I profess

Recently, I have been grilled on my faith and beliefs from other Christians. It seems they wanted me to see the Biblical word in their definition. I understand very much so, however, the more they pressed, the more they gave me in idea that I was being persecuted, judged, ostracized, examined, and or pitied.

So, I have to ask, in the word of God did he not give us free will? And, what is free will? Before I get off on this “tangent”, please take into heart, that the majority of Christians believe as their church, their religious doctrine. Yes, they read the Bible and they understand what they were (a) raised with in religion, and (b) comprehend from what lessons they did receive in church. Occasionally, one might admit they pray for guidance after reading the word of God.  It doesn’t make it right or wrong any more than my beliefs formulated as an older person. In my past, I too was raised in a Biblical based religion (hard core Southern Baptist) attending Biblical based schools until my high school years. I also received my post degree from a Biblical based religious school.  

This is a profession of my faith. You do not have to agree with anything I write, convey, or believe. That is your right. “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5.13) “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” (Proverbs 16.9)

These two verses that I quoted from the Bible are telling me that we have the freedom to believe in God and Jesus (incarnate), but we have to establish in our course to set the path toward that of the LORD. It is our choice, whether or not we do or do not follow it. It is just that simple. In modernized religion, many do not follow but make historical reference to Mosaic Law. There is nothing wrong with that. I, on the other hand, happen to use the Bible for my personal benefit. That means what in the Bible is applicable in my life, my way of living, my soul, my heart and then drawing a fine line of how to live in today’s society. This just means, for example, the entire Bible is considered as applicable law to me and my circumstances.

Understand or comprehend (whatever floats your boat) that I take into consideration; what is literary, what is literal, what is cultural, what is plausible? I then pray before I formulate any idea. I may research a topic a little more after prayer. I may pray, “God explain? Why?” “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be give him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1.5-6)

It is okay to ask God questions. Especially if you don’t understand. It is not okay to doubt in HIM or Jesus (incarnate) because of the ways of this physical life.  In my opinion, questioning God is healthy. A really good example is an everyday occurrence—like death. So often we wonder why our love ones were taken from us? Why is God allowing evil? Why is God allowing pain and suffering? The answers in many cases are right before us, but we can’t see them. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55.8-9)

We may not ever understand why. Somethings are answerable and some things aren’t. In death, God needs the spirit more. The body is not meant to last forever. We truly do not have an earthly concept of what forever means. Pain and suffering is allowable at the hands of God. Never doubt that. There is a reason. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens…” (Ecclesiastes 3.1) This you may doubt about pain and suffering. May I refer to Job. Job was not of the 12-tribes. He was not a Hebrew (a Jew). God allowed the devil to tempt him to prove a point.  The point was to prove his faithfulness in the face of physical adversity.

My point to all this discussion being, my opinion isn’t necessarily right or wrong. Your opinion isn’t necessarily right or wrong. Only God can determine on the day of judgement who is truly worthy and faithful to enter into the kingdom of Heaven, not man and their definitions.

I profess that I am a Christian, and a faithful one. People whose opinions differ than mine may very well be faithful Christians, too.  We should always remember the following:

(1)    Accept Jesus (incarnate) as your savior,

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10.9)

(2)    Follow his instruction, do his will, and do his work,

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So, also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2.14-17.)

(3)    Stay as close to a consistent faith in God/Jesus (incarnate.)

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our, Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…” (1 Timothy 2.1-15)

(4)    Try to the best of your ability not to let the pleasures of the world overtake you very being.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with the desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2.15-17)

(5)    We do not always understand God, His methods, His reasoning, and most definitely do not comprehend anything dealing with him in time. God’s time is here, the now, but we don’t know God’s time because we are not him.

“But, do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the LORD one day is a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3.8)

(6)    Learn all you can about God, the Bible, the Culture of the twelve tribes … learn with an open mind and heart. It doesn’t detract but can build your faith’s strength.

