So much of the time, I like to be quiet. Yet, if I'm quiet in my own little world, how will others be encouraged? It is so easy for me to stay in my own little world yet, what is accomplished? Am I being selfish? Staying in my own little world do not seem to be following the "Great Commission" does it? Conviction does hit when I miss out on speaking up, writing, or just acting in doing something I know I need to be doing. 

     Staying in my own little world seems safe, but is it? Staying in my own little personal world does not include fellowship with others which encourages me depending on the fellowship I seek. Do I seek God in my personal time or just watch TV, read, or computer? Are the people I seek negative or positive about things? When we are alone, we can also be easier in ways to attack by others for whatever reason even if we were no where at the location of it all. Nobody else can give us an alibi as we were alone.

     Recently, I came under conviction to right a letter for another to stand up for them. No, I don't know all the details of the situation. Yet, I could not stand by silently, just praying. As I prayed, the need to write the letter became greater. Yes, it is a risk to disagree with a group of people with higher authority than yourself, but at times it is worth the risk. Yet, for those times when we are felt led to do something, we must as we are in the place or time for it to be effective in a way we can't see with our human eyes to the much larger picture God sees.

     Too many times, I have seen quiet sincere people be attacked while other sincere people just stay in their own personal world thinking they are safer there. We are blind to see, as long as we isolate ourselves in thinking we are safer doing it, then we are more easily destroyed. We can let the loud mouth pride destructive force reign as we cower in fear hoping it will not notice us next. How much of this can repeatedly be done in churches?  Sometimes, a secular workplace can be safer than a church at times. No place is perfect here on earth.

     I don't know what will become of the situation with the letter but I continue to pray for this situation. I must be faithful in something if I'm suppose to do it as I continue in faith. Faith requires action and patience, too. James shares about works and our faith.  Faith requires us to come out of personal little world we like to stay in away from others at times for whatever reasons. 

        "Evil succeeds when good men do nothing.", is something I heard repeatedly as a child from my Grandmother.  When good men don't stand up for things, who does it leave next to stand?

     I have been told most of my life that God is in control. I tell others that God is in control. Yet, depsite others telling me or me telling others, how do we live it at times?

     Sometimes, I complain about what is going on. Is that faith in action? Or, better yet, I get in a group of people complaining which is not following Psalms 1. If I hang out with those that complain, does it help my attitude/outlook/spiritual/encouraging others? No! Do I want to encourage others to complain if I stand in the group?

     Complaining is not an application of faith in Jesus Christ being in control of my life or the world. I do stop complaining but it is after I actually open my ears/heart to the conviction of it.

      How much better would I be if I would keep my mouth shut about complaining and praise Jesus Christ for what is going on? Praying to Jesus instead of complaining to or with other humans would be far more productive.

      Will stop all of my complaining? No, I will mess up but I pray that I get convicted of it sooner verses later so I don't waste the time I have on this earth with fruitless activities.

       To live life like God is in control is to not to complain. It is far easier to talk about than actually applying it to life all the time.

     Thank You for Jesus for loving me and others that have and will come into this world. Thank You for giving us a choice to follow You as we in turn in love do it because we want too. Yet, our love for You can be so shallow at times compared to Your love for us as You have so much patience with us to chose You with our life showing by our actions.  Thank You for the forgiveness You have for us when we come to You with humble and repenting hearts wanting to turn away from the evil we do which is sin and offends You. You are an example to us in the example of forgiveness. Yet, there is a point You draw the line till when we reject You till our last breath that You allow us to humble ourselves to chose You.

     Thank You for answering our prayers in getting to know You more as it comes in ways we don't expect even as You turn things for Your Glory despite what our human eyes can see or mind that can assume at the time when we may not have it focussed on You. Thank  You for answering prayers of needs in my life as You know what I need before I even knew I need them like Your Gift of Eternal Life for all eternity even before I was born.  Thank You for sending those who were faithful to You to share of You throughout my life even if it does not agree with the world's view in ways it can even creep into churches as human pride grows. I pray we seek Your approval over the approval of the world no matter where in our lives.

