THIS IS NOT MY HOME

Life on the job has been very tough for many of us this past year; and it stands to increase as new changes keep coming. Actually life, in general, has gotten very tough period...with all the unemployment, cutbacks, overwork, underpaid, sad economy, health issues, natural disasters, corruption, and every depressing thing. People are having a difficult time trying to smile much less be happy. This ought not be so for the Christian? How can St. Paul keep encouraging to people to be happy, be content, be joyful...their world was as violent and vile as ours, if not more so---what are we missing?

I was fighting and praying and struggling and ready to throw in the towel and go somewhere else for a job! Every time I prayed, God said, "no". Alrighty then, why must I stay here and how do I do that? God did not intend for me to hypnotize myself, delude myself and pretend evil does not exist, or some other weird deception. I was beginnning to hate the people I work with, the customers I met, the company that employed me, and none of this was evidence of a grateful heart. Oh how easy it is to lose sight of truth, to become carnal, to see things through human rationale and raw emotion!

All the devil needs is a tiny crack to slither through...just a simple opening that we may not be aware of--and his venom begins to affect the mind, the heart and then the soul. A friend battling cancer once told me that we are to be wary of H.A.L.T. hunger, anger, lonliness, and tiredness--these were avenues that we can become weakened and ripe for attack. Well anger at the way people treat others and sorrow for the victims, is a good bait! Tiredness, from working hard, without true appreciation, and the constant demand for more...ahhh another trap. There was two strikes against me...I had been targeted and did not even know it.

My heart was heavy, my mind was raging, and my soul was exhausted...stealing my strength, my joy, and my focus. I kept praying, reading, and listening to music, all the things that usually worked...but it was not getting better. Then out of the blue, God sent a man as a new employee...he was a Christian! I had heard a song on the radio that just sparked a tiny bit of fresh fire in me. So I went to get the CD, and this man raved about having seen them in concert, which led to many conversations. The new CD, from its first words---like God speaking directlly to me...this is not my home...no it is not! This is not all there is!

Hebrews 11:13, came to mind..."These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were ..."Strangers and Pilgrims" on the earth". That is me!! I am a stranger and a pilgrim! This is not my home! The best is yet to come!

The apostles and saints lived in daily struggles and yet they knew deep in their souls...this is not it! All the prophecies will be fulfilled and all the promises...and I began to meditate on the promises and the descriptions of Heaven.

We will not die. People we love we shall see alive again. He will give us the desires of our hearts. The lame will walk, the deaf will hear, the blind will see...and all that the curse has ruined shall be renewed; because Christ has redeemed all of His Creation! There will be no fear, no sorrow, no sickness, no darkness, no evil, nothing impure, and all will be just and righteous! All will be pure, holy and truth...

Of course, that means this raspy, off key, out of tune singing voice will be wonderfully enchanting, my joints won't ache, no worries, no outcasts, no fear of flying stinging insects, no hunger, no doctors or meds or bills, no wars, no anger, no shame....awesome is it not? And my desire to see the beauty of the ocean, I am pretty sure I will see not only that, but Niagara falls or someting similar, and the Mountains, and Europe will be as enticing in its pure form...hmmmm? I will be loved, accepted and known...and so will those I love! I will get to see how all things worked together and for purposes only the Father could have known and how beautifully He brought them to fruition...in ways I could never comprehend in the human form...in my limited state of being.

So how to get there from here? I remembered a poster I made for children's church--"Let go and Let God!" Yes, I am a stranger here on earth, on a journey that will end up in bliss...nonetheless, I have to make the journey. God's Ways and Thoughts are not ours. ( Isaiah 55:8-9) Then another came to mind, "Nothing is impossible with God, because He has already been there"...in all our tomorrows, in every situation, and has seen and dealt with it all! The Cross is a perpetual Sacrifice that is ongoing in Mercy! The Lord Jesus Christ broke the curse and has the keys to death and hell! He went retroactive back to the beginning, is in our present, and already went into our future! He is all of these rolled into one! I am claiming the promises, not yet having obtained them but seeing them afar off...

So I began to thank Him for my job, for my health, my salvation, my family, our home, and all things as they came to mind. The music CD began to nourish and rekindle that fresh fire of the Holy Spirit deep within my soul...and the constant smile of that new employee who is on the same page with me...this is not our home, but we are grateful for it; because we have a reference point...the best is yet to come!

It is not my company, it is not my place, it is not my home---they can do whatever they wish with it...I do as I am told and the best I can, and if it is not enough...they can only do to me what God allows...so...my focus is up in Heaven and what is coming, not in fear or anger or depression. This is what they were talking about! While many are cussing, quitting, posting negativity to facebook and myspace--I am thanking Him for my job and letting it go...it's not my place. :-)

The Stations of the Cross

This morning the Lord told me to pray the Stations of the Cross. Catholics usually do this during the Lenten Season and Good Friday; but for some reason that is what He asked me to pray today. He gave the words...

First Station: Jesus is condemned to death. Father, we were condemned to death before You sent Your Only Son to ransom us. Though my body is aging and dying, now I will live by His Name, by His Blood, and His Holy Spirit! Thank you Father!