“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” (Proverbs 18.15) All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3.16)

Do not fear the unknown, because the unknown is dark, null, void and without existence. Fear God, LORD, instead. Fear whether or not you have been faithful enough to sustain life, the light, of the every lasting.

It is free will that allows us to have faith, but by the Grace of God will we receive the LORD and He us in his arms. Do not judge or doubt what is in a person’s heart. I like many others have been guilty of doing just that. After all I am only human. 

Learning from mistakes- A short story.

I wrote this in May 2014. It still holds true today. I just have one question, will we ever learn from our mistakes?

Is the state of our nation at peace? It is necessary for the public safety to have a good body of veteran soldier ever in the state of readiness. Our veterans are tired in spirit, our wounded are not repairable, and our reservist are dwindling. Yet, our nation strives for excellence only for riches, the world properties that will remain after the separation of the spirit and not for the true moral fiber.

In 1516, England there were many nobles who sat idle and made their fortunes off the other man’s labors. In 1846, the American government had lost its vitality because a single man had been able to break the rules of checks and balances—to bend it to a will of confusion. Government is supposed to impose of its citizens what is to their advantage but not to force the wills of doctrine that breaks their spirits. Still in 2017, we have learned nothing from our past except to continue in the same errors of our many predecessors.  

There are many men who were sitting in the wings, to become “noble men” and make their wealth off the backs of men’s labor. These American nobles will occasionally throw a crumb of charity to keep the average man off their door steps and in the world of begging for food, clothing, or shelter.

Our soldiers return from service injured and in many cases with no hope.

Our government has let its own employees down. The employees are also the employer, they are “we the people” who formed the government. We have become contradictory within itself, like a serpent who is biting itself, the enemy fighting itself, to destroy itself.  

In recent years, I have seen more and more revert to the streets. There are men, women, and children with worn tattered health and clothes that wonder the nights while we sleep. Some of them take the life of criminal activity just to survive. They have lost all hope and even a padded jail cell with three meals is better than sleeping on a street where people still throw their trash—their discards. The shelters are overcrowded with no room for the weary human cast-away. Yet so many have lost all they knew at the hands of the society in which we all live. Very few recover, because it has become a way of life.

While doing a comparison, in history, why has there been so little change in 498 years? In the 1700's we Americans wanted to be different than the suppressed society of England, yet are we? Have we not learned anything from History?  Now we try to remove the memories of our histories, remove the statutes and memorials, wipe the slate clean. It makes no sense.

In 2013, there is an estimated more than 100 million people over the age of 18.  In 2013. In January of 2013, there are at least 600,000 people homeless. That means that it may be possible to rise in one day $99,400,000 to fix the problem without government intervention. That means everyone who is not homeless must give $1.

WHY IS THERE A PROBLEM? I fail to understand. We can make bigger weapons, cut the financial assistance to our sick, our poor, our elderly. We can dine on expensive foods, why many dine on the scraps off the floors and out of the sty of American waste. Why should the individual help, when the government sets the example by not being tentative to the needs of its own people? Why our government lives lavishly, waist the peoples hard earned money, plays with the many coffers of our country and others? It is a definite problem.

Until this problem is fixed, our nation will never be at peace with itself. I am thinking of how this can be done. So many give tithes to their churches. Tithes equate to a tenth. $1 is far less than a tithe. What else do you do as a Christian? The war is actually an internal structure of so many not listening to what God’s intentions really are. Physicals needs are not being met. To spread the word of God the physical needs must be solved, then the word is understood more easily. Feeding the word of God comes physically and then spiritually. The lack of physical needs can create a confusion among many and it can block the spiritual needs from being met.

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19:17
Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Matthew 5:42
Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Proverbs 22:9
He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just. Luke 14: 12-14.

The clouds are rumbling outside. The sky is dark. There is a war somewhere in the world. 

Keep in prayer each other.

May God, bless you all and keep you safely in His arms

What is religious liberty? That "Wall" of separation between Church and State.

