dodge, duck, parry and heal

I'm reminded of a scene from The Matrix; Neo is being fired upon by his enemy and has learned that he can move at super speed to dodge the bullets as they whiz in his direction.   Most miss him, but one brings him down; just one.  That bullet reminds Neo, that, while he can resist, he is not invulnerable.

Many of us are wrestle with a variety of difficult and challenging areas of our lives, while enjoying freedom and victory in others.  We have learned to deflect, parry, dodge and absorb many of the "bullets" flung in our direction, but occasionally one will bring us down, for a time, "for a season".  Depending on the proximity of that wounding to our "heart", the recovery time may be short or lengthy, and, if we allow it, it can be permanently crippling or even deadly to us.

 "Trust in Jehovah, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on his faithfulness.  Delight thyself also in Jehovah; And he will give thee the desires of thy heart.   Commit thy way unto Jehovah; Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.   And he will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light, And thy justice as the noon-day.   Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath:"  ~ Psalm 37:3-8a

I have wounded people in my days; some have forgiven me, others have not, some use it as a bludgeon against me.  I can not undo my actions, only repent, attempt to reconcile and seek forgiveness.

I have allowed wounds to embitter me and to withhold that same forgiveness for others.  That's the crippling and deadly wound; the wound that alters the course of my demeanor, my heart.  That's the wound that not only hardens me against the person who "flung the bullet", but grows skeptical hardness against innocent bystanders.

And that's the wound that most needs to heal.

"And when they came unto the place which is called The skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left.  And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"   ~ Luke 23:33-34a

Father, help me to forgive with the same heart that Jesus called upon, Yours.

Heal my wounded heart, Lord, and bring healing to the hearts of those I have wounded.

In Jesus name, I bring this prayer to you.

Amen

let the trouble simmer and die

"For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer contention quiets down." ~ Proverbs 26:20

Strife and contention pass our way constantly; wisdom demands that we allow it to pass harmlessly by.

Contention, gossip, the inevitable human conditional need to be "right", all cause harm, both to those engaged and to those in casual attendance.  A "glancing' blow" wounds innocent ears.

Proverbs 26 highlights the heart of a contentious fool and gives us a remedy for avoiding the conflict.

Avoid the fool; let the fire die alone.

And if you see yourself in the verses?  Prayer always helps.

"I said, "I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence."" ~ Psalm 39:1

"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips." ~ Psalm 141:3

submission

If I desire all the blessings our Lord has for me, I must submit to His input into my life.  In submission I open my life to be filled by Him, for His purposes and His glory.  My lack of submission to Him, my submission only to self, limits blessings to only those I can provide, not the best, to be sure.

I've been thinking about the act of submission and the results of that, whether to God, or to each other.  When my wife and children are submitting to my desires, I am inclined to pour blessings onto them.  When I am submitted to my wife's desires, she is inclined to bless me, and my children, when I am open the their personal needs and desires, are more loving and respectful to me.

Our submissions, one to another, opens doors and inclines us to each other; as in a team building exercise, when all are open, when all are trusting, when all are committed and submitted, we all win.

and isn't that a better way?

Wives, {be subject} to your own husbands, as to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself {being} the Savior of the body.  But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives {ought to be} to their husbands in everything.   

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also {does} the church, because we are members of His body.  ~ Ephesians 5:22-30

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ~ James 4:7

ground zero mosque

Should they or shouldn't they?

If we look at it from the perspective of "Land of the Free", "Equal Opportunity" and "All men are created equal", then we must not even blink.

When I consider the "freedom of religion" aspect of this great nation, I think we must stand back and not begrudge them the same freedom we all enjoy as Americans.

When I look at it from the perspective of these Muslims, who are showing incredibly poor taste, a divisive "stick it in your eye" mentality and a "we could not care less what you think" attitude, then I start to simmer a bit.

When I consider that so many of our "Let's give America away" politicians are in support of it, my simmer starts to bubble.

When I come to the inevitable conclusion that there will not be one thing good to come of it and that the sidewalk in front of it will be populated by protesters for years to come, I start to settle a bit.

If they think they will be able to peaceably enjoy their new building, I think they will be in for an unwelcome welcome by the people of New York City and visitors to the area.

America, we thrive in adverse times and the bond of freedom brings us together when needed.

I believe there are millions of "paper" Americans who want this country destroyed, to look like all the other countries, to lose it's unique individualism, "for the good of mankind",  and I know there are millions more off our shores who are wringing their hands in gleeful anticipation of the potential signing of treaties that will make their laws our laws.  This too will come, so long as talking-sticks like President Obama, Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, nancy pelosi, Harry Reid,, and countless other anti-patriots are in positions of power and influence, preaching one sided messages of  "tolerance" for their one-sided views only.

I'm not going to lose any sleep over it, however, I'm going to help my country by maintaining awareness, voting my positions and helping in any way I can to enlighten others to the blessings of One Nation, under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for ALL!.

My wife sent me this, and the timing, for a variety of reasons,  is impeccable.  We, as believers, have to stand watch over ourselves and keep our spiritual eyes and ears peaked.  The least of us makes a huge target for the enemy.  We have to stand, we just have to; the only alternative is to live a defeated life.  Mel's not alone.

Mel's Meltdown

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. " ~ Ephesians 6:10-20

Don't sit in the back of the bus, get up front and drive; watch the road unfold before you!