      Thank You for more than I can ever write. I thank You for another year of  life to share with others and worshiping You in many ways. Thank You for not being blind to my enemies no matter where they are in my life and helping me recognizing them and learning to deal with them as You lead. I pray they chose to turn or even return to You sincerely for You to be truly Lord of their life. Thank You for teaching me and continuing to teach me while walking in faith of You despite my shortcomings and Your forgiveness of them as I seek YOU! Thank You for loving me and others as You gave Your life on Calvery and rose from the grave! Thank You for eternal life!!!!

     Men in churches can treat women as beneath them. With many, women are suppose to serve men and not allowed to do much else even if they are more skilled than men. Some women can become frustrated to say the least especially when she has men around her that may lack in how to get things done. Yet, many generations of women have learned how to encourage men in ways that allow them to think it is the man's idea to get the job down as she continues to serve the men as the work is done.  Humble women can encourage men around them to excel even if men lack at times. Who truly can these women be serving greater than men?

    It takes a strong women in many areas to remain humble in such frustrating situations with men when they are clueless. At times, around some of these type of men if the women does open appear smarter she can be very much resented by them as they can trumph up many words against her. Yet, some through the generations women must realize something deep within themselves a peace that only God can give them as they remain humble and serve quietly.  These women have learned about the value of serving and how even Jesus Christ repeatedly in the Gospels talk about serving others including as He gave examples of it himself to the disciples as He washed their feet in John 13.

John 13: 13-17 (KJV)

¹³Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. ¹⁷If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

     Repeatedly in the Gospels it repeats, "first shall be last, and the last first".   If men who let their pride and the desire for power rule them as they walk over other men and women, what dangers are ahead for them?  If a man mistreats women his whole life especially as he believes it is his God given right to do so, what could that mean for eternity for them? Let's say if he makes it into heaven yet on earth he wanted to be and was treated like a king, where is his place in heaven? Who is above him? Those on earth who served others have a different value in heaven than on earth for all eternity.

     Our Lord is not blind and knows the motives of our hearts. Humble men who lead with a servant's heart are wonderful to be around as they are blessed by God in many ways as they live. When men value who women are and work together with can be a beautiful team. It is a joy to serve these kind of men and others on this team. Women with the humbleness and strength of faith of a personal relationship with Jesus are blessed for all eternity even if life on earth is challenging. Our lifetime on earth is but a breath compared to all eternity.

     Looking at the last post date reveals to me point blank how time flies despite what we can plan to do. How many plans do we have to help or encourage others that we don't get done for whatever reason that gets in the way.  Yet, this can be good too, at times. How many things do I do just trying to please men that takes time away from pleasing God with my time. No matter how good we can try to be in life, we will offend somebody as repeatedly reminded we can not please men as it is futile attempt in the long run. Yet, if my time is used under God's direction then there is eternal investments and able to encourage men who God puts on my path to encourage verses going down dead end roads of frustration of man's thinking. We are told in the Gospels and given examples throughout the Bible that following God's path is not going to be a path that pleases men of this world.  I'm finally coming to realize, those that are offended may be showing me something I have not realized or refused to realize before in life. Many claim Christianity, yet what is faith in it to them?

     Please forgive me in not giving more details in the example I'm about to give which is encouraging me greatly as an example of living faith despite what is going around him. I'm not able to give more details for reasons at this time. However, there are many throughout time that can relate to in life what this young man is going through. There is a young man in this world that God protected him as a child from death which few around him know about. Yet, God sent a group of men that found him and put him in a safe place to grow up. He is now in his 20's on a path as God protects him as he lives it, too. Recently, he was injured which turned out placing him in a location to preach unexpectedly which really touched/changed some lives that heard him. They noticed he was different when he spoke before the crowd despite him being a shy young man for the most part. The Christian leader over the location was upset with the response of this. Another situation became available for him to speak at as he was requested to do so. Yet, the Christian leader demanded him to speak in such a way that would go against his belief. He had some time to pray about what he was to say at the time. Yet, he realized if he was to please this "liberal" male leader that he would be going against his faith and what he believed God wanted him to do at this opportunity. Did this young man listen to man or God? He did as he felt lead by God to do and chose to deal with the threats of consquences of making his life miserable which this "Christian" leader has done since. Unfortunately, this young man is in a situation where this "Christian" leader can do it to him yet God is still working through it as others look on in ways as this young man stands firm in his faith despite what he is being put through.