When I was in 1^st grade, I attended a very well to do private religious school here in Houston. This was around about 1966 which I do well remember. We were supposed to remember two verses a day. Once when it came my time to recite my memory verses, I couldn’t remember what they were. My punishment was to sit in the quiet room. I did not know what the quiet room was. I learned that day at just 7 years old. The teacher asked me to come with her knowingly that this was the trip to “the quiet room.” I was locked in the broom closet, in total darkness, and told, “The bugs and spiders in this room get little children who don’t remember their verses because they are the instruments of evil.” 

This blog today is about religion in schools and why we have that wall of separation between church and state. It has nothing to do with being faithful to God or the removal of prayer out of school, like everyone is so inclined to think. It is about government(s) of the past, influences of religion in both church and government, and about people(s) actions—protection and prevention.  It is that simple.

Would you like to be told what religion you are supposed to worship by the government? I don’t think so. The people in our history books didn’t like either. What makes anyone think that forcing religion on society(people) works? In the famous annals of history, if one was not Catholic in France then let the persecution begin. In Ireland, if one was not Anglican, then let the persecution begin. The entire case and point of Martin Luther was for religious reform. The point of why people left the pre- colonial settlements was two-fold. If one were of the Jewish faith in Nazi Germany then they were just simply murdered. During the civil rights era, if one were Jewish in America, in many areas of this country were persecuted. In pre-colonial America people in settlements were not allowed to worship freely for fear that one would be exiled into the wilderness for not wanting to follow the church’s dictates or possibly executed for heresy and/or the denial of God.

I also hear often that if prayer were allowed back into schools, the youth of today would totally 

behave in a more suitable manner. Are you so 100% sure about that? 

I am about to burst many bubbles.

We have freedom religion in accordance with the Bible.

“And, if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24.15) Note the hi-lighted words, “choose for yourself.”

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5.13) Note the hi-lighted words “were called to be free.”

God affords us the freedom to worship as we see fit. No man on this earth, nor government should intervene with those wishes. Furthermore, I don't care where you live. 

There truly is no persecution by the US government over freedom of religion because it is guaranteed in the US Constitution. I can only speak of what I know as a proud American. I have never resided anywhere else except in the country of my birth. Persecution does however, exists in America perpetrated at the mouths and actions of sadly misguided people who think they correct. They are they are the living perfect with no sin who wants to correct us all in the perfect way of life.  They are the people with many, many skeletons in their closets hidden behind lock doors. Those are the people who have used their freedom, as mentioned in Galatians 5.13, to indulge in flesh rather than serve humbly in love. Some of those people are members of our government as well.  

Now I have many relatives, friends, and acquaintances who are teachers. I respect them more than what they know. The educational systems are government controlled. Therefore, the employees in government run schools are employees of the government. Those employees are made of a wide variety of religions. Employees of state (government) were prohibited in conducting forced prayer on anyone while in an operating capacity in any engaging manner.

To go a little bit further, public schools cannot preach religion or engage in prayer, but they can teach it. All religious activity by a student must be voluntary and not forcibly engaged on others unless asked. It is a sad misconception among some government employees, parents, churches, and students to think one cannot pray or read their Bible in school in school. They only draw-back to this statement is that they must not be disruptive nor forcibly engaging while doing so and that means in class during instructive times.  Government employees are allowed to teach religion not preach it. Preachers on the other hand allowed to teach and preach at church but if they are government employees, they can teach it but not preach it while at work as (repeating those key words) a government employee.

My deep personal thoughts:

My children are adults and both believe in God/Jesus Christ (incarnate) and prayed in their public school during their time and no one said anything. I would have and still believe that prayer and religion forcibly engaged in schools is a NONO. I will fight to keep it out of schools except in an academic manner. I do not feel that being forced to pray or learn someone’s perspective, as a parent, was or is beneficial for young people. If you want your children to learn your religion, your method of worship, etc., then put them in a private religious school of your religion. I also took the time as a parent to express to them my concerns about their spiritual being. I discussed God/Jesus Christ (incarnate) with them form the time before, after, and to this date.

