Hope in Hard Times

Hope in hard times is our shield and strength. In hope we look to God, our ever-present hope in hard times. The truth is that in life there will be trouble, some small, some great, but God will hear us and help us. Even when I shake with fear and fight despair I know this to be true.

When I think on the Word of God, when I remind myself that God is faithful, I smile at the words "but God…" However, God is the light of hope and hope does not fail.

• The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. (Prov 10:22)
• The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:9-10)
• God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
• In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. (Psalm 86:7)
• A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; (Psalm 34:19)

Hope

I hear the Lord, He calls to me,

"Believe Me one more day, 

I'm on your side, I'm in your heart, 
I won't turn you away.

Pick up the laughter, hold the joy, 

Embrace the dream, and stay. 
Grab hold the hope, protect your heart. 
For now I make the way. 
Like streams where none have been before, 
Like desert roses bloom, 
I am Creator, pure and good. 
The way will be clear soon."

Do not give up.

Being Christian in Hard Times

Being a Christian doesn't mean we won't face hard times. I am facing hard times. But I know God will help me. I have to laugh. The Word says "ask, and keep on asking, seek, and keep on seek, knock and keep on knocking." So I ask a lot. Sometimes I wonder if God gets tired of me asking, but I remember that God is good all the time.

I have been trying to get Bank of America to work with me on my house payments. I practice the Word. I ask and keep on asking. I wondered if others were going through the same thing, but not being as tenacious as me. I advise anyone going through this to be diligent.

I wrote a letter to the White House explaining the situation. Guess what? The President wrote back. My case has been assigned to the homeownership prevention office. I spoke with the homeownership prevention office, discovered they will speak with Bank of America and escalate a resolution.

I praise God for His Word, "ask and keep on asking."

You can read my diary of my dealings with Bank of America:

Bank of America-The President Listened
Bank of America: Who's Home is It
Bank of America Remains Unbending
Bank of America: Ensuring Individuals Enter Default
Bank of America: Here to Make You Homeless

Will Beating Your Child Bring Results

Can beating your child really bring results? The recent case of the Texas judge beating his child because the teen consistently defied the father's request to stop downloading music and movies from the internet, I wonder why the dad didn't just take the computer away. It certainly is a more effective way to make the child realize the consequences of disobedience.

When I think of parents beating their children in the hopes of making them behave, I wonder what the parent is thinking. Perhaps the beating arises from pent up frustrations because other methods have not worked. But I question the parents' ability to apply consistent discipline.

Spanking a child is not beating a child. Spanking is most appropriate for young children. The older the child, the more discipline aids the parent has at his or her disposal. Restricting the activities of an older child usually brings compliance more quickly because an older child can realize that certain behaviors will result in loss of privilege.

Good parenting involves consistent reasonable discipline. God teaches us not to discipline our children with anger that only fuels the rebellion. Rather to apply discipline in a consistent, loving manner:

• Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death. (Prov. 19:18)
• Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul. (Prov. 29:17)
• The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother. (Prov 29:15)
• He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. (Prov 13.24)

While the word "rod" conjures up images of sticks and belts, God is not saying to beat your child with a belt or stick. Parents have many "rods" at their disposal:

• Time-out 
• No television 
• No computer 
• No social event

Using these rods in a consistent way will help your child to understand that actions have consequence. And these rods may have a better effect than a belt.

When Spanking is Beating: Parental Bullies

Loving Our Kids On Purpose: Making A Heart-To-Heart Connection

Paranormal Activity

What amazes me is that people easily believe in paranormal activity-ghosts, spirits, hauntings, possessions-but are skeptical when it comes to believing in God. We live in a three dimensional environment, but we know that there are more angles to life than we can see, feel or touch.

I am struggling with sadness and a negative attitude. Struggling because I am constantly banishing the despondent thoughts trying to blanket my mind and steal my hope. And I am weary.

