No, Not One!
Chapter 7
Divine Appointments
“Coincidentally,” Amy taught two classes. The first was a group for Arising Women that was scheduled to start in less than a week. The second was the Arising Authors’ class, which would begin the week after that, on February 5.
Well, let’s just say that with God, there are no coincidences. I knew I was on the right path. She would help me focus and prepare a rough draft of my book by May 15. Was that even possible? I had never done anything like this before. This felt like a lofty endeavor.
I’ve learned that when God moves in your life and you obey, you need to “buckle up, buttercup” and hold on tight. God operates at His own pace. This is when you truly get to count your blessings. All those God winks seem to appear out of nowhere.
Coincidences that defy the odds, repeatedly. You have no choice but to feel completely humbled as you witness what God can do. He opens locked doors, breaks chains, and makes demons flee. Behold the mighty power of the Lord. Amen.
He had been arranging everything along the way, ensuring I would be in the right place at the right time. I couldn’t have orchestrated it better myself. When I believed everything was unraveling, God was actually setting it all into place.
I believed that God would bless my book and my website, bringing together people from all over who otherwise wouldn’t have had a chance to meet. It would create a community of fellow Blue Cornflower lovers, and we would be a family. I was so excited!
Silly me. At this point, I still believe my original 300+ page technical manual is the book that’s being published here. Proof that God has a sense of humor.
During the first session of our Arising Authors class, Amy faced the unfortunate task of telling me that she believed my book had a limited audience.
She conveyed everything with such grace, articulating her well-considered thoughts on reaching a larger audience, that I wasn’t even offended by her lack of enthusiasm for MY ideas. I realized I was thinking too small.
I realized that my problem had been there all along. Our God is bigger than any challenge we face. I wasn’t relying on my abilities; I was relying on His. God had a different plan with a much larger goal. Meeting Amy was a divine appointment.
She offered suggestions and encouraged me to explore deeply and truly embrace my creativity. I found her positive remarks and enthusiasm for the Lord to be infectious, and her desire for women to unite and uplift each other was inspiring. She motivated me to become a better Christian. I wanted to be part of that.
We discussed incorporating recipes, nutritional tips, stories, and Bible verses to make it more relatable. (That technical manual would become my second book.) I was prompted to reflect on what ignites my passion. That was easy. I couldn’t comprehend how I could have strayed so far off course.
I truly believed I was doing the right thing. Where did I go wrong? Why couldn’t I figure it out? Were others going in the same direction? Would they have to endure all that pain too? And what about my Corningware Cornflower collection?
In my first Arising Women class, we were asked to choose a word that God had for us in 2025. All I could come up with was “I AM=ENOUGH.” But what did that mean?
My beloved grandmother would tell me to be careful what I wished for because I might just get it. Her loving memory lives on in me. Whenever I remember her words of wisdom, they always bring a smile to my face. I am honored to share them with you, along with a few others I’ve picked up along the way.
I felt honored and humbled to be part of Amy’s groups and individual sessions. That first session inspired me to create a smaller, less technical book filled with heart- one containing only 10 to 15 pieces that would weave together stories, Bible verses, nutritional tips, and recipes. More relatable.
I sat down and immediately began working on the first three chapters. I started by creating a list of items, followed by my list of nutritional tips. A week later, while I was halfway through combining those lists into one, I felt God guiding me in another direction again. I received the five lessons from Amy that we would focus on over the next ten weeks.
This was when I recognized another issue from my childhood. I loved researching and exploring topics of interest. Believe it or not, I enjoyed homework. My mother would ask my teachers for extra worksheets so I would have something to do over the summer.
Trust me, if you want to make enemies with your classmates every year, have the teacher assign a lengthy task to be completed over the weekend. I truly had no life. I had one close friend, and when she found a group of friends and moved on, I didn’t know what to do.
I didn’t want to replace her. I didn’t want anyone else. I just wanted her to stay. I felt as though I had done something wrong. Those feelings became the bait that attracted a life full of narcissists. That was when I developed my inability to let go, no matter how bad it became. I needed approval.
The combination of all those negative emotions led me down a dark path of slowing my progress to being less than I intended. Occasionally, I would turn things in late on purpose so others would see I was just like them. Or so I thought.
