What's the point?

I asked myself for several years, with all this pain and suffering, what's the point? What is the point to all this? You live, learn, love, hurt, die and then there's nothing left. As a child, I believed in God. As an adult I had become estranged to God in many respects. But the reality is, after my suicide attempts I was left looking at everything and wondering, What's the point?

Yes, I was having an existential crisis. A lot of people do. Some go out and buy expensive cars. Others, well I guess we finally find the truth.

Helping the Homeless Honors God

 Going through my daily life, and with Christ, one thing that continually bugs me is that I live in supposedly one of the wealthiest nations on earth, and yet homelessness is a major problem. 

Sure, some people choose to be homeless (it's complicated) and that kind of works for them for part of the year, but unless they're migrating during the seasons, many of these perpetually homeless people are waiting for the next extreme weather event. By extreme, we're talking hypothermic or hyperthermic conditions. Freezing or cooking. Some people don't choose to be homeless. It takes one significant medical emergency and aftercare that sees them lose their job / career, their house and then they're either in a car, or straight on the street. Some folk lose it all in a disaster. Be that natural or man made. And many don't have family members who they can call upon for one reason or another.

The Devil Isn't Superstition

Image (pxfuel.com)

Many Christians aren't aware, or try to ignore the ongoing war raging on in the unseen realm and in our daily lives. But Jesus didn't tell us to ignore or disbelieve Satan's existence. He told us to “Resist the devil and he will flee” (James 4:7).

After recommitting my life, I have had both the taste of healing, but also the wrath of the enemy as he has used a household member to attack me in non-physical and subtle ways, but ways I can see (I'm not that sensitive and will at first try to give an earthly explanation to unusual behaviour). Satan doesn't like to lose a soul (in this case, it was me) and I now pose a threat to other claims he has likely made. I didn't realize that when I recommitted my life to Christ, I'd be entering the spiritual battlefield so soon.

A Continuation Of World Without a Filter

It's been a couple of days or four since I first wrote about my experience without my 'prescription sunglasses'. In truth, there was nothing prescription about them, except that I have light sensitivities related to epilepsy, migraines and headaches. I've gone three days at work (outside) without sunglasses, except when I'm driving on the highway. I can honestly say that a few days ago when I first experienced no pain without shades, was not a once off. God has done something in me. 

I also neglected to mention I have what I suspect is Occipital neuralgia. I get shooting pains that start in the back of my skull and travel up to the top of my head. It's an intense pain. It doesn't last a long time, but it can be pretty powerful. I've since looked up some of the associated side-effects. Light sensitivity is one of them. And yes, I still get the sensations. I had one earlier today. It causes one to grab at their head to try and stop the pain. It's pressure and pain rolled into one and I can feel it moving as it travels north on my skull. I've had this for about eight months. I neglected to tell my neurologist, but will.

People think miracles don't happen, can't happen. But the next time I see my neurologist and tell him about the suspected Occipital neuralgia, I'm going to tell him that my light sensitivity is gone and my headaches are reduced (how's that for a weird dichotomy?) and he's probably going to smile and say "that's nice", "I'm happy for you", etc etc, but the reality is, nobody can explain this. I'm pretty sure you don't grow out of light sensitivity at my age when your eyesight is still 100% and you're still taking the same 'light-enhancing' medication!  

 Praise God!

World Without A Filter

I've been totally reliant on sunglasses to make being outdoors more bearable. In late 2016, I was diagnosed with status migranosis (a perpetual migraine). That went on for a couple of years. It was rough. That has since settled down and I'm receiving a monthly injection, but I still get chronic headaches and the odd migraine pops through. It's resulted in what I call a reverse panda face. My complexion is two-tone due to constant eye wear usage outdoors.

With the pandemic going on, I've been pulling my mask up any time I enter a business and in winter time, I'm wearing a hat, so it's hard to just move my sunglasses on to my head and some days I've left them on my face, only to have my shades fog up. I don't like not removing my glasses in most circumstances (I don't wish to appear rude), but I'm usually carrying something also, so I'm trying to be efficient.

Today, I went into a business, put my shades on my hat and pulled my mask up and then decided, I'll see how I go. It's bright. The sun is shining. It's only a few places today that I'll have to keep shades off my eyes. Maybe I can manage for a few minutes without winding up in pain.

