What are we looking for?

 "I don't see it". 

"Well, it's there, you just aren't looking in the right spot."

How many times have I heard that? It's a common statement. You go to the store and look for a product and for whatever reason, it's just not there. The clerk says it is... they always 'know' don't they? Yeah, right. I spent half an hour in Lowe's one time when the clerk sent me to the back corner of the store on a wild goose chase for a plumbing part that was in the hardware section close to the front all along.

What are we looking for? peace, safety, riches....? Comfort is a nice one. I like to be comfortable.

Our surroundings are closing in on us whether we admit it or not. The influx of millions of people into our country is shrinking the landscape down foot by foot. The rise in costs and crime and pollution and hate and fear and.... you name it, has put everyone on edge. But there is a solution. A simple tried and true method of dispelling all the negatives surrounding our lives and creating a, shall I say it, euphoria. 

It's the presence of the Lord. That's right. Calling on the Master to engulf us in His miraculous peace is only a sentence away. Now I'm not talking about some 'spell' that we conjure up. Nope. It's not some ritual we have to follow by the numbers and chant certain things to 'summon' Him. Nope. None of that garbage works anyway, so why waste your time on what man says to do? Try God's way and get results.

Use your heart to link up with The Great I Am in person. Quit flopping around like a headless chicken and be still for a minute and focus on Him. Think about His presence coming to you like a soft breeze that refreshes and then close your eyes and 'feel'. It's there. It's real. It's always there.

It's as sure as I'm sitting here right now. Imagine getting to be close to the Creator of the universe. The one true God that never sleeps nor slumbers. The only answer you will ever need for the rest of your life. It's magnificent. Once you have experienced His presence you won't settle for anything else. You will want more and more of Him and your life will take on a whole new meaning and purpose. Things will begin to fall into place and your life will make sense; the kind of sense that propels you forward like a mighty rushing wind into success and joy and inner resolve to 'complete' your life the way God planned it all along.

Whew, that was a mouthful. I had to stop several times to correct my spelling. My hands were flying over the keys like I might actually know how to type. Ha! (Turtles beat me on a regular basis.)

I can't imagine any other way now. Since the presence of God has become  such an important part of living, I sense His presence around me even when I don't make a concerted effort to 'go there".

The omnipresence thing He has is real. He's everywhere at the same time if that makes any sense whatsoever. Knowing this can really be a good thing if you use it. That's the way He planned it. He wants 'company' too. He made us to be a companion. 

I hope I haven't run anyone off with my rambling tirade. I get excited sometimes ya know.

Early... peaceful quiet

 I had slept a good deal of the day away yesterday, so I didn't think I would sleep much last night. However, I made it to 3:30 and got up. I don't know what it is but I haven't felt well for about 3 or 4 days. Nothing specific, just achy and hot and cold. Very irritating to say the least. I wanted to prepare for the Zoom call later today so I made my way to the studio and worked on a monitor issue I have been trying to fix for two days. The attacks are never ceasing now days. I think the enemy thinks he can  'wear us out' and we'll give up. Won't happen. It just serves to increase the resistance. Kinda like the attacks on Trump. The more they pound him the more he rises in the polls and in the hearts of the people. People aren't stupid. The left thinks we are but they are in for a 'lickin' on most issues pretty soon. Blindness is a plague amongst the young and there again, the left thinks they can bully and BS them into going off the deep end. How sad. Our great young are being manipulated. Lord, gives us the insight on how to reach them in love. They deserve better.

I can almost 'smell' Spring coming. The onslaught of birds to the feeders is increasing. The species are increasing and the birdseed is 'flying out of the feeders'. I can't wait to see the 'Hummers'. They are my fav. I love to watch the iridescent feathers change colors in the sun as they buzz about, fighting for a spot at the feeder. It's amazing to see how they maneuver and dodge and dive. God sure does some magnificent things, doesn't He?