I stifled myself, and because of that, I will never know what I could have been. The baby elephant had the chain put on him; he didn’t have a choice, but I reached down and shackled myself. Oh, if I could go back…
Amy, providing me with two months of work all at once, ignited that passion in me again. It had been so long. I didn’t even realize it was happening. I was so focused it only took me two days to complete all five lessons on how to draw out what was inside of me from my Arising Author class.
I had dug deep. I was brutally honest. I was in full submission. I laughed. I cried. It was exhausting and eye-opening. After it was over, all I could think of was the progress I had made. I worked through it. I figured it out. Facing all my past painful experiences allowed me to see the forest made up of trees.
Now that I could see the big picture, I found myself so grateful that I dropped to my knees and prayed I could help others to heal, too.
That night, I woke up at 3:00 AM, unable to sleep again. I was wide awake, so I figured I might as well start typing.
I didn’t want to try and force a book that wasn’t meant to be. My Book, My Way = No Way. That’s always a recipe for disaster. Now, with my focus on God and not me, I saw my book laid out before me. It was so humbling. It wasn’t like anything I had planned.
This time I couldn’t stop. Every time I tried to take a break, I would end up running back to the laptop.
As I moved through each chapter, I recognized how God had been working in my life through the jobs I held and the people I encountered along the way. He never wavered in His support for me. I had no idea how each position equipped me with essential skills. Every person I met imparted something unique and valuable that I needed at that very moment.
I couldn’t see it before because God hadn’t revealed it to me yet. The timing wasn’t right until that moment. Perspective certainly alters perception. I can’t even begin to count how many specific things fell into place to make this book, website, and thrift store possible. God’s timing is always perfect.
I finally came up for air after my usual dinnertime, when my stomach started complaining that it needed a break more than I did.
Writing in that manner continued day after day. Sleep felt like a waste of precious time, seemingly unnecessary. I needed to express this. About a week later, my entire rough draft began to take shape on paper.
Engaging in anything for God involves fighting many battles. I would have to begin by conquering my own fears and failures. My self-esteem was far from where it should be. Mentally, I had been defeated and broken numerous times before. I had made several changes in my life recently, but those choices seemed to upset everyone and everything around me even more. Resisting the devil is exhausting.
I was still being broken far too often to heal from the recent mental traumas. My fibromyalgia only exacerbated the pain that throbbed in my neck and back until I could undergo my upcoming surgeries. My body and mind required pain medications all day and night. The muscle cramps in my legs caused me to jump out of bed numerous times during the night. My body weight had dropped below 100 lbs. I felt weakened in every possible way.
I believe that weakness, that feeling of being shattered in every way possible, allowed me to hear God calling out that everything would be okay. Finally, I was ready to be used. Revelation: God Can Use The Broken! What?
Perhaps this made it easier for me to accept that the only way this book would come to fruition was with God guiding me every step of the way. In my mind, I was rehearsing the most eloquent prayers I had ever spoken, asking for the ability to complete what would ultimately be about my journey of submission.
I recognized the need to pray for the words God intended for me to use, rather than my own. I must be very careful not to distort anything in any way. Shutting out the world around me, I prayed one of the shortest prayers I have ever said: Here I am, Lord.
With no other words to express, my heart cried out as tears streamed down my face. Those tears flowed continuously as I typed revelation after revelation. It felt as if I were seeing everything in my life in its opposite light. I had been wrong and misled about so much. What an eye-opener!
We all tend to portray ourselves as more or less than we truly are, depending on our self-esteem. This project needed to benefit the Kingdom. I was merely the instrument God would use to spread His Word. God sought Revival. He desired His Children to bring the broken home. We were once lost. Someone guided us to the way. If it was your parents and you were young, Sunday School was your blessing. Children spend over 12 years studying the world compared to a small fraction of time studying the Word! How many books were you required to read in school?
Yet God provided only one book of instructions for life: the Bible. He laid it all out for us so we wouldn’t be led astray. Ironically, many people never read it from cover to cover. They only turn to it after they have gotten into trouble, looking for a way out. This book was provided to prevent you from getting into that trouble in the first place. Trouble arises when you place God anywhere but at the beginning. Having the Word of God instilled in you at an early age is vital for survival in this world.
