Men may cry, “Peace, Peace!” But the war is already on the battlefield.
What you choose to do in times of war will often expose the depth of your character.
Some claim they are strong and powerful me; yet, they turn a blind eye and lower their hands to defeat the enemy.
Some declare peace and love can never be shown through force, and the innocent are left to die in the streets at the hands of wicked men.
But the meek, the humble, and the mighty all join as one to rescue the child, to defend the broken, to defeat the evil when it is in their power to do so.
The strongest and most fierce shelter the fragile and shield the blameless and call out the immoral.
It is never the muscles and brawn that make someone you stalwart and indomitable.
Rather, it is the passionate heart who stands for Truth at all cost.
It is the relentless pursuit for justice the raises up an army for victory.
It is the raging embrace of liberty that fortifies the battlefront.
These are the standards by which the war is won.
If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He notknow it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?
Proverbs 24:10-12
Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.
This statement is so simply yet so profoundly true.
Those who are deceived never believe they’re deceived, and they’ll argue with you till there are no more words.
All of us have seen this to be true.
Look at an abuser turned rescuer. Look at the atheist turned believer. Even the faithless turned faithful.
All of them while being deceived would vehemently believe they’re not deceived; yet, the moment their eyes are opened, and truth is finally revealed, they see the error of their ways.
We all must be careful to not fall into the trap of lies set before us. It can happen to anyone, at any time, and at any place. No one is immune to it.
So, how do we safeguard ourselves from such stealthful occurrences?
How to we avoid such aversions to truth?
The easiest way is to always embrace truth, even when it hurts. But this truth cannot be a self proclaimed truth. It cannot be a feeling, an emotion, a sense of rightness founded in a notion or a trend.
Truth must be found in truth itself. And that is only found in the One who created Truth. All other “personal truths” will wash away in time. But His Truth is precise and accurate, regardless of feelings or circumstances. His Truth stands the test of time. His Truth was in the beginning, is here in the present, and forevermore will be.
So, how do we find this Truth? You will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart. Because that’s what He does best. Revealing Himself to those who seek Him is His specialty and sheer delight.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, andthe life. No one comes to the Father except through Me….”
John 14:6
However, when He,the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
The natural progression from generation to generation is a proven fact.
What one generation places value in, their children rise to place more value in.
Or they revolt and rebel against that value.
Typically, there’s not a lot of gray area found.
So, if you’re a parent and you place a high value on education, often your children will do the same.
If your parents were hyped about ballgames and competitive sports, more often than not, you will do the same.
If you as a parent struggle to hold down a job throughout their formative years, many times, your children will, too.
If your parents weren’t super committed to God, a relationship with Him may not even be on your radar, or it may be seen as a dismissive once-a-year-whether-I-need-it-or-not event.
It’s truly the way of human nature. If you’re conditioned in one way throughout your childhood years, you’ll walk in those footsteps paved for you.
To walk a different path, you will literally have to fight and claw to be different.
This has been proven for generations. Look at abuse statistics, divorce patterns, and even educational journeys from one generation to the next. It is what it is.
So, if you want your children to be what I would call, “God chasers,” those kind of people who seek Him with all their hearts and work diligently to not only know Him and follow His will for their lives but also who live intentionally to share His love with others, this begins now, with you.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Truth is not enough to sustain your life lest you apply it.
Application of truth is the only way our lives become transformed from what they have been.
So, let’s ask ourselves some heartfelt questions today,
How much Truth am I receiving?
How much Truth am I accepting?
(And yes. There is a difference in receiving truth and accepting that truth as truth.)
If I am accepting Truth, am I applying it to my life?
If I’m apply this Truth to my life, is there fruit coming from my life?
Simple as that.
We can hear Truth all day long, but if we fail to receive it, accept it, apply it, and then, produce it, we fall into the age old trap of becoming a fool.
The lack of Truth being applied in someone’s life doesn’t change the Truth.
It only leaves a void of change in the hearer’s life.
And that, my dear friends, leads to a most tragic end.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:32
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Goodbyes to those who have caused pain can be all together freeing; yet, the grief will come in waves as the broken covenant becomes a reality.
It can be all together overwhelming.
Just because the decision to leave is right doesn’t mean it will be full of joy and laughter.
Just because the need to walk away is necessary doesn’t mean the path is smooth and easy.
It can be the hardest season of life.
And the loneliest.
Yet, never doubt the resolution to remove toxicity and never return to it simply because of the sharp agony of separation.
Cry the tears that must be shed.
Weep and wail.
Rant and rage.
Then, take a deep breath and exhale.
And know that through the grief, an inner strength will grow which will extend beyond the pain.
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Sometimes, we carry too heavy of a load. Sometimes, we carry too heavy of a load alone.
And it’s not Biblical.
Now, I know. We don’t need to be wimpy Christians. I know we need to rely on Christ for all we need. I know we need to be faith filled and encouraging and strong.
Yet, He told us to share the load, too. He told us to be the Body of Christ, each one having a part to play. He also told us when one mourns, we all mourn. When one rejoiced, we all rejoice.
So, don’t carry your load alone.
Share it with someone. Ask for prayer. Ask for help. Ask for a hand to be lended. And let them lift your load.
Don’t steal their blessing when they want to pay. Don’t shut them out when they want to pray. Don’t turn your back when they come to offer comfort and love.
You’ll be surprised as your load is lifted how much more of theirs you’re able to help carry.
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ…But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary…And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
My journey didn’t stop with mere time travel or writing; it led me to become one of the most sought-after empaths, a soulful psychic who reads the hidden depths of the human spirit. I’ve been blessed—or perhaps burdened—with an ability that allows me to feel the emotions of people from every corner of time.
I am a licensed psychologist based in Greece. My love for housekeeping has inspired me to create this blog about home management and family relationships. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!
Dedicated to movie nerdom, nostalgia, and escape. In the late 90s, I worked at Blockbuster Video where they let me take home two free movies a day. I caught up on the classics and reviewed theatrical releases for Denver 'burbs newspapers and magazines. Today, while raising two young, beautiful daughters with my amazing wife, I look forward to anything rated R and not Bluey. Comments and dialogue encouraged!
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