"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music,or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."
... Martin Luther King, Jr.
********
Still gotta say... It's blowing me away that so many of my Christian friends are red-hot angry at our President, their friends and relatives who voted for him and Today's world, period.
The Bible warned about these times! And we were told not to wrestle against flesh and blood, but oh, the Christians, they are 'a wrestlin'. And choosing name-calling over praying, choosing worry over faith, choosing hatred over love. Looking like twins to non-Christians who didn't get their way and just making a grand lot of noise.
Who really has that kind of time? Who wants to waste their few years on this planet doing the opposite of what the Bible says?
This 'street sweeper' has a job to do, a calling (a couple of them) and I'll be held responsible for giving them my all, for studying to improve upon them, for allowing God to shine through them.
And oh, in my 50's I don't have time for (scary) Bunny Trails, so please excuse me for not joining the Hatred and Fear Clubs. Color me too busy traveling a different path.
************
"The glory of God is man fully alive." ... Saint Irenaeus
Oh, to daily remain fully alive as God intended!
******
"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." ... 1 Corinthians 13:1
"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," ... Matthew 5:44
"But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." ... Matthew 6:15
*******
I have seen no meanness from Christians; we are a people called to Love and that is what we do.
ReplyDeleteTerra--you are fortunate! I've seen such meanness (name-calling and threats toward our leaders) on Facebook from my Christian friends that it actually has made my stomach hurt a couple times. It's out there--and it's totally grieving God, I'm sure. Blessings, Debra
ReplyDeleteI am shocked too at the anger and meanness toward others. But after the last 5 years I taught school nothing in this way is really a surprise. Nearly all in my school system voted differently than I did 4 years ago. Believe me I kept my mouth shut! Or, my tires would have been slit, car scratched, lies told....it was a hot topic then and it has been this time. This anger hasn't just started it's been happening for quite a few years at least 5. I have no answers. I pray, I give, I make a few friends. God will show us the way to go as we ask him. We are to stay away from those who choose a wrong path. So much aggression out there. I could have lost several acquaintances in this election had I voiced my opinion. I chose to keep quiet and do what I wanted. If you say anything back to them it just fuels the fire. I pray, and listen to God. He is leading me and no one else.
ReplyDeleteLife is a journey and we do not all reach the same spot at the same time. It generally takes years and experience to get where we can trust GOD to take care of ALL things. I stay far away from Facebook, long before all this, seeing other things from a distance and not wanting to go there. It is hard to see the demise of our great country. Without the hope of the Kingdom strong in our hearts, I see how dispair and even anger can dominate. It is knowing WHERE we are headed and keeping that view in mind that helps us not get so caught up in the things we see happening around us. And I am glad some of those I loved most are not here now to see this day. I would not have wanted to see their pain. Though I miss them so!!
ReplyDeleteI have never done Facebook so I don't know anything about any comments there. Where I find hate is on the network and many of the cable news. We can see someone interviewed live on one station then turn to another and see that interviewed turned completely around to mean the opposite and with Much hatred. Like there is a parallel world. Over and over. It is about enough to make you doubt your sanity the things you hear and the hate that is spewed. Aren't there any guidelines the networks are to work under? I just have to turn the tv off again and again...which is not altogether a bad thing anyway. If I was the only one living here it would be off. I am not feeling any hatred I am feeling totally sad for America. I knew no matter how the elections turned out America was not perfect and heading in the wrong directions as I see them but listening all these months and now several years things getting more and more bitter and decisive it just hurts. I know the Bible so know this would one day happen but it is so sad to see the country turn as it is. From the reports on Jim Bakker it does not sound like even leaders in Israel knows they can not depend on us anymore. This I felt was coming but... I just feel like I want to apologize to God. That may sound stupid since He knew this would happen and what is to happen but.... I just had to get down on my knees and tell him I am sorry and then get back up and regain my strength in the joy of living with Him. I may be In this world but With Him. And I better not forget it!! Sarah
ReplyDeleteHi Debra, I just got a chance to catch up on reading some of your blogs. I just want to thank you for encouraging me to continue on my path of writing, I almost gave up and just when I decided to develope a thicker skin, low and behold the Lord made an opportunity with a book publisher so I have been working on the book. I have a deadline so I have stayed away from the addicting Facebook pages that call my name because of my nosy nature Anyway, I just wanted to say that I have had an experience the opposite way of the pro-Obama Christians in my face gloating and being ugly. It's really sad, but it's stretching my boundaries in loving them anyway. What we don't hear on the news is that Reno (the sin city of the West) is going through wonderful Revival, Redemption and Restoration. So only time will tell what God has planned for our country and I don't put my hopes in man only God! I love you Debra, you are such a blessing to me!
ReplyDeleteAs the election got closer there were so many mean-spirited posts about Romney and Republicans...things I'm sure people would have not said to my face had we met on the street or at a party. Some of it is the Jerry Springer world we live in where everyone thinks we want to hear what they think. So disrespectful. I would shake my head at some posts and be so tempted to rise to the bait but was able to refrain. We really shouldn't get down in the gutter, should we. So often I hear these words in my head: "Forgive them, Lord,for they know not what they do."
ReplyDelete