I heard a talk on prayer. The concept the lady gave was good. We do need to believe as we pray. Touching the heart of God is easy; He loves us so. It's in the 'believing' that we get the answers. Too many times we 'throw up' a prayer and desperately expect it to be the way we want it. I am hoping for God's way now. The lady explained a little about hope too. We don't hope enough. We don't listen enough. We don't 'seek' like we used to. The 'drive up' mentality is taking over. Some think things should be 'ready on demand' and that's not at all how our Lord works. He wants a 'relationship' built on mutual interaction and not circumstance. He's the one that 'made' all of this. Why don't we rely on the 'Creator' to learn how things work?

Thanks for the 'ear'....

 I like the way God does things.... 

Not that it matters what I think. 'His ways are higher than my ways' of course, but it's pleasing to think that I am 'getting it'. I have really enjoyed my prayer time of late. Not that I didn't before, it's just that the 'being closer' factor has increased and there is a lot more 'presence' the closer I get. That equates to more power, more understanding and more of everything else that comes to mind actually. We suffer a lot when we are 'away'. At least I do. I feel lost, not unsaved, just at a loss so to speak. He completes me. Dianna completes me. She always knows what it is about me that makes me 'tick' and that what I think matters. Father is like that as well. It's hard to separate the two. She is so close to Him. You can feel His presence around her at times and I think I'm a little envious of that, but don't tell her.... she'll laugh.

 I went to a prayer meeting last night. It was for an outreach group that has been ongoing for about 10 years now. They formed a group to help feed people and I am amazed at the progress they have attained in that period of time. They have a building now and things in place to help a great deal of the needy in our community and the plans are still growing a more robust game plan as we speak. I admire that "Stick to it-ism" in people. Some give up at the first sign of adversity. These people seem to laugh at that. I see and feel their strength and the unity is quite inviting. It doesn't matter what denomination, they are accepting and genuine and open to ideas that move them forward.

 How extraordinary in this day and time. There are still a lot of 'warriors' out there that aren't easily defeated by a setback. They more or less see setbacks as milestones to success.

My computer went down on me yesterday. I think the enemy is trying to tell me something. I only have one screen and for a novice such as myself, its a real hindrance to what I'm trying to accomplish here. Dang it! There, I've said it. I am anxious when I'm supposed to be 'anxious for nothing'.... Am I still human? Oh No! Where's the man of steel now? Yuck.

These 'light afflictions'. When do they cease? Never. We just have to get used to being attacked and not take it like someone chopped off a limb. (Want some whine with that cheese?)

 The studio made an advance. I stuck some of the foam soundproofing up yesterday while I was awaiting the tech's response to my 'cry for help'. I'm such an amateur. It looks alright, sorta. I guess I shouldn't complain, I did make some progress in that direction. Anything to get the noise knocked down a bit. I drive Di crazy (in the next room) with all my palaver. It's been said, 'she can hear a mouse poot across the street', but I'm  not sure. Pretty close.

Our days are getting longer.... Yea! The Spring is about to burst onto the scene, or 'spring' onto the scene; anyway, I 'm looking forward to some warmer weather at any rate.

Reach out to someone you know today. Tell them you are thinking about them and reassure them how loved they are by all. It's a good thing to do. You'll feel better, they'll feel better. The whole world will feel better for it. Trust me.

 I looked out. The winter storm had passed through during the early hours and chilled everything. The edge of the carport has tiny fingers of ice hanging down, already dripping from the sun that has poked its head through the clouds. All the trees have on an 'sweater' of silvery ice, each limb weighed down by the weight of the forming cold. The chickens visiting the yard are also weighed down with ice, making it difficult to for them to walk. Certainly their little legs are tired and sore from the frozen platform they walk on in search of food that will warm them. The rooster's tail is sagging with the ice and the hens are looking for ways to shed the 'cold blanket' they have found themselves wrapped in as the morning now moves into midday.

I marvel at how resilient the animals are. God has placed a 'will' in them to 'carry on' even through the tough times. Di was almost crying as she brought the plight of the chickens to my attention. Her tender heart is one of the most endearing things I love about her.

