IF JESUS CAME TODAY

I was thinking.  What if  Jesus had chosen to come today for His FIRST time.  What would we have done?.  And apart from it being a crucifixion - I am sad to say that I believe we would have done the very same thing.  We would have destroyed Him anyway we could.

Atheists would say there is no God therefore there can be no Son of God.

Self Righteous religions or individuals who follow there own concepts of the God they like to obey     and follow - the one who agrees with what they say is "right" or "wrong" would argue with Him when He called sin sin and, in truth, would take great offense at Him when He dared to say He would forgive someone of their sins when they confess and repent.   Heaven knows the rage He would cause when He continued to say He would judge and condemn those who don't.

Prideful or rich people, who like to be in control and think they are, would try to woo Him at first but once He condemned them in their thinking and their practices, they would quickly join the rabble that were plotting to get rid of Him.

Others would agree with philosophers and writers, who over the years, have not wanted to dismiss Him entirely but allow Him a little bit of recognition as a great teacher, speaker or motivator.  But they too in their hearts would still not consider Him anymore important than any other prophet of history or philosopher of old.

And the rest of us being the "most of humanity" would fall into two categories:  true believers and followers and the rest, who just could not care one way or the other, would pay no attention to Him at all.

I hope, pray and want to believe that we, who call ourselves TRUE believers, would be willing to follow Him no matter the cost and would cry out His Name and our praises at all times.  I do sometime picture myself being able to actually physically be with Him to sit at His feet as Mary did and to really listen and hear the sound of His voice and to look into His eyes as He gazes back into mine.  If time travel ever happens that is the trip I would like to take.

I can't imagine what type of death He would have had to devise to do as He did when He did come. Then He chose the most excruciating, cruelest form of death possible - dying on a cross.  I doubt the gas chamber or hanging would be enough - that is not the point.  The point is - I do believe - as sad as it is to believe, consider or dare to say - we would do the very same thing today as they chose to do over 2000 years ago.  We too would ignore His words and kill Him.

Don't you Just Love People

As much as I "hate" to go to work on Sunday instead of church is maybe as much as I "love" to be at Target handing out samples to the shoppers.  This is because I am a people watcher.  I really do "love" people, each and everyone and proclaim an amazing God of Creation that I know designed them all.  "For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made...Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written. The days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." (Psalm 139:13-14;16).

A couple passed by this past weekend and the woman had one of those men's haircuts that many women are sporting these days and the man's hair was long enough to cover the back of his neck. My mind's thought immediately was "what is wrong with that picture?"  I asked the Lord to forgive my prejudice, bigotry, "old fashioness", judgmental attitude-whatever.  As always this getting old but thinking like I'm still in my twenties can trip me up and usually does a lot.  It is just things like women loving long hair to flip and attract men and men having short hair looking strong and confident was the norm for most of my life.  I know, I know it is "behind the times."

That is my point - so much is lost even though so much more has been gained in so many areas.  I do understand and yet I don't.  It is just one more part of the conundrum of old age.

The point of this sharing post is to say that I no sooner thought my first thought about the couple then to move quickly to my next which is simply this.  I do "love" people and it dawned on me watching that couple pass by how much more God loves people and knows exactly who He created and why He wanted them to be exactly who they are.  He is the one who knows their frame, their personalities and what choices and preferences will be theirs all their lives.  He loves them to the point of offering His own most beloved Son to die for them so that they could come and dwell with Him forever in eternity.

So it also dawned on me that because God is the one who chooses and decides how to make each of us unique and individually different, we must "love" everyone in that same way.  Not to be able to help them have eternal life, but to let them be just who they are no matter how it may differ with what we like or suppose is right or wrong.  I am talking about personality, flesh choices not moral or spiritual ones.  We have a Bible that tells us what to think about those things and I do believe if you hold yourself accountable to that precious book then we should all agree on most issues in those pages, i.e. "Thou shalt murder, steal, covet...etc."

But my deciding what I think about a couple based on their haircuts or kids because they listen to the "noise" they call music versus the "music" I listen to...well it is obvious there will be a wide chasm of differences.  I was listening to a documentary on Frank Sinatra and my 18 year old grand angel asked who that was and then very simply stated, "he can't even sing."  True, true she actually said it.  I think that sums it up pretty well.

