SelahV Today

What to Say and When to Say It

Several years ago I wrote a post entitled:  Words Unfit To Print.  I revisted that post recently and felt it was probably a good idea to ponder my own words.  I wonder if there are those who find themselves struggling with what is acceptable to print, but more-so, what a person needs to say while balancing what one should not say.

Of late, I have found that when we are accused of specific things, and are wrongly perceived, our first reaction to diffuse the stick of dynamite placed in our pathway and the paths of others, is one of defense.  We defend ourselves.  We do that in several ways.  We try to pull the fuse that has been lit.  Then we gather others to our side to defend our actions.  Then we go on the offense.  We circumvent what others say by saying things to make ourselves less "guilty-of-charges".

I do believe that blogging can be one of the most destructive things on earth, with the exception of Facebook.  The world has entered a new age with multi-media and social-media.  Things which use to be said in private, dealt with in private, has become completely public.  Much of what we might never have voiced in a face-to-face, is easily squeezed out of the proverbial toothpaste tube with no way to squish it back in.  Many areas of disagreement that were once settled over a cup of coffee, or private sidebar discussion, are now displayed in the living-rooms and office laptops for all the world to witness.

Blogging provides the perfect outlet for an instantaneous "letter-to-the-editor/writer".  That letter then invites the next response.  Admittedly, I have hastily written a few of those myself and been on the receiving end of a response.  Some warranted, some unwarranted.  However, if we are going to jump into any frying pan in life, we must accept the fact that we are liable to get burned in the sizzling fat.  Clearly, the best way to avoid blisters is to stay out of the pan.  In fact, sometimes the pan is so hot, it is best to station oneself far beyond the fryer, or  chance an errant hot oil hitting your hand or popping you in the eye.

So, what is the best thing a person can do?  Stop entering conversations--whether invited or uninvited?  Stop thinking our viewpoint is necessary to a conversation?  Refrain from opining?

Let anyone say anything, write anything?  Stop challenging opinions?  Stop debating issues with others whether or not the issue is germane to us or those we love?  Stop reading blogs?  Let the world do what it wants to do without any input?  Ignore unseemly stuff?  Refuse to wallow with pigs?  Just keep your toes clean and stay away from pig-pens?  Do not hold anyone accountable for their views and actions?  Keep your thoughts to yourself?

Scripture offers muliple instruction on controlling our tongue, our thoughts, our attitude, our spirit.  Several bloggers I know have given some really sage advice on these things through the years.  I have written multiple posts--most of which have received little attention.  When a person is a peacemaker or an encourager, we tend to have less company in the midst of strife, struggle, and sour situations.  That does not mean others are not reading or hearing our words.  Nor does it mean our words of wisdom and admonition return void upon a hearer's or reader's mind.  It just means, we follow what the Lord leads us to say, then leave the fall-out and the consequence of our seed-sowing, watering, and fertilizing to Christ for manifestation of obedience to Him.  I am not the Holy Spirit; I'm merey an ambassador.

I shall not grow weary in well-doing.  I shall not faint in the day of adversity.  I shall choose this day Whom I shall serve.  I shall do all I can to live at peace.  So does the Lord want from me?

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8

"DO justice?  love kindness?  walk humbly with your God?  How does one "do" justice and condone the unjust?  How does one "love" kindness and behave unkindly?  How does one "walk" humbly with God and run proudly with man?  It's quite a balancing act, isn't it?  What is "good" to me, may be totally bad to another.

Search me, O, God and know my thoughts.  Give me discernment in what is wise, what is good, kind and just.  Help me walk in that discernment with humility before You.  selahV

WERE YOU AMUSED On April Fool's Day? I wonder...

This past Sunday, April 1st, 2012 marked a variety of things for me in my life.  One, it was a blessed day because we celebrated my husband's birthday. We gave him a Kindle and made a crown from the wrapper.

This year he is in the last year of his sixties.  I cannot believe he is going to turn 70 next year. It marks a milestone of sorts because it's within one month of the major heart attack he had on May 8th, 2007.  The doctors told him that most men who have the damage he had to his heart are not around to talk about it 5 years later.  I suppose that is because most men don't have a wife like me who makes him mind his "P's and Q's", eat properly, take medications faithfully, and exercise regularly.  I was so grateful to be celebrating his special day. 

