We're still here-or crisis averted for now

All of us breathed a sigh of relief when the bickering stopped. We still hold our breaths on what will happen next. Yet I know God is in control. He always has been and he always will be. I sometimes wish I could predict what's going to happen. I can't. Maybe that's a good thing. I realize that it is better not to know. You can get so overwhelmed by it all that you lose track of what's really important.

Over the next few weeks, months we will discover a new world. With everything that has been happening, there is bound to be some major changes. None of them good, I fear. Will we survive the next crisis? Only the Lord knows.

I told my family that I am fortunate to still have a job for now. Sometimes I feel that someday they "the powers to be" will decide to let me go. Other times I know that I'm still needed where I'm at and that makes me feel good.

I know that God is leading me. I won't be afraid.

Time is running out-The sky is falling....

The politicians and media are whipping up the perfect storm. Pressure to resolve the looming crisis is mounting. What can we do? Nothing. Time is running out. We can't wait any longer, they tell us. Why? I watch them scurrying to and fro trying to outdo each other with messages of doom. The sky is falling, the media says. I look up and see God. I know he is in control. I am totally amazed at his wondrous love and patience with me. He knows me better than I know myself. I can't panic over what the politicians and media are saying will happen next week if the crisis isn't averted in time. I have to trust in the Lord, and know that he holds everything in his hands.

So, what now? Do we, like fools, let the world lead us into a depths of despair? No. We trust God whatever happens. We lean on him, and not the government. We look up, not down...even if time does run out and the sky does fall.

Roll back time or can we do over?

It's funny when you look at something and realize that somehow, someway, something happened that you least expected. You try to reason it out. There is no reason of it. Sometimes you just want to do it over. Unfortunately time isn't a loop. Time isn't circular, but linear. The only thing we can do is learn from our mistakes, pick ourselves up and move on. I told myself that at least a thousand times. I know the malaise and resentment that permeates the whole country at a time like this. They don't realize that God is in control. Everyone wants that control. Are we all fools? Yes.

Lord knows us. He knows our stubborn wills that want control of everything. Once we get that control, we long to roll back time. I've been thinking about that a lot. I know a big part of my personality is that sense of control. I can reason it out, telling myself that it's only assurance that I will not be left behind. Yet I fool myself with this thinking. God's control is a lot better than mine. I can trust him, not myself.

So, I will thank the Lord and praise him for his many blessings. I will let go of my doubts and fears and place them in his capable hands. Only then will I be able to roll back time and do over those things that honor and extol his name.

Grateful for time and expectations of heaven

You probably think this is a weird title for a blog. Yes, I am grateful. I can't help but be so, even in the midst of all the chaos surrounding us in this world. Here's why: I know that none of us think of time as something solid. We tend to think of time as expendable and rightly so. We waste it. We try to hold onto it with both hands. We can't. All we can do is watch and wait. Some of us feel helpless. Yet in the midst of all this, we can be grateful to God. Again, you may ask, why? Because God holds everything in the palm of his hands. You can't predict what's going to happen tomorrow, but God knows. So I can be grateful for time, because God works through time.

At times like these, I ponder what the word of God says about heaven. I wonder what it will be like and sometimes wish time would speed up, so I could go there. Other times I'm grateful for the time I have here. I know that the Lord's time is perfect, and that he has a plan for me. I may not know it. I may struggle with the circumstances I find myself in. Yet even in the midst of that struggle, I have the assurance that God is there beside me. I do have some expectations of heaven.

Freedom to be-Time to be thankful

Yes, we celebrated another 4th of July yesterday. Did we think, however, of the freedoms we lost? Or were we too busy thinking of what's in front of us? Yes, we definitely need to wake up. What, you may ask, do you mean by that? I mean that we need to realize once and for all that we all have the freedom to be. No one has taken that freedom away from us. We should be thankful that we live in a country, so far, that hasn't denied that right. We aren't. We focus too much on the gross and the mundane, forgetting the sacrifices made.

I listened. I wept for those who would distort the truth. I wanted to scream for those that were denied the right to be. I didn't. Instead I walked away. I knew that the truths the founding fathers tried to convey to us were truly lost. Why? I don't know. I couldn't help thinking as the words of the Declaration of Independence were read that we are no better off than we were then. Did the people that listened to those words 235 years ago feel that the writer had captured their feelings? Or were some of them angry that those words should be spoken out loud? I knew from what I read that some were angry enough to make their voice heard. Would I stand up? Would I let my voice be heard?

Could I let it go? No. The freedom to be is too strong to be denied. It is a basic right and a solemn promise. I'm guessing those founding fathers felt the same way, just they also, as I do, focus their love and attention to the One who deserves it....The Lord.

Still Thinking about the future

You know when you hear all around you of the sad tidings, you get the feeling that the future is going to be pretty grim. Then you hear some beautiful organ music, and you can tell yourself that there is still some good in the world. Today I had the chance to observe some people in action. I told them and myself that I was only observing. Some day though I know I will have to step out, make some painful choices and go where the Lord wants me to go.

I can sense the struggle and itch to help. I know I must curb my tongue. It's hard. I caught myself speaking when I should have remained silent. Yet, how do you know when to speak up? I was nervous. I felt a little lost. I thought about my future. I thought about what I observed. I was glad to be an earpiece or sounding board. I definitely want to help. I just not sure how.

Strange times-What will happen next?

As the title suggests, I had a strange week last week. I am slowly but surely getting used to my demotion. In some ways I feel like a huge weight has been taken off my shoulders. I am in the same "boat" as my former employees except they have a site to call their own. I don't like the position I'm in. In fact, I prefer to have some stability. Yet I know we live in strange times, when the people that are supposed to help end up sounding like they're backpedaling. I realize that for all the pretty words they don't know what's up. Yes, they do try to get you to agree to your changed situation and tell you it's not a demotion. Funny....I can't help but think that it is.

Dad and I are busy doing our projects, trying in our ways to sort through the craziness and outright lies. Strange times when hard work and perseverance gets a cold shoulder and laziness and greed are rewarded....Yet, I know all things will eventually right themselves. Truth will prevail.