I do want to leave with this - I still do "love" that couple and all the other fun, interesting and amusing people who pass by all day long on weekends at Target.  So many life stories I am dying to know being the "curiosity kills the cat" type that I am.

CONSIDERING

I've noticed in all my latest comments on Facebook or in my prayers at night that I seem to be obsessed with the fact that my life is going by way too fast.  So the question, of course, must be what can I do about it?

Honestly I haven't a clue!  I mean is there anything anyone can do about the clock of the world or our lives from ticking down seconds, minutes, hours and days? No!  Well at least I have never seen such an answer or solution so far.

Then, the next question I must ask is what can I do in spite of this particular problem.  Again, honestly I haven't a clue.  But because I seem to be obsessed with thinking about it anyway then I feel I must at least try to find some solutions.

First, I am already doing the one that does work in and through all situations that come our way and we are helpless to  stop them or avoid them or ignore them.  I always give Elisabeth Elliot credit for this.  Once asked after her husband, Jim Elliot's tragic death, what would she do.  Her answer was simply, "the next thing."  I have learned a whole life lesson from that answer.  She meant, at that time, she would do dishes if they were dirty or play with her daughter, Valerie, when she cried for attention.  But in truth, it meant much more than that, since Elisabeth and Rachel Saint spent years afterward continuing those men's calling to that tribe and it became all Christian by their selfless choice and God's divine providence.  Some of those martyr's grandchildren continue to live in Ecuador and minister still to those people today.

My "next thing" is never quite that important, but still I find great peace and consolation when I put dishes in and dishes out of a dishwasher over and over again that if this is the ONLY "next thing" my life allows me to do, then I pray that I do it in God's Will and for His honor and glory.  I pray that if it is done in that way and for that reason, then even that mundane task will at least have made my day worth something and not just a "waste" of my precious, fleeting time.

NEW YEAR 2016 - UGH

If you ask me - I feel as if I had just gone to bed after the ball dropped on Time Square a year ago.  I am totally miffed and terribly upset that a whole year is already gone again...again!  UGH double UGH.

But let me at least consider all that has happened and of course be GRATEFUL for and in it all.      My family remains happy, loving, laughing and close at hand.  My older, sweet angel granddaughter is planning on moving to California and the date is happening/coming sooner and faster than we want but my daughter raised her two girls to be independent and free to be themselves and so they are.  Oh boy are they and fascinating and wonderful and accomplished and responsible and...

I had needed/desired a new computer and Microsoft Word since I do not like any of the free "word" programs out there and now Microsoft's free one only lasts for 3 months and then they will start to charge.  But as always the Dear Lord loves me so and lets my daughter and granddaughters love me so that they gave me both - my daughter shared her bonus with me and got me a great new HP computer that also had a free printer in the package and then for Christmas she and dear grand angel, Karissa, gave me Microsoft Office so I am all set to start and discipline my writing in everything I need to be writing.

I begin with the blog and must be more faithful in sharing my bemoanings and groanings about aging and just what a bummer it can be.  But also a wonderful blessing and the best truth of it all - I'm still here and still healthy and still going and moving and doing and loving and enjoying and appreciating and hoping hoping hoping each and every day for miracles of any and all kinds.

Most of all I am still able to serve and am privileged to do so by leading a Bible Study and going through the Gospels with my ladies verse by verse.  Still meet with my prayer ladies and help to fold our church bulletins for Sunday and get to share "what the Lord has done" in our lives.  Any chance to testify to the Lord Jesus Christ and His presence, His love, His intervention, His miracles every day of our lives is a good and fun and wonderful way to spend each day.

Still hate two things about being this old - one my mind just still doesn't quite get it or accept it or think it - I mean I still feel as if I am as young as ever I was - but I hate it when truth hits and I realize but I'm NOT.  I also hate that as I began this post - time is whizzing by faster and faster and faster...

I need it to stop - I need so many more hours each day - midnight comes and I have so much more to do that I just want to scream - no - hands on the clock - turn back turn back turn back.

Here's to a great New Year with more hours in every day and all my plans to be fulfilled by me if I'm the one who needs to make it happen and by God's miracles that are definitely needed to make any of it happen too.