IT'S NOT GOD'S MESSAGE

     As Christians, it's fair to say that we want to do everything we can to be right in the eyes of the Lord. We don't want to make the same mistakes over and over and we don't want to spend our precious little time forcing Him to look away from us. We try not to go into places that the Holy Spirit can not come and feel comfortable. We try to see to it that our language is pleasing, our thoughts are relatively pure to the best of our abilities, and that our hearts remain steadfast on Him and His will for us. Sometimes things enter our lives and we're not sure if it's meant for us to have it until we talk to Him and await His word. If it's good it's good, if it's bad it's bad. My walk with God has been this way all along. I never say to Him, "I'm doing it my way because I think I'm Fred Astaire and you're going to have to accept that." On the contrary, it's more like, "Lord, is this how it's really supposed to be because if not, I'll need your help to remove this from my life, thoughts, heart, etc." 
     Then along comes the message of the Westboro Baptist Church. They seem, on the surface, to love God more than they love themselves and are proud to stand on street corners touting their message. Tonight I was using my powers of Google account to undo their message all over YouTube to the best of my finger's ability by jumping from video to video and commenting that they're liars and God would never condone their hate speech. I then started wondering if I was somehow the one that is wrong for not being in agreement with them. I really started questioning myself and if I was right with God. That's when He led me to this video which miraculously answered the questions I had and outright told me in the voice of God speaking to my heart that I am right with Him and that this is not His message to the world. He taught me within minutes that this is one small tiny church, unaffiliated with any other baptist church or organization in the country. He showed me that shockingly (and what most folks don't know about them) it's actually a family...one big hating family! In this video she admits that the church is started by her fathers and forefathers, who have effectively passed the hate gene down their family line to her and the other 80% of the church members that are also members of her family . Now, how profound is that? A church with it's message of a "fag hating God," is one family started years ago and still standing alone in their hate. So proficiently do they hate that they've managed to gain notoriety. Be not fooled folks, the devil is good at what he does when he's persistent and we have to work hard against this kind of hate and bigotry. It's not God's message to the world.

AWESTRUCK REVERENCE Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Have you ever seen something in this world and suddenly find yourself awestruck because what you're actually seeing is God in the creation? That's what happened when I saw this new video I've posted of the world's 2nd largest indoor aquarium. As any blogger who visits and looks around this blog will know, I have an affinity for fish and water scenes. This video epitomizes all of that. However, it's really about how awestruck I was when I saw this. At first, I just sat and gazed at it, but then when the biggest whale shark glides gently onto the screen from the left side, I just burst into tears and could only say, "my God my God"....not in a way to take His name in vain, but in saying to Him, "oh hear me my God, for I am in awe of You." My heart felt pure reverence and awe at what He has created, from the smallest to the largest of living things. Even the capacity that humans have to contain such things is awesome in it's own right. I only post videos that strike me to my core or speak for me in some way. As we see, there are only two. Jefferson Bethke speaks for me fully in saying that Jesus is greater than religion, and now this video of God's ability to create such beauty that I can't find the words to describe it. It  makes me ponder God! I hope you'll also want to sit quietly and watch this video. Don't watch from the outside in, but from the inside out. Watch the large rays glide by like underwater birds. Watch the tiniest of schooling fish suddenly dart past with great bursts of speed. Even the bubbles from the air tanks of the divers is awesome the way it glistens to the surface. Perhaps it's just my personality that makes this so awesome, or perhaps it's because I can see my God.

Video is found on the right sidebar of the page. 

MY NEW DISCOVERY

Isn't God amazing even in the little blessings He bestows? You know the ones, the little blessings that our heart whispers to Him that we don't realize how much we want until He bestows them.

I've been blogging for a year now and all this time I've been leaving comments on blogs that I never felt satisfied with. I never could express myself completely the way Kelline expresses herself. And how is that? Simple...using bold and italics. I want to emphasize the words that strike me and so therefore I want them to strike the reader. I want to bold what's powerful and emphasize what's important in order to bring out everything that can be brought out of a comment. I figured out how to use my HTML tags today and I'm beyond thrilled. Isn't that the silliest thing you've ever heard?

