Confession

I believe confession is important (just to be clear, we are to confess to God and each other, not necessarily a priest or pastor). I also believe in holiness- which, to me, means we can live without sinning. This entails having such a close relationship with Jesus, Holy Spirit stops us before we do anything he would not like. Therefore, if we are living in holiness, there is no need to confess when we aren't sinning. Unfortunately, I don't always live up to that possibility. Case in point:

It has occurred to me that I have been rather judgemental in my thoughts of others recently (I actually believe Jesus is the one who has brought me to this realization). This is so recent, I am just now working through what this means for me. However, I do know it starts with confession. Let's see where this goes.

I have been having trouble sleeping lately. It's the kind where your mind just will not shut down and continually thinks. What I have mostly been thinking about is the awful state of the world and the terrible people who have brought us to this incredible place (fear has risen from that and I will likely delve into that here at a later point). I guess I have thought of this as a righteous anger, so it has been overlooked in my attempts to put into words all these thoughts and hopefully help others to see the truth.

But being a Christian is not about going to church or following a set of rules or doing the right thing. It's all about living in a relationship with Jesus. And let me set the record straight, if I need to- Jesus is love. He did not come into the world to condemn it or to judge humankind. He came to love us into a relationship with himself and his father. And we Christians have not been doing a very good job at living like that relationship is what it's all about. Being right seems to be of utmost importance to us (and judging those who are wrong). Or at least what we think is right. Unfortunately, what we think is right and what actually is right are often two very different things. 

Since a little bit before retiring, I started realizing how very important love is in a Christian's life. If we are not loving, we are not following Jesus. If we are not loving, we are not living in that relationship with Jesus. Well frankly, if we are not loving, we are not Christians (Christian meaning "Christ-follower").

 I must confess my desire to bring others to the truth has not been coming from love. Rather it has been coming from my being "right" and them being wrong. How can they not see the truth? I want them to think right like I do.

How haughty of me. How non-Christian. Ouch.

To you, my readers, I confess and apologize. I ask forgiveness.

Where do I go from here? I'm not sure, but I will be listening to what Jesus has to say to me about this. I'll let you know how it goes.

How to Make Sense of What's Going on in the World Today

Maybe my longest title ever- ha!

Do you, like me, wonder how on earth we got to where we are in the world today? I mean usually you can follow something from one point to the next until you have the destination. But nothing seems to explain how we got where we are. There is no logic or sense in our situation.

Well, if you really want to know what's going on, I suggest you buy and read "The Return of the Gods," by Jonathan Cahn. He actually explains it all extremely well!

How I would love to delve into his book right here and tell you some of it, but there is just too much there for me to even try. So what I'm going to do is write out the back cover to whet your appetite:

Is it possible that behind what is happening to America and the world lies a mystery hidden in the ancient inscriptions of the Middle East?

Is it possible that the ancient mysterious beings know as the "gods" have returned to our world?

What are the mysterious beings known as the Shedim? What is the house of spirits? And what does it all have to do with your life?

In The Return of the Gods, Jonathan Cahn takes you on a journey from ancient Sumer, Assyria, and Babylonia to find the puzzle pieces that explain what is now taking place before our eyes.

What are the gods? And what exactly are they? And could they be the hidden agents transforming modern culture and even your life?

Is it possible that in the mythologies of the ancient gods are the clues that reveal what is actually happening at the present hour?

Could the mystery of the gods have determined the exact days on which some of the most critical Supreme Court decisions have been handed down?

Who are The Possessor, The Enchantress, The Destroyer, and The Transformer?

Has one of the ancient gods actually manifested in New York City and ancient mythology played out on its streets in real time?

Where is it all heading? What does the future hold? And what do you need to know in light of it?

Prepare to embark on a fascinating, unforgettable, and mind-blowing journey where fact is stranger than fiction and where you will see the world as you never have before . . .

I've listened to this book and am now reading it carefully- with highlighter in hand. It's an urgent read for these days.

 

Have Mercy!

For my time with God every day, I read through "30 Days with Wesley: A Prayer Book." It has become one of my staples, with a morning and evening section for each day. Thirty days is enough to keep it from seeming like I'm repeating all the time. It's not my only book or method I use, but it is an important one which I enjoy.

In one of the readings, I came across this prayer: 

     O Father, have mercy on all humanity.
     Draw all people to Your Truth.

I felt it so important and applicable for the days we live in, I have decided to use it each morning and evening before I pray The Lord's Prayer (as a part of the Wesley book).

These days all humanity needs God's mercy! 

These days all people need God's Truth!

Won't you pray this with me each day? If you are willing, drop me a note in the comments section.