People have been deceived by the devil and his demons due to their constant attacks. They believe this is a sign that God has forgotten them, that He no longer performs miracles, and that heaven may not be real. Blasphemy! You must drive these demonic thoughts from your mind, never to return. He knows heaven is real; he was the first one cast out.
Lucifer used to be the life of the party. Everything was just grand in heaven while the music played and everyone had fun. But then there always has to be that one person. They take things too far, saying or doing something stupid, and the music stops. Before you know it, a brawl breaks out, and the party is over for everyone. Why can enough never be enough for some people? People need to learn how to control their emotions and stop lashing out.
This was what allowed me to continue writing with passion. As I began to put my thoughts on paper, I knew I would have to put on the armor of God. I had lived in the world and loved the world in every unhealthy way possible. Now, I would have to try to do it God’s way. Loving God’s way is extremely challenging. I’m trying yet I still find myself failing constantly.
My hope was to bridge the generational divide within families. I aimed to bring them closer together and provide resources for parents on topics that would assist them in raising their children in a godly way. I certainly could have benefitted from that kind of support when I was raising my son.
God revealed to me how to win this battle. Only seven words: love, love, love, love, love, love, and love. One word for each day of the week. Quite easy to remember. God loved me, and I loved God; therefore, I could love anyone. I finally realized I wasn’t truly loving them when I thought I was loving them; I was loving God when I expressed my love for them. And how do you show your love? You give of yourself. You sacrifice some of your greatest gifts: the gift of your time, talent, and tithe.
You show others that you love them by expressing your feelings through both words and actions. Praying for God's Will to be done in their lives is one of the finest ways to express that love. Love is the only force that can break down hate; it’s what Jesus demonstrated. Remember, the only way to love those who hate you is by loving them because you love Him.
Use the Corningware. I kept hearing that phrase repeat in my mind. That would be a stretch. How could I use a retro item from the 1960s to evoke that childhood feeling- memories from an era long gone- to a whole new generation that has never experienced what we did? How could I use that to bridge the generational divide? And how could that help bring the broken together as a community? Once again, every question that was answered brought many more.
In the past century, people seem to be playing some kind of ‘telephone’. They stand in their family line and pass from grandparent to parent to child and each time, something gets lost in the translation. From generation to generation it becomes harder and harder to ‘speak the same language’. Communication is a lost art. Face to face contact changed this last generation with COVID in the most unhealthy way.
The Telephone Whisper Game was popular in places like grade schools, church gatherings, and parties. It was a delightful game during my time, and I encourage you to give it a go. Its simplicity doesn’t detract from its fun. I aspire to revive several traditional games that are inexpensive or even free for you to enjoy with your children. Memories can’t be purchased; they must be created. When kids witness your enjoyment, they'll want to join in. This is a great way to motivate your children to spend quality time with you.
Wikihow.comwww.wikihow.com/Play-the-Telephone-Game
How to Play the Telephone Game: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow
Mar 10, 2025 ... The game of telephone is a classic icebreaker and party game. It's easy to set up and a lot of fun to play. You and your friends will try to ...
If family meals around the dinner table were possible again, that would be priceless. The Corningware pieces wouldn’t cost much. There were always plenty available at flea markets, thrift stores, and yard sales. They would be affordably priced and durable. It was a good investment, as was the time spent together collecting them.
It was time for a good old-fashioned field trip! Back in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s, those two words, when combined, brought pure joy to the hearts of every school-aged child in America. Field trips meant getting a day off from school, with no classwork or homework.
Away from school grounds, during a class trip, individuals from different cliques could interact in ways that might never occur otherwise. You might find yourself with a jock, a nerd, a band member, or a smoker. Without the labels and social pressures, you reverted to your true self without even realizing it.
This experience fostered the idea of building friendships. I’m referring to the days when most children played outside until the streetlights turned on. Then, everyone went home to eat, do homework, and so on. It was a time when you knew your neighbors because everyone gathered on their porches at night. You were expected to be cordial and friendly. Parents anticipated that you would inform them if their child was misbehaving. This was appreciated!
