From todays Sunday School
We teach our kids from a young age to “not stare”
The only issue with this teaching is as they grow up, “don’t stare” becomes “Don’t See”
Thinking of the handicap, mentally challenged, homeless, and then elderly…
What can we do this week to make the invisible, visible?
Something that I’ve never heard anyone discuss before, are the benefits of becoming a born again believer in latter life.
Maybe benefits is not the right word.
I spent years bitter because I did not grow up in a Christian home like all my adult friends. I felt like if I had, I would not have screwed up my life so much before age 22. I made d sad I many mistakes and wrong turns between age 14-22, I loss tract.
I got saved a couple of months before my 23rd birthday. I still remember, as if it were yesterday. I also remember how I use to see the world and everyone in it. I thought that that would have been something I would have forgot, all these years later. But I have not.
Becoming saved as an adult has made me view things a whole lot different then all of my Christian friends. I remember what worked and what didn’t work, when people talked about God to me. I remember all the many times I went to church as a child and teen.
I don’t have any memories going to church with my mother, but I do remember going to church with both of her sisters. Both were Presbyterians. (Insert short fun Bible lessons, having snacks and learning about Adam and Eve, Jonah, and Noah’s Ark again and again and again. Nothing more!)
I also went to church with my grandmothers when I spent the night with them. One was Pentecostal (insert 4 hour services on a backroads farm) And the other grandma was a Roman Catholic. (Insert a bunch of hand movement rituals, singing and chit-chat from the pulpit, without a clue to what I just heard) Visiting my father, I have memories of going to confession and making up things to say. Just got kicks!
I ask myself, What did I actually believe in? I believed in Evolution and the Big Bang. I also believed in Adam and Eve. I just though they were the cavemen.
By the time I was 22, and I heard the true gospel, from my now husband, I was a mess. I remember telling him that I was recarnated and was many different people and animals in my past lives.. having memories here and there.
I also believed that the Bible was never to be taken seriously. And if it were true, it was dated. My mom use to tell me that.
Fast Forward: I am a born again believer of The one and ONLY true God, Jesus Christ.
I have been a Christian for 25 years now. Have I backslid during these 25 years? Yes I have!
But God always led me right back to him through prayer.
Before I was saved, I had no idea what convictions felt like. I did what I wanted, when I wanted, without any guilt whatsoever.
Was that an easier way to live? Simply for yourself? Sure it was!
But I would never ever want to go back to who I was and how I was. My whole mind frame has changed. And I know that I had nothing to do with it. Christ did. I was having too much fun living for me.
Culture takes a sin and celebrates the sin. I was a free agent. Highs and deep lows in life. When it was good, it was very good. And when it was bad, I wanted to die.
I remember being very much a part of worldly culture, and I know what it’s like to be part of counterculture. It’s so much more fulfilling!
That said, one of the benefits of becoming saved as an adult is that I have never felt like God abandoned me when things were not going well for me. (Let’s face it, Christian or not, life is not a bowl of cherries 24/7)
I have also never felt disappointed, or mad at God. Wanting to throw in the towel and go back to my pre-saved days. I hear Christian’s share these two things pretty frequently.
I think it’s because I remember how I felt before I was saved. And in comparison to how I have feel as a Christian.. Well, there is no way that I could ever dream of going back to that empty, shallow, lifeless, lonely, internal feeling that I couldn’t escape late at night when I was all alone with my thoughts.
Life was crazy! Filled with uncertainty and questions.
I have no questions now. I know how it ends. I have no uncertainty now. I have no loneliness.. even when I’m alone. I do not Fear death whatsoever. I remember thinking that o was once a bunny rabbit that was killed by a wolf. Goodness me! I actually believed I use to be a rabbit!!
I also know when, and when I am not in Gods will. I will start off his path and feel him tug me back. It is remarkable!
His yoke is easy. I never knew or understood the meaning of that until I became one with Christ.
It’s an organic feeling. And being on the right road in life is pretty darn Amazing. I feel peace.
I have peace in the good and bad times.
I can feel sad, yet at complete peace through Christ.
Is there anything better to delight in, then being at Peace 24/7? I think not!
