We Don't Always Know

Life is a journey. Day by day, step by step, we make many choices along the way. Our aim should be to live each day without regrets. To live and do the right thing. 

But life happens along the way, and there are some choices that lead places we never foresee.  

Psalms 5:8  "Lead me, O Jehovah, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; Make thy way straight before my face."

I'm not just squeamish about heights, I flat don't do them. So, I'm in Jamaica, and the first few days some of us are tying rebar columns for the building we're working on. Then I get the news that we will next be working on the roof of said building. 

I'm thinking to myself, what a revolting development this is. I've done mission work in other countries, but I've never been asked to work on a roof—like climb a ladder and etc. 

Yes, it is a flat roof, but it has edges, and then it has a drop. Since, however, I didn't travel all this way to sit and watch, I took it real slow, going up a few rungs at a time. Getting used to that and finally, I got to the top step. Some kind soul helped me make the transition onto the roof. 

And we were in business. We were still tying rebar, but it went on the roof. There are several things about building in places that must be hurricane and earthquake proof. Or as close as possible to it. There is a lot of rebar and concrete in one of those structures.

I'm sure I've said this before, but we spent two weeks working there, and one of our co-laborers was a new Christian, by the name of Jerry, with a last name I wouldn't try to spell, who came from somewhere around the east coast. 

 Just as Jesus' apostles were a conglomeration of unlikely souls, these mission situations pull together a number of improbable cohorts. When you look at a person, you make judgements, and that isn't bad, it just isn't very often accurate. 

Yes, you can come up with a close appraisal of different aspects of a person, but there are gaps. This new Christian currently was employed as a salesman of some sort. He wasn't a big bulky guy. On the contrary, he was slight of build, under six foot tall, and somewhat wiry. What you couldn't see was his character and... 

"If you'd told me when I was eighteen that I'd ever be working on a roof, in a foreign country, I'd a told you, you were as crazy as a loon," I tell Jerry as he and I are spacing and tying rebar on the roof, preparing for the concrete to be poured the next morning.

He laughs and tells me, "If you'd asked me what I'd be doing at this stage of my life, I would have said I'd be working in some dive on an island somewhere in the Pacific." 

Unlikely people in an unlikely spot. Life's journey isn't always the smooth path we think it will be. As my mother used to say, 'Figure long and figure wrong.' We can plan and plan, but God still rules the nations. 

 Psalms 27:11  "Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; And lead me in a plain path, Because of mine enemies. 12)  Deliver me not over unto the will of mine adversaries: For false witnesses are risen up against me, And such as breathe out cruelty. 13)  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of Jehovah In the land of the living. 14)  Wait for Jehovah: Be strong, And let thy heart take courage; Yea, wait thou for Jehovah. 

Psalms 43:3  "Oh send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me: Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, And to thy tabernacles." 

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Changed Forever

"You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done."

"Now Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep. "
The Gambler, Songwriter, Don Schlitz

That's some advice. 'Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.' Life is like a gamble, and often we are like the gambler, or we feel like the gambler.

The gambler in the song had learned more than he wanted to in life. There is some wisdom in the rest of the chorus: never count your money sittin' at the table—don't get arrogant or foolish. There are some things you need to keep to yourself. People aren't all that honest in the 'gambling' scene. If they can take what you have, you may well be running for your life.

To people like myself, who aren't particularly good poker players, we don't understand how it is possible to win with a losing hand. However, someone who is experienced, someone whose livelihood is and depends on being a winner more often than being a loser does know how.

I admire George Washington Carver and Madam CJ Walker. These two were born at a time when the cards were stacked against them. Yet they did well, often relying on the leading of the Lord. They persevered and through diligence and hard work made a success of their lives.

Luck of the draw? That's what it is sometimes referred to as— sometimes it is. Most often it has to do with a mix of being at the right place at the right time and applying a bit of elbow grease and gumption. As anonymous said, "The reason most people do not recognize an opportunity when they meet it is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like Hard Work."

Lives can be agreeable or disagreeable, but as the saying goes, life circumstances are temporary. Enjoy the good times when they are pleasant, be thankful for them. Endure and learn from the problems and tangles, but take heart because they are temporary.

Character— good character is forged in the trials of life, and are made by the constant exercise of making right decisions. Life is made up of costly decisions. Some people will choose to win, some will choose to lose. It depends on us and how we play our hands.  

Ecclesiastes 8:6  "Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7)  For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
8)  There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it."

Ecclesiastes 7:1  "A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth."

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Oh, That Men Would Praise Him

Perhaps you knew that you are responsible toward God to believe the truth? You are also called to not believe a lie. In other words, if you believe a lie you will be held responsible for that.

1Kings 13:1 "And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Jehovah unto Beth-el: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. 2)  And he cried against the altar by the word of Jehovah, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith Jehovah: Behold, a son shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he sacrifice the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall they burn upon thee." 

Here we have the account of a young prophet of God sent by Jehovah to the new King Jeroboam, king of half of Israel. He decided to make idols and places of worship in his half of the kingdom, and God was not happy. So, he sent a prophet. Jeroboam didn't like what the prophet had to say and put forth his hand to capture him. His arm was struck by judgment from God and Jeroboam changed his mind, inviting the young prophet (who had healed Jeroboam's arm) home for refreshments. 

