 Judges 21 'Consequences of decisions made without considering the possible fall out' We live in a world where 'Right' is wrong and 'Wrong' has become right. Let's face it folks, this is not going to change! The scriptures don't lie! As I watch the catastrophic fall of America, and how those in power seem only to be concerned with their own agendas, I am reminded of what God's word says to God's people...Let not your heart be troubled....I have a place prepared for you! I can rejoice because this place, PLANET EARTH, is not my home. I have made an investment in my ultimate dwelling place called, Heaven. In the mean time, my request of God has been to 'Rule In The Affairs of Men', so that His people can live a peaceful and quiet life marked by godliness and dignity here on the earth (1 Tim.2:2). It is disturbing to see the great moral decline of our world, let alone the entire country. It is deplorable that men who lack integrity, and respect for human beings are praised and given positions of power and authority. It is mind boggling how so many go along with what seems to be blatantly wrong. But again, I am reminded of the Words of My Lord which clearly outline for us what we can expect while living in the last days of 'The Last Days'. As I read through the entire book of Judges, It is clear that although things have changed, things remain the same. There were decisions made by Israel, whose fall out they later regretted because they simply didn't think things through. They failed to take into consideration what would happen as a result, and the outcome for all. So here we are. There is a tremendous price to be paid for willful acts. The things we do in our youth do follow us, be it good or bad. Never get it twisted! There is a consequence for every action that a man takes. It may not appear to be so, or vividly seen by the naked eye, but God's Word tells me it is so, and I believe it. We, as a nation, will reap the rewards of all bad decisions made by those in power. We are going to see the spill out like never before. Things are going to get so bad, that many will fear and tremble. It's coming sooner than we think. So, I say to all those who profess to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, 'Cast not away thy confidence'! God's promises are sure and true. It's all going to go down just the way God said it would. We know how the story ends. If you have been slack with your walk with God, indifferent, or carnal, now is the time to get up and mean business with God! Don't take Him for granted. Don't trample on the Grace of God. Remember this, judgement will begin with His people! Let us hold fast to His promises. Let us look to Him from whence cometh our help. Let us keep the faith no matter what. Let us be the best representative for Him on the face of this earth! WE ARE UNDER GOD'S UMBRELLA! WHAT BETTER PLACE TO BE?
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 The amount of things that compete for our attention daily are increasing! The numerous distractions like our phones, online occupation, and the insatiable need to keep up with everything that is going on socially and politically, is incredible.
I have noticed for quite some time now, how the movie industry has cornered the market on writing and rewriting our destiny. There is the ideology that says that we can create our own destinies, and even change it to make it what we want it to be. There are movies that suggest the possibility that the earth will pose great competitiveness when it comes to one's survival. If you pay close attention to the story line, you will get the messages that are being fed to the masses about life, love, identity, and the future, but where is the hope?? That's a subject for another blog. I can remember a time when entertainment was a treat. It wasn't something that we engaged in on the regular. Grant it, there weren't as many things to watch on television or live shows to go to. Today is a whole other story. Entertainment is not all bad, but the amount of time it eats out of our daily and weekly life can pose a problem. There is a constant flood and flow of busyness and movement. One wonders if we are able to spend profitable time doing the things that are necessary for us to do. Each of us are in control of the activities we get involved with. What about the time that is needed to develop what God has given us? Can we even hear His voice midst the hustle and bustle of life? How much time are we investing in sitting quietly in His presence? Every individual needs a healthy dose of 'Down Time' that allows you to relax, and exhale from all the busyness. You and I need a certain amount of 'Quietness' in order to hear ourselves think and process the important stuff. We also need to hush our spirit to hear God's voice. We need to be able to distinguish His voice from all the other voices including our own. I can no longer just drive along the highway or the street and focus on my thoughts. There are billboards with tantalizing ads and reminders of upcoming events, that distract me from the last thing that I was pondering or thinking about. The next thing I know, I'm entertaining some other thought, all because of a billboard. I realize that I cannot control the 'Entertainment' world, but I can certainly control myself and what I decide to participate in. I can control my television, and my computer, my phone, and other events that require my money. Quiet moments, each day, is a valuable thing to find ourselves doing. Sitting still, requires that we shut everything else out, at least for a reasonable period of time. Quietness helps us to evaluate whether or not we should continue in certain relationships or not. It helps us to think about the areas of our life that need fixing. Quietness affords us the beauty of connecting with our inner selves, which has become a loss art. When you allow yourself to be quiet, you begin to see some of the things you are doing wrong. There is so much I can say about studying to be quiet. If you have a husband or children, you'll be able to hear them more fully and take notice of the things that require your much needed attention. Busyness and distractions keep us from fulfilling our God given abilities. It hinders our spiritual growth and shuts down the voice of the Lord God. There is no wonder that God has to step in at times with an attention getter in order for us to stop and think. Try practicing quietness. Here is a list of ways to get some quietness in each day.