If someone would have shared all of these things with me as a child or teen, I would have though they were nuts! I would not have understood what they meant by having internal peace when something awful has happened. I would not have understood what it meant to be born again. To physically die, to lose my putter shell (flesh) yet have my spirit alive forever. That is a-lot to fully grasp. I am just so thrilled that I had people praying for me and a husband that took a chance on me.
I will start off by saying I am not on any social media whatsoever. That said, I have been reading about how people are talking negatively about passive income.
Apparently there are big time tic-tockers who are choosing to be boss babes, boss guys; or so they call it. Young people.
Some are profiting from micro currencies and bitcoin. Stock market options and daily trading. While others are making their millions by buying cheap real estate in run down areas and flipping them. Nothing wrong with that in theory, except people are very upset that these individuals are fixing up rundown homes with the cheapest of the cheap fixtures, etc, and selling them for astronomical prices. Not to mention, taking these areas where the lower income folks could only afford to live, off the market entirely. Basically, making families homeless because there are not enough cheap rents or homes anymore. This is what is irking people.
That shared-
There are also handfuls on top profiting from MLM’s. Personally, I think MLMs are the bottom of the barrel and really do prey on peoples poverty by exploiting them. This is no secret, yet people do seem blindsided out of desperation. Hardships are real, and we have all experienced them. Myself included.
I am not entirely sure how I feel about the real estate flipping game. Yet!
I do think getting into real estate and/or the stock market will not be going anywhere and are smart financial decisions that can, and will benefit your families future if you know what you are doing and are willing to gamble a bit. There is no easy get rich plan. Unless you have an inheritance.
Reselling is also huge right now.
I first jumped on the band wagon back in 1999.
It was very new back then. I took a break to raise kids, and then I jumped back into it about seven years ago. Back in the days, people didn’t have any opinions on it. At least I never heard them when I was asked what I did for income. But that has all changed now. People are ticked off! It’s as if no one wants you to succeed. Or at least no one wants you doing better then they are. It’s absurd! I am still a believer they hard work pays off.
When you mention that to someone nowadays, they laugh at you.
I think it’s because you can have two jobs working you to the bone and still just make it. Inflation is robbing us all. The government wants to keep us all poor. Make no mistake on that. Sorry if that offends you.
This is where passive income plays in.
Forget working two dead end jobs eighty hours a week, and find or invent a service job that you are good at and enjoy.
People do not want to do this though. Why? It takes double the work. Double the time. There will always be people who need structure. And this is okay, as we are not all the same.
Does it bother me hearing folks bash resellers? It does sometimes. I even heard it while I was out sourcing last week.
Conversations at a thrift store:
Guy to his friend: “Dude, what to you think of this vintage band tee?”
Friend: “Looks too old”
Guy: “Yeah. Maybe I should get it to sell on Poshmark.”
Friend: “What’s that?”
Guy: “You don’t know? It’s a place like a thrift store but online where these dumb-a** resellers rob people.”
Friend: “Really? Like people don’t just come here to shop?”
Guy: “Nah. There are a group of people who shop thrift stores for vintage stuff like this tee and turn around and sell it five times what they bought it for. It’s awful!”
I was standing right next to them during the conversation and doing just as he said. Embarrassed? Shamed? Nope! Not even a bit.
There are so many people who hate to treasure hunt, dig , shop, etc. People like convenience and resellers provide a service to them. People are buying more then a used vintage tee for $35-$85. They are paying for someone to find them something that perhaps they have been wanting and have it delivered to their front door, clean, pressed, and wrapped with a bow like a birthday gift. Oftentimes it’s nostalgic for the buyer. I get so much feedback from people writing me personal thank you for finding an item that they once had long ago. Or people who just like all the frills and detail that I put into the wrapping.
I could have explained this to the guys. But they may not have got it. so be it!
Speaking g of services…Let’s Think Ubur eats, door dash, post mates, and all the other newer companies that provide a service.
People are really upset about all of the above.
I can see both sides of the story. But either way, bragging online, whether ticktock, Facebook, or the alike, is rather icky, and will always get you noticed in a negative light in my opinion.
People are upset that people, who they do not think are deserving of their wealth are profiting, and living their best life. While they are punching a time clock to a dead end job that they hate.
Alas’ Dead end jobs have their place. They always will.
A lot of people are not good at managing their time and need to be told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. And there is nothing wrong with this.