1Kings 13:8  "And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thy house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place; 9)  for so was it charged me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Thou shalt eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that thou camest."

Here we have a young prophet who preached against what King Jeroboam had done and the golden calves he had made. The King wants him to come home with him, but the young prophet says, no, Jehovah has said do not stay here or eat bread or whatnot and he leaves to go home.

But here's where the plot thickens. 1Kings 13:11 tells us: "Now there dwelt an old prophet in Beth-el; and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Beth-el...1Ki 13:13  And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass; and he rode thereon. 14)  And he went after the man of God, and found him "

So the old prophet heard about the young prophet, he follows him, and he finds him. The old prophet invites the young prophet to come home with him for a meal. The young prophet repeats that no, he can't come home, he has to leave because that's what Jehovah had instructed him to do. But the old prophet has news for the young prophet.

1Kings 13:18  "And he said unto him, I also am a prophet as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him."

The young prophet believes him, goes home and eats with him, then the old prophet tells him... As they are sitting at meat the old prophet has more news for the young man:

1Kings 13:21  "and he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, Forasmuch as thou hast been disobedient unto the mouth of Jehovah, and hast not kept the commandment which Jehovah thy God commanded thee, 22)  but camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy body shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers." 

And as the young prophet leaves to go back to Judah a lion comes upon him and the young prophet is killed. The old prophet hears about it and brings his body back and buries him in his own sepulchre. 

2Kings 23:16  "And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount; and he sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of Jehovah which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things. 17)  Then he said, What monument is that which I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, who came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Beth-el. 

Many years later when King Josiah (the king of the prophecy) is ruling in Jerusalem and is purging the land of the idols this prophecy of the young prophet is fulfilled. I don't know why the old prophet lied to him. Maybe because since the young prophet had a monument and his bones were left alone, the old prophet figured his would be left alone as well:  

2Kings 23:18  "And he said, Let him be; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria." 

Psa 107:9  For he satisfieth the longing soul, And the hungry soul he filleth with good. 10)  Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron, 
11)  Because they rebelled against the words of God, And contemned the counsel of the Most High: 
12)  Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. 

13)  Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distresses. 
14)  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bonds in sunder. 

15)  Oh, that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men! 16)  For he hath broken the gates of brass, And cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17)  Fools because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

God is Not Dead

There was a headline or a poster quite a few years ago that affirmed that God was dead. I don't know if the author of that particular headline ever came to realize their mistake, or if he/she carried it into eternity.

Acts 14:15  "and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is: 16)  who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17)  And yet He left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."

In reading a short excerpt from a Memoir by Clarence Thomas, Judge Thomas related how his father and grandfather believed you should live the life you are dealt. Not that a person can't better their life but at that time there were forces out there promoting violence as a way to overcome race problems. Don't go to college, don't get an education, and do not go quietly... This was in conflict with what Clarence was told at home, and I for one am so glad that he listened to the voices of reason.

I have not read his book, but it is on my list.  The statement 'live the life you're dealt' brings up some thoughts. I don't know the story of the original author of the 'God is Dead' motif. I don't know who, what, or why this person felt this way. It seems that it was at the time of the 'hippie' revolution when unknowing young people felt the need to assert their independence. These people would make shocking statements just to shock people.

I have seen people who appear to have a rough hand dealt to them. Like the father who named his first son 'Winner' and his second son 'Loser', just to find out if a name predicted a person's outcome. In that instance, it did not. 'Win' went on to never succeed, and 'Lou' (as Loser was dubbed) did well in his life, retiring from the position of being an honored police sheriff.

Being angry with God for the life we are dealt is futile. God is not dead, we can look around and see that regardless of our circumstances what God has given each of us. As it says in verse seventeen above; 17) "And yet He left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness."

In thinking over the pictures I've seen of the 1960s and the young people of that era, they seem like kids on a rebellion streak. They didn't want restraint of any kind. I'm sure there were older Christians who were sure these kids were prophesied of in Timothy:

2Timothy 3:1  "But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2)  For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3)  without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good..."

The '60s leached over into the '70s and '80s—like infinity and beyond. Our younger generations have not been reclaimed. The revolution continues, fanned by the 'authority' figures such as college professors that arose from that time frame and subsequent eras. Those in the religious communities have been losing their young people to the world as they graduate from high school. But here we are wondering what has happened and how we lost this generation. 

I think we lost them because we lost ourselves first. I was not raised as a Christian, so that was against me. My husband was raised as a Methodist, but he wasn't serious about it. We both came of age during the late 60s early 70s, and rebellion was everywhere. It might have been in the water, but definitely was in the air. I don't know if there was any remedy for it. Public school has trained kids to seek the approval of their peers. No one wants to be a stand out from the crowd. We are conditioned to fit in. 

I would tell parents today stop attempting to fit in. Pull back from the crowd and teach your children to get used to being unique. Especially if Christian parents want their children to remain Christian. As one of my children said the other day, I want my kids to be smart enough they don't want/choose to go to college.