The day is bittersweet for our family.  My son who was killed on Mother's Day of 2005 was not here to give my husband his annual Boston Red Sox cap.  The fact that April 1st comes and goes without Chad's presence leaves a void, only God can fill.  And He does. With family surrounding us and sharing one another's love.

Another thing about April 1st in our family is my sister-in-law, Valerie, married her husband that day in honor of her dear brother.  But Val's husband died last year of mouth cancer that he battled for several years.  So, she was meeting her anniversary without him.  It was a hard day. I spent some time trying to encourage and comfort her with empathy I learned through the loss of my son.  She emailed and told me she was too messed up to even call her brother and wish him Happy Birthday.  We understood.  Completely.  Sometimes the pain is too fresh, too deep and too difficult to even pick up the phone, nevermind, call someone to wish them happiness when we should have been able to return the greeting with a Happy Anniversary.  She sent me a sweet email the next day about the grace of God.  I sent her an email back with a link to a super uplifting song about how Mom's look the other way when their sons are not all they want them to be.  She has two sons.  Val said she cried again, but that time it was a good kinda cry.  Emotions ran from one spectrum to the other on Sunday.

Of all things, one of my best email buddies, whom I've known since I started blogging in 2006, emailed to tell me her first grandchild arrived on...drum-roll please. April 1st.  I'm so excited for her.  What a joy to hear!

Couple that with the wonderful fact that we were able to have our son's two girls with us to celebrate my husband's birthday dinner, and that both my shift-working grandsons had schedules that allowed them to be with us to celebrate the big 69, it turned out to be a wonderful day.  My daughter's girls and my son's girls and I went for a meadow-walk in the back 40 acres.

It was so much fun to watch them gather wildflowers and ooh and aah at the horses and new foal, which the horses would not let us near. (click on photos to enlarge)

To top it off, it was Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter.  We celebrated how Christ entered Jerusalem to the praises of the multitudes and the shouts of Hosanna!  What a perfect way for us to fuse our celebration remembrances of earthly things to the eternal remembrance of our King. Celebrations. Praises. 

Some folks may be amused to take April 1st and concoct ridiculous hoaxes, and treat folks as FOOLS. Some folks find sport in spending the day thinking up ways to trick others into believing a lie for their own pleasure and amusement. You wouldn't believe the jokes my husband has had played on him at times. This year we got a flat tire on our way back from Texas from picking up our granddaughters. Nail in the tire. Not funny.

However, something unique and significant occurred this year-- much different than most years.  And some folks paid no mind to it.  They had no regard to what might be objectionable...or dishonorable for remembering Christ's entrance to Jerusalem, or His weeklong preparation to shed His blood on the cross for us.  I do wonder sometimes what in the world we find amusing about some things made for secular godless thought.  As I considered sharing this post, I happened to open an email I received.

And I opened up a devotional from Dr. Adrian Rogers delivered to my email several hours ago from his daily devotional site.  In light of all the events and circumstances which surrounded my life the last few days, and the life of Christ so many years ago on Palm Sunday, I found it rather ironic that Dr. Rogers shared the origin of the word "AMUSE":

"It's a combination of two words. Muse means to think, and the alpha prefix in front of it means "not to."

Perhaps that is the major problem with us in the world today.  We want to amuse ourselves with basketball, Nascar, hoaxes, and pranks at another's loss or expense.  We want to amuse ourselves, please ourselves, and don't think what it may cost another for our amusement and pleasure.  We fail to take time to consider the marvels of our Creator as we rush about our day to amuse ourselves.  We muse amiss.  And when our muse gets away from us, our thinking is out of control.  Simply put, we don't think. We don't think about feelings.  We don't think about consequence. We don't think about another's perception.  Nor do we think about God's.  And that may be the least amusing thing about "April Fools Day" to date.  If so, the joke is on us, don't you think?  selahV

ONE VOICE CRYING...

is all that's necessary at times. And sometimes one voice is unnecessary amongst the throng of other voices.  While some voices are meant to dialogue, converse, debate and discuss...others are bound and determined to contend.  For the latter, I tend to avert and sit on the sidelines.  Every now and then, I've stepped into the waters of controversy and (as I've stated many times), found the water above my head.  Such is my lot today.