As far as prayer in schools making a difference, not really because of the society in which we lived in during my youthful days and the society in which we live in now. What does make a difference is to allow it be taught in History, academically. The child gets an exposure to religion culturally. It makes a really big difference if the child is introduced by their parents to religion. Even that percentage that any child will be a semi-functional part of society, only remains to be seen because to each his own in their thoughts and beliefs. Just because a child is raised religiously doesn’t guarantee the future of that child. That child has “free will” the “right to choose” which path they take in life with or without the parent’s involvement. We can only hope and pray. There are no guarantees in life on anything other than we are born, live, and die—whether it be 90 years or 15 seconds.

“No one can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6.44)

“We love because he loved us first.” (1 John 4.19)

These two verses prove that we should not be forced, because He (God) loved us first and He (God) draws us to him through Jesus Christ (incarnate), through His grace. Always remember that.  No individual person should be forced in faith and religion for fear of retribution or persecution by a government or anyone else. It is the word of God that we choose to believe and believe in him freely. In making that choice, He (God) lifts us into his arms and protects us. 

Have a blessed day. May God be with you always.

Executive Order on Religious Liberties

For many years, I was an avid church attendee. I enjoyed going every time the doors opened. I was extremely active especially among the youth groups and wanted to make sure that if people needed a way to church to provide such a way. A lot of time transportation assistance was given freely by the church and often more so than noted, I paid for that transportation out of my very own pocket. One day it really all stopped. I stopped attending church for me for various reasons. The one thing that didn’t stop was my strong belief in God/Jesus Christ (incarnate)/Holy Spirit.

The purpose of this blog today is to discuss the signing of the Executive Order on Religious Liberty which is supposed to happen today, May 4, 2017. I will take you step through step of the process and try to explain this to the best of my ability.

(***RED represents my opinion. If you find that I have made any error please feel free to comment. But, please keep your comments tactful and respectful.)

There will be three things that I will specifically look at after reading several news articles on this subject. They will be (1) Executive Orders- their scope, (2) Thomas Jefferson and religious liberty, and (3) the Johnson Amendment and its purpose.

What is an executive order? It is a statement of directive that the President of the US issues which has the affect and power of a federal law. The only problem is that executive orders are a “Gray Matter” in the constitution. In other words, there is no provision authorizing its issuance. There is a fine line in Article 2 of the constitution and congress can pass a new law to override such an order. [1]

This can be a dangerous tool in the hands of any single leader of a country. However, this is why we have a system of checks and balances. Like some of the previous executive orders, the Federal Courts have had to step in and stop such orders dead in their tracts. Why is this happening in America? This administration seems to not know exactly what a checks and balance system is?

I have often been told that separation of church and state didn’t come about until recently in the past 60 or so years. That is simply not true. I heard Mr. President speak about what Thomas Jefferson said “God who gave us life, gave us liberty…. liberties are a gift of God…”[2]

The presidential quote pertaining to Thomas Jefferson was taken off panel three (3) of the Jefferson Memorial. It is a very interesting quote but not a complete quote from the panel.  It reads, “God who gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are to be free. Establish a law for educating the common people. That is the business of the state and on a general plan.” [3]

Mr. President’s direct quote had nothing to do with the repeal of the Johnson Amendment and its purposes. In fact, the Johnson Amendment really isn’t an amendment but just legislation that was passed and upheld by the Supreme Court of the US. The quote (Jefferson’s quote) was pertaining to education and slavery. I wonder if Mr. President thinks that the American people are that ignorant, uneducated, and perhaps, maybe he is correct. After all, we the people put him in office. In a generalization of terms, what does that say about the American people who are the government?