We can practice being quiet. You will be surprised at what you can accomplish with less distractions in your life!  Just imagine, someone notices that your enemy or adversary has been humbled, due to circumstances, and now comes to you in an attempt to be friendly. They come with comments or a conversation that they think you will be interested in, only to be rebuked by you, or ignored and sent away. It is clear that they were never friends with you prior to this.
This type of character in a person has no allegiance to anyone. It is narcissistic behavior, full of selfishness, self-seeking, always trying to have an ‘in’ with those who are either in the lime light for the moment, or those who are in a position they want for themselves, so they do things or say things to try to attach themselves to you. Let something happen, and see how fast they’ll turn their backs on you. When troubles arise, these types are always looking to save their own skin by any means necessary. Narcissists have inflated thoughts about themselves. They think highly of their skills and abilities. They are grand in their own minds. They are also preoccupied with themselves. Narcissistic people seem to be void of true concern for others. All that matters is what's about them and what they want. They are hard pressed to be empathetic or sympathetic unless there is something in it for them, and their intentions still aren’t pure. They are users and can, if not careful, become abusers. They cannot be trusted. You’re just an end to a means for them. We know that what lies just beneath the surface is a deeper need they're crying out for. They don’t know how to be a friend to anyone and they have many ‘Acquaintances’, but hardly any true friends. No one can survive in a relationship with a narcissist unless you are their therapist. Here’s the disclaimer, I am not a psychologist or a psychiatrist, I am from the school of ‘Hard Knocks’, and what I do know a lot about is dysfunctional behavior. Narcissism is a result of disfunction, as well as, in some cases, mental disturbance. It never ends well for those who exhibit narcissistic behavior. They waste years and energy, never achieving what they so desperately need and want. I knew of a woman once who claimed to be a believer, yet she was a narcissist till the day she died. She was miserable and unhappy, always. Everything was everyone else's fault, not hers. She never took responsibility for her actions, neither would she apologize for the wrong she did. She was bitter and angry all of the time. She resented others. She was always tearing people down, and trying to influence them with her take on things. In the end, she suffered loneliness and pain. No one seem to go around her in her hour of need, even in her death. All you heard off of people's tongues were all the terrible things she said to them and how awful she was. There was a young man in 2 Samuel chapter one. He is nameless, it just mentions that he was an Amalekite that came from King Saul's camp. Saul and his men lost the battle that day against the enemy and as we know, King Saul fell on his own sword, committing suicide, as oppose to being killed by his enemies. This young man evidently witnessed the end of Saul and took credit for having killed him. When David asked how things went in battle, he lied, thinking he had done David a favor, by saying he killed Saul. What he didn't know was that David respected King Saul, the Lord's anointed, regardless of the problems between them due to Saul's jealousy. David had the young man killed. This young man seem to fall into the category of a 'Narcissist'. This was a selfish act. He thought it would put him in a good light with David and what ever else he thought he might have gained. It didn’t go well for this young man when he chose to take credit for something he didn’t do. That lie cost him his life. Little did he know that David was a man of integrity and not a vengeful man. Only a vengeful man would have taken sides with him. David had him executed! It is also interesting that a few days before this young man crossed David's path, David had just slaughtered the Amalekites. Character is everything. Don’t lie to yourself thinking that it’s not! Never gravitate towards someone for selfish reasons! Don’t tell lies to get in with people, it just might cost you everything! Philipians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." 2 Timothy 3:2 "Men shall be lovers of themselves..." (In the last days this will be prevalent like never before) |
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