I happened upon a post today that sparked an urge in me to stand against the current of opposition.  One portion stated: 

"As the song says, “it only takes a spark to get a fire going.” It only takes one man (or woman) to take a stand against authoritarianism to make a difference. When the right person begins to speak up and to put feet to their words, it’s amazing how quickly the floodgates open." Howell Scott

Lately, some folk shared concerns and questions regarding my thoughts on various posts.  Some have been "seeing things" change in me.  They are curious as to what is going on in my mind and my world.  Alas, there are some questions that cannot be answered...some arguments that cannot be countered.  No matter how close we've become to one another, some things must be left unsaid.  Or left to other voices to share.  I find I no longer have a desire to tread turbulent waters where floodgates seek release.

One voice crying amongst the throng is but a whisper in the wind when accusations fly and preconceived notions determine the volume of the voice.  Judgment has been rendered.  Case closed.  For me, anyway.

Suffice it to say, I am still me.  I am still standing where I've always stood.  I have not changed.  My eyes are opened a bit wider since 2006.  Some folks I've met along the way have been invaluable in helping me see and understand the changing times.  Others folks I've met do not know me.  They may think they do, but they do not.  They never have.  And, there is nothing wrong with that, nor is there anything offensive in that.  It is life.  It is the way life is.  C' est la vie.

It's definitely not worth losing sleep over, or even typing another word of dissent.  Nope.  Not worth it.  It doesn't affect me personally, anyway.  I am secure.  Sealed. Bought and paid for.  Sanctified and justified.  Holy and acceptable in Christ, my Lord.  I do not need man's approval, nor do I seek it.

Opinions are funny things.  Ones we agree with are acceptable.  Ones we do not, are unacceptable.  Yet even that is debatable to some.  Viewpoints are ostracizing or accommodating.  Attitudes are kind or unkind.  Intention and motives are only pure in the eyes of the beholder, I suppose.  Nevertheless...silence is what one wants, then silence is what one gets.  I am an accommodating kinda gal.  Squeeze me long and hard enough and I will fold like a deck of cards.  Not because I have no voice to cry out...nay, but because I have no desire to play the games some folks play and bend to every wind of doctrine.  I'll find another stream in which to dangle my line.  There are far more fish in the sea than in the streams around stocked moats, anyway.  If anyone asks, just tell them I've "gone fishing" in saltier waters, okay? saint selahV

[A Blogger's Comfort Zone/link]

FREE to Choose

He escaped again.  For some reason, of late, Snappy the Red-eared Slider was no longer happy in his aquarium on my granddaughter's dresser.  He wasn't satisfied with greeting their fingers as soon as they came near his glass case.  It was so cute to watch him tread water and open his mouth the moment he saw their fingers with dried food squiggles.

Snappy began his life with Abby and Brooklyn, when they were just three and seven and he was little more than the size of a quarter.  (A story I've shared before.)

Snappy was instrumental in adding to my older granddaughter, Brooklyn's faith when she was just 7.  She and Abby were playing with him one day.  As children are common to do, they got distracted by something else, and forgot about leaving Snappy on her bed.  When they remembered, he'd simply disappeared.  They searched and searched for him.  Brooklyn was devastated.  She was certain their dog, Allie, had found him and eaten or killed him.  She was so worried she called me.  I assured her that her chihuahua had not eaten Snappy and said I'd pray about it. Within a few minutes, she called back and told me her mother had found Snappy beneath the bed in the corner of the wall.  Immediately she announced that she knew it was God, because she had just prayed that they'd find him and her mother came out and announced she had.