These folks punch a clock five or six days a week, and then they get to chill and enjoy their days off how they see fit. Maybe they will get called into work, and they also have that option. The choice is theirs.
I have kids on both sides of the fence, where my husband and I are for the most part, self employed.
Being self employed is working 24/7. It’s not easy- peasie like these seven figure young people making videos are claiming. Maybe they have had parents front them funds, or an inheritance to invest in that instantly put them to where they are now, at 22, 23 years of age. If so, Great! More power to them. Why does it bother people do much. We work with the cards we have been dealt in life. This is life! If you don’t like it, be the one to change it.
We simply do not know peoples back stories entirely, as they are only sharing how they are making millions in their sleep and traveling the world, and you can too!
That all shared,
Here are some negative sides of passive income.
You work around the clock.
You have to be self motivated.
You have to have multiple streams of income and always be adding more in the event that one area goes South.
You have to be fine working alone.
You have to know that there will be highs and lows.
People will not like you for whatever reason. But mainly because you are marching to another beat. You are not a traditional person who chose college and a “career”
More times then not, people will never take what you do seriously and think whatever your self employed job is, that it’s not a real job because you have no one signing your paycheck.
I can go on, but let’s talk about the positives.
You are your own boss. Some people, like myself, do not play well with others. Not a team player and do not like being told what to do it when to do it.
You are an entrepreneur.
You can choose to take a trip anytime you please. Proving you have funds to do so. You generally do!
Depending on how hard you work, you will reap the profits. You are a go with the flow type of person and do not mind changing strategies at the drop of a hat and improving what you do. You simply don’t mind working around the clock because you love what you do and are passionate.
You have no need to complain because you chose your own path. The path that brings you happiness and fulfillment. 🙂
February 1,2022
I blinked and a whole month disappeared again. They say that as we age, and get older, time goes by much quicker.
Januarys word of month in review is SICKNESS.
Covid In particularly.
Hubby got it, three out of four kids caught it. And now today, as I’m documenting this, I have it.
The last time I caught Covid was on my birthday, two years ago in 2020. No one else in the house caught it but me back then. No, I didn’t isolate from the rest of the family. I don’t have a west wing to retreat too.
I wrote down all my symptoms a couple years back and did a day by day and this current Covid, seems to be treating me the same.
First a sore throat. Feels almost like strep, but not as bad, and only lasts for twenty four hours. Then a migraine to knock your socks off. That lasts for two days. Then fatigue and chills. Cough and runny/stuffy nose at the same time. Waking with my skeleton hurting, especially my head, face, and jaw. It just hurts, I’m not sure how to explain the feeling.
All in all, it feels like the flu. Not fun. And I feel of you have preexisting health issues, it will feel worse for you.
Doctors say to stay in bed for ten days and take NyQuil.
I guess they need to tell you something though.
Currently I’m on day four.
I’m actually taking an arsenal of supplements like I did the last time and it takes the edge off enough to go about my day and work. Night time on the other hand is pure death, and I’ve just accepted it. Flus, bolds, and even Covid will be much worse when the sun goes down and peak as you are trying to fall asleep.
Currently I am taking the following:
Zicam 3x a day.
One Lactoferrin and two Benedryl before bed, along with Two Tylenol.
2 Noni, 600mg of Monolauren, 20,000IU of Vitamin D each day, 400mg of Camu Camu (vitamin C) along with 30mg of Zinc during the say.
And lastly, two cloves of garlic twice a day.
If I had to only pic two of the above to take, it would be Zicam and Tylenol. As they both are pretty instant.
Hebrew’s 12
If anger stays long enough in your heart it will turn to bitterness.
When you don’t have wholeness, you have a tendency to fake it.
Bitterness can not be seen.
Esu in the Bible, was a bitter man. This led him to make bad decisions. (A bowl of stew)
He was tired and hungry and felt that his birthright was useless on how he was feeling at the time. He just wanted to eat.
Bitterness causes you to make stupid choices,such as instant gratification.
Whatever Jacob did, Esu did the opposite. Jacob found a good spouse, Esu went out and deliberately found a bad one to disappoint his father.
Anything evil that comes into your life is NOT from God. It is something that you chose to bring into your life.
Satan fell because of bitterness.
