Sunday, October 30, 2011

Paranormal Activity

What amazes me is that people easily believe in paranormal activity-ghosts, spirits, hauntings, possessions-but are skeptical when it comes to believing in God. We live in a three dimensional environment, but we know that there are more angles to life than we can see, feel or touch.

I am struggling with sadness and a negative attitude. Struggling because I am constantly banishing the despondent thoughts trying to blanket my mind and steal my hope. And I am weary.

So I am cruising the television channels, looking for positive or funny things to watch. I stop on a preacher I have heard good things about. He spoke about how God using the adverse situation in our lives as stepping stones to greater things. (There goes that character thing again).

What amazed me is the message was focused on jobs and different situations that lead to unfair termination and betrayal. Whoa! My ear turned and I listened. God was speaking directly to my heart, telling me to let go of the pity and negative thoughts, and turn my eyes towards the good that will come of this.

God reached through the veil and used someone to speak directly into my heart, into my situation and into my attitude. This is positive paranormal. Paranormal means "seemingly outside normal sensory channels," and "not in accordance with scientific laws."

I admit that paranormal activity exists, and I choose the positive paranormal to guide my life.

Friday, October 28, 2011

God Loves Squeaky Wheels


God loves squeaky wheels. As I listened to myself praying, I began to wonder if I was a jerk. But God already took care of this in His word.

At times my heart is weary
Praying without resolve
I wonder if I'm selfish
Blind or self involved.
I read that David cried out to the Lord
Do not be deaf.
Hear my supplication
Come swift to my defense.
How blessed!
For God is always listening,
God is always good.
The heart can trust, rely and lean
On God:
His Word is evergreen,
Our ways have been foreseen,
God will intervene
With mercy and strength.

So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks and keeps on asking received; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking the door shall be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

How cool is that!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Trusting God

How much do I trust God? Unexpectedly, God showed me a path this morning. It brought tears to my eyes, and I felt very exposed. Sometimes, we tuck away the most precious dreams to protected them from disappointment. But is that the way? I never thought of this before, but tucking away a dream is making sure the dream does not succeed.

I have sacred things.
Lace and flowing white billows
Holy in my heart,
Unshared, protected.
Dreams that on exposure
Tear in my eye.
Held back by fear
So close and precious.
God says: Trust, and let me help you
Bring the dreams into the waking world.
They are strong enough for bruising.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Praying Makes Me Smile

So much is going on these days. Watching CNN is sometimes a bitter pill, because life is hard. I pray for the government, which needs a lot of prayer these days, and I pray for others. Prayer has become something I do easily. I have learned that I don't have to be kneeling on the floor with my hands folded, or even in a prayerful place. I pray at the drop of a hat. This is what makes me a happy person.

The other day I found myself really struggling. I felt a generalized anger and discontent. And the mood was really messing up my day. When I realized this, I prayed where I was, and asked for peace and right-thinking. I was honest and told God I wasn't particularly interested in forgiving, that I was really angry, and I understood this wasn't really a healthy way to be.

God is very good, and the act of admitting and then accepting God's grace did the trick.

APPLES OF GOLD

Soft and silken Word of God
So gentle on my heart.
A refuge from the rock‑hard world
Such love does it impart.
Despair and sadness fade away
With each caressing word.
Smiles and hope take shapes anew
In light of what is heard.

Lamb of God, He walks the Word,
Engraving every heart
That opens up the door to Him:
A wondrous way to start.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Occupy Wall Street: Exposing the Truth

The truth behind the Occupy Wall Street protest reveals the mind-set of Wall Street.

Like the debtor forgiven
Who leaves the king and seeks out
Those who owe him money
Credit kings, forgiven by the government,
Seek to sap the last cent
From their debtors.*

---As the economy crumbles and savings are dust
    Only God is invested to manage our trust.

The current movement to Occupy Wall Street led me to think about the real reasons the revolt is occurring. People are trying to satisfy their basic need for food and safety. In an effort to clear away debris, I did a lot of research and it is economic tightly woven tapestry of corporate practices, personal agendas and greed.

*Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. "Be patient with me," he begged, "and I will pay back everything." The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

But when that (forgiven) servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. "Pay back what you owe me!" he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, "Be patient with me and I will pay you back." But he (the forgiven servant) refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. "You wicked servant," (the master) he said, "I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" In anger, his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. (Matt 18:23-34)