Here I sit, warm and alive in my little kingdom, surrounded by all 'the undone', working on getting better at what I'm trying to learn. I look to gather it all in and become proficient at what is required to be successful and try desperately not to get frustrated with how long it's taking to get there. We are so impatient. 

An artists friend sent me a short story. His take on life is very good. He always gives the credit, the glory, to God. I like that about my friend. People should be more like my friend. There is way too much 'self' in the mix nowadays. How did we get so self centered and 'needy'? I know the Bible says, "In the last days men's hearts will wax worse and worse..." Everything is coming true and to fruition around us. How can so many miss such strong evidence staring them in the face?

I'm wondering if anything I'm saying will be the least bit impactful or meaningful to its readers? Solomon said, "All is vanity..." Am I so vain that I think my words will have a bearing on life? How do these blogs measure up to truth; to reality? How much of ourselves must  we give before the answers are acted on? I keep typing away as though I had good sense.

My only surety is God. My only solace. I rest in the comfort that He is watching. He is guarding. He is laughing at my juvenile antics and attempts at being 'wise'. I love Him so.

What will the rest of the day bring? What marvels will I discover lying among the pages of the text? It's for us to search, it's for us to measure. Are we doing all we can to "make it better"? 

I sure hope so.

 "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the party".

How many times have you heard that recently? In one form or another, the words ring true and sink deep into the spirit as we watch the news unfold around the world. The Bible is real and it is right. Every time we step away from God's principles we get kicked in the face with reality. The tried and true has been set aside by the 'nay sayer' and 'contrivers' using their power to deceive. I'm waiting for the move of God to surge right now. It's on the precipice, tipping toward change, radical change, that we haven't seen since the earth opened up and swallowed a whole bunch of people standing outside of God's protection. We HAVE TO get back on track here. The eminent danger is real. Everyone can see it but not everyone knows how to stop it. As Christians we have the tools in our 'toolkit' to stop all of this almost instantly. I know I'm not doing enough. How 'bout you? I've only just begun to speak up and speak out about this. Why did I wait so long? Why have I slept through the din of noise that should have awakened me from my stupor and been silenced long ago. The first time someone made a move to take God out of our schools we should have held a hanging. Harsh? Yes, and more. 

We can reference many times the judgement came suddenly, but not without warning. The Word said, "if My people , who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray...." But have we, really? Or have we half heartedly bowed our heads for a few moments to make a 'show of prayer' and then head to the fridge for a snack. 

Where is the sackcloth of repentance now? We're too proud to get our knees dirty. I fear for this land, the land I love so dearly. I will vote, but that in and of itself is not enough. I have to summon the courage, the backbone, to speak up and make my voice heard even in the distance. The more of us that speak up raises the awareness and the volume of dissent. "Louder!".... Just like at the football game. "Louder, louder.... we wanna win!" We have to stop playing defense and go on the offense for a change. Make a move and see what God does. He's waiting for His church to rise up and take back territory we've lost through laziness and apathy. Get out your soapbox and put on your travelin' shoes.... Time to march like the enemy does.... show out like the 'Rainbow people' do. Why do they get all the press? It's our turn to shine ya'll! God demands it.

"If you don't confess me before men I won't confess you before the Father..."

Enough 'rah rah', we have to be earnest about our beliefs. Evidently we don't believe God can 'do' anymore. Have we lost so much faith that we only 'hope' it will get better? That's not how God designed it. He put things in motion and inside of us that have real power.... not 'tv power'. We need to get this down in our 'knower' and know that we know that we know God is still on the throne and still running things. EVERYTHING. He doesn't work part time. He's a fulltime God and never sleeps nor slumbers. Our paths are already set. All we have to do is join the fight and begin to pay attention to that still small voice that beckons us into His presence. That the 'safe zone'. That's the answer to any and all issues.... Wars and rumors of wars, crime and violence and hatred and selfishness and anything else you wanna put on the list of 'bad for ya'.

Are you hearing me? Are you agreeing with me? Are you convinced that what we do is important? There are no 'lesser' parts in the body of Christ. We each play a significant role in the scenario; this 'dance of life'. YOU are important. You are essential in completing the picture of what God is doing here. He expects us to respond.

