WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE

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Each of us faces struggles in our lives.  It might be something as simple as getting out of bed each day or as difficult as contemplating a life threatening disease.  Each of our earthly problems might seem monumental at the moment, but are they really?

When God gave His perfect world to its first people, problems were not part of the equation.  The relationship between God and man was like nothing we’ve ever since experienced.  The moment mankind stepped outside of the boundaries set for him, that relationship became tarnished.

Every day since has brought its share of difficulties.  The Bible is packed with stories of men and women who had to endure them.  The beauty of reading these stories is knowing that they were not fictional characters.  These were real people – experiencing real problems – living with sin – facing the evils of the world – just like we are.

We can let obstacles be stumbling blocks or we can use them to strengthen our faith in our God.  He will make the path straight again.  We can try doing it alone and that may work for a time, but then we’re faced with another bump in the road and we get more and more beat up as time goes by.  Letting our problems overtake us only leads to more trouble.  Allowing God to solve them or use them to make us stronger is much easier.

God  loves to hear from us when we’re thankful and when we want to show Him our praise.  He also wants us to come to Him for our daily needs.  Jesus came to restore our relationship with our Creator.  Because of that we can talk directly to Him.  Don’t wait.   Do it now!

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THE POWER OF GOD

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Sometimes we feel so safe and sound in our Christian lives that we forget that we’re fighting a daily battle against the devil and all his sneaky minions.  They insidiously maneuver their ways into our minds, picking away at the details of our belief and sometimes cause us to stumble.  Jesus knew that was going to be the case.  He even prepared His disciples for it before He died.  He told them that following Him wasn’t going to be easy.

Things haven’t changed much since Jesus ascended into heaven.  Satan still roams the earth seeking out his next victim.  He never sleeps.  He never rests.  He will never experience peace.  He has been defeated through Christ’s final sacrifice for those who believe in Him, but to those who think they don’t need a savior, He seems like just another religious fanatic.

There are those who might ask why God didn’t just wipe Satan off the face of the planet.  Our God isn’t like that.  He’s merciful and loving.  He gave His own Son to take our place.  His love is incomprehensible by human standards.

We have one weapon with which to fight back at the devil.  Jesus used it Himself when Satan tried to tempt Him.  It’s called the Bible.  Within these pages, we find the perfect defense against the father of lies.

Trust that what you believe is true.  It has endured for centuries.  It will never fail. It’s God handbook for our lives and the words inspired by Him through sinful men like us.  It is pure, holy and true.

When you feel that you’re being persecuted for what you believe, remember that you are not alone.  Our lives as Christians don’t come with the guarantee of a perfect life here on earth.  Our paradise awaits us in heaven.

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SUNNYSIDE UP

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Groundhog Day has come and gone and  man has laughingly placed his trust in a furry little animal that would prefer not to be waken in the middle of its hibernation.  In Wisconsin, one of them actually bit the ear of the mayor in protest.

Celebrating Groundhog Day is a longstanding tradition.  It has its origin in the festival of Imbolc  (the seasonal turning point of the Celtic Calendar, which is celebrated on February 2 and also involves the foretelling of weather.  Of course with all our modern day meteorological studies, this is simply silliness.

We humans are always looking for ways to tell the future.  We turn our eyes to the clouds, the wind, the climate change.  We put our faith into scientific thought regarding the earth’s vibrations, sound waves, etc.  We trust in a our weather men, our computer technology, our brains to forecast what will happen tomorrow, but the very last resort is to turn to the One who created all of it.

I’m not saying that science isn’t good and that we shouldn’t plan for changes in weather, but we should remember that we can’t do anything about changing God’s plans for this planet.  There is a great deal of that going on right now.  Humanity seems consumed with saving the planet from becoming a greenhouse filled with noxious gases and eventually burning up.

We should be concerned and take good care of the place God has provided for us, but , there is still absolutely nothing man can do to change the weather.  Since God’s perfect paradise was destroyed by sin, we will never really experience perfection until we reach heaven.

Lord, help us to remember that you control everything in life.  Help us put our complete trust in You for salvation as well as our daily needs.  Amen.

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PERSISTENCE

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This weekend we’l witness another Super Bowl game.  We’ve become like the Romans of old, who put their confidence in the gladiators who assembled in the coll0seum to engage in war games and fetes of strength. We find something exciting about watching others take on difficult odds to achieve success.  Maybe it gives us a feeling that we could do such great things if we only had the chance to follow our dreams when we were younger.

Sometimes we live our dreams through the accomplishments of others.  When we do that, we’re limiting our potential.  If we never try, we will never know if we could or couldn’t make the grade.