       This is an ongoing process at this time. My prayer request is that others witness the sincerity of his faith despite what he is going through which will strengthen others faith around him and others that know of this situation. God is working in this as He has been in his life as before he was even born through the life of his own family and others that found him afterwards. God is working in so many people's lives in this world and through the ages even if it feels like God has forgotten us at times!!!!

        Sometimes, we can get discouraged thinking God may have forgotten us when life gets really interesting  yet, it is at these times, God can be working in ways of such a witness to others if we remain true and sincere in our faith not giving up as our actions can show to others.  The events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was horrible yet the results of this allows us the opportunity of forgiveness through the grace of God. It affects those since and those to come yet with the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.  When trials of faith hit our life, those times can be the times others watch to see sincerity of our faith in Jesus Christ. Oh, how sad if we ourselves give up our faith in Jesus or just go through empty motions that others can see but not speak of out loud. Jesus Christ knew of the huge picture of what the crucifixion meant to the world. Jesus Christ also see the bigger picture of our lives than we do. Knowing of this young man has encouraged me in my own faith and seeking God no matter what the situation.

    Patience is a mouthful but even a larger to accomplish. How many times I may read Job to learn more, I still learn new each time. Sometimes but the end of a book I can be reading to be reading but not absorbing at times. Other times, conviction and lessons just hit me.

    In Job chapters 38 to 41, God answers Job in such a way to humble us all even today. Who do we think we are? Who are we? These chapters put me on the edge of my seat how God describes Himself. We humans have respect for some animals of strength that we don't go provoke them but we don't have respect for God who created them. We humans think we know so much but what do we really know? 

Job 42: 1-6 (KJV)

 1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

 3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

 4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

 5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

 6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

    Job's words of repentance brings me to say my own words of repentance to our Almighty Lord. At times, I just don't want to open my mouth or write anymore. I turn to Psalms 51 which is a prayer of repentance to reinforce my own words in my own prayer. Verse 13, "Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." I can't get off that easy by keeping my mouth shut! I would be wrong there also. I know that but....

     Verses following verse 6 in Job 42 begins God's thoughts on Job's three friends who tried to encourage Job during his time in how they were wrong and what must be done. It ends with God blessing Job. Yet, this time it also in encouraged me how his three daughters were mentioned that God blessed Job with. The names of the daugthers were mentioned without the names of the sons there.  God does value women despite what I have heard humans say over the years to me at times as they justify some of their actions and reasons. WE all are as guilty as Job and his friends in thinking we know what God thinks and wants. Our lack of humbleness condemns ourselves as we bring God's judgement down on us.

Psalms 118:8 (KJV)

 8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

     My faith must grow to be able to apply this verse! Yet, to grow requires humbleness and trust in the Lord to do as He bids with confidence in Him this year. Last year I was forced to asked God to help me do basic needs of life as I was healing. My dependance grew as He helped me.  Pain and weaknessed drove me to ask the Lord to help me when I was alone with no human around to help. He was faithful to help me as He became that much more real to me. Prior to that, I took these basic need activities of life for granted in doing them yet my faith grew as He helped me. Humans will let us down repeatedly, but our Heavenly Father is there to help us when we ask and sincerely believe He can help us. In our humbleness, we ask Him to help as patience in faith grows. 

     Revelations? Have you read it? Has the "Green Movement" read Revelations in the Green Bible that is being sold suppose to help humans "Save the Earth"?  Revelations is about God literally destroying the Earth and people who have rejected God in their lives. People who have a choice to accept or reject God the Creator into their lives and live the way the Bible says?

    I'm sure God is not against people taking care of what God gives them including their body they live in. Fitness is good too but it does not keep you from dying either, death comes eventually. It is what we do with our soul in rejecting or accepting Jesus into our lives that the Bible is about and affects our whole eternity. A human dying is just the beginning of one of two eternal destinations. Why else have people tried to spread the Word of the God of all Creation in the Bible since Adam and Eve? In Genesis where it talks about God creating the Earth, Adam and Eve were able to talk with God in the Garden. What an experience to share with your children and all generations following? Yet, God gives us a choice to accept or reject His ways. Cain, Adam and Eve's son did reject God's ways as it is given an example in Genesis.  

    If humans reject God the Creator of this earth in their lives to live whatever way they want, then all they have is the earth for the human race. Yet, in Revelations, God destroys the Earth with His wrath over those humans that reject God in their lives.