James 1:5 "But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6) But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed."

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

There is no Peace

One summer I was planning on studying Latin. All the further I got was Pax Vobiscum and one or two other phrases which I've managed to forget. 

Pax Vobiscum- peace be with you. In these days it is as if peace has evaporated. I would like to think that most of us would choose to live peaceful lives, yet for some reason, it is as the song says, 'No tranquil joys on earth I know, No peaceful, sheltering dome; This world's a wilderness of woe, this world is not my home'.  |

Jeremiah 8:11 "And they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace."

 America was founded on the idea of liberty and justice in law. However, as in any society, it is a burden upon its citizens to be self-regulating. Under the ten laws of the Old Testament, the first four laws dealt with man's duty toward God, and the second six laws dealt with neighbor to neighbor laws. Or in other words how God expects his citizens to behave toward his laws, and how he expects his citizens to deal with each other. 

Mark 12:29  "Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: 30)  and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. 31)  The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." 

Jesus calls to remembrance Deuteronomy 6:4 &5 out of the Old Law, which the Jews would be familiar with, and this is a summary as our Lord says 'there is none other commandment greater than these', or on these two commandments hangeth the whole law. 

Love God and love your neighbor. That's it in a nutshell. Not so difficult is it? Yet as Trey Gowdy said in a speech at Second Baptist Woodway, Christianity is hard. And he quoted G.K. Chesterton's words, "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried ."

We are living in days of chaos and turmoil. Where do we go when our country's laws break down? In one of the campaign debates, then-candidate Trump was asked how do you address breakdowns in society such as Ferguson? and his response was, 'rule of law'. 

That is exactly what is needed in response to anti-fa, and white supremacists, and black supremacists, or all of these terrorist groups. If common people are constantly afraid of being attacked and aren't safe as they go about their business something needs to be done to protect them. 

Former Governor Mike Huckabee had a piece about taking his family to the Holocaust museum in Germany and how he was concerned about his young daughter, who was perhaps eleven at the time. There were some horrible gruesome images depicting the happenings of those days. He was afraid she would not understand. She stopped to sign the guest book as they were leaving and he stopped to read what she had written:

Why Didn't Someone Do Something?

A good question for all of us in this troubled time. 1Chronicles 12:32 "And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do..." 

Often this is the problem, not knowing what to do. We can become paralyzed because we don't know what to do. When we spend time in prayer, lots of time in prayer, we get unexpected answers. In these troublesome times, we need to all be prayer warriors. Stand up, oh men of God, and— Ephesians 6:18  "...with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints," 

Hallelujah! What a savior!

Why Do We Care? Or Do We...

Proverbs 26:17 "He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears."

Today we might say it as, Not my monkey, not my circus. It's a humorous way of saying 'It's none of my business.'

Luke 10:29 ' But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 30)  Jesus made answer and said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31)  And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32)  And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33)  But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion, 34)  and came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35)  And on the morrow he took out two shillings, and gave them to the host, and said, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee. 36)  Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers? 37)  And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."

This is where the phrase 'Good Samaritan' comes from. In Jesus' time, Samaritans were looked down upon. They had been some of the people from other nations that had been brought in to the land of Judah at the time of the Babylonian captivity. Nebuchadnezzer was the Babylonian king that conquered the land of Judah. His reign occurred from approximately 605-562 B.C. His practice was to take the captured people and spread them around throughout his kingdom, never leaving enough of a group of people together in one place to prevent an uprising against his rule. 

Thus strangers were brought in from different nations to occupy the land. These people intermingled with the remnant of Jews who had been left in the land, marrying their sons and daughters. This was strictly forbidden under the law of Moses, but such things never stopped the Jews. This created a spirit of animosity between the strict keepers of the law and the Samaritans. 

Suffice it to say that Jesus took an opportunity to teach that there is a time and a place to make something our business. The priest and the Levite, both supposedly holy men in God's service, had already passed by as far away as they could away from the Jewish man. The Samaritan stopped and helped. 

I'm not advocating stopping and helping people alongside the road. Years ago we did often stop, and sometimes we still do, but with the advent of the cell phone, most people do have help on the way. What I'm looking at is in today's society we often hear the phrase, "don't judge me. The scriptures tell us not to judge", and so forth. 

What we have here are people who only know one or two verses of scripture, and those are the ones on 'don't judge'. The scriptures don't tell us not to judge at all, but not to judge with hypocrisy. That doesn't mean we have to wait until we are perfect to be able to tell someone that something they are doing is right or wrong. 

When I was in middle school a song called Harper Valley PTA became popular. It was about—if I remember right, a young widow being told by certain members of her community (Harper Valley PTA) that certain things she was doing weren't right. And in the end, she, the widowed woman, Mrs. Johnson, tells the local PTA  their sins and they are just a bunch of hypocrites.

There were a number of wrongs in this song and in this scenario. None of these people on either hand were competent or compassionate judges. One wrong was the sins of those pointing the first finger, but that finger does not excuse the honorable 'Mrs. Johnson' in her sin. Part of the problem is that we all are part and parcel of society. 