Many of our modern day heroes are the physically strong, the beautiful, the ones with the most brains or money.  We place people on pedestals instead of the One who created them. We sell ourselves short because we don’t feel worthy.

When we do that, we’re challenging the gifts  God has given us.  He knows what we can do and how our talents can be used .  If we doubt that He can do great things through us and for us, we are denying His power.  If we give up before we even try, we are shortchanging ourselves and not living up to the potential He has built into us.

Life isn’t easy.  There are going to be difficult times.  We’ll face trouble.  We won’t always get our way.  We’ll fail.  We’ll be tempted.  We’ll eventually die.  These are facts, but we can have a life abundant, if we never give up – if we place our future in God’s hands – if we trust in His plan for our lives and if we believe in what He has already accomplished for us.

The world’s champions will all pass away, but God remains and His love endures forever.

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LET’S DO THIS!

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Tonight my acting students open another show.  I’ve lost count of all the opening nights, but each one of them holds great excitement and anticipation.  Like any endeavor,  we try to approach our goals using the best of our abilities.  It’s kind of like being part a team, a corporation, or even a church.  Each one uses his particular talents to complete the task to accomplish the best that can be done.

When the Christian church was established it was compared to being part of one body – the body of Christ.  Each part serves a purpose.  Each one is important to the operation of the whole.   If the eyes don’t work – something else compensates for them.  If the arm doesn’t work another  takes it place.

No matter what we do in life I think it’s important for us to remember that we all have a function.  We all have value and we all have purpose.  Those things are part of the way God made us.  He sees our capabilities and uses them to help others – to show compassion – to encourage – inspire – teach.  He knows where our talents lie and He uses them to enlarge His kingdom and make the world a better place to be.

Whenever you feel your life is going nowhere or that you simply don’t have anything to contribute anymore, think of what He has created within you and  rejoice that you are important to Him and to the world you live in.  He knew you before your conception and  had your life all mapped out even then.

So as we wait for the curtain to go up on each day of our life, let’s take the things we’ve learned along the way and use them to the best of our ability remembering that we were created as a masterpiece by God Himself and He never makes mistakes.

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DO YOU FEEL LIKE A JINX?

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The comic strip character, Joe Btfsplk, created by Al Capp, was the proverbial jinx.  No matter where he went or what he did, disaster was right beside him.  The poor guy even carried a black cloud over his head as a constant reminder of his lot in life.

There are times when we feel like nothing ever goes right for us.  Like Joe, we go through life and everything we touch turns bad, or creates trouble for someone else. When our past sins burden us down,  it’s easy to begin to sense that you are no good to anyone.

God doesn’t look at us that way.  If He did, He would see nothing but a sea of black clouds.  We are all sinners.  No matter what we do we can’t erase the clouds that darken our days.  There is only One who can.

When we face the trials that the world has to throw at us, it’s easy to get caught up in the trap of loneliness, helplessness or fear.  God knows how those emotions drag on us – slowly pulling us toward the father of lies and away from Him.  It is because of His great love for us that He provided an answer to our feelings of depression and unworthiness.
The sacrifices of the Old Testament had only one purpose – to bring God’s people to complete obedience of Him.  None of them ever washed a way a single sin.  The final sacrifice of Jesus as the perfect lamb, is the only One that saves us from that awful curse.

The real jinx on this earth isn’t Joe Btfsplk or you or me.  It’s Satan himself.  If we believe his lies, we soon succumb to the darkness of this world.  If we look to the light of Jesus, the curse will be lifted from our lives.

Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

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ARE YOU LEAVING FOOTPRINTS?

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I’ve had a number of people come into my life who had a profound effect on me.  There’s probably someone you can remember who had that kind of impact on your life.  Maybe it was your parents, a special friend, a teacher – but that person found something within you that you didn’t know existed and helped you discover it.

There are moments when we need to be alone to sort through the details.  We need some space to make important decisions – we feel we don’t need advice or assistance from anyone.  That’s OK, but still we can’t really make it through this life with any semblance of sanity if we are completely alone.

When the car won’t start, we go to a mechanic.  When the shower doesn’t work, we call a plumber.  When our life is falling apart – when we’ve tried everything to stretch that last dollar – when the kids need braces – when you need a transplant – when your depression has a fast hold on you – when you can’t get organized – when you’re lonely, helpless or lost you need more than a professional to patch the emotional scars for you.

Our God is not only a great healer, He is an advisor, counselor, confidante, trusted friend, psychiatrist, encourager, inspirer, redeemer and savior.  His impact on our state of mind can move mountains.  His force is beyond our comprehension.  His love like nothing we’ve experienced in any other relationship.