Second Station: Jesus bear His Cross. Father, Your Word says that if we will follow Jesus, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and follow Him. Lord, help us to see where we need to deny ourselves, Your Ways and Thoughts are not ours. Let us see where "our" ways and thoughts hinder us from following Him as we bear our crosses daily.

Third Station: Jesus fall the first time. Father forgive me when I fall, empower me to get back up and continue walking in Christ in this life.

Fourth Station: Jesus meets His Mother. She watched what our sins were doing to her Son. She said yes to You Father, and surrendered her Son to Your Will. She never turned away. Because of her Father, her love for You and for the rest of us she never knew...may we consider how selfish and self-serving we are and repent. May we give her the honor she deserves to sit at the Right Hand of our King of Kings, as the Queen who loves us as much as He does, and prays for us, and waits for the glorious day that all men will know the provisions You made for all of us to be saved!

Fifth Station: Jesus is helped by Simon. Lord, as Simon was sent to help Your Son carry His Cross, won't You send someone to help us carry ours, and take us to those You wish for us to be a helper in their burdens?

Sixth Station: Jesus and Veronica. As Veronica had compassion and empathy for You and wiped the Blood, Sweat, and Tears from Your Face, may we have that same compassion for those who are suffering and struggling to carry their crosses.

Seventh Station: Jesus falls a second time. Father, I have fallen before, and will fall again, please have mercy on me, forgive my sins, and empower me to get back and walk with You!

Eighth Station: Jesus speaks to the Woman. Jesus told her not to weep for Him, but for themselves and for their children. Oh Lord, may the Christian realize that their death is not the end; but to make intercessions always for their children and loved ones, that they be saved, or else their may be no reunion in Heaven.

Ninth Station: Jesus falls a third time. Lord when the walk is taking its toll, and I am weak, tired, and seem unable...strengthen me, lift me up, and grant me the power of the Holy Spirit to keep faith, love, joy, patience, peace, perseverence, meekness, gentleness, and self -control.

Tenth Station: He is stripped of His Garments. Oh Lord, strip me of the garments of pride, greed, selfishness, ego, doubt, lies, laziness, unthankfulness, unbelief, anger, hard-heartedness, unforgiveness, and my "old nature"--that I may bring Glory to Your Name!

Eleventh Station: Jesus is nailed to the Cross. satan nailed Your Hands, thinking he made You less powerful. When the world does that to us, give us Your Unfailing Power! satan nailed Your Feet, thinking he could keep You from moving on this earth. Lord, grant that we may walk with You forever! satan put a crown of thorns, the symbol of the curse upon Your Head to mock you, Lord, grant us the Crown of Life in response to him! satan had put stripes upon Your Back to punish You for his being outcast for not being obedient and submissive to You. Lord, when he whips us to create pain and punishment in revenge against You, heal us in response. Then he stabbed Your side to finish You off. Lord, when satan, the world, or the curse seeks to destroy us in death, let us rise into Your Glory forever and ever. amen.

Twelfth Station: Jesus dies on the Cross. O Lord My God, Your Blood was poured out as the Lamb of God, cover my sins and make me white as snow! Father, let me die to my old self and live in my new self in Christ Jesus forever and ever. amen.

Thirteenth Station: Jesus is taken down from the Cross. satan thought he had won. Father, let me remember things are not as they appear; and the Victory is Ours through Your Beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ!

Forteenth Station: Jesus is laid in the tomb. Father, wrap our earthly bodies in Your Divine Light, though it turn to dust, may every atom and molecule of our DNA never be forgotten. You created us, and You will resurrect us from the grave. As Your Body was glorified, glorify ours in the restoration of all things! May our bodies be remembered as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. May we keep it whole, clean and pure...without defiling it through graffiti, symbols, demonic punctures, sexual immoral acts, and exposing it shamefully. May we safeguard and adorn it with beauty as You took great care to detail in every aspect in the building of the earthly Temple, patterned to Moses, from the mount...may we realize, all of us are part of the New Temple, in which You inhabit. You are concerned with the details of it. Open the eyes of the blinded who think their bodies are their own, and to see they were bought with a Great Price. amen.

Women and the Priesthood?

Well, Pope Benedict XVI named this year, "The Year of the Priests". He wants to restore dignity to the vocation...to encourage those who are God-fearing, God-serving, God-loving men that are still active in Kingdom Work. You see, not all priests molest. Theirs is a trying faith at the moment because of what the evil ones have done that has been exposed to the world. Ours is a world that is losing ground for holiness, faith, and anything sacred. Jesus Himself asked, "When the Son of Man returns will He find faith on the earth?" He is God--He already knew the future, so why did He ask that? Could it be that faith would be so rare and inactive in the last days? What would cause faith to wane? Would it be increase in evil, violence, lust, greed, tragedies, disasters, corruption, fear, disease, etc...that is predicted? How about people walking away from traditional church, scriptures, and commandments--and walking after the imagination of their hearts? Hmmmm, seems that was predicted too. All of this is not new, like Jesus said, "It is written...." Malachi stated that God does not change...but mankind is and has been trying to change Him and His Word and His Ways...from the beginning...or should I say the devil?