Those memories of my grandmother humming and singing in the kitchen bring me back. The aromas of delicious foods that only she could make perfectly, with a pinch of this and a dab of that, fill my senses. The anticipation of being the one who got to lick the spoon… My heart be still. Pure joy!
Good times. Simple times spent using uncomplicated ingredients, before we obsessed over the Joneses, before wants turned into needs, and before our insatiable desire for more, more, more.
Their collection wouldn’t need to be as extensive as mine. But what if they could enjoy it just as much as I did? What if they could experience those enchanting feelings that drove my senses wild?
Could people have as much fun reading this book as I did writing it? My theme focused on returning to the “basics”: back to the Bible, back to the communion table and repentance, back to simpler times, and back to the truth.
What if I turned this into a series of scavenger hunts where families could participate together without needing to take out a small loan? What if they could collect memories instead of things?
Being in the kitchen, creating delicious meals for the people you love alongside those you cherish... It’s truly inspiring. Love always enhances the taste of food.
I’m brewing a pot of tea. Please pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. Get your cup ready, and let me share what I’ve learned along the way. This is what God has revealed to me. I pray it blesses you as much as it has blessed me.
No, Not One!
Chapter 8
The Beauty Of A Cracked Pot
Broken people attract broken people. Dropped by those we thought would love us, we are all a bit broken in some way. Such is life. Some of us have chips and dents; others have been left completely shattered. Some have been deemed no longer useful and discarded- thrown away. “BUT GOD…”
We aren’t made of cloth, wood, or metal. We will never truly rust, but we will rot. The body will decay a little more each day. However, the soul remains for eternity. The only question is, where will your soul spend eternity?
In the NKJV Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Lay Up Treasures in Heaven: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
God created you, and God created me. He knew all your faults and weaknesses, yet He still chose you. He has already seen how you will fall short in the future. God knows the beginning from the end. By becoming man, Jesus is able to feel your brokenness and understand your pain. When you give your life to Jesus, you become a child of the One True King. A place has already been prepared for you in heaven. He is simply waiting for you to RSVP His invitation.
No matter what this world has done or will do to you, when God calls you home, you will be made whole. I don’t know what kind of body that will be, but I can tell you one thing: there are no walkers or wheelchairs in heaven. There are no hearing aids or eyeglasses. There is no need for hospitals or morgues because there is no sickness or death. Amen.
Your place is not in the landfill; it is in the Kingdom of God. You are wanted in heaven! Nothing can love you like Jesus does. Just give Him a chance; that’s all He is asking for. Open your heart and give Him a honest chance.
This is the theme of my life from now on, to let every single person know that God is extending a personal invitation to meet His son. He wants to present to you the ‘point of His existence’, Jesus, just like any proud parent. Parents are always showing off photos and inviting people to different events to see what their kid can do. They are proud. Well, so is God.
God just wants you to slow down and take a moment to look at His child. He wants to show you how gazing at His son Jesus can bless your life abundantly for all of eternity. Why is it that we can look to every new fad and icon as our hope for redemption, while the Bible shows proof through countless lives and examples, for thousands of years, that there is only one way, and that way works?
My belief is that the devil clouds the path that leads you home to heaven with confusion and deceit. He presents God’s Word as punishment rather than protection. He erects signs to mislead you. He dangles sin in front of you- shiny objects with beautiful, delicious tastes and smells. This lures you into a glance, which turns into a stare, a want, a desire, a need; ultimately, you come to believe that it is something you deserve.
These distractions are designed to keep you from moving forward on the path to heaven. They are attempting to lead you astray. If the devil can make you believe that you can navigate life on your own, he has already won your battle. You must rely on God to direct your steps. Stop worrying about everybody else's steps. You focus on yourself. You walk with Jesus. If people choose not to join you, keep walking. They may decide to catch up later and join you on your journey. That is their choice. Don’t wait to meet God only to find out you had no idea you were fighting the wrong battle or possibly on the wrong side.