So I am cruising the television channels, looking for positive or funny things to watch. I stop on a preacher I have heard good things about. He spoke about how God using the adverse situation in our lives as stepping stones to greater things. (There goes that character thing again).

What amazed me is the message was focused on jobs and different situations that lead to unfair termination and betrayal. Whoa! My ear turned and I listened. God was speaking directly to my heart, telling me to let go of the pity and negative thoughts, and turn my eyes towards the good that will come of this.

God reached through the veil and used someone to speak directly into my heart, into my situation and into my attitude. This is positive paranormal. Paranormal means "seemingly outside normal sensory channels," and "not in accordance with scientific laws."

I admit that paranormal activity exists, and I choose the positive paranormal to guide my life.

God Loves Squeaky Wheels

God loves squeaky wheels. As I listened to myself praying, I began to wonder if I was a jerk. But God already took care of this in His word.

At times my heart is weary
Praying without resolve
I wonder if I'm selfish
Blind or self involved.
I read that David cried out to the Lord
Do not be deaf.
Hear my supplication
Come swift to my defense.
How blessed!
For God is always listening,
God is always good.
The heart can trust, rely and lean
On God:
His Word is evergreen,
Our ways have been foreseen,
God will intervene
With mercy and strength.

So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks and keeps on asking received; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking the door shall be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

How cool is that!

Trusting God

How much do I trust God? Unexpectedly, God showed me a path this morning. It brought tears to my eyes, and I felt very exposed. Sometimes, we tuck away the most precious dreams to protected them from disappointment. But is that the way? I never thought of this before, but tucking away a dream is making sure the dream does not succeed.

I have sacred things.
Lace and flowing white billows
Holy in my heart,
Unshared, protected.
Dreams that on exposure
Tear in my eye.
Held back by fear
So close and precious.
God says: Trust, and let me help you
Bring the dreams into the waking world.
They are strong enough for bruising.

Praying Makes Me Smile

So much is going on these days. Watching CNN is sometimes a bitter pill, because life is hard. I pray for the government, which needs a lot of prayer these days, and I pray for others. Prayer has become something I do easily. I have learned that I don't have to be kneeling on the floor with my hands folded, or even in a prayerful place. I pray at the drop of a hat. This is what makes me a happy person.

The other day I found myself really struggling. I felt a generalized anger and discontent. And the mood was really messing up my day. When I realized this, I prayed where I was, and asked for peace and right-thinking. I was honest and told God I wasn't particularly interested in forgiving, that I was really angry, and I understood this wasn't really a healthy way to be.

God is very good, and the act of admitting and then accepting God's grace did the trick.

APPLES OF GOLD

Soft and silken Word of God
So gentle on my heart.
A refuge from the rock‑hard world
Such love does it impart.
Despair and sadness fade away
With each caressing word.
Smiles and hope take shapes anew
In light of what is heard.

Lamb of God, He walks the Word,
Engraving every heart
That opens up the door to Him:
A wondrous way to start.

Occupy Wall Street: Exposing the Truth

The truth behind the Occupy Wall Street protest reveals the mind-set of Wall Street.

Like the debtor forgiven
Who leaves the king and seeks out
Those who owe him money
Credit kings, forgiven by the government,
Seek to sap the last cent
From their debtors.*

---As the economy crumbles and savings are dust
    Only God is invested to manage our trust.

The current movement to Occupy Wall Street led me to think about the real reasons the revolt is occurring. People are trying to satisfy their basic need for food and safety. In an effort to clear away debris, I did a lot of research and it is economic tightly woven tapestry of corporate practices, personal agendas and greed.

*Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. "Be patient with me," he begged, "and I will pay back everything." The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

But when that (forgiven) servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. "Pay back what you owe me!" he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, "Be patient with me and I will pay you back." But he (the forgiven servant) refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. "You wicked servant," (the master) he said, "I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" In anger, his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. (Matt 18:23-34)

Failing God

When we fall short, understanding we are failing God, it's important to recognize our shortcomings. God did. He knew us from the moment of conception. And He made a way. Still, we feel sad, often shamed, and it is sometimes difficult to know what to do.
 