He felt like God was holding out on him.
ALL sin goes back to the root of bitterness.
Ways Satan will take your eyes of Christ
Ex. Eve & the Apple
A.Lust of eyes
B.Lust of flesh
C.Pride
PURSUE Peace WITH ALL MEN.
All men!
Bitterness pulls you away from all of your relationships. It will always lead to loneliness and self pity. (Poor me syndrome)
Your life choices have lead you to your current life state. (The way your life is now)
Bitterness rips you of all Joy.
Complaining leads to bitterness within your heart.
Bitter roots:
1.Bitter roots will deceive you. Hebrew’s 12:v13-14
2.Bitter roots defile. V15-16
3.Bitter roots cause ongoing suffering.
God will never act outside his character because he gave us free will.
God is NOT the one causing sickness, death and broken relationships.
I think that we can agree that with trials and tribulations comes growth. This year has been by far worse for me then last year, but here I am praising God even louder!
I feel his presence more in my life. Dare I say, ever then before!
For someone who did not grow up believing in God, I feel as if I’m extra in tune with his presence in my personal life, as I remember fully what it was like and what it felt like without him in my life. I feel and see is work in myself. THAT is an amazing realization. One to Celebrate!
I feel at peace. I feel loved. I feel relaxed today.
It’s been a crazy month but a fruitful one.
Today is my husbands and I’s 26th Anniversary!
It’s been a heck of a ride!
We went to a marriage conversation last week with a hundred couples. We learned some new things, but all in all, we are doing it right. Who knew?! Marriage is 90% Algebra homework and 10% butterflies they said. That is the truth!
Marriage is a selfless act that you choose to to each day.
Marriage is SELF DISCOVERY. Sacrificial.
We are not taught any of this when we are young. We are taught BARBIE and Ken and Hallmark movies. 🤣
And while on the service that would be nice, but on a deep rooted spiritual level, that would be awful.
So today as I am self reflecting, God is the lover of my soul, my personal lawyer in times of trials, and the one and only true part of my life that continues to help me grow and grow into the woman that he has created me to be. I see my prayers getting answered, so I know that I’m walking in his will, not my own. And man of man! That is a heavenly place to be.
Anyone else?
I have always been the one that has all my ducks in a row, clean and organized home, with a snack tray on the dining room table with people coming and going.
Since working full time, among other things, that ship has somehow sailed off the map.
Things are messy! I may even use the word chaos this particular year.
I just finished Christmas shopping online and decorating the tree and house last night.
I use to be all finished with my shopping by mid- September. October at the latest. The tree and decorations would be all set up Thanksgiving week. And don’t get me started on the Christmas movies that have yet to be watched. I think I’ve only seem bits of one Hallmark movie at this point. I have not even bought Christmas cards yet, yet alone, mailed any.
My days are spent at doctors offices and physical therapist appointments. Throw in two days a week seeing a friend and going out to eat, it has not left any quiet time this season.
This past weekend we went to a Christmas play, parade, and Lights Festival, but it all felt so rushed.
I am looking forward to 2022. In all honesty, 2020 was great for me! Very relaxing and low key. 2021, not so much, but very good for my online stores.
None of this was even registering in my mind, how crazy it’s all been this year, until yesterday morning at church.
We walked into Sunday School. Late!
Everyone was casually talking about Christmas.
One couple went threw the Krispy Kream drive through asking for Christmas donuts and was told that they only have Holliday ones, but they cost more, so.
Another person was talking about the tornado of a mess their house is in. Christmas stuff all over the floors, etc. But everything is decorated and shopping has been finished.
Then I asked the the quiet couple ( homeschool family) how their weekend went, and have they started decorating with the kids yet.
The well spoken father answered me.
They finished weeks ago. House is completely ready for Christmas, including lights and decorations on the outside. Shopping has been done for several months. Gifts all wrapped and under the tree. Christmas cards mailed. Christmas movies have already been watched so they are looking for new ones to add to their holiday traditions. Basically, just taking time to soak in the Holiday.
As soon as I heard all of this I thought to myself, Wow! Dang! Oh my Goodness! You are Awesome! Lucky You!
And then… “Oh me! That use to be me. It really did.”
