November 11, 2017

Greetings My Friend,

As I write the news is about the shooting in a small town church in Texas. Sunday evening Bible study changed from studying the Psalms to discussing what should church leaders do to protect those in church services. Some of the questions were how would the community at large feel about our church having armed members at the service. Would hiring a security firm be the way to go? Should we just trust the Lord and let happen what may happen?  I recall again that these mass shootings take place the most where it is a gun free zone. That is where the most people can be killed, harmed. Again I think that the criminals don't abide by the law so they have weapons while innocent people are unprotected. I am not sure I would carry a gun, the times I tried to shoot I started out to be fairly good then kept getting worse, today I believe it may be do to traumatic brain injuries I have. With Parkinson's I don't shake much although when I am hungry, overextended I feel shaky so I am concerned about hitting the wrong things/people. I may need to rethink my thinking it seems like this world is getting scarier and crazier by the day anymore. At times I think if we don't wake up and ask God to forgive our sins then attempt to live the way God teaches us in the Bible our life will get even crazier. Of course right behind this thinking is with terrorists all over the world, that this may be the end of the end times since it began when Jesus went into heaven. To me each year our world is getting crazier with natural disasters, the terrorists attacking the world over, anger because one group of people feel neglected, abused whatever over the rest of the population and on and on. As I reflect on all of this I begin to think of hope, it seems as if the world in general has no hope at all. The general attitude is take care of number one and screw everyone else. Junior and I are getting older, we both have disabilities so much of our time is working within our limitations to keep our home and lives going. We depend on each other to accomplish day to day tasks. The other day I was cleaning the bathroom while Junior decided to wash the dishes, his pain level got to him so he sat down and I finished the dishes. We do days like this quite a bit anymore. We attempt to start our day in the Word of God which gives us the will to overcome our challenges one more day, then face this scary world head on the best we are able to. We draw strength from other believers of Jesus mainly on Sunday's and Wednesday's then we go home, shopping or run errands with the hope we have which is Jesus. The need to give this hope to others grows as we see all the craziness in the world so I write, we give our testimonies to those who will listen in the hopes of bringing the peace of Jesus in this life and eternity with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit instead of with Satan. Satan's eternity does not seem as peaceful as God's eternity does. Pastor Joe was mentioning that he and his wife Jenny have a daughter that is wayward. He says he prays for this daughter by asking God to do what He wills to reach her to come to him. I have been asking God to bring my children to Jesus as well although I ask for them to be taken care of too. It came to me that we don't generally accept Jesus in our hearts when life is easy we meet Him fully when we have hit bottom and there is no where else to turn. That is when I finally learned to stop believing there is a God but believe God and His ways. I also want to ask God to blow up all the terrorists as well, get rid of them. I know that God wants me to pray for them to meet His Son and stop bullying the world. Frankly that is hard and I truly do not remember ever praying this prayer. God forgave my sins when I repented and accepted Jesus as my Savior. I was a mean big sister, I had anger that has taken me a lifetime to let go of, I even thought a little time on the wild side would make great stories for my grandchildren so God for gave all that was ugly in me, then He began taking me step by step into the family of God teaching me how to not be angry, to stop holding grudges, and having an out of control thought life. He can do the same with those who are terrorists, adulterers, homosexuals and on and on. When God pointed me to look at the cross of Jesus, I saw how ugly sin is to God, even my white lies. I learned of God's great love for us all as I watched each scene of those last moments in my minds eye and I felt the hope of Jesus ascending into heaven knowing my sins have been forgiven as far as the east is from the west. Jesus commanded us to "Go forth into all nations making disciples of every nation and tribe." So all who will confess their sins allow God to change them may have the same hope of eternity in heaven. I feel compelled to see, live and give my hope to all people and allow God to convict the hearts of those who will accept this gift. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet