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I am Sandra - faithful steward. listener. shepherd. dream believer. hard worker. collects brass bells, boots. Jesus follower. contented. star gazer. homemaker. farmer. prayer warrior. country woman. reader. traveler. writer. homebody. living life large.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Sweet Honey in the Rock

~ seek to be wise ~
Who can sense of the madness make? Surely not I, nor you, nor anyone with a working brain. Once, Dave and I were talking of some tragedy...can't remember which one...and I said, "Dave, I just can't wrap my mind around why someone would do something like that." Dave looked at me gently and said, "And you may thank God you cannot." He was right; I do thank God I don't understand the madness that abounds in this weary, sin-filled, fallen world. 
God gave us free will and what did we do? We made the wrong choice! Poor, stupid us. We could have had it all... heaven on earth and instead we chose fleeting, temporal, instant gratification that doesn't gratify even for an instant (if we're being honest). 
Some, in arrogance, think, "I could have made a better choice than Eve, I could have done better." But no, we couldn't; usually, we just don't choose as poorly as someone else, but better? No, not really. Look at the decisions we make on a daily basis? How many times do we second guess ourselves? How many times do we play Monday morning quarterback? How many times do we want, in the worst kind of way, a re-do? 
I've lost count.
The Preacher in the Good Book says, "the wicked flourish because justice is slow in coming." He's right; the wicked do flourish and justice is slow but the wicked also flourish because of their rebellious spirit. In a world that cries NOW NOW NOW, those who wait are laughed at because all around us we're taught it's all about me right now. 
Oh how wrong and what a disservice we're doing to young folks to lead them down the wide path to perdition. 
~ from my rear view mirror ~
The Duggar parents taught their children JOY...Jesus first, others second, yourself last. Even those folks who think 19 children are too many...why they think it's their business anyway, I'd like to know!...have to admit, the Duggar children are good citizens.That family pays its own way...no government assistance programs for them! 
Oh, has that gone out of fashion? Being a "good citizen"? Paying your own taxes, tending to your own business, helping others less fortunate? 
Dear God, save us!
The "wicked flourish because justice is slow in coming." Men and women who know they won't be held accountable for a long while...if ever...do wicked and evil deeds and laugh at the rest of us. Even so, I encourage you to do good, spread joy and cheer to those who cross your path; fill your cup with joy so it overflows and is a light against the darkness. God is not mocked, whatever we sow, we shall reap and when we sow the wind, we reap the whirlwind
It is impossible for good people to make sense of evil. Don't try, don't open that door, do not go there. Instead, fill your mind with good things...things of beauty, joy, peace, calm, tenderness, gentleness and pray. Oh, please PRAY for your sake and for the sake of those you love. You can never, never pray too much.
I'll start by suggesting you listen to Sweet Honey in the Rock...here...as they sing Kahil Gibran's poem, On Children.
"Your children are not your children
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself
They come through you but not from you
And though they are with you, they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts
For they have their own thoughts
You may house their bodies but not their souls
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow
Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
But seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children 
as living arrows are sent forth
the archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness,
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable."

Blessings ~ children ~ God, in a world gone mad too often ~

14 comments:

  1. Powerful post; I agree. Thank you for sharing!
    Hugs, Noreen

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  2. yes, amen, and yes

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  3. Yes, I believe we are called to be careful with one another, to watch and observe and LOVE. Love brings joy.

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  4. Yes, these last several days have been difficult to comprehend. How right your husband is! As far as the Duggar family goes, I so admire them. Whenever I catch their show I always watch and feel inspired. You would think with so many children at least one would rebel and go astray, but so far that has not been the case at all. If only more families adopted their lifestyle, what a better world this would be.

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  5. with no children of my own - am daily blessed by the children of my friends - God loving, intelligent, responsible, caring - all those good adjectives.
    Your Dave was a smart guy huh? I keep thinking he and Skip are having some belly laughs at the things you and I are doing and saying now! (not everything - but some of it is funny)
    Just sent this off to a friend - realizing it is said somewhat tongue in cheek -
    Living for the Loophole

    "You're born. You suffer. You die. Fortunately, there's a loophole." Billy Graham

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  6. So well said Sandra, and a Godly perspective that is always the best way, the way of wisdom. Thanks for the encouragement to do what is right and honorable though many do not. In the end, our reward is from God, not man or his ways.

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  7. Great words to live by. God Bless all the Sandy Hook families.
    This was a needed post.

    yvonne

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  8. Your Dave was a very wise man. I've never seen that poem, also written by a wise person. Good post!
    Debbie

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  9. Great thoughts. I will share this one thought, a long time ago I was listening to a old tape series by a old preacher. The quality was bad but I thought the message was profound.
    He was talking about the gift of the Holy Spirit and how much He does in our lives and in the world. How He is the restrainer and how He keeps the world from really going crazy.
    Then he said, " People are always so surprised when evil is unleashed, they shouldn't be because God told us that the heart is wicked, who can know it?" Then he said, We should be surprised that this kind of evil doesn't happen more often. Why do you think God destroyed the world the first time?" God was sorry He had made man because they only thought of evil continually."
    So I guess we should be thankful of all of the things that could happen more often but doesn't.

    It made me look very hard at my own heart. I became aware that even in my heart, there lies evil so great that even I don't know it is there,but without the Holy Spirit living in me, I could very easily become just as evil.
    I have thought of nothing but this tragedy for days so I hope you understand what I am trying to say.
    I wish I could sit down with you in person and talk about it.
    Thanks for writing it out though. Your conclusions really do help my brain.

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  10. @ Farm Girl ~ What you said! That was an excellent comment. Thank you for sharing it.

    @ Sandra ~ As someone who grew up in an abusive environment, I tend to get morose and feel that there is no hope for anyone so why bother?! I do believe in Jesus but I've seen the absolute black side of human nature way too many times. It scars one. I "can go there" and wish I couldn't. This blog is good for me. Now I feel encouraged. Thanks for the gentle reminder that God is still in control. ~:)

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  11. Sandra - excellent post! And your David was so wise - yes, it's best not to try to understand it, except to grieve with those affected by this tragic loss. I had read that poem a long, long time ago when my kids were little and it still makes me cry over Gibran's truths. God sees all, knows all, and is in control of all. I'm so thankful that He gave us a loophole!

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  12. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
    God richly bless you,
    d

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  13. Thank you for this post Sandra. I needed to read it. My spirit has been so troubled over the recent atrocities.Thank you for the encouragement. God bless.

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