Everyone in class has younger kids then us. I have adults and teens now. Of course you’d think with an older group that my house would be immaculate, but my house was so much cleaner when they were little. Mainly, we ALL pitched in to help keep things running smoothly bank in the days. I really do miss those days.
Now, no one does much here. it’s like pulling teeth. And there is some stuff that I simply can’t do by myself anymore. Hence, it doesn’t get done.
Odd how this is the norm, in most families with teens. Or do I’ve been told.
With all that said, I know God is still good and has me and my family in his hands. There are seasons or order, but also seasons of utter chaos. I already know how it ends.
Today is a busy one. Doctors appointment, DMV for the kids, lunch with a friend, grocery store, and cleaning and working tonight.
Tomorrow is another day.
Where am I living? Am I still here on Earth?
I’m starting to get confused on what is going on.
The way it is right now.
I remember my grandma telling me that the world gradually changes every decade, and you won’t realize it until it’s too late.
I was not a Christian at the time and assumed that she was referring to something spiritual happening. And perhaps she was.
Is that what I’m seeing right now?
Has this been gradual, or has it transpired in the past year and a half. Since Covid.
I just watched a tv commercial for transcending into other dimensions with new Facebook groups. I have been hearing that word pop up a lot this past year. Transcending. The word “Trans” has also been popping up more.
I have also been observing an abundance of YouTubers talk about manifesting your best life and channeling into your best self. And I have to say, all I am hearing is Channeling demons to bring you wealth and worldly success. Let’s be honest, that is what these kids are doing. *sigh*
Meanwhile, others are discussing a loss of emotions and not being able to connect with people since Covid, despite being able to see people face to face now. People are still feeling a disconnect from reality.
Scary? It ought to be!
People are discussing that they are unable to recall events after they have experienced them. Trouble remembering what they did this past weekend.
Trouble remembering events in past years prior to Covid. Trouble remembering. Or remembering and feeling nothing.
Young people!
It almost feels as if the majority of people are experiencing something out of the ordinary, across the oceans. Are these physiological side effects from Covid?
Maybe it’s because my life did not change one bit since Covid. And… I had Covid last year for my Birthday. But, as a whole, my life remained the same. I still worked, shopped, visited my family and friends, etc.
Is this why I feel the way I always have felt?
I’m not sure why I’m bothered by what other people are feeling, but I truly am.
No one is like you! You are an Original, so please Own it! 🙂
Growing up, I always thought that there were plenty of people like me.
Nothing strikes me as extra special about myself.
I feel pretty ordinary. Feel, being the key word. Lol
But not any more. I am SPECIAL!
But you know, SO ARE YOU! You may have a different gift then I have, and that is okay.
My friend Mel, told me yesterday that she’s met thousands of people in her line of work but she has never met anyone more compassionate as me. Really?
Doesn’t everybody go that extra mile for everyone? Doesn’t everyone do unto others as they would want done to them?
Somehow, this has made me assume that everyone is this way. Using MYSELF as the example.
“Well if I would (XYZ) so they should/would.”
“If I don’t see any harm in it, they shouldn’t.”
“If I would do that, they SHOULD!”
This is a very destructive way to think.
It’s has transformed me into a judgmental way to think about others.
People disappoint one another every single day. And if you currently do not have anyone in your life who IS disappointing you, then you are the one disappointing others right now.
This is the down world spiral that that aided in my disappointment with so many people. I use to be a heavy extroverted person, and now I am not.
I have spent all of my life thinking that everyone has grown up like me. 😱
What’s the big deal people?
Why are you so selfish?
Why can’t you, (XYZ) it’s so easy!
Things that have come easy for me don’t come easy for others. And vise Versa.
I think it’s because we have all been raised so differently now.
There is a popular song that I keep hearing on the radio that inspired this rant/post. I have no idea who sings it but each time I get into the car it’s playing on KLove.
A verse from the song:
You don’t know what it’s like to be me. I don’t know what it’s like to be you.
Years ago kids were raised very much alike. Pre-80’s.
Our SNAC teacher from last night is turning ninety years old and touched on how his generation felt the same way.
Strong core values and morals.
Both parents in the home.
Less “in your face” violence, and respect for one another.
We were taught to be helpful and to ALWAYS do the right thing.
But then the 80’s hit and things started getting a little crazy. A ninety year old would say that the sixties hit and things started getting crazy.