Jefferson wanted a separation of church and state. He felt that government should not dictate religion and religion should not dictate government. However, we needed, as a country, religious liberty using the Church of England and their government as an example.[4]

What is the Johnson Amendment? Lyndon B Johnson’s amendment ban in 1954 covered that “Churches cannot endorse or oppose particular candidates for political office… Instead the ban is based on a provision in the 1954 tax reform act prohibiting all tax-exempt organizations from supporting or opposing political candidates. I show that the provisions grew out of the anti-communist frenzy of the 1950s and was directed at right-wing organizations such as Facts Forum and the Committee for Constitutional Government.” He further contends that. “A ban on electioneering has nothing to do with the First Amendment or Jeffersonian principles of separation of church and state. [5]

Note the words “…1954 tax reform act prohibiting all tax-exempt organizations…grew out of anti-communist frenzy of the 1950s…” Those are key words to what the late President Lyndon B Johnson had on his mind when he was a senator. The hi-lighted passages in the previous statement sums it up. Why has everyone made or is making such a big deal out of this?

“The reason churches cannot endorse or oppose political candidates is that churches are tax-exempt organization and must abide by the Internal Revenue Code. Under section 501(c)(3) of that code, churches are exempt from income tax and are entitled to receive tax-deductible contributions from members and other donors. As 501(c)(3) organizations, churches must comply with IRS rules (references). One IRS rule specifically states that an organization under its provisions: …does not participate in, or intervene in (publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office (Internal Revenue Code, 1996, Volume 1:856).”[6]

I have found no reason that this amendment had anything to do with religious organizations, after reading the information on the law but was primarily dealing with organizations who enjoyed the 501- tax exempt status. It had nothing to do with religious liberties.  This was a quick bi-partisan addition to the law about political affiliations or charitable organizations who championed “anti-communist causes.”[7] This was dealing with both parties, democrat and republican.

I have to consider if this repeal goes through, then any organization can call themselves a church, enjoy the tax-break while influencing political views. This is not limited to churches that believe in God either.  Any “John Doe” can open up a religious church of worship for “Dirty Underwear”, enjoy the tax status and raise a lot of money for “John Q Public” political leader to get into office—tax free donations accepted. Contact “Chuckie Fart” at this address and you can donate money, write it off on your income tax as being reputable to support some political forum. This is opening up doors for abuse of the worse kind. When will people get it through their heads, that the Johnson Act (Amendment) was not about religion. Religion was caught in the cross fire due to unsightly activities of certain organizations. This is not about religious persecution nor freedom of speech. Any minister can stand on the podium in his church and enjoy religious freedom and at the same token, state “I am endorsing…” without retribution or persecution (except from his congregation as a whole if they disagree. After all, they are his employers.)  

I have to ask that Mr. President not do this. If he does, maybe, someone will take it into federal court and his executive order will be blocked. Churches have a hard-enough time administering to the gospel. More regulation would be needed, which may put an additional burden on the institution of reputable churches that are actually designed for religious worship. Please rest assured our religious freedoms have never been jeopardized in the United States of America.

Have a blessed Thursday. Please keep in prayer for those around us. Go with God—the only way through Jesus Christ (incarnate) and the Holy Spirit of the day in your heart.

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[1] NCC Staff. “Executive Orders 101: What are they and how do Presidents use them?” National Constitution Center. 23^rd January 2017. (accessed 4^th May 2017) https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/executive-orders-101-what-are-they-and-how-do-presidents-use-them/

[2] Liptak, Kevin. “Trump to sign executive order to vigorously promote religious liberty.” CNN Politics.  3^rd May, 2017. (accessed 4^th May 2017) http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/03/politics/trump-religious-liberty-executive-order/

(**Special Note: The presidential quote was taken off of a video that was attached to the news article.)

