must take a page from their playbook. We must trust in the plan too. We must believe what we profess, if we profess God as Sovereign. We must deactivate the fight or flight responses that have us frantic. 

Here is the action plan simplified, starting with some questions:

• What are you feeling?
• What is influencing those feelings?
• How long have you felt this way?
• What have you done to alleviate these feelings?

• What do you want for yourself and the people you love?
• What do you know you need to do that you are avoiding?
• What is your action plan to shift out of where you no longer want to be?

Once you have done some soul searching (I suggest you do this on paper), you will feel the alleviation of the burden of heavy and helpless emotions. Next, you get to decide what you want and from there, make an action plan that aligns with God's will for you. 

What is God's will for you, you ask?

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7)

God wants you to be worry free

God wants you to pray, supplicate (ask earnestly & humbly for what you want)

God wants you to be thankful as you make your requests known to Him

God wants you to have out of this world peace that you cannot understand

God wants this peace to guard your heart and mind

God wants this for you in Christ Jesus

Here is the action plan, your instructions from heaven above:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8)

We must take our eyes off of the enemy so that he is not the main influencer in our lives. 

God is very clear where we are to direct our energy. He will take down the enemy when He sees fit. In the mean time, we pray.

Reel of Life

I am genuinely perplexed, dear reader. I have a sincere desire to understand, and need some responses to my ever so sweetly crafted inquiries ... 

Bumbling Bees

It is funny, me attempting to mimic the pretenders. They are coy in their attempts to have others gather around them. I see it on twitter ... someone puts a few sugar sweet word droplets on their finger tips, and they attract the bumbling bees that like that flavour of phoney. Today I read a tweet that nailed down the nonsense in a succinct way, and I was grateful for the unabashed honesty.

I am frustrated with all the fussing and finagling I see adults engaging in. I am going to call it "White Knight Syndrome", and I am pretty sure I did not coin this phrase, thus the exclamation marks. 

Wet clothes

I am going to go back in time to retrieve some memories, and hopefully do a tie in as I sort what I am feeling and try to come to a reasonable resolution. 

It was a Tuesday and the movie theatre in my neighbourhood had a weekly half price deal. I remember arriving and seeing a lineup. The entrance to the still locked theatre was outside and it was raining. There was an overhang so if you were close to the door, you didn't get wet, but for those lined-up further back without umbrellas, the rain became part of their hair and clothes. The person I was with wanted to join the line, and not make it so obvious that we were unwilling to do what everyone else was doing. If you read my writing regularly you will already know, there was no way I was going to line-up. Not because I don't like the rain, although sitting in wet clothes in the theatre for two hours did not appeal, but because it didn't make any sense!

A grifters game

I recall thinking, not worth it. I will not do a queue no matter what the event, especially when a sign says "Line Starts Here". In my youth, I resented being treated like cattle. In my middle age, I have read far too many marketing books to fall for that "limited offer" nonsense, to stand where some sign tells me to. Manipulating people for money is a grifters game, and I just don't want to be played. 

And the grifters abound, don't they, dear reader?

One of the things I have always found exceptionally rude, is VIP treatment. I have seen others being treated differentially for whatever reason, and I have had my fair share of privileged provision too. My point is that it is a way of saying you are better in comparison to others. Sometimes you are a winner, and sometimes you are a LOSER, all decided by the one guarding the door and perhaps, the money you are willing to spend to get away from those that are beneath your grade of fantastical.  Everyone gets a turn at being noticed and rewarded, or ignored and dismissed. It is a spin the lucky wheel of chance way of relating, and this shows a blatant disregard for the dignity human beings deserve to be treated with consistently.  

"Real stars"

When I reflect back on the person that I went to the movies with, I see him in his weakness, his desire to fit in and conform. He did not appreciate my mocking of a system that is designed to blend the audience, so that the "real stars" get their due. I also recognize that the opinion of perfect strangers meant more to him than mine, and he was willing to pay the price of my respect for him, in order to blend in with a faceless crowd. 

Grooming of wannabes

It is idol worship and a grooming of the wannabes. Movies are designed to have watchers fantasize about the life they wish they had. After basking in someone else's big screen sun, and pretending it was them way up high and bigger than life, they return to being ordered to line up, wait your turn, and possibly miss your chance if you don't comply with the demands of those deemed worthy. The demeaning of the masses has been entrenched into our psyches for a very long time. Is it really surprising we are in the exact same boat that has floated us down river for centuries?

Fake medicine

Many lined up to get shot. Metaphorically speaking they wanted the comfort of the theatre. They waited in line to pay for over priced heart clogging fake medicine saturated with toxins, and an extra large dose of poison pop top-ups to the tune of  one or two boosters. Next they planted themselves in a living-room like recliner, and waited for someone else to start the reel. They wait for someone else to start the reel of their life ... 

