Thoughts on an early morning (vanity)

My mind | 7/25/11 | Hoagy62

[hoagy62]

I'm writing this because I can't sleep.

As I peruse the threads at FR, I am struck with the massive amount of bad news. It's everywhere. The idiot in Norway, the debt crisis, sexual peccadilloes from our elected officials, people shooting each other over a paint job on a car, road rage that ends in death...it's all over, and it is not getting any better.

The Bible is pretty clear on a couple things (actually, on a WHOLE bunch more than a couple, but I'm narrowing it down for the sake of the piece). We who believe are instructed to think on what is good and right, and to keep doing so: Philippians 4:8 (ESV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

It is also said that the phrase "Do not be afraid" or "Fear not" appears 365 times in the Bible. Now, I've never actually counted to see if it's true, but if it's being said that many times-once for every day of the year- that would seem to indicate that God wants us not to be afraid.

Except...these days, how can you not be?

Reading through the threads in FR, you find startling and shocking things all over it. I just read through the thread about "10 facts about the wealth of American families that will blow your mind". There are FR business owners who have said that they're scared. People are frightened that the economy will collapse. Once it does, then society will collapse. There are those who are preparing for the worst, and some who don't think it'll go that far.

The future at this point in time is so full of 'what ifs' that it's overwhelming. The economy may crash. What if it does? Riots may break out all over the nation. What if they do? Conservatives are looking forward to the 2012 elections to oust Obama. What if that doesn't happen?

That's just within the US. The world outside the US is just as bad. China. Britain. Norway. France. Germany. The Middle East. How bad is it going to get?

Jesus Himself said "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you". Even so, and even as a Christian...despite all the reassurances that the Lord gives...the fear factor is rising, and it's rising fast. Revelation says "men's hearts will fail them" due to fear of what's coming. I used to think it was a great time to be alive. I am not so sure of that now.

How does one cope with the world as it is now? Is the only hope we have to pray for the soon return of Christ? Can God take away the fear when we're surrounded by evil?

[hoagy62]

Thank you for letting me get this off my chest. It's amazing what'll go through your mind when you can't sleep.

[ShadowAce]

How does one cope with the world as it is now?

My personal solution is to believe that my life is not mine. If God decides to take it from me for whatever reason, then I'm comfortable with that.

God disciplines those He loves. Just like we do. If we didn't love our children, we would just ignore them, and let them do what they want. He is not doing that.

While it seems like He is, He knows exactly what He is doing. We are in good Hands.

[Sporke]

I wish more people would “vent” as you have. It’s refreshing in a way.

I won’t comment on the religious aspects of your post though, since I’ve been searching for God my entire life and I’m not sure I’ve found him yet.

One thing I noticed is your post had no mention of politics, which is rare on FR. Many seem to think if only the GOP were in charge things would be different in this country. Some things might be different, but the overall “feeling” of hopelessness would be the same. Things have gotten so far out of control in this country, that neither party can/will change the fundamental problems we face.

I do think the only way things will get better is if we as a country/world, return to God, and I don’t see that happening. God knows this, and he’s always known this, so he has a plan for making things right. Personally, I think it will be taken care of when Jesus returns and makes all things right.

Until then, I think we all do the best we can....

[surroundedbyblue]

All I can say is that you aren’t alone in feeling this way.

I cannot stand to watch my local news anymore. I live in Pittsburgh & the crime has simply skyrocketed lately. No one where I work seems to give two shits about doing their job, and people in generally are just vicious, rude, lazy, & selfish. I’m 34 years old, and I can’t every remember a time like this in my life.

I just don’t know what to do. I keep the TV off & spend my evenings in prayer. That’s what keeps me sane.

[Leo Carpathian]

Constant fight between Good and Evil.
Free society gets “controlled” by the pendulum. When it swings too far in one direction, people wake up and if they react properly, things get slapped back to normal.
We are seeing Lucifer in the WH, by pushing this country to extreme is making lot more people to wake up.
Now is the time to stand up, Second American Revolution to take country back to ways Founding Fathers set it up to be.
If we fail to do so, future looks bleak not just for US but rest of the world, under control of dark forces.

