Accept the Limitations of One Day at a Time

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 - For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 

John 16:33 - "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Dear God, for everything there is a season and a time for everything under heaven. As I reflect on these beautiful words which I believe a 70s song delved into, I see so many things. You see, God, I know some people are quick to judge women who get abortions, but the thing that troubles me the most about those people who do that is that they claim to be Christians and pro-life. However, here is the truth: THOSE people are not pro-life because they oppose everyone being able to have access to healthcare when they are sick or access to food when they are poor for whatever the reason, and it is not laziness that causes poverty, but they don't seem to understand that no matter how many times they are proven wrong. According to this passage, there is a time to be born, and a time to die. While most of us might prefer that one's cycle of life be from the point of conception to the point of natural death, the truth is that some women have high risk pregnancies that end up either killing the baby or her. And the other truth is that YOU have a master plan and a purpose for everything that happens. YOUR providential plan may have been for that woman to get an abortion because YOUR providential plan might not have been for that baby to be born. Yes, You created that baby, or began creating that baby, but for whatever the reason, You allowed that woman to choose abortion. Today, I ask forgiveness for all the women who have ever before chosen to have an abortion or might ever choose to have an abortion. I ask forgiveness for those who condemn them for their decisions. Because according to this passage, YOU are the master mind and You decided the time for everything. The other thing in that passage that speaks to me right now is the time to love and the time to hate. God, I apply that to Tom and myself. Right now, we are going through the time to hate. But in due time, we shall hopefully be restored to the time to love as friends. I am still growing. He is still growing. When we can both move to the same point, then we might have a reconciliation. But in Your time. Not mine. Not his. Yours. In the world, there will be trouble. But You have overcome that trouble. As You know God, America is in trouble. The primary reason for that trouble is the GOP hatred and racism that is very much alive and well. And no, there is no logic beyond what it is: racism. I am now regretting the day I ever voted for the republicans because that shift has been beyond what I am able to handle. I had never known that party to be so hateful until Mr. Obama got elected the first time. After his election, I saw something that I didn't like and I had to separate myself from it. Things in my own life took a turn as well, so I definitely had to pull away from that party. I cannot tolerate the hate they evidence. Hate for the president which is against Your word. Hate for the poor, also against Your word. Hate for the disabled, also against Your word. Hate for anyone that is not rich or white, which is also against Your word. The more I study Your word, the more I see that my decision to defect from the republicans is the best one I could ever have made second only to choosing to following You and third only to accepting my autism as part of who I am and fourth only to deciding to love and defend people no matter the personal cost. Will I lose friends over it? Yes! And that is their loss and only shows me their true values. You will know them by their fruit. Well, I can tell You now that there are no Christians in the GOP. Their fruit has been against the people, especially the least of these. There can be NO REAL Christians in the GOP as long as any of them thinks that it is okay to cut off the resources for the least of these. Even theology, at its core, is about helping the least of these and that being one of the three functions of government. Oh, God, I long for peace. You have overcome this world. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Learn to Let Go

Psalm 89:15-16 - Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted.

Isaiah 41:13 - For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you."

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Dear God, I really wish right now that I could rest secure in Your presence, but as You already know the republicans are out the trying to financially hurt the elderly, the poor, the disabled, and the veterans again threatening to strip away at the programs that are designed to help them. They are also yet again threatening to take away their healthcare. And the worst part is that they are doing this and claiming to be Christians. Please remind them about the least of these. God, it is scary really. Because if how they treat the least is how they treat Jesus, then Jesus is being condemned to starve to death, die of cancer or whatever illness befuddles him, be thrown out on the streets, and just keep silent because if he fights back, they will just get uglier. I know because that is what my representative that I did not vote for is willing to do to me. He is serving his rich buddies that can line his fat pocket and claiming that he is doing it because he is a Christian and condemning the rest of us to our deaths just because our circumstances are not of wealth. Their budget plan is so unChristian and so unpatriotic, it is no longer funny. The worst part is somehow they will still survive because they have money, but all the rest of us will be screwed. Oh God, right now, my prized possession is not a person or an animal or anything I can actually hold onto. And yes, I still desire reconciliation but it is up to You to bring that about in due time as You continue to work through me and through that person. Right now my prized possession is the need for security, even if just short term. God, hold my hand and don't let go. Please keep financial provision in my family. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Do Not Conform to the World

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Romans 12:2 (NIV) - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Dear God, I want to have an ever increasing attentiveness to Your presence. I need my mind recharged and refreshed and renewed each and every night and day. While the world may want to make me exactly like everyone else, You did not create me to be exactly like everyone else. You created me to be my own person in You and to follow my own path after You. You created me, autism and all, with a purpose, and no one can change that no matter how hard they might want to try. It will take me a long time to recover from the abuses I went through at Oak Mountain, but I trusted You and took a first step and offered Tom forgiveness and trust You that You will work in his heart to bring about restoration and reconciliation. In today's America, we have a group of people calling themselves Christians but trashing on the president, trashing on the poor, and trashing on anyone who is not white, is not perfect, is differently abled. It is disgusting that they dare do these things while claiming to be Christians. Your words are very clear with respect to the president, the poor, and the differently abled. Your word is very clear with respect to how we are to treat fellow human beings. To do anything else is not Your will. Thank You for renewing my mind everyday and creating me in such a way that being different is actually cool! In Jesus' Name, Amen!