Stop shooting your fellow Christians standing before you. Turn around, redirect your arrows, attack the devil by shooting the sin in your life. Whenever sin enters you, the devil smiles. Whenever sin leaves you, the devil cries. He becomes afraid. If knowing Jesus inspires you to eliminate some sin from your life, loving Jesus could lead you to leave the devil altogether. The closer you draw to Jesus, the further away you drift from the devil. Each step closer to Jesus brings a bit of bliss into your life. This brings hope. Hope is dangerous to the devil.
I don’t believe that where or how you worship is important. What truly matters is the condition of your heart when you worship. It is essential to know the entire Bible from cover to cover; you cannot follow what you do not know. You study the Bible to understand its full meaning. When you read it, the words become engraved on your heart. They help prevent you from sinning. Attending church, fellowshipping with others, praying, and serving all bring you closer to God. These practices serve as daily reminders to avoid sin. It becomes a part of your life, and in turn, it shapes your way of life, becoming your identity in Christ.
You don’t use those actions to justify or balance out the sin in your life; you use them to bring yourself closer to God, changing who you were and striving to become more like Jesus. Jesus gave His life for all mankind- not just for those He knew or liked. Jesus loved everyone. There are also people who must be loved from a distance, for your protection and theirs. Allowing others to sin against you or others doesn’t help them; it hurts them.
Do you fully submit, or do you submit while holding back a bit? Are you respectful toward God? Do you attend church to spend time with God, or are you merely putting on a show for others? Is your walk truly Biblical? All of it? Really?
This may be a newsflash, but God does not condone anyone’s sin for any reason. We all have it. We all fall short. Sin is sin. One sin is not greater than another. The Bible says that even thinking about sinning is sin. The only way to remove sin is to cover it with the blood of Jesus, which washes you clean. Sin cannot stand before a holy God. The only way you can enter God’s presence is with Jesus leading the way.
The Bible says you must fight the good fight until the end. What happens when you give up the fight and think you’ve arrived? You can’t get to life in heaven until you put to death your life on earth. You aren’t in until you take your last breath. That’s when your old life passes away and new life begins. Until then, you pick up your cross daily.
The path to redemption isn’t broken; it doesn’t require your help or expertise to fix it. It needs you to study it and understand it, so you know how to get to the path and where the path actually leads. Once you know the way, God expects you to show they way to others. If you love them, bless them by guiding them home. Pride and arrogance are the only things that make you think you know better than God. Does that mean you think God is... wrong? I’d take a moment to rethink that if I were you.
Children are a gift from God. God’s child, Jesus, is God’s gift. God made man. God loves man. God wants to share the gift of His Son with all humanity. When you are out and someone compliments your baby, do you evaluate them as if they are worthy to behold your child? I think not! You say thank you and offer to share more. If you connect, you may even take out your phone to show them something that your child has accomplished.
God created each of us with a purpose and a plan. It’s never too late to get back on track. If you’ve read the Book (the Bible, which continues to be a best-seller), you understand that time is short. You know how the story ends.
You have one life. Please use it wisely. Don’t repeat the mistakes I made. There is so much misguided love. So much abuse is given and taken unnecessarily. So much valuable time is wasted. Life is meant to be lived. Christ died to give you a new life, a more abundant life. It’s yours for the taking.
I asked Google what the best-selling book of all time was… “the Bible: According to Guinness World Records, as of 1995, the Bible was the best-selling book of all time, with an estimated 5 billion copies sold and distributed. Sales estimates for other printed religious texts include at least 800 million copies for the Qur'an and 200 million copies for the Book of Mormon.”
Most of us will never truly live; we will only exist at best. We may talk a good game, and others may even envy the life they believe we have. We dream big dreams, planning our future, only to have reality slap us in the face as those dreams are crushed by a lack of ______________. (You fill in your blank.)
The food we eat today may still carry the same brand name, but the ingredients could have changed. Other countries offer many of the same products we consume, some even with the same brand name; however, they contain healthier ingredients. These countries have stricter regulations that ban harmful and unnecessary ingredients, thereby protecting their citizens from a myriad of health issues that can lead to disease.
These fillers can also lead to unnecessary weight gain, which fuels shame and guilt. The next time you eat even a cookie, look at the ingredients and consider how they could be contributing to issues currently affecting your body. Seek healthier alternatives or try substituting with vegetables and fruits.
