A Couple Painful Days

     Another abscess in a tooth, so painful, the regular meds I had left over from a root canal earlier this year, barely helped. To be honest, the words in my head were foul and pictures of knives swung in a psycho way… but they stayed only in my mind. Last night (this morning) I had 4 ½ hours of broken sleep starting at 3:30am because the pain wouldn’t let me nod off. No anger with God, not even wondering why me or other such nonsense. I put on the music of Rick Goad and finally fell asleep.

     In the middle of the broken up sleep, the Lord blessed me with a dream from Him- one of only four I can think of right now. Though I cannot give specifics, I can say that I was doing in the dream what I have never done in life and what I have been a little fearful of stepping out into. I was speaking to a group of Christians which would normally be intimidating for me saying things they would not like and uncertain about their reaction. In the dream I was not concerned about any of that but was boldly speaking what God wanted me to say. I woke up with the two words that most stick in my brain these days.

I will.

     No more “but why me?”, “I’m not good enough”, “what if I make a mistake?”, “what will they think?”, “what if they don’t change?”, etc. All kinds of questions would come up in my mind when it just all came back to fear, uncertainty in knowing God’s voice, and not believing deep down that God wanted to use me. No more questions: just a simple “I will”. A servant does not question their master, but we like to question ours. I don’t think He minds if it is once in a while- but most of the time shows a lack of trust in His judgement.

*     *     *     *

Yes, I will.

     I’m excited by what God is doing in my life and deep in my being. In the midst of great pain, God chose to give me a gift. Now I must choose to step forward into it. Since my head is not fully functioning due to lack of sleep, this post will be without pertinent Scriptures. Instead, I will go to sleep hoping for a better day tomorrow, and more exciting times in the presence of my Savior.

Be blessed, and may God shine His face upon you!

Easy Accessibility to Guns Not the Problem

     President Obama believes easy accessibility to guns is partly to blame* in the deaths of innocent people. Yes, a gun was used so in that sense he was correct. But logic dictates that these statements are misleading people to think guns are the problem. I’ve checked enough stats online to see that they certainly have more guns per 100 people than other “developed” countries (88.8 to 45.7 Swit.), but Switzerland has more firearm homicides than the U.S. (72.2% Swit. to 67.5%) (some countries also have no stats on homicides)

     Easy accessibility to guns cannot be anymore to blame for deaths than knives, poison, bombs, and especially vehicles. {Perhaps they need to prioritize more stringent vehicle regulations since in 2013 motor vehicles killed 32,719 compared to 12,560 homicides by gun- 2014. For whatever reason I couldn’t find the same year…} A more concerning stat: suicide rates by gun are 6.7 compared to homicides at 3.55.

Accessibility to guns isn’t the problem--- we are!

And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gn. 6:5

…the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth… Gn. 8:21

     I am a sinner too, but I would never think to drive a half hour to take one of the 7 handguns and 5 rifles with ammunition that I know of to go and shoot anyone--- for ANY reason. I respect the lives of others of all colours, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations… etc. God made every person that walks this earth and I believe since He wants them alive, I have no right to purposely destroy those lives OR treat them with any less love than He would.

Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Mt. 22:37-39

     Still, most North Americans can easily find many ways to kill others online or by tv shows using items in our houses or the nearest stores, but most choose not to do so. Does the fact of increasing gun crimes not indicate a far more systemic problem such as ungodly- anger, disrespect, arrogance, believing others have less value (sin) for ANY reason. These are some of the systemic problems we need to address in all ages.

     In the 80’s I used to get teased quite a bit but I never thought to kill those who teased me. And just as bad as those who kill are those who will not stand up for what is right and protect others. I heard of a teen who told fellow classmates she was going to shoot the girl who teased her, and the classmates followed and watched! Our society’s problems are farther reaching than accessibility to guns; taking them away without addressing the basic issues just means the weapon of choice will change. (There are many homicides in China by knives.)

Mr. President- taking away guns or making more stringent gun regulations will not change the way your country handles their problems. The evil in men’s hearts will still be there. Men need Jesus to transform their lives so they no longer have to live with sin ruling their bodies. Lord, how will we stand before you and justify our lack in standing for the truth?

*Obama’s words- in part:

We don't have all the facts, but we do know that once again, innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hand on a gun.

this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries. It doesn't happen in other places with this kind of frequency. (Charlie Hebdo…) (1985- 329 dead in plane bombing- Vancouver)

Jehovah Rophi

     Healing is the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again. I didn’t have many health problems (that I knew of) growing up but looking back I think we were emotionally neglected. I got saved when I was 16 and the first evangelical church I went to believed in praying for healing- so I’ve seen healings with my own eyes. The Lord has used me to lay hands on people and they have been healed. Does God heal today? Absolutely- when He chooses.

     I have had physical, mental and emotional healings, and I think the greatest healings in my life have been mental and emotional. Before I bring them up, let me counter some incorrect notions about healing.

1. You can’t be healed without (enough) faith. Many with faith are not healed, and many without faith have been healed. It is God’s choice when our healing is completed. He is sovereign*, otherwise He is not omnipotent (all power Rv. 19:6)

2. If a person is not healed it is because they have sin in their lives- This one is soooo illogical. Everyone has sin in their lives, Christian or not. I’ve been healed and I’ve NEVER been sin free!

3. Maybe the person laying on hands didn’t do it right or pray right, or the person didn’t receive it right- It is not up to the human, but the Jehovah Rophi, the Lord who heals (Ex. 15:26).

4. I'm sick, disabled, diseased because God is punishing me- He could if He wanted to I guess, but what good and loving Father strikes his child with disease, disabilities and sickness? Usually we just allow our children to suffer the consequences of their own choices. (Cold because they didn’t wear their coat) And this sinful life contributes to many health problems.

For what father of you, if the son asks for bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake for a fish? Or if he shall ask for an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? Lk. 11:11-13  Who is good? Who is evil?

5. God hates me, that's why He doesn't heal me-Why? For your sin?  For where your mind goes? For what you’ve done? For not obeying Him? For ignoring Him? see #2

6. God doesn’t heal today- Well, that makes me and all others who have been healed, liars or crazy. (Don’t forget, many claimed Jesus didn’t heal certain people when He walked the earth or that the devil worked through Him.) Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever. Hb. 13:8

I’ve been healed of many things, but here are only a few:

Healed of various fears. (1 example- perfection- here, here, and here)

Lungs healed. (here for my story)

Shattered heart from inability to have children healed. (here)

Broken heart from rejection by son healed. (here and here)

Believing  deep down I was stupid, ugly, unlovable- healed over time and by many huge, miraculous leaps

Why hasn’t God completely healed me yet? I don’t know, but if He wanted me to know He would tell me. Until then, I will move forward with God, believe for His ultimate healing here or in Heaven, and pray that no matter what happens, my life, this person I am, would bring Him glory. 

Use my life as You wish oh Lord…

*supreme authority, control, and power over all that has happened, is happening, and will happen in the future

But our God is in Heaven; He has done whatever He has pleased. Ps. 115:3

A man's heart plans his way, but Jehovah directs his steps. Pr. 16:9

And said, O Jehovah, the God of our Fathers, are You not God in Heaven? And do You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? And is there power and might in Your hand, so that none is able to withstand You? 2Ch. 20:6

He who sits on the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in; who brings the rulers to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth as vanity. Is. 40:22,23

Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the Word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says Jehovah of Hosts. Zc. 4:6