He’s the One whose footprints we should follow.  By doing so, we are placing ours right next to His and we are also leaving footprints for others.  Following Jesus, will show us the path to heaven and give us what we need to encourage those around us.  Time to stick our feet in the sand and move!

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THE WAY

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You walked the path of life for me – You suffered for my loss.

You sacrificed Your own dear Son, upon an ugly cross.

You did this for a worm like me, You gave to me your best

Now I can walk that road to You and in Your arms find rest.

I don’t deserve this precious gift.  I don’t deserve Your love.

I’ve spat upon this Son of Yours who came from Heaven above.

I’ve scorned Him as did men of old.  The scourge I laid on Him.

The nails that pinned Him to the tree, were placed there with my sin.

The story didn’t end that day.  It just began, you see.

For Jesus, Christ, the Son of God, returned to life for me.

The flesh that once was bruised and scorned and broken now is whole.

He conquered death – He rose again – He saved my dying soul.

KATHY BOECHER©

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BUMPS IN THE ROAD

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Most days we hope that things might go better than the day before.  When you’ve had a string of difficulties, you soon become disheartened.  When days turn into weeks,  months and years your disappointment can turn into bitterness and you eventually don’t even try anymore.

God doesn’t want us to get discouraged.  He wants us to turn to Him in these troubling times.  He wants us to learn – to grow and to flourish.  The little twists and turns on our way to eternity are nothing in comparison to the suffering His Son endured on His walk to Calvary.  He certainly didn’t have to do any of that.  He’s God!  He could have wiped away our sin like you erase a mistake in your writing.  He’s God!!  He can do anything.

Instead He chose to come to us – to be one of us – to live through the same difficulties we face – to be rejected by His peers – to teach, do miracles, show His power, to heal the broken hearted and restore life in more ways than one.

Golgotha was just outside the city limits of Jerusalem, but Jesus’ walk to His death carried more than the weight of the cross.  He carried the sin of the world upon His bloodied back.  The indignation He suffered on our behalf was so that our road would be made clear;  that the minor disturbances of this life would be easier – that we no longer would fear death.

We cannot dwell in the sins of our past if we are ever to move forward.  We must look to the end of the road – beyond our iniquities, our foolishness, our inadequacy – and into the face of our Savior.  He makes every road straight and clears the path to heaven for us, because HE IS GOD!

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LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER,

Words sometimes flow from my mouth like a gushing river.
Will I never learn that some of them might put someone on the defensive –
Or hurt feelings, or confuse or antagonize?
God please help me to think before I speak.
Help me edit the words I speak the same way I revise the words I write.
It would be nice to be able auto correct what we say.
I pray that I would never become a stumbling block to anyone.
I pray that I can remain silent until I’ve thought things through.
I pray for discernment and wisdom.
Lord, let my words be used to encourage, inspire and motivate.
Use me to share the only true Word that I can depend on –
Your Holy Bible.
Amen!

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WHAT’S THAT SMELL?

Peace officers are dying or getting injured in the line of duty. Men & women in the armed forces are still putting their lives on the line every day, despite the fact that our president says we are no longer involved in the war against terror and publicly has shown himself reaching out to our enemies and snubbing our allies. Streets are filled with unsupervised kids left to their own devices, who refuse to take responsibility for their actions. We are an oil rich nation and still import from other countries. With all this junk going on, the top news story of the day is about under inflated footballs.

Me thinks something is rotten in America! Or at least our priorities have completely run amok,

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HISTORY LESSONS

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I wasn’t much interested in history as a child.  I should’ve been.  I had one of the most dramatic history teachers ever.  He would actually rise up on his desk and relive every battle of the Civil War right before our eyes.  I was seated in front of him and he really should’ve handed out towels before each class.  I was the recipient of many a shower.

As time goes by and my old mind has a history of its own, I find the subject to be much more interesting than I did then.  Programs shown on the American Heroes, History and public broadcasting channels pertaining to history are not only interesting, they are entertaining as well.

History is said to repeat itself and that we should learn from the mistakes of our ancestors.  I guess that’s true, but it doesn’t seem to be the case most of the time.  The same kind of things go on and on and on as the did in the ancient times.  God’s chosen people, Israel had one common flaw – they continuously turned to the gods of their captors and away from the only true God.  It didn’t seem to sink in.

We are much like this in our country.  We make the same mistakes over and over and don’t seem to learn from them.  We put our faith in transitory things – in temporary fixes – in people who make amazing promises – in property, prestige and power – in anything, but the one true God.