FAST-FORWARD Seven Years:

Snappy recently became rather testy about his environment.  He wasn't happy to stay in the plastic rectangle tub my granddaughter, Abby, had placed him in to await daily visits and water-changes and feedings.  He wanted more.  He wanted to explore the carpet. She'd taken him out of his larger aquarium because it was getting dirty too quickly and very difficult to keep clean.  Snappy had grown closer to the size of an I-Hop pancake and his water got dirty much faster than when he was tiny.  Again and again he'd escape and Abby would find him trying to climb her bookshelves.  Did he want to read?

About two months ago, Abby called and asked me if I thought they should let him go free into the turtle-friend pond near her home or if I wanted him.  I thought seriously about it.  I did want to keep him...but, I asked which she thought would be better for Snappy.  She chose freedom.  Thus a couple of weeks ago--when I arrived to pick-up Abby for a weekend visit--she wanted to know if we could take him to the turtle-pond that very day.  It was a beautiful day in Texas.  I took my camera and we fed Snappy some food. We placed the large plastic rectangle bin into an empty Huggies diaper box to avoid the slosh of water onto my car's carpet.

Emotions warred within me, as Abby battled her own when we got to the park.  I was tickled that Abby and Brooklyn saw the wisdom in letting Snappy go to live free in their town's public pond.  Yet sadness and sentimentality claimed a portion of my heart as she held his tub and stared at him.  After all we'd shared life with Snappy for a very long time.  During those nearly 7 years, the girls had diligently cared for him and watched him grow--just as I had watched them grow.  We researched red-earred sliders at one point and discovered he could live for 50 years, or more.  Because we found him in my daughter's swimming pool, hardly two months after their daddy had died, I think we all kinda connected the two events.

We did exactly what my son would have done, had he been alive when they found him squirming to get out of the pool's filter-drain.  We rescued him and vowed to protect him from the world.

At this phase of Snappy's life, I imagine Chad would have built a tiled pond in their back yard, so Snappy could grow happily.  He would have gone turtle hunting and brought Snappy some friends.  Alas, he wasn't here to build the tile-pond--or to find him friends.  So, we did the next best thing.  I really didn't want Abby to know the melancholy feelings surging within me as we went through motions of Snappy's release.  I made it a great event.  We chatted about how wonderful a life he'd now have with his new-found freedom.  She told me how clean the pond was because the park-attendants came and cleaned it near the fountain in the center of the pond all the time.  She got excited thinking about Snappy meeting other turtles, but wondered if they'd be friendly or mean.  I assured her that they would be happy to welcome him into their world.  Who wouldn't love Snappy?  I told her he'd meet a lady turtle and probably have baby turtles.  She'd return to the park some day and see Snappy again with his happy family.

My assurance carried a double meaning for my sweet granddaughter.  You see, she is moving soon.  Away from the home she's known since she lost her daddy.  She'll have to make new friends in a new school.  She wonders how they will treat her, too.  I am sure all these thoughts were rolling around through her mind, and heart, as she prepared to release her green friend into a strange new world.

Abby gave Snappy his last meal at the park.  He ate it all before she showed him his new domain.  She placed him on the ground near the edge of the pond and he sat there a moment, then took off faster than lightning into the water.  He moved so quickly my camera seized and I missed the shot of him scooting into the pond.  At first he popped his head up from beneath the water's surface as if to say thankyou and good-bye.  I barely blinked before he dove and submerged himself in the mucky water below.  I took some pictures of where he burrowed, barely visible, into the pond's muck.  His color matched that of the muddy bottom.  Abby dumped some turtle food on the ground near his entry point, and we took a few more photos.  As we walked away, the ducks came up and began eating Snappy's food.  Abby protested.  I assured her that God gave Snappy special instincts to know how to get food from the muck in his world. "He'll provide him food and friends and a happy time."

Abby chattered on and on about this and that while we drove the hour from Texas back to Oklahoma for the weekend.  I couldn't help but smile and think how my son was in his new Heavenly home.  I felt he was probably cheering us on as Snappy raced into the water and Abby learned a lesson in love.  If you love someone, you want the best for them--even when our choices are hard for us to bear.  Just as we were free to keep or release Snappy, God gave us the freedom to hold onto him and keep him all to ourselves, or let him go to live in a world where he'd be happier and free to be all he was purposed to be.  I think we chose the right path, don't you?  selahV  [Click on photos to enlarge.]

