OPIOID EPIDEMIC

         I am going to write about this horrible opioid epidemic.  It has affected pretty much everyone.  If you don't know someone who has died because of this epidemic, then you probably know of someone who knows someone who has died.  Most of us have taken opioids following surgery, or anything that resulted in pain.  A lot of us have not gotten addicted, but you can see how they can be addicting.  This epidemic is not drug addicts in the street or in their homes.  It affects all races, economics classes, all ages, and so on...no one is immune from getting addicted or abusing these pain pills or eventually getting on heroine.  I wrote a letter to the editor in response to an article that I read on this epidemic.  It follows.  Pray for those who are struggling with this addiction.  Pray for the families  of those affected and who have lost loved ones.  Just PRAY AND DON'T JUDGE!!  "That's all I got to say about that"  

Rereading is a good thing.

        You know how you will read the Bible and then you read it again, places that you have read before, but this time verses jump out at you.  The verses are packed with information.  It's been there, you just didn't notice before. How could you have missed it before. you ask yourself.  God opens our eyes sometimes and our hearts.    We are going through 1 Peter in church.  Facinating...but the whole Bible is fascinating.  Today we were in the second chapter.  These verses just jumped out.  Answers to questions I have been asked.  I never knew where in the Bible it said what I said as truth. 

1 Peter 2 (NIV) 

2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ²

 

^{I knew that the angry way of dealing with people who hurt was wrong.  That the Bible says that vengeance is wrong.  Leave all that for God to deal with.  HE has our backs.  So this verse reminds me to not try to "get back or get even"  , to not be jealous of those who hurt  me or get away with doing wrong, to not talk badly about them which is what I understand slander to be.  I am guilty about talking badly about those who have hurt me or took advantage and don't see what they have done is wrong.  I just need to give it up to God.  Lay it down at the feet of Jesus.  "Let it go" or "Let it be"    Sometimes we all just need to be reminded of what we already know in our hearts.  Thank you God.} 

The Living Stone and a Chosen People

⁴ As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house^[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”^[b]

⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”^[c]

⁸ and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”^[d]

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

These verses tell us, those who love the Lord and believe Jesus as our savior and the only way to Heaven, that were are not of this fallen world.  We are set apart and we are different.  It is ok to be different.  We belong to God and not the world. We do Godly things and not worldly things.  We follow God and not follow  the worlds views and beliefs. 

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
¹³ Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴ or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

We believers in Christ are to be an example of Christ.  Or try to, we are not perfect and God knows this and is forgiving.  But try to do good.   Some think that because they are Jesus followers and know they are going to heaven and that they will be forgiven, that they can just do as they please and continue sinning and doing bad things.  Living a worldly life you might say.  Cant have both , the world and Heaven.  Live for the Lord, when you make a mistake, confess to God and repent.  If you don't feel bad for your sin, then you have not repented (or turned away and try to do better)  People who use this excuse to continue a sinful life because they know they are forgiven, need to read  verse 16.   Verse 17 says to show respect to EVERYONE!!   We can respectfully tell someone that what they do is wrong.  But we don't need to argue or get angry.  State the truth and be respectful to them.  If they don't listen, just walk away.  Don't take things personally.  The battle is a spiritual one.  Walk away and pray for them.  We are to love our family of believers (Jesus followers)  This is where the Bible says to love.  We love those in our family (Gods family) and respect those who are not.   This verse 17, says soo much in how we deal with the world and with our family of fellow Jesus believers.  RESPECT NON BELIEVERS, LOVE BELIEVERS.  RESPECT IS ALSO SHOWING THE LOVE OF JESUS.  WE DO LOVE THOSE WHO ARE WORLDLY, BY TELLING THEM OF THEIR SIN AND SHARING JESUS, THIS IS LOVE BECAUSE WE DONT WANT THEM TO GO TO HELL.  WE WANT TO SEE EVERYONE IN HEAVEN WITH US.  THAT IS LOVE, NOT WANTING ANYONE TO BURN. 

Marriage

I just read previous posts for a year or two ago.  I was so unhappy in marriage.  My hubby was not very nice to my children.  But he has seen his ways and oppologized.  He has been such a wonderful husband for the past year.  God has worked in both of our hearts.  Life is good. 

December 31, 2017

       I am riding in the car on the way to church and just staring at the clouds.  Clouds are a sign there is a God.  He is the only one who can paint such beauty in the sky.  These clouds are in stripes.  Lines across the sky.  I had never really noticed this type of cloud.  I was also thinking of the events of the year.  Not good events...hurt and anger about one situation.  Yesterday there was "drama".  But today, it is all just funny and does not bother me.  I am at peace.  I said the things I wanted to say and I stated facts.  I said things , not in anger, but in truth.  Anyway, the last day of this year and all is well. 
     2018 is a new beginning.  A new start.  Jesus came as a baby...a new beginning, a new start.  It is a God sighting that Christmas is so close to New Years.  Thinking on the baby Jesus, the reason for the season (the reason for all seasons actually)  and I was thinking, the past is the past, new starts for this year. 
       Then we arrived at church, the message (sermon) was related to my thoughts while on the way to church.  The past is the past, look forward, grow and share Christ with others.  New beginnings, New starts.  A new year!!
        When I got home, I saw a facebook post from a friend.  It went along with what the message of today was.     Isaiah 43:18-19
" Forget the former things; Do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; Do you not perceive it?" 

I am ready for 2018 and looking forward to it.