[Clairity]

But just remember, the sun will come up and things look brighter in the morning...

[trebb]

God does not want us to be afraid because He knows He is faithful and the Kingdom of Heaven is the true goal for us - earthly things should have no significance. He would tell those that He appointed to certain tasks, 'Fear not for I will be your rearguard". In other words, if we try our dismal best to be faithful to Him, He will take care of the rest. Jesus also tells us to "Resist not evil", because that isn't our job. Our job is to carry the Good News of His sacrifice that we might have life eternal with Him.

Mark Twain had a saying I like - "Worry is like making an advance payment on something you're not likely to get anyway". I believ it because of my own past of worrying about the worst and it not coming true or having the effect I was worried about. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product". I saw a Reader's Digest "quip" that said it even better, "Happiness is the direct result of trying to make someone else happy".

The world will become a cesspool - He has spoken and it WILL happen. Until such time as all the prophesies come true and He decides to come back to lay the Evil to rest, all we can do is lean on Him and each other - it's as He intended. We best serve Him by serving each other.

God Bless and let your faith rule for at least a little while.

[G Larry]

Media only report the sensational.

They don’t report “good” things happening.

Having said that, when the most prosperous culture in the world becomes godless, selfish, and materialistic, good news is harder to come by.

[hal ogen]

Stay positive. As long as you don’t kill your self and no one else kills you...tomorrow is another day. Do what you can do to live a positive, good life (also, vote out all LIBs and RINOs).

[G Larry]

I SHOULD have stated my real message:

Place your faith in God, for if you place it in mankind, you will forever be disappointed.

[mbynack]

My approach is to try to do something positive. Volunteering to help someone out can change your attitude. We help our neighbors and we’re active in the local animal rescue. We’ve also volunteered for habitat for humanity, food drives, and the march of dimes.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

With the media: If it bleeds, it leads.

[Ezekiel]

Gesher tsar me’od...

The whole world is a very narrow bridge
And the main thing to recall
Is not to be afraid at all.

[jboot]

I'm with you 100%. It is worse right now than it has ever been. But leaving eschatology aside, the thing I wonder about is this:

How bad would the news be if we had a Republican president?

This question cuts both ways. I think there would be less "actual" bad news, because I believe that things would be better than they have been allowed to become. On the other hand, having weathered so many bogus media-begotten "crises" (homelessness, global warming, unemployment (when the unemployment number was only 6%), trade deficit, etc.) that I cringe at what horrors the pressers would be bewailing if they weren't giving aid and comfort to 0bama. I suspect the negativity level would be on par with the Black Death.

[bamagirl1944]

Really enjoyed this post. It reflects what I have been going through so accurately and the results that I have come to also. God is in control and we know how it will end because He has told us so in His Word. We can rejoice in that! God bless you!

[MikeSteelBe]

Thanks for the reminder that God is in control. NOTHING will happen to His children that He does not allow for a purpose.

If we do actually have an election next November, I’m wondering what will happen if the rapture occurs first.

I probably won’t be worried about any New Black Panthers getting in my way to vote, that’s for sure.

[geologist]

2 Chronicles 7:14 is often quoted ...

However, we tend to ignore verse 13,

and only emphasize the' healing' part of verse 14 ...

2 Chronicles 7:12-14

King James Version (KJV)

”12.And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night,

and said unto him,

(for context ...)

"I2 have heard thy prayer,

and have chosen this place to myself

for an house of sacrifice.

“13.If I shut up heaven

that there be no rain,

or if I command the locusts to devour the land,

or if I send pestilence among my people;

14.If my people,

which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves,

and pray, and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.”

We have a part in this, we are to humble our self

Pray

and seek thy face

and turn

from our wicked ways

then ... the promise ...

Father God almighty help us in this day, forgive us our sins, and thank thee for thy goodness, and for giving us the scriptures that we may know thee, how to live, worship and treat our fellow man and how to be pleasing to thee, LORD, in Jesus name we pray, amen.