I Know, I Know...

I haven't written anything in quite awhile.  Well...I'm moving and packing and sorting and tearing my hair out.  I've written a few things on Facebook and manage to keep my Common Matters column up-to-date.  But I've sorely neglected you, my friends.

To be honest, my brain is better absorbing than producing right now.  Too many things going on inside my head.  Decisions, decisions.  Mentally my brain is playing both sides of the tennis court.  Emotionally I feel fairly well.  Not having withdrawals from eliminating 47 years of memorabilia and well, stuff.  Am grateful to be under God's grace spiritually.  He is my anchor for sure, right now.  He makes all the little nitty gritty molehills into flattened anthills.  And those are even easier to deal with as all the demonic ants run for cover.

I see where my friend David Brumbelow, (author of Ancient Wine and the Bible, A Case for Abstinence), is having a whale of a time fending off some folks at SBC Voices regarding his view of alchohol use in the Lord's Supper (/link).  If anyone can handle it, David can.  He's a prince of a man.

Looks like a few other friends are tearing it up with controversial subjects on their blogs, too (/link).  Wow!  A preacher and his wife are advocating sodomy in marriage via a sex-book they co-authored!!!  AND....a seminary president endorses it??  I think...

oh...nevermind.  It doesn't mind what I think.  I've gotta go empty another cupboard.  Clear it of yeast and leaven.  Onto new heights.  I'll just pray about all that other debauchery and dwell on that which is pure, positive, holy and good.  Catcha later.  selahV

 

What MORE Do We Need

...if we are Christians?

Sometimes I get these spur of the moment ideas to do something good or kind for someone. It's like an urge, or a seed of an idea. It may be to send a card, to call, to email, to write a real letter and send it by snail mail. It may be to take a little gift or bake some cookies. I cannot say this kind thought comes to me because I'm a kind person. I wish I could, but if that were true, I'd probably be a bit more motivated to follow through on the idea--not so stingy with my time and energy. Often, my thoughts don't always make it out the front door...or even from the tips of my fingers. I tend to procrastinate. Many times, I regret it at the end of a day--or weeks later, when I discover how it may have helped someone at a particularly difficult time in their lives of which I was unaware at the time of my neglect.

According to Galatians 5, the Holy Spirit gives us His fruit which is a fruit-cocktail concoction of goodness, mercy, kindness, love, and more. Since scripture also says no man is good, and every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father, I can only assume when I get an idea to do something kind for another, that it is God telling me to do so. My righteousness is as filthy rags. I am but clay-- a vessel to be left in His hands, to do with as He wants...and all too often I rebel over the simplest of things, and flinch at the gentle touch of His fingers. When I hop out of His hands to follow my own desires, I tend to get in trouble.  You see...

That flesh part of me that seeks to gratify itself with manufactured acts of love and kindness, is the self-centered part of me; it's not of God. A selfish motive quickly and easily spends itself, only to receive a mind, body and heart filled with weariness and fleeting gratification.  When I do things expecting elation and gratitude, I can come away from a deed with a very empty feeling. The Lord allows us to feel good if we want, to pat ourselves on the back.  But if we receive our reward from man, it is short-lived.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

Sometimes I wonder why we have this never-ending unsatiated desire for approval-- to feel good. God knows we are like this, though. He knows we will succumb to our own selfish desire to constantly seek validation for what we do. That's why He tells us, "... let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

In due season. Patience.

Unconditional love does not seek reward. Love is its own reward. Sincere kindness can't be mean. Genuine goodness can't be bad. Godly patience is not easily irritated because others are ungrateful. Attributes within a Christian's life is fruit the Spirit manifests. God is so generous with His grace.

Am I?

Not a day goes by, the Lord does not speak and give me a seed of an idea to act upon --not for my glory-- but His. No telling how many blessings I've missed giving others because I failed to follow through on His Spirit's nudge--for His kingdom's sake. I pray that you are not like me and do not procrastinate. After all, we already have the joy of the Lord in our hearts, what more do we need?