I'm convinced that we are on the verge of significant change. Every fiber in my being is aching with an anticipation and I don't know exactly what that means. I do know that these words swelling up inside of me are from Him. That's all it can be. I'm not prone to verbalizing this way. It's not in my nature to be the 'guy with the doom sign' standing in the crowd, ignored and seemingly of no consequence.

The sun is shining here. The coldness has somewhat subsided for the moment but it will return in earnest by nightfall. We will be dripping faucets and leaving cabinet doors ajar until the next temperature rise. Life goes on. Or does it? While I sit warm and fed and complacent in my spoiled brat state of being, I wonder how the rest of the world is. Are they thinking about tomorrow or just what they can find to eat today? It's ironic. We have such wealth and resources around us and yet we squander them on new clothes and internet connections and eating out 3 to 4 times a week while we throw away almost half of the food we do cook because we're bored with the same old steak and potatoes. Gourmet cooking shows are at the top of the viewing list. What used to be a 'cheap item' in the meat counter has quadrupled in price because some cooking show has highlighted it as 'the newest thing' to mix with broccoli and truffles. How gauche. Beans and cornbread, that's good.

I'm winding down. The winds of change have blown me off course. I'm not as 'in tune' as I used to be. My hermit personality is showing again.

Let's pray. Let's 'feel'. Let's come together like we used to and talk about things. I'm so tired of texting. There's no life in it. It's a stale exercise in procrastination at best. Looking into the eyes of the person across from you was once cherished as a privilege and a passion. Now we don't even look up from the 'screen' when someone comes into the room; too busy seeing what 's on Facebook. Sad.

I love you.

 Oh, this great thing You do.... this precise miracle of planting love inside of us and clearing away the dross of life and sin and hate..... Oh praise Your name....!!!

How I love you, Lord. Your mercy and forgiveness astound me. How could you love someone like me? I have sinned greatly and yet, your Word says that I'm forgiven... and 'redeemed' by the Blood. How do you come up with such greatness? I'm humbled, I'm ecstatic. 'Thank you' isn't nearly enough... not even a poor beginning. I worship You, Lord Jesus. The sacrifice, oh the totality of the torture and pain you surely suffered for someone like me! It's so hard to take in when I think of how selfish and spoiled and self centered I've been. And then there's the rest of us. How many of us feel the same? How many love You with the devotion and earnest aching inside for something, anything to show the gratitude? But, of course, You already know what's in our hearts. You made us.

As you all can see, I've been in Ephesians again. It doesn't matter how many times I read Ephesians 2: 8-9, I weep inside. Those were the words God was saying to me as I lay on that gurney in that ambulance suffering a 6 1/2 hour heart attack in 1992. The sheer gravity of the situation was nothing to me at the time. I was at peace inside and trying desperately to recall the words of those two scriptures. I think He was keeping me busy, as it were, to get my mind off of the pain and the severity of the moment. He's like that you know. Just when we think the world around us is about to cave in all around us and swallow us with disaster, He steps in.

Suddenly, all is well and it's as though it was only a bad dream; and sometimes it is. I can't count the bad dreams. Innumerable.

Oh, but the relief I feel when I think of how He loves me. How He just makes peace out of nothing and spreads it like crunchy peanut butter on the bread of my mind. I know.... where'd that come from? I don't know. It just jumped out of my fingers onto the page..... Who woulda thought?

I slept well for a time and then the cares of this world and 16 other things popped into my mind and I couldn't lie there another minute. I had to roll back the warm blankets and get out my Sword.

I'm not always faithful to read. I've been negligent. That's me 'Negligent John'.... again. And yet, He still loves me.... right? I can  always go to Him, always. There has never been a time since that day in that jail cell when I got down on my knees and asked Him to forgive me and come into my life and 'fix it", that He hasn't 'been there'. NOT ONE TIME. That's 52 years now.

It's good to look back in one sense only. To the day you surrendered control to the Creator and became the 'clay' that he could mold and shape and smile at. In my case He probably laughs.