All this time I've been disappointed by this one lacking item of my writing. In my posts, I can bold and italicize all day. But in my comments, I couldn't. Well...I could but didn't know it. I've always wondered what that HTML tag <b> <i> <a> at the bottom of the comment box meant. I finally decided to Google it today. SHAZAM!! Such a tiny frivolity, but means so much to one such as me.

How does God factor into this? Because, He knows me. He knows that it's a part of my OCD personality to add as much perfection to my writing as is possible. He knows that I'll delete an entire page of text if it's not readable to me or perfect in every way that I can make it to be. I know....'Kelline....you're mistaken if you think you're a perfect grammarian and writer.' I know...I agree. I mean as close to perfect as I can get to my own personal satisfaction. There's always something missing when I can't bold or italicize my text. I must be able to complete myself when I'm communicating with others. That's just how I feel. I don't want to talk to you guys half way. I don't want you to try to figure out what I mean or why I put a punctuation mark where it doesn't go, which throws the entire meaning off. Notice this? Notice this. Notice this! Notice this! Notice THIS? See what I mean? It all depends on how you write it and punctuate it as to how the reader perceives it. God knows that about me.

It's always God that I return to in times like this. I never glorify myself (in my heart) and say, "I did so good." I always want Him to know that I couldn't have figured it out without the wisdom, ability, effort, and/or all other things He's added to me to allow it. I could be in a wheelchair staring out a window all day thought to be empty-headed. He's blessed me! Thank you Lord!

Now, if you don't know how to use your HTML tags...it's just this simple.

HTML tag 101:

In order to bold your text, enclose the word or phrase with: 

 <strong> [text goes here]  </strong>  

Don't forget your forward slash and make sure there is no space between the inward arrow left and the inward arrow right. Otherwise you'll get a red banner over the comment box that says "your HTML code was not accepted."

In order to italicize your text, enclose your word or phrase with:

<em> [text goes here] </em>

Again, making sure there is no space between the inward-pointing arrows and the word(s) to be italicized.

There's also ways to use these tags in a bullet list and numbered but I'm working with these only for now. Y'all feel free to practice your codes here in the comment boxes. If I see a whole bunch of kooky phrases, I'll know my bloggy friends have been practicing their HTML tags. It's all fun and experience so practice practice practice ladies (and gent).

 

 

UNITY

"....but I don't understand, why does God allow this to happen?" How many times have I asked that question? I've asked it enough that today I think He answered it, at least in part.

We've probably all heard about the flooding in the Philippines and the loss of life. But have you heard of the triumphs and successes? Have you seen the pictures of the streets literally flooded with both water and people on their way to try to do what they can? How about the pictures of people helping others? That's the meaning of it all. 

There are probably many hidden reasons, but there are reasons that can be seen clearly and without special spiritual guidance. It's simple. I can sit in this house all day and do nothing and it's going to add nothing back to my life. But let me hear a car wreck outside and suddenly, I'm rushing around grabbing water, blankets, phone, etc. (an experience I have had). Suddenly, what was a moment of silence and nothingness wherein I'm all alone doing nothing, becomes me and every other neighbor rushing to the aid of the car wreck victims. Suddenly, everyone is working together to aid in any way possible. It's the unity that comes from the tragedy! And it's a miracle to behold.

This post doesn't have to be a long one to point out the obvious. When a tragedy strikes, we pull together and become one mind, one back, one muscle, one heart, one intention, one love! During that time of what we call 'tragedy,' we are all more alive than ever. If you've ever been in a situation like the one I experienced with the car wreck victims, you know what I mean by coming alive and uniting with others as one. Suddenly, you forget yourself and all things that apply to you. You forget what you're wearing, how your hair looks (ladies)....everything. You forget such frivolities because, in the grand scheme of things, it's not important. I truly believe that tragedy is God's way of providing us with unity for our own betterment because otherwise, we may not exercise it often enough for ourselves. I realize there are those who would be shocked or angry to hear me say, "tragedy is a kind of gift from God" (which we'd see for sure it is if we see the blessings that come from it). I for one have never felt more worthwhile and important than when I've had a part in helping someone to help another. It's that unity that overcomes the tragedy and senselessness of it all.

In short, I say that we consider this the next time we see a mighty tragedy happening in the world that seems senseless and has caused too great a loss of life and remember that in the unity is the greatest form of love [agape]. Why? Because, we rush to someone else's aid, regardless of danger to ourselves, regardless of what we look like, or anything having to do with appearance, we just rush to help others to help. Remember that it's likely a stranger being helped and how many people go around loving a stranger, per se?  Agape is the kind of love that has no bounds and has no conditions. It's just there when it's needed and does what it has to do to give of itself.