So...what's God up to in your life? What's He placing on your heart to do, to say? selahV

For more thoughts on:

Motivation. OR... FOUR POUNDS OF OOEY, GOOEY GOODNESS, by Karen Pollock

 

BEWARE OF WOLVES

It's odd how often I hear this phrase.

How often have you been told to beware of wolves?

I've heard preachers warn of wolves when someone dares to oppose another's biblical or doctrinal position.  I've even heard it used in political circles.

Wolves are dangerous beasts.  A pack of wolves can tear apart a human in a few minutes.  They can rip open a buffalo's neck and feast upon its blood before it has time to kick its heels in defense.  How do we detect wolves?  By their howl, their bark, or their sneakiness and stealth?

Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves." Matthew 7:15  In other words they appear to be something they are not.  Obviously, as Christians, we can each be taken in by wolves, we may never realize they are in our midst till we are caught by our heartstrings and pulled away into their lair.

Paul said, "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them."  Romans 16:17  Seems wolves can bring us into their way of thinking even though we have previously believed and trusted and found truth "contrary" to their evidences, prooftexts, and psychological rationale.  We can each be deceived by a single wolf.  They are so very dangerous, we are to "keep away from them".

Later Paul cautioned Timothy that he'd run into people who would have "a form of godliness but denying its power.  Have nothing to do with them."  2 Timothy 3:5

Seems wolves are those who come in with sneaky intentions, with cloaked intentions, with covered agendas.  They aren't out in the open with what they think or believe.  They tend to speak one way and act another.  They try to confuse and confound us.  They say one thing to one person and something else to another.  That is what causes the divisions which Paul warns about.  They "put obstacles" in our "way that are contrary to the teaching" we "have learned", and preached and taught since we began preaching and teaching.

I see this as warning us to stay true to what God has spoken to us...to what God's Word clearly reveals...not what man waters it down to mean, or society condones it to mean, or culture redefines it to mean, or politicians and judges legislate it to mean.  God does not change.  Nor does His Word.

Scripture warns us to stay away from those who declare right what God says is wrong. "Have nothing to do with them."  It's not always easy because they project "a form of godliness".  However, with that "form of godliness", they deny "its power".  God has the power to change the nature of man, to reconcile man to Himself, to give man a new nature.  For once a person comes to Jesus, all things are made new.  He is a new creature who no longer follows after the world and its ways, but sets himself apart from the world even as he must walk amid the world.  There is a difference in him.  He seeks after God, not Satan.  His faith is evident.  He doesn't flaunt himself as worthy, but humbles himself as unworthy of the grace he has been given through Christ.  He does not expect man to accept his sin as something to condone, but to hold him accountable.  He admits his sin and perseveres.  He does not hold a brother in contempt for not accepting and celebrating his transgressions with him.  He seeks the hand of brothers to keep himself on the straight and narrow path, which show him the lighted path and understand the truth, the way and the life as he goes.

Beware of wolves.  And also beware of sheep who act like wolves and use their wool to tickle our ears and pull it over our eyes as they sacrifice one of our own to the genuine wolves in our midst--all in hopes of silencing the lambs who hear the Shepherd's voice.  selahV

Bloggers Biting Bait

Bloggers are funny characters.  Some bloggers really crack me up.  They have no problem jumping into the middle of a stream that does not concern them whatsoever, and giving their undiluted opinion of a person's character. Often these folks do not even offer a "how do you do, mr. host/hostess," nor a "thankyou for allowing me to comment on your blog".  Nope.  They just plunge right in and say unseemly things about some person's motives, intent, and integrity even though their blatherings have nothing at all to do with the subject matter.  It's crazy.

Other bloggers write posts designed to bait other bloggers to bite on the topic and find nothing but minnows nibbling at the end of their lines.  I almost jumped into a stream yesterday.  People were going on and on and on about a person I felt was being maligned in a way that was so far from the truth it embarassed me for the writer posting their rhetoric.  I thought long and hard about correcting the record.  I even wrote a calmly, well-reasoned, logical response to each and every person who was saying demeaning things.  Then...