We must return to history – HIS STORY – for examples on how to live.  God has a plan for each of us.  It was designed and mapped out before our birth.  We don’t need to look back, because He has us in the palm of His hand.

JOB 8:8-10 “For inquire, please, of bygone ages,
    and consider what the fathers have searched out.
  For we are but of yesterday and know nothing,
    for our days on earth are a shadow.
   Will they not teach you and tell you
    and utter words out of their understanding?

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YOU AREN’T A FAILURE!

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The play, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” epitomizes Charlie’s low self -esteem.  In fact, Lucy tells him that his face exudes failure.  Charlie’s response was, “It’s hard on a face when it has failure written all over it.”

How many times do you rise with high hopes only to have them dashed into a feeling of insecurity the minute you look in the mirror?  Do you feel that everything you touch is doomed before you even try?  We can fall into that trap, especially when we get negative feedback from those around us.

Failure is another of the weapons Satan uses against us.  It draws us in as much as success does.  Once our self-esteem becomes unraveled, it doesn’t take long for the rest of us to cave in.   We need to be reminded that we have gifts and talents,  but because we’ve been told that confidence shows pride, we try not to come on too strong.

Those in the throes of deep depression are usually consumed with a lack of self-worth.  It can be debilitating and self-destructive.

We don’t have to look  far to get a confidence lift.  Start by looking outside ourselves.  If we reach out to someone; encourage them in their journey; lift them when they feel defeated; tell them they are doing a good job –  we aren’t only giving them a boost, we’re filling our lives with purpose.

God wants us to grow our confidence through Him.  He gives it to us freely.  He lifts us up when we’re down – He supports us when we grow weary – He has paid the ultimate price for our salvation.  We are no longer failures in His eyes!

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”  1 John 5:4

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TRUE FREEDOM

To soar with the eagles no matter how high,
To reach all my goals or at least I can try,
To try and to fail but to never give up,
to turn to my God to fill my cup,
To speak what I feel without fear of dissension,
To believe what I choose without intervention,
To live without fear and to follow my dreams,
To love and be loved with a peace that redeems.
This is what it means to have freedom that’s true
To love one another as Jesus loved you.

KATHY BOECHER©

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WHY GO TO CHURCH?

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The number of excuses for not attending church is unending.

  • Everyone acts one way in the church and another every other day of the week.
  • I’ve got a meal to prepare.
  • I don’t have time.
  • Church makes me feel uncomfortable about myself.
  • I don’t like all the formality of worship.
  • I can worship anywhere.

Add these –

  • I study my Bible every day.
  • I don’t need to make an outward show of my beliefs on Sunday.
  • I have accepted Jesus, I don’t have to do anything else.
  • I live a good life.
  • I don’t need to hear how bad I am.
  • The ones who really need to be there are those who don’t believe in God.

When we try to come up with reasons why we should be there, it’s more difficult.  Start with this one –

  • I want to thank God for getting me through another week.
  • I want to praise Him for helping me through difficult times.
  • I want to be with others who believe what I do so we can encourage each other.
  • My life is packed with so many things to do, I should be able to give my God at least an hour of my time.  ‘
  • When we turn things back to God, rather than ourselves, it’s easy to see why we should be in His house.

He loved us so much that He gave His Son to carry the sting of death we should have endured.  The least we can do is give Him one day.  Praise Him, thank Him, ask for His blessings on your week, share your love for your fellow believers, encourage each other, lift others in prayer – WORSHIP!

“Come to me you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

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LIFE CHANGER

When I was in sales I heard something that really stuck in my measly little mind.

“The hardest door to open is your own.”

So often we hide in the security of our own safety net and never venture beyond it. We are stifled by insecurity, fear and a lack of self confidence. Even our churches are guilty of this and this can be a huge stumbling block.

As the years go by I have learned that it really isn’t about me, but what I can do for someone else is far more beneficial. I’ve also come to realize that I am not alone when I face into something unknown. God is with us in everything we do and if we let Him, He will bless us more than we can even imagine.

Oh, Almighty God, with you my path will never be unsure. You tend me like a shepherd – keeping me focused on the right path – helping me overcome obstacles – breaking me only to reshape me – caring for my bruised body and lifting me out of danger. I praise you for presence in my life. Amen!

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THAT AWKWARD AGE

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Somewhere between the time we’re born and the time we die, there is the time known as “THE AWKWARD AGE.”  Some think it happens when we enter puberty, but I believe we experience it throughout our lives.  It has to do with the original sin handed down by the first inhabitants of the world.