Shame on the companies that make two versions because it is cheaper. And for shame on the companies that use ingredients that cause you to become addicted to their poisons. I hope to add these companies to a list on my website to inform people. Americans deserve to eat healthily, too. Congratulations to other countries for taking a stand. If you fit into this category, let me congratulate you. Well done!
Fifty years ago, you made recipes with simple, sometimes homegrown ingredients. Pick up a box today, and the list of ingredients can be an inch or two long. You can’t pronounce most of the words, let alone know what they do.
Discipline your flesh. Fast from that item and others like it, and see if you feel better. Any form of fasting that rebukes the flesh from pleasure simultaneously rebukes the devil by putting your body into submission. You take control; you show it who the boss is. You can fast from food, alcohol, gambling, shopping, even negative people, sinful music, TV shows, and scrolling on your phone. Amen!
How do you know what to fast? If it comes before God, you need to fast it into submission. Don’t say you don’t have time to read your Bible, pray, or serve if you are spending hours each day scrolling mindlessly.
Many things can have positive attributes, so we accept them entirely. Sometimes, we are unsure if things affect us negatively. My hope is to create a library to inform you of potential dangers. You decide for yourself. I’ll just present the information. Do you know a useful tidbit of information from a great website that helped you? Email me your discoveries. Maybe I can add them to my site. Sharing knowledge benefits the Kingdom and can help save souls.
I remember growing up wanting Barbie dolls and accessories for every gift. Many children watched the Mickey Mouse Club on TV and dreamed of going to Disney one day. Fifty years ago, channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 were all there were.
My how things have changed. Today, The Barbie movie opens with the massive Barbie Idol dressed like Ishtar. She discourages marriage as holding women back and she is seen smashing her doll babies heads.
This 20 minute clip was more than enlightening: Jonathan Cahn Prophetic: The Mystery Of Barbie, Ishtar, and Smashed Babies! HD|Aug 14, 2023|byJonathan Cahn Official.
Disney has both boys and girls questioning their sexual orientation. Children who feel invisible crave attention so intensely that their self-esteem is so low they are willing to accept any attention, whether good or bad. All children desire to be noticed, loved, and accepted. They don’t need to be told God made a mistake. Children shouldn’t be mutilated and remade by man. These children need to be healed and made whole with the love of Jesus.
When they aren’t,they may feel the need to create and recreate different versions of themselves to find the one that gets them noticed and accepted. Then, it becomes their form of expression and communication. That is how identity is formed. You are shaped by the acceptance you receive that attracts you or the rejection that repels you. By someone. Anyone. The devil was right there to say, " Step right up. No waiting here. " Only Jesus can fill the void they feel. Jesus is love. Love is the answer.
Medicinenet.com states there are seventy-two other gender identities. I’m sorry, but even knowing that is too much information on this topic. Please do not look it up for yourself. I am old. I will die soon. Trust me, you just can’t unsee this. This is what occurs when people pursue their worldly version of sexual pleasure instead of the beautiful union that God intended it to be. Again, for some, enough will never be enough. You can convince yourself of anything if you try hard enough, but that doesn’t mean you are right.
America was founded on biblical principles. The hope for a better way of life attracted people from all over. Some brought their own faiths, and these individuals attempted to impose their beliefs on those who were already here. They sought to transform this country from one that followed ‘God the Creator’ to one that followed ‘Me the Creation’, which essentially leads to following the devil himself.
Godly principles made this country great in the first place. Americans won’t be the only people in heaven. All of humanity, every person, every where, needs to get right with Jesus before He returns. Then it will be too late. Only Jesus can Make America Great Again. The president may be the person He uses to accomplish that mighty task. Any person or country that follows Jesus will be great because God will bless them.
Worldly people often equate true value with monetary worth. To be rich, one needs to possess vast amounts of material possessions. This notion is far from the truth. Some of the wealthiest individuals I know hold the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. One can be as poor as a church mouse and still engage in giving to others. These individuals give from the abundance of their hearts, not their wallets. Prayer is priceless, essential, and effective.