Submission leads to asking for permission. Those that follow the "Line Starts Here" signs and obey, put themselves in a precarious position of being bossed and tossed to and fro.

Picking up the threads of my theory of the "White Knight Syndrome", we have humans waiting for other humans to rescue them from the dire straights and constraints we find ourselves in. There are polls, surveys, phone calls, emails : human ways of interacting with the powers that be, as ploys and pleas to be set free. 

I shake my head! The devil ain't your daddy, is what I want to shout out! He isn't going to grant you permission to live your comfortable life again! There is no "White Knight" heading your way that will whisk you from your current nightmare. No human saviour is in sight ... 

I'm switching gears now, you ready?

I love Jesus so much. Let us go into the garden of Gethsemane to hear and see Him together:

And he came out, and went, as he was won't, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will but thine, be done (Luke 22:39-42)

Jesus regularly went to the mount of Olives

Jesus directed His disciples to pray that ye enter not into temptation

Jesus distanced Himself but was still visible

Jesus knelt down to pray

Jesus was heard

Jesus asked to be relieved of what He was about to experience 

Jesus submitted to His Father's will

Dear reader, this is what we are seeing with the thousands upon thousands of protesters that kneel in submission to the true Powers that be.

Do they want to be cold, sometimes hungry, sometimes despairing, sometimes miserably lonely, and perpetually threatened with persecution? Do you?

Try kneeling for ten minutes. If you haven't done this before you will notice how unpleasant it is. Now compare this to the living-room recliner, the plush airline seats and pods, and let us define clearly what is noble and good, and what is despicable and sadly selfishly indulgent. 

God condescended to live in and amongst us lowly humans to model what obedience to the Father looks and sounds like. He didn't have to, and neither do the praying people all over the world. They are not looking for a politician, a celebrity, a statesman or local mayor to rescue them, they are asking God Almighty this, on your behalf and mine:

Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will but thine, be done

Dear, dear reader, how can this be? How can love be so lovely? 

Loving like Jesus is sacrificial 

Waiting on the Lord is different from waiting in line 

I am not often given over to asking with the word please, but today I do. 

Please consider going down on your knees and pleading with the Father to take this cup from us and then ... if you dare, tell Him what the Saviour of the world modelled for you and I ... nevertheless not my will but thine, be done

On Your Knees

Prayer

• When was the last time you prayed?
• When was the last time you kneeled to pray?
• When was the last time you kneeled to pray on concrete in the dead of winter with the temperature sitting at a cozy -15 degrees celsius?
  
• When was the last time you kneeled to pray on concrete in the dead of winter with the temperature sitting at a cozy -15 degrees celsius with hundreds of other prayer partners?
• 
  When was the last time you kneeled on concrete in the dead of winter with the temperature sitting at a cozy -15 degrees celsius with hundreds of other prayer partners, knowing that there were police watching and roaming about, at the ready to drag you, or your kneeling neighbour, away for being in your own countries capital, on land that belongs to you and every other national citizen, exercising your freedom of expression in a peaceful protest?

When was the last time you fought the good fight on your knees, dear one?

Heavenly host

Despair can drive us to our knees and it is faith that keeps us there. My heart melts at the images I have seen, of Canadians kneeling in prayer in the cold Canadian capital. Many have travelled across the country to be there now. Praise to the Lord in song and prayer have gone into the ether, witnessed by the heavenly host and by those that would rather the Canadians shut up and go home. 

The heavenly host is rejoicing, while the wicked ones are grimacing and conniving, trying to find a way to silence the lovelies, and keep them from influencing others with their love of God and each other. The outcome is up to God, and what is up to each of us is believing this:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28)

One focus

Forgive me for this bold statement. Most people were purposeless prior to the hostile takeover that we experienced globally not that long ago. There is now one focus with two opposing teams, and it has become clear that we must be about our business, we must answer as them who are the called according to his purpose, if we are on team Jesus! There isn't a day that has gone by for anyone of us, that the topic of you know what hasn't been discussed, debated, analyzed, lamented, cried and prayed over! 

Obsession is unhealthy, and the nonstop discussions are exhausting. What is super heathy and invigorating, is talking about the value of life, sharing faith, and planning ways to be united with others that seek God, and desire His righteous justice and leadership. 

Love God

This is what we are watching from afar, or for some, experiencing up front and personally. It doesn't matter what the enemy is up to, Canadians that love God and their fellow man, will do what they are called to do at the risk of being whisked off to jail, pepper sprayed, or even trampled by riders that corrupt their own calling by breaking laws they swore to uphold. 

Pledging our allegiance

We are publicly pledging our allegiance to one or the other team captain, dear one, and this is how it must be. 

Team Jesus wins no matter what it looks like on this plane. Those that belong to team Satan will have their day in hellish court without an advocate.

God knows who belongs to Him 💘