Unity during tragedy + show of agape = the overcoming spirit!

I wrote this with my eyes crossing at 1:30 a.m. Please consider that if it's misspelled or kooky sounding. I had a revelation while on another blog and had to blog before it melted.

THE FINISHED WORK

I firmly believe that when Christ died to set us free, He didn't set us free to keep us in any form of bondage. I firmly believe that, "whom the Son has made free is free indeed." I firmly believe Colossians 2:14 which says, "...blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;..." and beyond that is verse 15 which adds, "...and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

What does that mean to a simple layman like me? It means that in the beginning were the ordinances set forth for all believers to practice in order to retain some form of righteousness in God's sight. Jesus did away with rites and authoritative commands. He did away with principalities which gave one the authority over all. So, in essence, all the rules and rituals, the ceremonies and laws (known as the "letter of the law") were triumphed over when Christ performed his work at the cross.

Note the part of verse 14 that reads, "...which was contrary to us..." What does that mean to you? To me, it means that those laws, ordinances, rituals, ceremonies, and/or all those rules just weren't working for mankind and that's the need for the work at the cross. To make one sacrifice for all time, all sin, all mankind in one act. That one act is the act that set me free!

When something is "contrary to us" it means it's not working smoothly with us but working against us and our nature. So, see in the Old Testament no matter what the letter of the law stated, mankind couldn't keep up with it. No matter how many times the Lord lessened the load by saying, "Okay, no Ram to bring? Then bring me a dove," it still wasn't working smoothly and God began to see that no matter how he "wrote the terms out" mankind continued to fail at it. He needed to make a way to unhook the chains that bound us and to put mankind right. By "right" I mean, into our natural place of being. We aren't able to follow ordinances, rules, regulations, to a perfect science of behavior without failure. So, if God had not sent Jesus to overcome all of that then so many would perish. So many would stand no chance simply because our minds are so different  from one another, and our hearts so rebellious, that many just can't abstain, or follow, or be commanded, or even understand the implications.

So this all begs the question, where would I be today if God had not sent Jesus as the propitiation for our sins? Where would I be today, with regards to salvation and hope, if God still demanded our good deeds and the following of the letter of the law? Would I be able to light the right amount of candles at the exact right moment of the exact right day? Would I be able to raise the right animal without blemish and make it to the right place to give that animal up for sacrifice to atone for my sins? Would I be able to show up for every ceremony dressed in the right outfit made from the correct thread and having just the right amount of embellishment at the hems? Would I remember when my time was to be clean or unclean? What if I accidentally consumed a peace of bacon while traveling through a strange town? What if I had a human moment and did something that goes against the letter of the law? What if I did that and the people didn't catch me in time to stone me to death for my infraction? What of their place in heaven for their failures? What of all of this bondage that we were once in? I see why people couldn't keep up and succeed. I see why God saw what He saw with regards to our weaknesses. 

I see why He sent Jesus to do away with the letter of the law and thereby set us free. (This is not a revelation I'm just having but a point I'm reiterating). So, the next time I hear someone try to pin religion on me or tell me what I'm "supposed to do" I will remember what I've learned (through the guiding of the Holy Spirit) and I'll keep reminding myself that "whom the Son has made free is free indeed," and once again I say, we can "do" nothing right.

My time on this earth was never meant to be spent observing rules. Through Christ Jesus, I am righteous in God's eyes. Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I have received an anointing which is a teacher to my soul. I don't have to try so hard because I have the Holy Spirit who teaches and guides me along. When I wake up in the morning, I follow my guide unto all righteousness. At times I fail and my flesh gets in the way. For those times, I cry out for forgiveness and allow the cleansing. Then, every moment is a new chance and a clean slate. I can boast in my weakness because I know it's not up to me anymore. I can rest in the arms of Him with Whom I have to do.

"Lord, thank you for revealing the truth to me and giving my soul rest in the knowledge that when you died on the cross, you truly made me free."

"...THROUGH...the valley.."

Have you recently told me that you would be praying for me? Then let me tell you what God did with your prayers because He's been busy!