     Exodous 20: 1-6 explains the first of the Ten Commandments of "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."  God of Creation is serious about rejecting Him in our lives! If we chose to put the Earth in the center of our focus and dependance to sustain humans over God then I understand more about the destruction of Earth in Revelations that much more. Humans can not save themselves and saving the Earth does not work to save humans. It is about saving our souls by chosing God of Creation to live our lives for as God of Creation as provided a way through whose birth we just celebrated, Jesus Christ who God sent to this earth as a way to Salvation if we chose to repent from our sins(things we have done wrong in life) and turn our lives humbly before Jesus to live the way the Bible encourages us to live. Jesus forgives us and what wonderful hope is this! There are answers to living in the Bible.

Revelations 21: 1 (KJV)

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

     The prior chapters in Revelations talk in detail how God destroys this Earth. Yet, God does create new for those that worship and follow Him!!!!!  There is hope!!!! "Saving the Earth" is not going to save humans but saving souls of humans are which gives humans hope and an amazing eternity!!!! Yes, we can mess up our lives so bad but there is still hope as Jesus can help us with the life we have messed up on this earth and a eternal reward for living for HIM!!!!

     Around us today, there are so many depressed and struggling! Those that do live for Jesus struggle too but it can come from us not fully relying on Jesus to help us in everything as we hold things back in our lives from Him and attacks from the enemy as he works in so many ways including deceiving many in rejecting God in their lives. Not everything will be great here but eternity gives us hope as our live time in nothing compared to eternity! It gives us hope to live each day here to encourage others around us. God keeps forgiving us as continue to confess when we mess up to Him. He is loving as we reach out to Him in faith. Such strength He can give in life when struggles keeping coming in our lives when we ask Him to help us! I can forget to be humble and ask Him to help me!

Revelations 22: 12-21

12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

 13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

 14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

 15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

 16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

 17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

 20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

 21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

     Is God Green? God is about saving our humans lives as He loves us so much to give us Salvation through Jesus Christ who was sent down to this Earth that we Celebrate at Christmas time. God loves us! Yet, He does have wrath storing up for those through the ages that reject which in Revelations where is speaks of this Earth being destroyed. Humans can't save the Earth to save themselves if they chose to live lives that reject God.

     So many can say and do so many things in front of people to create illusions. Sometimes, are they really covering up what is not real? Have they convinced their ownselves of the illusions so the keep repeating the eternal destructive cycle? So one who is not as showy appears to be so less in your mind? We can be fooled. We can be fool when we are not digging into the Word of God and seeking Him each day. I admit, I have been fooled many times by people with what they are doing in front of me. Admittingly, I want to be fooled to believe the best for them due to confronting the other issues can get really, really messy in so many ways. It is easier that way but at what cost? Yet, again, they are given the choice to make and responsible for it as consquences follow.

     Matthew 6 stuck out to me in a different way recently. There are times I have questions but the answers can take awhile in coming. There is so much I don't understand about life but know if I keep seeking a deeper relationship with God, I will learn more yet must be responsible to apply it. Otherwise, what good is learning it? What ground does it fall on if I don't apply it?

Matthew 6: 4, 6, 18 (KJV)

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

     Those verses just seemed to leap out at me despite how the good the other verses are before and after which explain it more. Conviction hit me also in that how much do I do just before God alone and how much in front of others? At church as we do it openly before men all these things we do, are we doing it home when we are alone during the week? Or do we just keep making a show of it in front of others only? Yes, we can impress many doing in it in front of them but God knows our sincerity of heart and we can't fool Him. We can send emails with all kinds of churchy words but are they truly real in our lives? What are we doing privately before the Lord in our own time instead of watching TV or other things we can fill our time with? We can be studying things at church but are they sincerely having any applications or change in our lives we live daily interacting with others?

     God rewards us in His timing, not when we think it should be. Then when God does bless us, people can be interesting with that which can make life interesting. The ones who are making the public show are not thrilled when God blesses one who is not make the show of it. We know the problems it creates in churches as people are torn down by the ones who can be goats as they tear down sheep. Yet, we humans don't know who is sheep or goats on earth. Yes, we are told we are going to know by people's fruits in life. Yet, God is the one who truly knows and will judge the hearts of men and those hearts at any time they are alive on earth have a choice to turn their lives fully over to God to change!!!! Yet, what kind of  fruits we see can help us encourage others in various ways.