We ought to have a say in the standards of that society. In order to form a more moral society, we need better standards. That doesn't mean we should judge harshly or be hypocritical. It does mean we should be able to use good standards for all people.  

If we decide we don't want people walking around with their breeches down around their knees and their underwear hanging out then no one would be exempt. Not men or women. There was at one time a 'foul language ban'. There used to be community standards, some were enforced some were not. At one point some were enforced then became obsolete and are still on the books. 

I don't wish anyone ill, but the phrase, 'what I do in my bedroom is no one else's business', doesn't cut it anymore. We have come to realize who we are in private influences who we are in public. Second place, when people start bringing what they do out of not just their closet but out of their bedroom and parading it down the street it becomes societies' business. 

In the above-mentioned song what the 'hypocrites' did in private (they weren't parading around publicly) influenced Mrs. Johnson to flaunt her sin publicly. We have currently the closet society that has 'come out' publicly. Now we have child love arguments for that twisted behavior. These are both wrong, just as adultery and fornication are wrong. And we need to be able to say so. 

There are a number of things that on the surface don't look to be any of my business but they are because as the poem says 'no man is an island'.

Genesis 4:9  "And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother's keeper?"

Hallelujah! What a Savior! 

On the Wrong Bus?

A few years ago I heard of a passenger who ended up on the wrong airplane. There was quite a kerfuffle, and I don't remember when or how it got sorted out. I can't for the life of me understand how such a thing happened. However, most of us have had times we've been lost, or in the wrong place.

A few weeks ago several of us at church were chatting when the subject of going the wrong way on a one-way street came up. It was a small group, but most had that experience. What was surprising is that no one had been injured or caused an accident.

I was in my early thirties and on my way to a doctor's appointment when I turned one light too early and found myself on the one-way street. What to do? My initial response was that I should make a U-turn so I'd be driving in the right direction. Since there wasn't any traffic, it would have worked, but I didn't do that because I thought maybe I would get rear-ended by a car behind me...

Okay, that wasn't my sharpest moment. Point number one there was no traffic coming toward me—that was good news. Number two, I was going the wrong way, and God forbid anyone should be following me.

Luke 15:11  "And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12)  and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of thy substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13)  And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living. 14)  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want."

Most of us know the parable of the 'Lost Boy,' or better known a 'the Prodigal Son'. The son that thought he knew better than his father. The young man took all his inheritance and got away from home and family. He was FREE! Of course, it's the old story of fair-weather friends that helped him spend all of his money on wine, women, and riotous living. When the money was gone so were they. He scrambled to find anything to feed himself, and so he was hired to feed the hogs. When he hit bottom, he thought about home and family and decided to go home and become a servant in his father's house. But what about those he left behind? 

Luke 15:20  "And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."

It has been suggested that the father was watching for him; longing for him to come home. Having had children leave the nest, I know that does happen for a time. Yet after a time,  be it weeks, months, or years, a parent has to come to grips that your bus travels on, and for the moment that child isn't on your bus. 

Never-the-less, the father saw him coming and ran to greet him. Welcomed him home, and reclothed him, put new shoes on his feet, rings on his fingers and whatnot, as if he'd not left. Took his son back as a son, not as a servant. 

There are two major decisions in life we each must make. The first is whether to become a Christian. As long as you're on that bus, you're heading in the right direction. I know people who choose to follow their own way tooling down the road of life. They see nothing special about the Christian bus, but as we studied in Vacation Bible School this year Jesus said:

John 14:6  "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me."

The second major decision is if and who you choose to marry. When you're on the Christian bus you want someone who will help you on your journey, and ultimately someone who will spend eternity with you and Jesus. It is said that as a Christian you will not go to heaven alone. The sad thing is that as a non-believer you won't go to hell alone either.

If you're on the wrong bus get off now. Nothing really matters as to how what when or why you are on that bus. What matters is that you get off that bus and get on the right one. Remember the Father wants you to come home.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Not Forever

No human person is perfect. I've known some who had a lot of perfection about them, but none of them had perfection down perfect.

And no one or thing on this earth or in this life is forever. Many people struggle with these two aspects of life here on this globe. How many times do people say, 'You can't judge me, you're not perfect.' 

That brings to my mind this story: 

"A priest and a pastor are standing by the side of a road holding up a sign that reads “The end is near! Turn around now before it’s too late!”

A passing driver yells, “You guys are nuts!” and speeds past them. From around the curve, they hear screeching tires—then a big splash.

The priest turns to the pastor and says, “Do you think we should just put up a sign that says ‘Bridge Out’ instead?"

Side note here, someone suggested this ending: The pastor answers, "No, I think we need another sign that says--"You're almost there, speed up...".

There are times when no matter how you try to help people, they just take offence. Do we have to be perfect to tell people what they're doing is not going to work? In day to day situations the only thing to do is stand back and let them do it their own way. Sometimes there is a second chance when it doesn't work out, but most often there isn't, and in the end it just is what it is. So, we're not perfect, and our body isn't eternal. There of course is the rub. Our spirit will continue on eternally. Our clay earthen vessels will some day wear out and return to dust—as they say 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust, "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."Genesis 3:19 But 'You're almost there, speed up,' is a very poor choice as well.