1) My mower quit.
2) My dryer quit one week later
3) The repairman was crooked and left my landlord with one broken dryer and two payments for  doing all the wrong things so he could cheat her out of extra service calls. Since she had to pay for two service calls, she went up on my rent to an amount I don't have in the budget.
4) I can't afford the rent but can't afford to rent a new place either.
5) My son called to tell me that after proposing a couple of weeks ago to the mother of his son, she dumped him and he's destroyed.
6) I had my brother-in-law to come work on my mower and instead, he broke it to the point it's no longer repairable.

From #1 to #6 has all happened over the course of a month. So, when I tell you that I'm in a down season of my life (prior post), I mean it! But I also knew that God would see to me and that it's a season that will pass. Therefore, let's start at trial #1 and I'll explain how things are going now and all within one month.

1) Because I had been lying to myself when I entered a debit amount into my checkbook (in other words, if I spent $53 I would write $60 in my checkbook and round up to the nearest 10), my actual account balance when I called the bank was at least $200 over what I had written in my checkbook. What a coincidence, since when I had to visit all of the pawn shops in my town to find myself a lawnmower the only used mower in the entire town was $200. Cha-chinnnnggg!
2) The dryer still isn't fixed but I'm being told that I'll just be getting a new one (remains to be seen but the real joy was in telling the landlord and getting that impending stress off my shoulders).
3 and 4) Instead of trying to talk to her about this higher rent and what I could afford, I figured it was best to just take her what I could and let the chips fall where they may. I did. I started counting off dollars and explaining that I could give her half the increase she asked because there's no possibility of giving her more than is in my budget. She simply smiled and said, "okay, that will be just fine." Cha-chinnnnggg!
5) Instead of my son's girlfriend packing up and moving on, she's staying with him for now and that gives him back his peace and joy. He has time to adjust to the separation and their son is not seeing any fighting.
6) Doesn't matter because I have a new mower now and the old one was on it's last leg anyway. It was only a matter of time before it quit completely.
BONUS: My landlord showed up this evening with an envelope. On the front it said, "I'm sorry" and inside was the amount of increase on the rent that I had given her yesterday. She said that she wasn't supposed to impose the increase yet and that I was paying it too early and that she felt it was wrong to keep it. So she returned it to me.

I hope that if you're going through something right now and if that something feels like your entire life is crumbling around you due to the trials that are coming on, trust the Lord and He's going to see you through. "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for thou art with me.." When trials abound it can feel like death is approaching because we have to fight through the stress to get rest, to retain some appetite, to smile and find joy. It's truly a walk through a valley and death surely can feel as if it's overshadowing us (at least it does me), but God is with us, and remember that in that verse, it says, "...walk THROUGH the valley..." we are never meant to "...remain in the valley..." If you prayed for me, my gratitude is immeasurable. Thank you!!

THE SEASONS ♥♥♥

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

As I was watching Nature on PBS the narrator said one thing to the viewers that I knew was God sending me to Ecclesiastes. He said, "....if the tender grass is buried too far beneath the snow this winter, it will be their [musk ox] turn to suffer..." 

I knew in that instant it was God sending me to search out His word in order to give me the answer to my question, "why is this all happening, Lord?" It was God telling me, "it's all happening because this is the season of your life, daughter." It's my turn, essentially. Do you know how much encouragement I have knowing that!? To read it at first sends the message that I'm complaining or needing sympathy. But no, not so! On the contrary,  I am praising God for telling me what I need to know, saying it with power, and giving my spirit rest within the hope I have for the new season that is to come. But for now, it's my turn. I'm in my season. I have had the seasons of all other things mentioned in those verses. And just like each good thing comes, each not-so-good thing must come as well. Is it not written in the book of Job 2:10 saying, "...shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"

Now, I'll live out my season with courage and hope, while knowing,"...all things work together for good to them that love God." Romans 8:28. And besides, "...tribulation works patience..." Romans 5:3. What more do I need to say? This post will reflect these findings and revelations...courtesy of God the Father, and perhaps the next post will reflect the things in those verses out of Ecclesiastes that are not underlined. Suddenly, I feel like one who is waiting out the storm. I may have these seasons a lot, but they're only seasons and they pass.

"Lord, I accept the good with gratitude while I understand that I must accept the evil as well. Thank you for never forsaking me." amen