...then I decided to read through some Proverbs for a energy-boost of wisdom.  I read several verses until my eyes landed on this one:

"Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own."  Proverbs 26:17

I've never grabbed a stray dog by the ears.  But by golley I do know the sounds of a hound-dog that is grabbed that way.  It's such a bone-chilling bellowing wail.

The offending words being written about this person in that blog-stream illustrated this verse very well.  Writers obviously were ignorant of the subject matter and only based their opinions and thoughts upon previous encounters they'd had with the person--or things they'd read about the person.  And even though I am privy to far more about motive, intent, and thoughts behind the discussion topic, I had no business rushing into a quarrel not my own. 

I felt really good that the Lord checked my spirit, controlled my fingers, and helped me resist the temptation to meddle where meddling is not warranted.

I've all but stopped commenting on blogs.  I find most blogs I frequented in the past (and no...you know I'm not talking about yours), have deteriorated into quarrelsome blatherings and fingerpointing rather than engaging the subject matter.  Quarrelsome attitudes beget more quarrels.  There's little room for reason or truth or desire to get at the truth in a matter when people write post after post inviting character assassinations. 

I find some bloggers write just to rattle out words to get more readers.  More comments.  The more outrageous they can make their posts, the happier they seem.  The more pats on the backs they get for unwarrantly slamming another individual for even daring to broach a controversial subject, the more they write about the individual...the more they bring up that person's name...the more they post about them to bring more readers to rush in and grab stray dogs by the ears.  My eyes can no longer stand the screeching wails, my friends.  I think I've decided how I will handle further streams with tangled lines baited with guile.

I shall not bite the bait, or rush in with a stray dog by the ears.  I might even give up fishing altogether and train my dog to hunt.  selahV

I WANT MORE

Today, people are wishing everyone everywhere Happy New Year.  They're wishing them good health, prosperity, success, happiness for 2011.  We all want those things for those we love...for friends and strangers alike.  However, for whoever reads this today, I am praying for far more for you:

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11

Please pray this for me, too.  Thanks.  selahV

WHEN THE DEVIL SPINS A TALE

...HE USES SCRIPTURE.  In the Garden with Eve, in the wilderness with Jesus...in life with us.  He has minions.  We do not struggle against flesh and blood but with the powers of darkness...and some people are being used of Satan at this very moment.

Some people have a way of taking the most positive of testimonies and turning it into something negative and sordid.  They can cast doubt where none exists. They trash Biblical faith with twisted lies and half-truths.  They implant innuendo and falsehood into the minds of innocents, and further confound the confused.

They tell children to practice safe-sex rather than to remain celibate till they marry.

They tell children that family is not what it use to be--it's obsolete--and can be anything we make it in the eyes of God.

They write colorful books, produce comical movies, and implant ungodly ways into the mind of young and old, alike, as to what is right and wrong in the eyes of God.

They extol science as gospel and theory as fact.

They entice the masses with tales of prosperity and pie-in-the-sky blessings.

They seduce with power, status, and indulgence.

They spin webs so full of temptation and deception that the wisest among us can be caught in their grasp for a season. 

They teach that all people are God's children when He only adopts those who believe in Him, trust in His Son, and live by His commands.  

The devil can turn quite a tale when he has such minions amongst us.

Beware of false teachers, my friends.  In the end times there will be many of them.  Do not be led astray by false doctrines and half-baked messages with diluted truths.

Only Jesus saves, only Jesus recreates a lost and dying person into a saved and living one.  Only Jesus casts out the darkness--He is the Light and the Way and the Truth.  No one comes to the Father except through Him.  Heaven is a beautiful place, prepared for those who believe in Him and trust in Him and follow His commands.  Narrow is the gate and few will find it because so many follow the crowds of deception and self-satisfaction.  Be one with Jesus today.  His Sheep shall hear His voice, and all other voices are but clanging cymbals.  selahV

MY SHEEP WILL HEAR MY VOICE

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL

WHEN THE DEVIL DANCES

A PICTURE OF DISCERNMENT