It makes me very sad when I go to a funeral and the survivors all praise the deceased for living their lives and 'doing it their own way'. That's all well and good on this side of eternity, but the survivors can't see the spirit that has left the clay vessel. The vessel is like the shell of a katydid, a butterfly, or any creature that forms a new outward being, and it's the left behind thing. Perhaps the spirit is pleading that the survivors won't follow his/her example. Pleading that those left behind will heed God's warnings and God's Words.  

We can't do it our way, unless our way is God's way first. This is the sad fact of this life. An even sadder fact is that if all of us would do it God's way our lives would all be better. It begs the question, since God is perfect, He can judge us (and will one day), the person saying "You can't judge me, you're not perfect," isn't being quite honest are they... 

2 Corinthians 4:7  "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;" 

 In the last few years we've had a number of prominent people who've committed suicide. With the last person's death some have come out and blasted the person for their selfish act. 

• first off, yes it is selfish. At least it's thoughtless for our loved ones who will have to deal with the aftermath
• second, not knowing why the person saw this as a solution, blasting them and calling them selfish is like trying to close the door after the cat has escaped
• third, reaching out before the person comes to that point is crucial. Let me repeat, before they reach that point
• and final, blasting a dead person for anything is fruitless, and in its own way selfish

Here is an excerpt from my upcoming book "If I Should Die". Ruth's mother had been murdered two years earlier, and the exchange goes like this:

Ruth broke the mesmerizing silence. “Thank you for the fries and shake—and for all you’ve done, Julius. We’ve been praying about this matter for a long, long time. We try to fix everything ourselves, and when we can’t then we take it to God. We should take it to Him first.” 

“What about your mother?” Seth asked. 

“Excuse me?” She raised her eyebrows.

“Shouldn’t God have done something to save her?”

“The important thing isn’t that we will die, or how we will die, the crucial thing is our spiritual condition when we die. Mom obeyed the Lord Jesus. Evil didn’t destroy her faith.” Ruth frowned, and examined her hands as they lay in her lap. “I miss my mother, but we can’t turn back time.”

“There are no magic wands in life.” Julius looked sideways at Seth. “You shouldn’t allow Satan to sidetrack your mission.” Julius glanced in the mirror at Ruth. “The question goes, ‘if God is so powerful, why do bad things happen’? We live in an uncertain world. One that Eve and Adam chose—sometimes bad things happen.”

“True. There are no guarantees, and our spiritual condition trumps everything else,” Seth said.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Dues Vult / God wills it

 I found the comment to be intriguing:
"Walsh is correct. Modern churches have done their utmost to become all things to everyone, and in their homogeneous wanderings, have lost sight of the core principals of Christianity. Values. Honor. Respect. Sacrifice. Perseverance. Decency. Tradition. To stand against evil, even in the face of death. These are the things the Bible teaches, and our Faith demands. Until we return to the foundations of our Faith, darkness will continue to run rampant in this world."

The comment was taken from an article by Matt Walsh, and was labeled Marty P and Deus Vult, lest I be accused of not giving credit where credit is due.

That observation coupled with this quote is by G.K. Chesterton:

"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."

~ G.K. Chesterton

 Resonated with me as I read and hear so many in the Christian community trying to analyze why we are losing so many of our young people into the world. Hello, my brothers and sisters in Christ. If you line most of our Christian youngsters up alongside their worldly peers you honestly can't pick them out of the group. They are shuffled off to the same secular day-care centers, eventually to be shuffled into the same secular schools. They are taught the same secular (and in some cases horrid nonsense) of public schools, and we wonder at their turning away from what we perceive to be Christianity. 

At it's core Christianity is a giving up of one's self:
Matthew 16:24  "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." 

We haven't taught our children to sacrifice for Christ, in word or deed. Those in authority are afraid to teach their members on this as well. Often we hear platitudes about sacrificing, but that is as far as it goes. Look at the list in the above comment: Values. Honor. Respect. Sacrifice. Perseverance. Decency. Tradition. To stand against evil, even in the face of death.

Well, well, 'Values'. What does it mean, Values? Perhaps honor and respect could be the first of the values?

• Ephesians 6:1  "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2)  Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise)," 
• 1 Timothy 5:17  "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching."
• Romans 13:7  "Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor."

Sacrifice? I've been in this situation more times than I can list. You are at a different congregation, or in a different scenery at least. After introductions, invariably the question is asked, 'What do you do? What kind of work are you involved in? It is seldom thought that as a wife that your number one 'job', would be in the home. And if you answer, "I work at home" there is a void. Everyone knows what you do 'in the home', so what would the next question be? There is a plethora of questions  and conversations that could follow, but it is so seldom that we get that answer most of us don't know what to do with it. What does this have to do with sacrifice? Historically men have been the 'breadwinners' of the family, and families lived on what the goodman brought home. Made do with what they had. Now, of course prices are so high there is no way families can make do with less than two incomes. To live on one income would require...sacrifice. And indeed, it would be a sacrifice, I don't say that lightly. 

It would show that we value something above money. That we would rather obey and follow scriptural principles than sell our soul to the highest bidder.    