You wouldn’t think of a sweet innocent infant as sinful, but we’ve all been born with the stamp of “sinner” engraved into our hearts.  You wouldn’t consider a helpless hospice patient a sinner either, but the fact is sinners will continue to be so until we get on the other side of eternity.  Yes our sin is forgiven, but we must muddle through a life of sin.

This is a subject most of us don’t like to talk about.  It makes us uncomfortable and squeamish.  We have the feeling that we are responsible for our salvation by the things we do and say.  If we lead a good, upright life, God will surely forgive us and save us a place in heaven.  If that were true, we would have no need for a Savior – no need to study God’s Word and certainly no need for God.

We’re faced with difficult decisions, life threatening possibilities, hopelessness, pain, fear and everything that requires more than our own works to bring us relief.  Our Creator supplies the antidote for sin.  He loved us so much that He took on human flesh and died for us.

It doesn’t end there.  Because of His great love, we have been washed free of the weight of sin.  We can appear before our Judge as the innocent creatures He intended us to be.  No longer will we live as awkward individuals.  Our freedom from sin is assured!

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TURN YOUR FROWN UPSIDE DOWN

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The reflection we see in a mirror tells a lot about who we are inside, but often we mask what we really feel or think.

As we age, the scars of life wrinkle and tug at the corners of our eyes, our brow and the areas around the mouth and neck.

When we smile, everything turns upward, as if looking to God.  Eyes light up, teeth  or lack of them – appear, the entire face livens.

We frown and muscles sag and fall, turning ever downward towards ourselves.

How much better to put our focus up rather than inward or down.

The answers to a happy face don’t lie within us or anything here on earth or from the depths of hell.

Stretch those sagging faces – renew and refresh each living cell in your skin!

Enliven the tissues – create laugh lines instead of the other kinds.  Look up to the one who made your smile.

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PUT ON A HAPPY FACE

It seems to me that the world has forgotten how to smile lately. It might be because of all the ugliness we’re exposed to on a daily basis. It could be that hatred, inhumanity, fear, poverty, loss and all the other negatives still exist. Maybe we’ve given up hope. Maybe we simply can’t find anything to be happy about.

Negativity is a powerful force which has the ability to draw even the most joyous among us into its clutches. The devil is also a powerful adversary. He uses all those emotions to confuse – beat us up – consume us – to join him in his misery.

It’s time for an attitude adjustment. In the account of the events leading up to Jesus arrest, He tells His disciples to not let their hearts be troubled. (Read John 14.). It sounds so easy, doesn’t it? Not always the case, however. We want to be in control. We want to have things together. We don’t like uncertainty.

When negativity rears its ugly head, we need to arm ourselves with Jesus’ comforting words. He’s already assured a place for us in heaven. Our future holds an eternal life insurance policy with our names on it. With that kind of hope, we should easily be able to put on a happy face.

When you smile, the world laughs with you. When you frown, you are doing nothing but creating deeper lines in your face.

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THE WILD FRONTIER

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Picture a time where guns were a part of your daily apparel – where they were used to put food on the table, go to war and defend yourself.  Now think about the outlaw who used his guns to terrorize the community – to hold up a bank – to kill his neighbor – to refuse to give them up – ever!

This is the way life was on the wild frontier.  This is pretty much the same way life is becoming today.  The right to bear arms was written into our constitution for a reason – to prevent the Federal government from ruling with tyranny.

Something strange is going on in the land of the free.  Little by little our original rights as citizens are being whittled away.  The Constitution no longer seems to have any value.  There is no batting of the eye when a women decides to end a pregnancy.  It’s even condoned and paid for.  Police are accused of creating a vigilante society.  Criminals have been praised for their actions.  The elderly have lost their place of honor to anyone under 40 and end of life is an option for them.  Children are killing other children because they don’t know how to talk to each other, nor have they been taught to value life.  Everyday we see the use of guns being blamed for the condition of our society.  You rarely hear about the perpetrator and their lack of common sense.

Have we come full circle as a nation?  Are our city streets beginning to look like the old west?  Have the Ten Commandments become just a list of suggestions which have grown outdated?  Do we value life so little that we think nothing about consequences for actions?

I don’t know if there are any clear answers.  I only know that what once was a nation of Judeo-Christian values is being eaten up by a “me” generation.  Praise God that He gives us the victory over sin and promises an eternity in Heaven – which I’m longing for more and more each day.

Posted in aging, America, christian daily devotions, christianity, Encouragement, Faith, God, gun control, hope, Inspiration, Jesus, politics, Religion, society | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments