Abraham Lincoln said: "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
Many of you have heard but there was an ambush in Dallas last night and 11 cops and 1 civilian was hit. Violence only begets violence. Shooting at cops in is not called for. It was a peaceful protest and even the Dallas PD were peaceful with those there till gunmen had to ruin it. This country has some really big problems that nobody wants to deal with and the way we are headed, it's only going to get worse.....
I am 34 years old and this is definitely not the country I grew up in......
It's also a sad day when people are saying that people deserved this or that.... Even more pathetic when those who once were in high positions in our country call for war within our own country and call for assassinations.... (here)
"Violence never brings permanent peace. It solves no social problem: it merely creates new and more complicated ones. Violence is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding: it seeks to annihilate rather than concert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends up defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr. ~
I heard another Christian say the other day that what happened in Orlando, they asked for because they were gay. Then yesterday I heard someone else say that this country is getting everything it asked for because we are so sinful. While I can't dispute that God does judge nations for what they do, I do have a few things on my heart with that...... Please read what I have to say.
Back in the time of Jesus, the Samaritan people were the "scum of the Earth" to the Jews. The Samaritan people were half-Jewish. That means one parent was Jewish and the other parent was a foreigner. Because they were half-Jewish, Samaritans believed only part of the Jewish religion. The Jews believed the Samaritans were “unclean” in God’s eyes. Therefore, most Jews would never travel through Samaria. They would travel way out of their way to avoid getting near a Samaritan person. Yet what did Jesus do? Did Jesus totally avoid her like the plague because she was "Not one of the Jews?"
NO!
He talked to her! He asked for water. Not only was Jesus talking to a Samaritan but a woman Samaritan! See here! Jesus didn't stop there now did he? He interacted with the lepers, healed them and talked with and saved many other "horrible" sinners.
Our times today in reality are really no different. We have TV, radio and social media to spread news of affairs all over the world. Much of what is going on today I think is in part of because we hear of it so often in the media. Yet over time we harden our hearts to it. We figure that this or that happened because of guns, racism, sin, gays, etc.
GOD SEES SIN AS EQUAL TO ALL! A murderer is no worse in God's eyes than a little white lie!
What we do in life has consequences, we all know that. Unless you are Hillary Clinton but anyway...... Everything we do has consequences, good or bad. Life is full of choices that we have to make. Sometimes we have time, sometimes they are made in split seconds. Yet no matter what, there is a consequence for it.
Yet does that mean that Jesus can't save the murderer because of the crime he did or Jesus can't forgive the prostitute because of how many men a woman has been with?
No!
Forgiveness isn't separated by color, gender, class, country or anything else. You either accept or you do not.
Yes, I am a Christian woman and I am sorry that many of our fellow Christians judge so much. They often forget that they too sin and that no one sin is worse from another in the eyes of God.
Just over three years ago I remember writing something that I feel the need to share at this point. Something for all of us to remember.
"I would love to share with you something near and dear to me. I am a Christian. your first thought to that could be either that I tend to be compassionate or I'm one of those 'judgmental, holier then thou' types. All I am is a simple human being who was saved by God's grace through His Son, Jesus Christ. So what is the point of reading this you ask? Because I want to share something. Please read all of this then think on it.
We are all human, you know that. I make mistakes just like everyone else. I go to church to grow spiritually and to be with fellow Christians like me. I read my Bible to learn more about God and to gain more wisdom in my spiritual walk and growth. I will tell you though some days it's really hard to be a Christian. I mess up for one. I think and say things I shouldn't. We all do. That's where God's forgiveness comes in. I have many friends that are not Christian. I share my faith but I don't judge them. Ultimately it is their decision as to what they want to chose to do. My job is to still love them. I know why many of them are not Christian as well and that is what I want to speak on. First of all, we can't put our faith in humanity, only in God. If we put our faith into humanity, we will always see failure and despair. No denying that. Second of all, we can't please everyone. No matter what any of us do, someone somewhere will have something negative to say or think about it. What I want to speak on though is what MY Bible says about loving others and also judging others. If those who spent so much time pulling specks out of others' eyes, and instead shared the love that Christ shared, this world would be so much a better place. What verse am I talking about you ask?
"Do not judge so that you will not be judged. "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)
Personal judgments is what is talked about here. Like you telling someone that they don't belong in church and or are doomed to hell because of something they said or did. Matthew 23 also talks about the religious leaders who believed they were better then everyone else. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness..." (Matthew 23:25-28)
The words of Christ here were strong words but they were aimed at those who thought and or believed they were superior to others around them. They were better then everyone else. In John chapter eight, Jesus strongly had words to say about that. The story in there was about a woman who was an adulteress. The religious leaders of that day were trying to stone her. Jesus said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again, trying to make a point about personal judgments. Jesus' major concern is that people do not make quick, unproven judgments from what they guess might have happened. Or a biased interpretation of it. Many people (both Christians and non-Christians) tend to fall into this kind of judgment problem, if they are not careful to check the facts carefully. The fault in this is how can we who are sinful set higher standards than a totally holy and righteous God?
What about righteous judgment? What is that? Is there a time to judge others?
In Matthew 7:2-5, Jesus warns against judging someone else for his sin when you yourself are sinning even worse. That is the kind of judging Jesus commanded us not to do. If a believer sees another believer sinning, it is his Christian duty to lovingly and respectfully confront the person with his sin (Matthew 18:15-17). This is not judging, but rather pointing out the truth in hope—and with the ultimate goal—of bringing repentance in the other person (James 5:20) and restoration to the fellowship. We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are to proclaim what God's Word says about sin. 2 Timothy 4:2 instructs us, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction." We are to "judge" sin, but always with the goal of presenting the solution for sin and its consequences—the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6).