So, honor and sacrifice would be a beginning, followed by perseverance, decency, and even tradition. How important is our faith? How important are our children, and that they be taught truth? How important that they be taught to stand against evil, even in the face of death? If we can't or won't stop following the crowd, do we really expect our children to do so?

"These are the things the Bible teaches, and our Faith demands. Until we return to the foundations of our Faith, darkness will continue to run rampant in this world."

The comment  taken from the article by Matt Walsh, from Marty P (Deus Vult), is on the mark. I don't know who this person was, but unless we as Christians stop howling in anger against those who would try to tell us the truth and turn back to following the Lord, we're doomed.

Philippians 4:12  "I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. 13)  I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me."

Hallelujah! What a Savior! 

The Princess That Could Not Cry~

Books, in our upstairs at my grandparent's there were all sorts of books. I honestly don't remember learning to read--I remember looking at the pictures. Drawings of kids from the nineteen thirties accompanying poems such as:  

"I have a little doggy who used to sit and beg, 

but doggy tumbled down the stairs and broke his little leg..." 

Hopeful that this works. I'm not a computer geek, nor do I understand computers at all. So, why I cannot get the alignment setting to reset from center back to normal I have no idear. Sigh, and roll eyes here. 

Back to the story about stories. Somehow, not learning to read, just knowing how to read. My cousin Coco and I used to laugh at one book in particular with the name 'Excuse My Dust'. I don't know what it was about, and I would like now to take a closer look at it, but alas, it has gone the way of the world. There were classics, and Readers from a different school era. Most of those appeared to be from a Catholic school curriculum. An oddity, because no one except my Uncle Matt had ever been Catholic, and I'm sure they weren't his. I still have in my possession some of those dear readers. I think I should have memorized them I read them so many times. There was 'The Caliph's Wonderful Clock', 'Cinder Lad', even a 'Saint George, the Dragon Slayer'. One that has stuck in my mind was, 'The Princess Who Could Not Cry'. It was exactly that, about a princess that no matter what happened would laugh. The King and Queen did all they could think of to get her to cry, they even called in experts and offered a reward to that end. It was all to no avail. At last a 'good wife' came to them carrying a medium sized covered basket. Everyone was curious, but no one imagined this pleasant middle aged woman would meet with success. Much to their surprise within half an hour they heard sobs coming from the palace kitchen. They opened the door to find the princess in tears...peeling onions. The common  village 'good wife' had won the reward. 

You may think this pleasant story has no spiritual application, but...countless times in my life I've heard the admonition that as Christians we are supposed to be joyful--always--because we have a glorious God, a wonderful Savior, and the Holy Spirit for an intercessor. But sometimes life gives us onions, and while we may not spend our lives peeling onions, some days even the most cheeriest amongst us may have our moments of sadness, hurt, pain. The phrase 'we live in a fallen world', has a Biblical basis. Romans 8:22 "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

The whole creation is waiting for redemption.  We are to help the downtrodden, and one thing a person who is suffering doesn't need to hear is that all they need to do is cheer up.

Matthew 26:75 "And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly." 

Peter wept bitterly over his sin and betrayal. There are times when we should weep bitterly as well. As long as we lay it before the Lord and leave it there. 

Luke 19:41 "And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it,"

Jesus wept over the sins of Jerusalem, their hard unrepentant heart, and we should weep for those same things for our nation, and world.  

John 11:35 "Jesus wept."

All I know of this is that Jesus 'groaned' in His spirit. Was it his love for Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, or because of their lack of understanding, or something else? Maybe all three 

Ecclesiastes 3:1  "For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:... 4)  a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn..." 

Therefore, let us take to heart the following admonitions to help the helpless, weak, and poor amongst us. Be not high minded, we never know when it may be our turn.

Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep."

James 5:13  "Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14)  Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:" 

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Compassion vs. Communism

"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price...and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God. (Acts 5:1-4 ASV)

This is a lesson of a man and wife who sold property and wanted to look like they had given all of the money to the Apostles.  The husband first brought the money and pretended he gave the whole amount, Peter called chastised him on his lie and Ananias falls down dead; next the wife comes in and is asked if this was the amount paid them. Yes, she said, and the same thing happens to her, because of their lie to God. Their sin was not for keeping part of the money, but for LYING to God about it. As Peter said, "While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power?" Here's a secondary lesson in here.You can fool people sometimes, but you can never fool God. 

There is a rise in our country today lifting up 'socialism' as a shining example, and over the years some have used the early church, after Pentecost, and said it was socialistic.

Acts 2:43  "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44)  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45)  and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. 46)  And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,"

This was a period of learning and growing in the fledgling church, but it wasn't a forever situation. The growing of the church in Jerusalem lasted until the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Act 8:2  "And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. 3)  But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison. 4)  They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word."

God doesn't condone socialism. Socialism is anti-God. Government replaces God, and becomes a god.

This passage in 2 Corinthians tells how we ought to give to God. Not as of necessity, but of willingness, because God loveth a cheerful giver. We ought  to care for those less fortunate as well, but not with a gun held to our head as happens under socialism.

2Corinthians 9:5  I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion. 6)  But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7)  Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

God does expect us to be compassionate on others who can't help themselves. It isn't compassion to encourage those who can work and take care of themselves and their own families to become idle and worthless.