      I'm not advocating to have a private or non-public faith! We are not to be ashamed to pray, do good things, or live our Christian lives before the world in public. Yet, what we do with our time in our private lives when alone are truly who we are verses what we do to impress others that think they know us.

      My favorite part of chapter 6 is below. No matter what, seek God to meet your needs and don't worry about it! I can say it, read it, write it, but it has not fully sunk through every fiber in me due to I still worry about things and what people will think. My actions, attitudes, and thoughts show me I don't fully apply this amazing truth and promise God gives us. My own faith limits me in how God does provide and bless me!!! I'm seeking to change that. Sometimes, things have to been taken away from you so you do trust God that much more and realize what we have does come from Him!!!

Matthew 6: 33-34

33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

     God is working in our lives even if we forget that at times as years pass. We can recieve a message or calling at an early age but then sometimes, think that God may have forgotten about it as we try to follow it yet doors seem to close on us that "we" expect to open for us. Sometimes, we are blind to what God is doing around us as we wait.  We don't realize the other doors that are being opened to grow in us till that time of the original years ago. God must prepare our hearts so we are ready. Sometimes, it takes the time to prepare and let us see what is more clearly around us of what we will be leaving to understand more why we are leaving it behind.

     In Genesis chapter 12, we learn about Abram's and Saria's message/calling from God to leave the land. He further tells them He is going to give them land for generations to come that are like sand. Yet, they had no child and Abram was 75 years old!!! For some of us, even "going" will take years to come about in God's timing. It can be different things as God calls us to different things in life as He has each gifted us differently Romans 12. No matter what, it is still in God's timing not our thoughts of timing.

     Genesis 12: 1-5 (KJV)

1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

      Abram obeyed. Verse 3, God promises to protect him. God promises to protect us today when we obey Him. Yes, Abram made mistakes and God reminded him several times of the promise of the son he was to have from his wife who was also older in years. Yet, in chapter 17 as Abram was 99 years old, God made himself known again and changed their names to Abraham and Sarah as he repeated promises and more. 24 years has passed!!! Abraham still messed up but God still followed through on His promises to them! He just made some interesting consquences for his heirs from that time forward till today.  Not until chapter 21 is Isaac birth with Abraham being 100 years old!!! Sarah had aged right along with him! What is impossible with man is possible with God (Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 18:27)! How many miracles in the whole Bible prove this!

     God promises to protect those who trust in Him repeatedly in the Bible. When we lean on ourselves or other worldly means we tend to complicate things. How many of us have done that? I have too many times or back away from the challenge which is bad too!

     God's timing is different that what we want or think at times. It took 25 years for the first son by Sarah despite the son they came up with their own way to do it which has caused strife since. Abraham brought Lot with him despite Vs 1 "in departing from they kindred, and from thy Father's house" which complicated things at times as we read. God had His reasons for saying it but how many times we do what we think is best instead of totally following God? We compromise, which can hurt us later. Yet, I know we have hope that people will change yet it drags us down instead. Sometimes, it takes time for us to see why God tells us things. Abraham and Lot finally went different ways as we read as consquences still followed from taking Lot with him. We trust those who are not sincere and they can hurt us later repeatedly by consquences of various kinds. At times it is better to make the break earlier than later.

    Throughout those chapters God kept reminding Abraham of His promises despite the mistakes Abraham made but allows us to learn from too that God will still use us despite them. God has His timing that we must wait for as things fall into place. I pray we don't mess it up in our own lives also with consquences that make life real interesting.

    Working on Patience God can give as we ask Him in order to wait on His timing and not complicating things with my own concept of things which can yield complicating consquences. I know have complicated things in my own life and thankful God is still willing to use me as I wait. I praise the Lord for so many examples of people in the Bible serving God yet messing up also as God continues to use them!!!!

     Did Abraham's own thinking and choices made prolong Isaac being born?  Do our choices do the same thing in God working in our own lives? I do believe our choices can affect it as it can show our lack of trust in our Lord to act in our own lives. Praise God of His forgiveness and God still willing to use us! Our faith and dependance must grow to actually take the steps we need to take in faith.