The Vatican called for priests to come to Rome for celebration this summer. So who shows up? The Devil in the form of people wanting to change the priesthood. While I know the Church has made the ruling for priests to be celibate that they may serve the Bride of Christ whole-heartedly. It is not for everyone, but there are men who choose to serve themselves in such a way. This does not create a pedophile or a homosexual or a freak. Those demons were the ones who crept in unawares, to get next to a child. They weren't just slipping into the priesthood...they were gaining positions as teachers, protestant preachers, boy scout and girl scout leaders, police men and women; places of trust and authority. That is devilish, but the celibate priest is not made into them.

Yet, it is not just about allowing priests to marry that the dissidents showed up to protest and disrupt...wherever there is discord within the Body of Christ, that fruit bears witness as to what spirit is present. The age-old call for the feminine to take on roles and be ordained as priests. Why do we seek to change the Word of God? Celibacy is a Church rule for several reasons...but to change the order of things as God has created them. He has His system, and to pull out one card to change it for a few will bring down the logic, sense and blessing of the whole house of cards!

God created them male and female. The Scriptures say that God is over Christ, Christ is over the man, the man over the woman. That is God's System! He does not change. We cannot change Him. It was Eve who was tricked, beguiled, tempted, and brought Adam into it...but when Eve bit, nothing happened...she is a woman--not of authority. It was Adam who was given authority, and therefore when he bit--the sin was accounted against him and his seed. Moses and Aaron led Israel...Aaron was made High Priest...not Miriam the sister. It was the firstborn son who opened the womb that received the blessing for his house, not the daughters.

God sent Jesus, His firstborn Son to be our High Priest, and nowhere is woman given that authority...that job! His Mother, the Virgin Mary is seated at the right hand of the King of Kings, as Queen Mother but she is not a priest. Women are held in high esteem in God's System...he gives them their vocations with which they will be blessed. For Catholics who understand their faith and the duty of the priest at the altar, asking for women priests is ludicrous! It makes no sense! So those who are asking, do not understand their religion, God, or His System at all! They are being seduced by the devil for equal rights. They are worldly and carnal and therefore cannot serve in the spiritual capacity in truth if they desire to be a priest. When the Scriptures speak of us being a kingdom of kings and priests and royalty...the royal priesthood still belongs to the man...even the father and husband is to be priest of his own household and is held responsible as such...whether he believes it or not. God does not change. Humans do, they want to change everything continuously to have their own way in every generation. That is why every generation tends to rebel against their parents, authority and the societal norms of their time. It is a devilish spirit that stirs that in us.

I believe we are in the last days, and that Christ is very near...because of so many of the Scriptures being fulfilled in our time, and so many of the prophecies. I used to be a hardcore feminist, because I wanted the right to choose for myself what I desired to be, how to live, as my own person. I was "in the world" and blinded to the Truth in God's Word. I deserved what every man has. Now as an adult having raised children...and had my eyes opened by the Holy Spirit, and been granted that Understanding from God...there is a difference of living in the world but not "of it"! I don't want that responsibility that the men are going to answer for! Actually men don't want it either...they've been seduced, weakened, and had their authority usurped. St. Paul warned of that in the Scriptures also! (Was nobody listening?)

Could this be why the family unit is broken? Is this why divorce, adultery, and sexual immorality is rampant? Women stepped out on their own and fell victim to demons they did not know...and still don't...and have been used to create havoc on the world? The men giving into every conceivable lust, abdicated their authority, and are now wimps? How many men serve in church? How many are raising and teaching the kids the faith? How many are priests of their home? How many have actual authority and wisdom and are blessed? It seems women are the teachers, raising the kids, and are the prayer warriors and priests of their homes...because the men are no longer capable. This generation has been raised by those who went astray, and in turn brought up their own in lies and deception. Where are the strong men now? Where are the men who pray and cry out to God? It is not in our homes and families.

Think about it, our lives changed dramatically in the 60's due to the sexual revolution. It changed society and the Church was not immune. Everyone wanted change. Women stepping out of traditional roles of wives and homemakers and moms...then where did porn magazines and movies get such a boost? Newly delivered flesh of feminists who offered their bodies to the masses! It wasn't enough to throw away the bra, they had to shorten the necklines, the shorts, the skirts, and show as much as they could. What porn would there be without the woman? They had to work and leave the kids to figure it out for themselves. They wanted to jump into the cesspool of the world and all its delicious temptations, and they did not fare any better.

Women had their place and men had theirs, both in the natural world and the spiritual world. Women today now have to work and many don't want to--it is a direct result of disobedience. We have set the traps for ourselves and caused havoc on the world...and now where are we going? Demanding to change the priesthood, have we not suffered enough? Hasn't the world learned anything, hasn't the Christian? God does not change! He has His Purpose and His Ways...His Thoughts are not our thoughts; neither His Ways our ways.