Satan

Technology sure enough has its way of butting its way in & taking over everything. Sometimes I want to tell that guy to slow himself down just a bit. But then, I turn around & let my cell phone be the boss of me so much. Y’all, it’s just too easy to do. I know I shouldn’t be so weak. Even when I am sitting talking to my sweetie. I’m just going to briefly check my emails while he is telling me about his day. Then, all of a sudden y’all, I see an email where Vera Bradley is having a sale & it’s off to the races! The next thing I know of

He’s saying, “Did you hear what I just said?”

I’m like, “Sure, but could you repeat it just to make sure?”

He does the same thing to me so not much harm done. But do you see what’s happening here? DISTRACTIONS folks! Those of the technological kind. They run our lives.

Here is my message to technology:

“While I appreciate all you do for us, there are some things you should just be ashamed of. That’s right. You know what you’ve done. Stop it with the distractions.”

I will tell you, I do have an apparent pet peeve that is, looking on your phone during church. I get using a Bible app on your phone. I am talking about checking Facebook, looking on Pinterest, texting, etc.,. did I say DURING church? It’s so easy to be distracted by a phone. Even though you are supposed to be at church worshiping the Lord, that died for your sins, some people can’t give up the phone long enough to do that. And that’s WRONG if I’ve ever seen it. Just don’t do it. Don’t.

Coming up y’all, how I really feel about it.

I think this is a commandment or something.

I know it could be something as innocent as getting on your Bible app. In the process, you see you have notifications on Facebook or Pinterest. You are just going to glance to see what’s going on & before you know you are scrolling & looking & not paying attention to the preacher & the lesson being taught. Satan will try everything he can to take you away from the Lord. Even, using your phone. And why not? You can access anything on your phone & I mean ANYTHING. You have to be stronger than that & resist what the devil is laying out there at your feet. Or in this case, your fingers.

I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

If we are at church to worship, let’s worship. I don’t think the Lord really wants any less. Ya know?

John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

How can we worship in spirit & truth if our mind is on what’s going on with Facebook? What did we ever do before social media & knowing what others are doing ALL. THE. TIME? Let the Lord have His time in your life. That’s what’s most important. Not “Suzy’s” new outfit or what “Bob” had for breakfast. You can get the 411 after you finish with worship service. I know. I know. It’s the whole fear of missing out thing. I addressed that here. We need to give God our best. Not what’s left over. Pretty sure the above scripture is a commandment, not a suggestion.

I hope everybody has had a blessed weekend. We attended a football game where my nephew played like a champ. Right now, the number 4 is truly my favorite number. (More about that later.) However, a grand time was had by all. Which means we saw our peeps & ate like pigs. Our favorite. Until next time, I have to be going because I should be washing clothes.

My favorite number 4.

Me & my favorite number 4.

More faces I love.

photo credits: http://www.compliancesigns.com, http://www.smartsign.com

I Kings 19:11-12

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

I was in total disbelief, as I stood & looked before me at the massive amount of nothingness that stood between 2 sets of tree lines. On April 27, 2011, a category F5 tornado hit the small rural town of Smithville, Mississippi. A couple of weeks later, I stood, with a group of church friends, viewing the devastation that was left behind. From where we were at, we could see across the highway at an area that was hard hit. Right there, in front of us, it was as if a huge lawn mower had plowed right through a wooded area., leaving an empty spread about ½ a mile wide. I looked at the places where houses were no longer at. But most importantly, I got to look into the faces of many of those who were victims of the tornado. We were set up at a church building, cooking, handing out meals, giving away necessities to those who were left without. It was amazing the outpouring of love people from all over the country were sending in way of food, clothing, money, home furnishings, anything you can think of. Folks were helping in the time of need.

You may ask, but what about the tornado? What about those who lost their lives? What about those who lost their loved ones & everything they owned? Why does God let these things happen? I have an opinion about all of this. Stay with me, because sometimes, I know what I am trying to say, however, might take a minute to get there. I am not entirely convinced that God has His hand in everything that happens. There is another entity that is present on this earth besides God. That would be the devil. Does the devil have influence over anything? I would say so. Look at all the sin in the world. The killings, hunger, theft, drugs, alcohol, and just pure down right meanness. That’s not from God. The devil was there when God told him he could have his way with his servant Job. Actually, Satan declared, that he had been going to and fro on the earth walking back and forth on it (Job 1:7) He caused a load of trouble for Job, including his family being killed, v. 13, his livestock being attacked & killed v. 15, his servants being burned up, v. 16, he himself was struck with painful boils from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet 2:7. Where was God? Did He not love Job? Yes, but at the time Satan had his way with him. Job endured to the end, with the devil & he was blessed more than tin the beginning.42:12 God was not in all that happened to Job. Satan was in a lot of it. Could God have intervened? Yes, if He had of wanted to. However, He can’t be in cahoots with Satan. So, when Satan is having his way, God’s not there. But ladies & gentlemen, be aware, because Satan is among us daily.

So, what happened with these folks in Smithville after the tornado? I don’t know about all of them, but I do personally know about one family. This family lost all their material belongings, in that tornado. Their mobile home, cars, clothes, anything you can think of. They dug their way out of a church basement once the storm passed thorough. All they had were the clothes on their backs & each other. But God had a plan for them. After it was all said & done, they had a better house than they had ever had. Since the storm, more people had helped them & got them back on their feet in a way they could not have done for themselves. They came out of this life changing incident much better than they were in the beginning. The tornado, that was the devil. The love & compassion, that was God. God will always triumph over evil.

Thank you for coming by to visit. Right now I have to go, because I should be washing clothes!