1Timothy 5:8 "But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever."

The Apostle Paul informs the Thessalonians:

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat. For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 ASV)

Socialism tries to make everyone equal, but the equality only extends as far as misery; everyone is equally miserable.  

Left Behind?

As I sit in my pew on a Sunday afternoon I am thankful. There are many things I'm thankful for, of course, but this particular moment I'm thankful we're a small 'country' congregation. We're family and friends here at our particular group. If we're family, we're friendly family, and if we're friends, we're friendly friends.

I digress, however, because where I am thankful for our relationships here, it is brought on as I see on the floor toward the front of the building something, perhaps a coat or a sweater that some little person has left behind in their dash to their pew (or was it to the rest room?).

As apparently is true for most women one thought leads to another. I began to muse on the idea of age, time, life, and how many things we as human beings 'leave behind'. Step by step as we grow older we leave our younger self behind. Some of those things are better left behind.  In growing older  we learn to walk, run, dress ourselves, social behaviors, and so on until eventually we learn to be an adult. As adults we leave things behind, and not all of it is childish behavior and not all should be left behind. The scripture tells us two aspects of these things. This first one is becoming a responsible adult:

• "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11 ASV)

Childish behaviors are things we ought to put away. On the flip side, there are several aspects of little children we should retain. 

• Matthew 18:2 "And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, 3)  and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4)  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." 

• Mark 10:14  "But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. 15)  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein." 

• Luke 18:17  "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein." 

The aspect here is that children are teachable, receptive, and humble. As we become adults we often leave behind humility. Some other things we leave behind are: faith, trust, love and kindness. We lose our sense of wonder at the creations of God—the world in which we live, and the creatures that God formed and placed here. We lose the ability to ask how and why things work. Life settles in and we get set in our ways, but the saddest is when we lose our ability to dream. The ability to enjoy the small pleasures in our lives. We can't fully enjoy the larger things in our lives until we learn the lesson of enjoying the smaller things. The phrase 'carpe diem' means to seize the moment—Not to diminish the future, but to savor what we are blessed with at the moment.

It is easy to become sarcastic, to see life through cynical eyes—Eyes of doubt, distrust, and disbelief. We need to put that away. Leave that behind.

The story is told of a father checking on his young son one morning. He reached the hall just outside his son's bedroom as his son opened his eyes and sat up. The first word out of his mouth that morning was, "WOW" as he stared at the world around him. This struck a chord in the father's heart. When he retold the story he encouraged his audience to have a child's heart and a child's eyes. 

Hallelujah! What a Savior! 

Who Am I?

In Bible class we used to play the 'Who Am I' game. I had little Gingerbread men figures with questions on the back. I'd hold them up and the first question was usually the 'hard' question then there were at least two more questions. It might have started out with: "My father's name was Terah." #2 could have been, "I had two brothers, Nahor and Haran." If they still hadn't gotten it #3 could have been "God called me out of Ur of Chaldees." The beginning question was always, 'Who Am I?"

"Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is? And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." (Matthew 16:13-14 ASV)

Sometimes we hear people today talking about Jesus. They are still giving different answers. Some may say, "He was a good man." Others have said, "He was crazy, or he was a deceiver." However, there are several factors that should be examined before a conclusion is made.

Matthew 16:15: "He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am?" 

16) "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

 17) "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. 

18) And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."  

So, those closest to Jesus confessed that he was the Christ the Son of the living God. Not only did they confess,but they lived and died for that confession. 

Jesus says in verse 18 that 'upon the rock of Peter's confession (that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God) that Jesus' church would be built (upon that confession), and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. And they haven't prevailed against the fact that he is who he said he was. 

I love how the gospel of John tells us: 

John 20:26  "And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 

27)  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 

28)  Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God." 

Thomas had been a doubter, but his last statement speaks volumes.

Yet, there will be doubters until the trump of God shall sound on the last day. Life will be going on as usual. 

Ecclesiastes 8:11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12)  Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him: 13)  but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. 

To the doubters amongst us, remember the Apostles that walked with Jesus were convinced that Jesus was the Christ so much so they lived, preached, and died for their confession. Remember also Thomas' reaction to Jesus resurrection. My Lord and my God.

There are several things Jesus was not. 

• He was not a liar, nor deceiver.
• He was not wicked, nor a homosexual.
• He was not homeless, but a wanderer
• He was not a socialist, nor a Robin Hood

As it says in Ecclesiastes, because God doesn't strike people dead, or evil isn't punished immediately people are emboldened to mock God and Jesus. Their hearts are set to do evil, but those that believe in and fear God know there is a judgement coming. God is not wishing any to perish so he gives sinners another chance. We hear too often when people die, 'they've gone on to a better place'. They have not gone on to a better place if they are unrepentant sinners. They have not gone on to a better place if they aren't following Jesus.

Jesus is the spotless lamb of God. He was our perfect sacrifice, but without laying claim to that inheritance we won't get it. Our radio station has games with prizes, but since I don't play I'm not expecting to 'get their prize'. If you don't allow Jesus to put your name on the list you won't win the prize.    