The entire world went through COVID. Right now, America isn’t the only country needing to emerge from a Spiritual Depression to avoid a Financial Recession. Money will become tighter everywhere. Some will feel its effects more acutely than others. Those who can give more will need to do so to ensure that Missions can continue their valuable work. Remember, serving others takes many forms: physical, mental, spiritual, social, and financial.
Remember not to blame God. It is not His fault if you chose to sin and must face its consequences. It’s not the church's fault because someone pushed you away. You left. Ignore and pray for those who persecute you. But don’t allow anyone to affect your personal relationship with Jesus. It’s not the Bible’s fault if you don’t understand it. The Bible is meant to be mysterious. Read it and study to find out why. The mystery and the journey are different for each of us. Stop trying to follow the understanding and path God gave to someone else. Ask Him to provide you with your own. You deserve to feel the love of Jesus for yourself, not just through someone else.
How much time did you spend dating people you didn’t marry? That time would have been better spent discovering that if you were equally yoked, you might not have to endure as much pain. You would treat others and lovingly demand to be treated with respect. You would recognize your value through God’s eyes. Your self-esteem would soar in a humble, healthy way, not in a prideful or arrogant manner. You wouldn’t have settled for anyone less than a man or woman who would treat you in a way similar to how God would.
Families may need to start living multigenerational again. I lived with my grandmother, which helped my parents and blessed me abundantly. Purchasing a home in this inflated market may not be possible or wise for many. Both parents may have to work to provide the basic essentials of life, such as food and clothing. Tough times can either make or break people. Now more than ever, people need hope. They need a place to turn to feel safe, even if only for a little while, until they can regroup their thoughts and emotions. They need a supportive community. We can be that community.
We need to protect our resources. Every country should do its best to become self-sufficient from others. Every person should strive for the same goal. Debt is a burden that ties you to your past and prevents you from reaching your future. Start paying it off now. Stop accumulating more. More possessions won’t fill that void or make you happy. They will only add to your stress in trying to afford them and their upkeep. Sometimes having less allows you to expect less. That can be a huge blessing! Wanting less can be extremely liberating.
I’m not sure who will be able to afford to dye Easter eggs this year. Maybe we should all paint rocks with verses and leave them for others to find. We need to support our farmers and local Farmer’s Markets before they close. If you think food costs are high now, wait until it’s rationed by the government or completely unavailable. There are those who still remember when sugar and gasoline were rationed.
What will you do if it becomes unavailable at any price? Then it will all be genetically modified and come out of a test tube. Farmers devote their lives to their craft, rising before dawn every day. When you divide the hours, they receive the least amount of pay and respect. Support your local farmers’ markets while you still can; they may be the only ones with food one day. Let’s encourage them to continue sharing the fruits of their labor. No one should be able to own farmland unless they live in that country. Natural resources should be owned by the people of their own countries. No one should have the power to withhold these resources from a country's citizens. God doesn’t like ugly.
Let’s remember to support all those who protect others: police officers, firefighters, and other first responders. They willingly risk their lives daily. They dodge bullets, treat the wounded, and run into burning buildings to save people they don’t know. Where is the ‘me’ in that? There are still those who appreciate all you first responders who protect those who are unable to protect themselves. God sees everything.
This Memorial Day shouldn’t be just about having a day off to BBQ. Any holiday loses its meaning when we forget why we celebrate it in the first place. People died to give us the liberties we enjoy every day.
https://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/memorial-day/history/
The saddest part is that our country’s bravest, those who gave their lives so we could sleep at night, must be rolling over in their graves, trying to figure out what they died to protect. God bless their sacrifice! We should be thanking God that we didn’t have to give our lives in that way. How dare you pass a veteran without stopping to shake their hand and thank them for their service and your freedom.
To those who didn’t die serving their country, enduring nightmares we can scarcely comprehend, Thank You for your service. To all those who still protect us while we sleep at home in our comfortable beds at night, your reward awaits you in heaven. Please claim it now. Heaven applauds people like you.
I wish I could say that we need to take back what the enemy stole, but that isn't true. We relinquish our rights when we fail to stand up for our beliefs. In doing so, we disappoint God, causing Him sadness and anger. Therefore, He gives turns us over to our own wicked desires.