[3] “Quotations on the Jefferson Memorial.” Thomas Jefferson Monticello. (accessed 4^th May 2017)  https://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/quotations-jefferson-memorial#Panel_Three

[4] Ragosta, John. “Virginia Statute for Establishing Religious Freedom (1786).” Virginia Foundation for the Humanities- Encyclopedia Virginia. (accessed 4^th May 2017) http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Virginia_Statute_for_Establishing_Religious_Freedom_1786#start_entry

[5] Davidson, James. D. “Why Churches Cannot Endorse or Oppose Political Candidates.” Religious Research Association, Inc., Review of Religious Research. Vol 40, No.1; Sep. 1998., pp 16-34. Perdue University. (accessed 4^th May 2017) http://www.jstor.org/stable/3512457

[6] Davidson, James. D. “Why Churches Cannot Endorse or Oppose Political Candidates.” Religious Research Association, Inc., Review of Religious Research

[7] Davidson, James. D. “Why Churches Cannot Endorse or Oppose Political Candidates.” Religious Research Association, Inc., Review of Religious Research 

Depression- my short story

Depression – my short story

Where are the forgotten people? Look, they are all around us. Are they forgotten by time, family, or in their own world of identities? We honestly do not know. I am one of them. Sat alone as a child in a family of five, and alone at lunch in school. We never stayed anywhere for too long—two to three years’ top. I wasn’t allowed, as a rule to have sleep overs because we had hidden secrets; but, what were they? Why were we not good enough for anything? I did have one or two as a teenager.

I belonged in high school to the public and not to the private religious schooling for once. Still feeling lonely, I was part of a group. Having what was considered a few friends, I was still alone. I had one date because I had a car. He told me this. I was never allowed to date after that. Loneliness was part of our family upbringing. Why were we not good enough not to be lonely?

We left and moved somewhere else. Missing what little companionship there was, I had to become private again but rebellious. I took some classes in college but didn’t graduate. Ringing deep in my ears from high school, was a guidance counselor telling me I wasn’t smart enough to be anything other than a secretary or homemaker. My parents agreed that my intellectual was far lacking. My compliments existed that my face was beautiful but the body was round. I learned from that lesson, I would never be a debutante nor anyone’s wife.  Grandmothers, Aunts, and Uncles all agreed with my parents.

Becoming rebellious because it was the only thing I was good at.  Nothing done was nothing achieved because I wasn’t good enough. I was alone with one friend. A friend I worked with. I eventually became engaged but he was busy engaging for sex. I lived with a man but found out he was busy being married. I had been single long enough and dated without anyone knowing by my one friend.

Moving back to a place that where belonging was a Monday through Friday joint effort, I found out it had all changed. I saw some friends and came across an old bud. Asking him out for friendship only made me dislike him because he misunderstood my intentions. I met a man to my lustful liking and married him because of no reason other than loneliness.

Two children later and the husband gone by divorce, loneliness reverted into motherhood.  I was the brunt in of a family joke among maternal cousins.

Those children are grown and I fear what will happen tomorrow. I am now looking through the window at what? Emptiness, for I am very lonely.  I have lived a good life of love with children. Taken care of both parents and buried them due to illness. But what now?

I decided to accomplish something. I went back to college, earned a bachelor’s degree and earned a master’s degree. I write. I read. I research. Knowledge is my friend. I have two grandchildren. I am part of an extended family. I am not ready to give up the ghost and these past nine months have been by far the worse yet in loneliness and depression.

Tomorrow (or actually today) is May 3, 2017. Time to get up in the morning. Pray this evening and put my fears to rest. Take my own advice. The future is not ours and it is not here, yet. I blame no one for the thoughts in my mind.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God….” Isaiah 43.2-3

” ...say to those with fearful hearts, ‘be strong, do not fear; God will come, he will come with vengeance; with diving retribution, he will come to save you.” Isaiah 35.4

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14.27

I have to remember to place it all at the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ (incarnate) and not ever be afraid. I have to wake up and remember there is nothing to fear, there is nothing to fear, and I will have peace in the morning and able to move forward out of this dark depression that has been looming over me.

May God, bless you all.