I stand cloaked in failure.
Obedience and right thinking
Buried under pounds of trying
To construct my life and not bother God,
When all He wanted was my trust
My pride, my grief.

I cannot look into those lovely eyes
Or bear the kindest touch.

Googling my mind for God's word
I find two ways to react to failure:
Peter, who denied the very Lord he defended,
Wept bitterly while
Judas, who betrayed his Friend, was racked with shame,
And hung himself.
I look into those lovely eyes,
As sorrowful as their reflection,
I choose faith, the forgiving nature of God.

I shake off the cloak of failure
Letting go the clasp of pride and self-reliance
Step quietly onto the trail of forgiveness
Wiping bitter tears and
Warmed by the sun.

Eliminate Regrets

Over time the rooms where I live are changed
As cement and wood and walls mature,
Settling into the foundation.

Regrets like paint haunt the walls,
Reflect within the mirrors and frame.
The mold and rot of past gathers,
Seeps into the studs,
Weighting and constraining strength
So that the roof recurves.

Becoming a facade, smiling white paint,
While inside waits the destruction of regrets
Held vigil,
Until the walls crumble.

Life lived is spackled with regret
Refining who I am,
But these cannot define
Design without destruction.

Time is to contemplate and clean away regrets,
Bury them in stone etched with God's promises.
Refresh the thoughts the hold the home in place
And turn my eye from beckoning remembrances
Of what was, or could have been.

These are dead memories.

Battling Fears

My mind is a battlefield, and battling fear is something I do. I battle more, like self-image, doubt, and trying to figure stuff out. The WHY of life. God's word says we battle not against flesh and blood, but against powers in high places. The powers in high places attack my mind, trying to bring confusion and general misery. I don't always win the battle, but with God, I will win the war.

What a desperate dreamer found:
Fantasies and hopes,
Well hidden,
Brought to light and aired.

And so uncovered, running rampant in my heart:
A battlefield of reality,
Littered with wounded dreams
And injured visions.

And I, like a hero,
Dodge exploding shells of doubt
And the gun fire of fear.
Racing onward, bravado,
To meet the stranger.

God's Promises Require Some Handholding

Like many folks these days, I am out of work. For me, this requires some spiritual discipline. I am prone to melancholy, and I always like to have a plan. The circumstances I am facing now mean I don't have a clue, let alone a plan. But I know one thing: God is good all the time.
So I stand up and keep on moving forward. I am doing all I can, apply for jobs and talking with my creditors about reduced payments. I like to be pro-active. I can't make it turn out all right, but I know God can.

God's Promise

Unknown, cautious movement.
A dark and sideless way.
Walking forward,
Yearning for arrival
And the shining light deliverance.

To what end, this walking,
In a hazy half light?
What mountains and pitfalls lie ahead?

Sustaining, the Lord's hand.
And this promise:
Though stumbling shall not fall

Asking Why on 9/11?

It's hard sometimes to understand that the merciful God we serve puts up with such fell events. I am sometimes tempted to ask "why", but not often, only because in my life I was usually too shocked, and could only pray "Lord, help me."

I know we live in a world of parallelled faith and unbelief. And unbelief yields fear and worry, leaving the heart like an abandon child with no guidance to grow on.

Wicked, wrong and villainous
They boarded on the plane
Practicing a ritual
To reach their heavens plain.

Treacherous, troubled, trickery,
He snuck into the school
Fired his anger in bullets of death
Uncivilized and cool.

Maleficent, malicious mother
Captured children, one by one,
And held them under water
Until each life was done.

Repellent, reprobate raper
Chased the woman as she ran,
Grabbed her collar in his fist,
Left her dead upon the sand.

“Something wicked this way comes”
A falling from the grace
Tattering the holy weave of man’s nature,
Abhorrent,
Void, the heart debased.

On this day, and always, I pray for those who live in unbelief, and for peace and joy to enter their hearts.