And then I noticed I was able to keep them off. And they stayed off. 

Pilgrim's Progress: 3 Water your Faith

 

Image courtesy of Freepik.com

I have almost come to the end of the first part of Pilgrim's Progress and am in the chapter known as the Ninth Stage. It has been an interesting dream, or allegory to read on the topic of faith and being a disciple in Christ. It is a good illustration on the many, many trials us humans endure. Some which test our faith, some which strengthen them and some which show us how easy it is to fall prey to the things and ideas of this world, including our own minds. 

The Days of Noah is Flawed

Image courtesy of Pictures.4ever.eu - original artist unknown. 

 

I started to watch something on Amazon titled, The Days of Noah, and it seemed interesting and more or less on point from what I recall. Remember, it's been a time since I have read the Bible. In the first episode, I was wondering about some of the detail they added to the Biblical account, but dismissed it. Perhaps it was something I missed. But I have read Genesis more than once. 

Then I got to the second part, which was regarding Judgement and as soon as they started talking about 1844, my radar went off (that is to say the Holy Spirit urged me to check this out). 

Get Ready

 In October 2021, I was curious about whether we might have an incident with gas shortages and possibly even electrical power outages as a result of a possible extreme winter weather issue, such as several states had experienced in February that year.  

And then an urgency came to me in my mind: "Get Ready".  Sometimes that's how the Holy Spirit speaks. Through a thought.

God Answers Prayer

Last night my husband came home looking somewhat crestfallen. He was short some dollars from his register. I know him to be an honest man. I also know him to be pretty nonchalant about a lot of things, but the look on my love's face was deep concern. 

And I said there were a couple of reasons this may have happened and I went outside and prayed. He is not a Christian, but I claimed the promises Jesus gave us that if we ask something in His name, it would be answered.  

  "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."  -John 14:13

Pilgrim's Progress: 2: The Unforgivable Sin.

 January 5 2022

As I continued to read, I came across the man in the iron cage bound up in his own guilt, sin and having a hardened heart against God. I was a bit perplexed that a man thought he was unworthy of being saved since he had known of God once before, His promise and the ultimate sacrifice.  Perhaps it was because he appeared to be a man of the proverbial cloth. I was always led to believe that where there is life, there is still hope.  

Man. "I have crucified Him to myself afresh. I have despised His person. I have despised His holiness; I have counted His blood an unholy thing; I have shown contempt to the Spirit of mercy. Therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises of God, and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, fearful threatenings of certain judgment and fiery anger, which shall devour me as an enemy."  - Pilgrim's Progress. 

With aid of my earthly mentor, I have learned that there is one sin that is unforgivable. It is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. To illustrate, please see these verses:

Mat 12:31  Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 

Mat 12:32  And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. 

While I thought (wrongly) that one could be forgiven anything right up until death, apparently there is one sin, above all others that is unforgivable. Jesus' words in the scripture are very specific on this matter. Earlier in Matthew, there is an example given, about the Pharisees attributing Jesus' healing to that done with the help of the devil. 

Take Heed.

 

A Prayer for the Armour of God.

Heavenly Father, I thank you and praise you.  Glory Be to God!

In Jesus' name, I put on the whole Armour of God, that I may be able to stand against evil.

I put on the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness.  My feet are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.

I take up the shield of faith, to guard against the fiery darts of the enemy.

I take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And I take up the courage that is given to me to speak boldly, to make known the Gospel. In Jesus' name, Amen.

My Notes for Pilgrim's Progress

I started reading Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan.  If you are interested in a free reading copy, there is a free PDF: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/39452/39452-h/39452-h.htm There are also many versions of it in physical format.

In my first sitting with this book, I took particular notice of the children named, Passion and Patience. The children were to each get an inheritance, but Passion wanted theirs immediately so they could enjoy it now. Patience wanted to wait. So Passion received their inheritance and it was gone pretty quick. Patience waited patiently and knowing their inheritance was still available. While this is grossly (and I mean grossly) paraphrased, I was reminded of the scripture, which yes, I had to look up to find out which book it came from,

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, only to lose his soul? - Mark 8:36