Fast forward to 2020-
Everything is a mess, and it has left us with the ME CULTURE.
Self Love, Self Care. Put yourself first!
Others LAST! Who the heck cares about anyone in your way. Pretend they are not there.
Who cares if people get upset, that’s on them.
Who cares if you let someone down, that’s on them.
Who cares that he/she needs help, that’s not your problem.
You be you! You look after you! Screw others.
Just go on social media and numb the pain away.
But remember take a Xanax before hand, then it won’t hurt so bad.
A few weeks ago I was asked to give a lesson to a church group about social media.
Pros and Cons. I did not end up doing it.
It was for a group of people that all had social media.
Facebook, Instagram, Tic-Tok, etc.
I was the only one who was not logged on.
People were shocked to find this out. I am not sure why this still surprises me. But it does.
Sometimes my friends forget that I’m not connected and will mention something they shared, or wrote online and asked why I didn’t comment on it.
I gently remind them that I don’t have any social media anymore.
I opened a Facebook account in June 2007 and deactivated my account June 2017.
It was the best thing I have ever done for myself.
I suppose it has its place.
A central location to share Family photos, or Meet-Ups, things for sale…
But the ugly side far outweighs the positive in my opinion.
I was sucked in the rabbit hole for ten years, so I get it.
It’s all meaningless to me now. In fact, if my Job was not on an App, I would not even have a smartphone.
I had a flip phone for years, and it was just fine.
It’s a great distraction and gap filler when something is missing from your life. There, I said it.
Social media AND your phone is a gap filler for something that is missing from your life.
I first logged onto SM when my kids were young and I had no mom groups or many adult conversations.
It was filling a gap in my life. What started off as rather innocent escalated into a catastrophe though.
I definitely became addicted to logging on.
I also had a bunch of people find me from school days. Ex’s, stranger dangers, hurt people looking to vent, people asking for money, fair weather friendships, comparisons, and people from different countries wanting to talk about America, and how to move here.
So much!
And I won’t even mention the politics and religion side of it.
I can not even imagine how it’s been since Covid, nor do I want too.
I just closed my Twitter last year.
I had Twitter for ten years also.
I had people from Facebook find me on Twitter. And I just had enough.
It’s not needed in my life anymore. I have no gaps that need filling.
I am a happier person since closing those doors.
This was today’s message.
Pastor said that oftentimes you can’t use the Bible to try to convince anyone that God created the heavens and earth. Mainly, because people do not believe in the Bible. And those who do, do not believe it is Gods word. Unbelievable I’m referring to.
I can contest to this as I was the person who didn’t believe that the Bible was Gods word. I just thought of it as a book as any other.
What I do find odd though, being a born again Christian is that I believed in other religions. Many people will put their Faith in Buddha, Mohammed, and every single god and goddess that the India Faith teaches.
Many religions teach to worship objects and animals. People will actually put their faith in an animal or object, but not Jesus. This baffles me like nothing else does.
Where do they find their true comfort?
Works perhaps? Doing good works makes them feel a certain way maybe.
I would imagine that even so, still, there remains an emptiness within their heart. A tiny bit of uncertainty.
Works takes effort. Faith does not. Maybe people feel as of it can not be that easy. Yet it is! Amen!
With Christianity it’s not through works, but Faith alone. And you will never find Jesus bones as he is not dead. Unlike many other leaders who have died. We know where their bones are.
Other Religions have the will to save but not the ability to save you.
Pastor told a story of a grandma who was babysitting her granddaughter while her daughter was napping. Her toddler granddaughter wanted to go swimming in her pool. Grandma didn’t know how to swim so she put her granddaughters flotation devices on her and sat on the chaise lounge and watched.
Grandma must have taken her eyes off of her granddaughter for at least a moment, as she heard her granddaughter cry because her flotation devices came off and float away from her. In the blink of an eye, the little girl went under the water. Without thinking, grandma jumped into the water to save the child.
She had the will To save her, yet lacked the ability. They both drowned that day.
Tragic!
There are thirty thousand different religions in this world. Yet only one points to Christ. He chose us, as with all the others, humans choose them. They all have the will to save, yet lack the ability.
Religion will never convince a sinner they are loss…
From North to South 