Do you trust Him? Do even believe? Oh, you should. Your life will be so much the better for it. I can't begin to explain the joy I feel about being accepted into 'the family'. It's everything to me. It's life itself my friends, you should try it. 
And for those of you that know what I'm saying here, bravo.... blessings and peace to you, as you know so well.... just more of it...

Well, I guess I've rambled on long enough. I know you have other things to do.... but, at any rate, I am so thankful for those of you that might read this.... when ever that is. 

What??

 The norm is not. The usual is not. The surprise is not. We have become so 'indoctorinated' ( I made that up I think), that we seem to accept most anything printed or spoken across the airwaves. I am ashamed of our government. We get a new version of 'the truth' almost everyday and it's easy to see that it isn't truth, just propaganda. When do we stand up to tranny? Today, maybe? Our rights are dissolving rapidly and I don't see many doing anything but complaining.... (Yup, that's me.... complaining). 

How sad. The youth have missed so much. Their brains are plugged into machines that are draining them of all of their energy and creativity and the sense of right and wrong. I think of 'the old days'  when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I went outside to play and not sit for hours looking at a small screen while my brain evaporates.

 This stuff is straight out of the Bible. Turn to most any page where it's talking about what will happen in the future and you're reading a current newspaper of the situation we're living 'right now'. We just have modern clothes on.

Now, not everything is gloom and doom here.... We have Jesus! He's the only hope, but we need to act fast. The doors are closing swiftly and the light is being put out by the darker powers. The only comfort is that we win in the end, but in the meantime we have to fight back or lose our place in the world. I know, we're 'just passing through"... The Word says to communicate with each other and shine the light of love and truth into the darkness, which in turn, dispels the darkness and brings understanding and life and harmony and a lot of other positive and much needed things to the fore.

I know, it's been far too long that I have been here. I haven't been able to get on here for a bit, but I'm back and I hope the blog opens up for me when I need to write. It's frustrating to be 'shut out' and not get the answers to solve the issue.... God is good and I eventually overcome my ignorance and .... well, there ya go.... I 'doodit'.

I want to encourage not discourage. Exhortation is much better than tearing down the walls with negative verbiage. Wouldn't you agree? All you positive thinkers are agreeing....thanks.

Anyway, I just wanted to jump on and say, "Hello!" and send out a shout for freedom and the privileges we have left in this messy world we call home.

We are praying and fasting as a collective where I worship. I see the evidence of successfully praying and fasting in the Word, so I look forward to seeing the results of our efforts soon. Do you believe in prayer? I certainly hope you do. It's the only leverage we have against a wicked enemy out to kill us. I want to destroy everything I see as evil but I am reminded that I don't have that power; that's the Creator's job. I'm supposed to 'stay in my lane' here and be the good servant that pleases the Master and doesn't 'tick Him off' for getting in the way. I'm sure you all know what I mean.  ".... God, they are being a bunch of sinners down here! Don't you want me to bring down some wrath or something on them to make them behave?" 

Yup, you get it. We're better off watching the action from the sidelines where we belong as we praise Him and worship Him and stay out of the way.. yes? That doesn't mean we idly sit by and do nothing. We have to witness and share the Good News with the world, just not in anger or violence.

Okay, I've carried on long enough.... Time to get on to something else... 

Pray for me, please. I am studying to be a grant writer. I see so many that are worthy and yet, don't have the resources. If I can help that along, I believe I can be part of the 'big picture' and see the kingdom progress as the Master instructs. Pray for me and 'them' as I begin to search out the funders and successfully attain the needed approvals for projects He deems worthy. My little brain is struggling a bit with everything it takes to pull off a successful grant application, but I'm confident that Father will help me along. I think He's partial to the 'slower ones", yeah?

I see that I have a few 'followers'. I didn't realize you were there until the Lord pointed me in that direction on the home page. God bless you. Share these posts if you deem them appropriate and interesting. It would thrill me to no end to know that these writings aren't just babble from and old fart, but worthwhile tidbits that 'spark' the thinking mind.