As to the differences in the types of judgment, people have a problem with that. We are human, it will happen. One of the things that happens within churches though unfortunately is that people sometimes do get on a high horse and they think they are judging someone in a righteous way when in fact, it's the exact opposite. Worse, they are sinning themselves but are quick to point out where everyone else is but won't do anything about their own. It's like saying to someone out loud, public, social media, whatever, "You said a bad word so you really shouldn't do that." To, someone stating a thought about something and then they get bashed for it when yet the person doing the bashing does the same thing. Or even worse Christians telling other Christians, "I love you BUT YOU are in the wrong here." Many judge without knowing the whole story first. So many are quick to judge before knowing the whole story if any of it, many are not tactful, proper or even doing it privately. It at best just embarrasses the other person and at worst, turns them from their faith. This is where people get turned off by Christians. I have also seen some Christians walk away from a church over people within the church being like that. Huge difference in truly going to someone privately out of love and concern and just totally condemning them as if they are a worm on the ground that you are walking on and that worm is only worth stepping on. Which way do you think Christ would want us to be my brothers and sisters? We all have been judged, plain and simple. However, before you judge someone for something, think two things: Is how I'm going to go about this the way I would want it done to me? And most importantly: Is this the way Jesus would want me to do it?
Think about what and how you say something before you say it. You can never take back words. A person can forgive you for what you say but they never forget it nor will your relationship with them be the same again. However even we can work on that. We can by remembering that when God forgave us, our sins were as far from the east as it is to the west. He doesn’t remember them. We may have a hard time with that but something still to strive for. We can also strive to be that way for others. Forgiving, Merciful, Compassionate and have Grace.
As mentioned as step 12 in Celebrate Recovery, we are to restore people gently. "Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs. Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)"
So what does all of this have to do with all of the violence we are facing?
We live in a sinful and dark world..... Yet all of us jumping to conclusions and judging whites, blacks, cops, civilians, military, Muslims, Mexicans, etc isn't going to help. What will help is praying, doing your part to help others and be a comfort to others. Keep your head on straight and don't judge things by just what the media or another human mouth reports. Find out ALL of the facts, stories, evidence THEN come to a conclusion and THEN see what YOU can do to HELP the situations out there.
THAT is how we help others.
As Christians we are called to be ambassadors of Christ. God is LOVE. I pray we don't allow the enemy to use us to spread anger and hatred.
Galatians 5:19-26 NIV
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
1 John 4:7-8 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
The Word never says to love only those that are without sin! It simply says to Love and then we will know that we are His!
My thoughts and prayers are with ALL the families of ALL the victims of the recent shootings; both the civilian families and the families and friends of law enforcement hurt or killed in last night's Dallas massacre.
This country honestly IS divided. Blacks (some) do feel singled out. Cops (some) do feel singled out. It's not all blacks, not all whites, and not all cops. It's honestly not all Muslims either. If you want the killings to stop, the very first thing you've got to do is stop the generalizing and stereotyping for the sake of headlines. (Most of the words here were taken from Tommy Jordan)
This country needs MLK back with his words of wisdom in a time like this..... Now, the question for all of you is this:
Are we as a nation going to keep going the way we are, spewing hate, judgment and condemnation or are we going to unite and fight? Are we going to stand together of all colors and pray for each other no matter one's station, color, gender or anything else?
When we do that, I think we will see revival.
"Like many of you, my heart is deeply grieved at the violence which is occurring in our country. In particular I am saddened by the racial tension which is a part of the most recent national stories.
This post is likely to bother and perhaps even anger some of the people with whom I am connected on various social media platforms and I am sorry for that because it is my sincere intention to bring words of love, encouragement and comfort. However, I feel compelled to express these thoughts, nevertheless.
I honestly do not believe there is a political solution to the issues of hatred, violence and racial discord. It is not that political action is of no value or that it is completely inconsequential. I am simply suggesting that political solutions are, ultimately, inadequate because these issues originate in the heart.
This truth regarding the heart is a concept which Jesus expressed very clearly. (See Matthew 15:19)
Where there is genuine hatred; where there is a desire to inflict pain and violence on others; where there is discord or feelings of mistrust and animosity toward people who are in some way different than us there are hearts that need to change. Again, laws and political action are not without value but these responses do not, for the most part, change human hearts.
Heart-change is God’s area.
So I realize that responding with talk of God and prayer seems weak, ineffective and bothersome to some but I genuinely pray for heart change. I pray for God’s love to prevail. I pray for God’s people to be models of His love, patience, mercy, reconciliation and grace.
I have not always been the agent of God’s truth and love that I should be. I haven’t always expressed the presence of Jesus in me to the disagreeable situations of my life. Therefore, I begin by praying for His authentic and tangible work in me.
And I pray for His love in us.
God’s love is extraordinary. God’s love is profound. God’s love is perfect, complete and comprehensive. God’s love will ultimately prevail.
I pray for His love to prevail in my heart today. I pray for His love to prevail in His people today. I pray for His love to prevail in our country today."
There is no better way to end this post today than with Dan's words.....
Blessings and many prayers for our country... God's Word tells us it will get worse before it gets better.... Stand firm! Hard for sure but we know how the story ends. God will prevail! There will be a day of no more tears! We will someday Live on Forever!
~ Special Momma ~
The last pic I got of the Dallas skyline from CMC after my son's chiari decompression. I turned it blue. Lord, help us all....