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Shattered Dreams

"But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, persecutions, sufferings. What things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." (2 Timothy 3:10-14 ASV)

We've endured the last few days snow, fog, and ice, but today the sunshine is powerful. It is shining and warming the earthly inhabitants. The trees had at dawn a coat of crystal, like shimmering glass. The sun is warming this layer that is so beautiful, and it is falling to the ground off the stems and twigs. Falling to lie on the ground beneath the trees, shimmering for the moment, but soon to melt into a distant memory. 

Dreams can be like that as well. We don't know what dreams the Apostle Paul held for his life work. He was a Roman born, and a Jew. Something of an oddity. He had learned at the feet of a highly respected and learned man of the Law, Gamaliel. Saul, also known as Paul, was a respected part of the Jewish system in his early life.

• (Philippians 3:4)  "though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more:"

• (Philippians 3:5)  "circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;"

• (Philippians 3:6)  "as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless."

• (Philippians 3:7)  "Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ."

He left it all when he found that Jesus was the Way (the Truth and the Life). He gave up a good life to be  hounded by 'Judaizing teachers' in his latter years. He journeyed much, teaching all, both Jews and Gentiles. He withstood hunger, cold, betrayal disappointment...in a word he suffered persecution from Satan and human sources.   

(2 Timothy 4:16 ASV)  "At my first defense no one took my part, but all forsook me: may it not be laid to their account. (2 Timothy 4:17)  But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might me fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."

"All forsook me, But the Lord stood by me..."

Sometimes the good life isn't the one we hoped for. Like ice crystals melting on the ground, the life we want may be transient, fragile and  worthless. 

(Matthew 6:33 ) " But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.(Matthew 6:34 ASV)  Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Conflict: Finding

Conflict is what makes a great fiction novel. At least, a fiction novel without conflict will be rather blase'.  

"And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him (Jesus) asked him to show them a sign from heaven." (Matthew 16:1 ASV)

There are times when I think I really wish God would just  say to me in His God Voice, "you've gotten side-tracked again. You're going the wrong way, back up/turn around, and..."Somewhat like an accurate Alexa, or /Siri. 

In my life it is often days, months or even sometimes years before I can tell if what I've done is the right thing. I do trial and error, or the turn around and look method. On small inconsequential things-- if you learn from the experience it can be good. However, the important things in life don't work well that way. Like having a 2,000 pound polar bear charging at you, most of the important things only give you one shot.

"But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2) For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy," 

(2 Timothy 3:1-2 ASV)

People have been pointing to what goes on in society for close to two thousand years, saying, 'these are the last days'. We are witnessing a society in turmoil and conflict. Like a kaleidoscope of ever changing patterns the colors and shapes are—ever changing. We have angry young people, and why wouldn't we have them? We have angry unchanneled adults. If adults fall for the lies of Satan, do we expect their younger counter-parts to be any less duped? 

There are many people in denial. I saw it today on a meme: "I'm not religious, I'm spiritual". What?! What does that mean? I thought the definition might give me a clue, so I went to the dictionary to find out what 'religious' is: 1) a member of a religious order bound by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience 2) religious; spiritual (adj)  3)having or showing belief in and reverence for deity 4)of or relating to clergy bound by monastic vows. 5) extremely scrupulous, conscientious

So, why are they in denial? Being religious is apparently out of favor. If one is 'spiritual' they can approach their own image of their own god in whatsoever manner they choose.Being spiritual is fashionable like the difference between 'meditation' and 'prayer'. 

• Prayer is the act of communicating with deity, (especially as a petition, an expression of adoration, contrition, thanksgiving. (A petition/ communication that goes toward God.)

• Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. Meditation is often used to clear the mind and ease many health issues, such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. It may be done sitting, or in an active way - for instance, Buddhist monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of mind-training. Prayer beads or other ritual objects are commonly used during meditation in order to keep track of or remind the practitioner about some aspect of the training.(A training of one's own mind, self-talking.)

• One is a petition to deity, the other is putting self in the place of deity, and talking to self .

Calling it spiritual as opposed to religious is as one writer put it, "putting it according to their own terms; God has zero input in the equation. It's atheism for someone who's scared to go all in."

The following is a list which being religious answers to. 

• God wants more from His followers than just their thoughts "Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."(James 1:27 ASV)

• God wants us to 'know' Him. To crave His companionship—as if we were friends, or (gasp) his dear children, and He our Father
• He wants us to not just know his will for us, but to follow His will
• God wants us to love His Son, Jesus; to honor and worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• God wants us to love, and show love. Not just the warm and fuzzy, feel good love, but the kind that Jesus had and showed in His life and death

You see, religion is the foundation for that kind of life. Just as Jesus was religious—Yes, he was—He kept the Law perfectly, and without that he wouldn't have been the perfect sacrifice. As the song says: Law and Love combining. 

Nowhere does God say, "Find your own path to me, follow your own feelings..." "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me." 

(John 14:6 ASV)

"But he (Jesus) answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the heaven is red. 3)And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot discern the signs of the times. 4)An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed." (Matthew 16:2-4 ASV)

Halelujah! What a Savior!