Cycles of Change, Choice we make

I know that for many, this is a frightening time... and I suppose it is a justifiable response on many levels...

BUT....

I wonder why "frightening" is not exactly the feeling I am having right now???

I woke up this morning with a very old song in my head... one we sang at church camps around the fires... it was a round, and I can still see the youth director's silhouette walking around the fire and directing each of the 3 sections to begin...

"Jesus, I adore YOU

and I lay my life before YOU

How I love you!"

and it progressed through "Spirit I adore you," , "Savior, I adore You!", then back to "JESUS"

I think that little song is the reason for what I will call the "hope that is in me".

I think there will be opportunity in this time... no, not financial or economic exploitation, (although that has been tauted repetitively on all the news channels of late... are they merely trying to stoke the falling markets??? really inconsequential to me right now)

but opportunity for Kingdom business...

Below is a short article from 2007 concerning the cycles a government will go through...

I found it most interesting... as will you I feel certain...

WHERE WOULD WE BE RIGHT NOW?

_"About the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution in 1787, at the beginnings of this great country, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh, pondered the fall of the Athenian Republic around 2000 years earlier. From his research, he speculated that:

"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a

permanent form of government."

"A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury."

"From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship."

"The Average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years."

"During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:

1. From bondage to spiritual faith.

2. From spiritual faith to great courage.

3. From courage to liberty.

4. From liberty to abundance.

5. From abundance to complacency.

6. From complacency to apathy.

7. From apathy to dependence.

8. From dependence back to bondage.

Today, university research, Hamlin University School of Law, St. Paul, Minn. indicates that 40 percent of the nation's population have reached the "governmental dependency" phase.

Thus, are we, as a nation, somewhere between the complacency to apathy phase?

For our nation, apparently from "bondage to faith" took place with the Pilgrim's escaping from the Church of England and landing in Plymouth in 1620 and during that century.

"From courage to liberty" occurred during the Revolutionary War and late 1700s.

However, it took most of the next century to achieve "from liberty to abundance."

This was a century of a great Civil War to define state and civil rights.

After this great conflict, our nation grew westward. We expanded our power and influence around the globe. Finally, we helped to win World War I.

The economy expanded until the disastrous "Great Depression."

Nevertheless, our country recovered.In fact, a complete recovery came with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This brought us together as never before.

Men entered the armed forces, women entered factories. Our patriotic nation fought aggressors, became victorious and became a world power.After World War II came a time of national abundance.

From old downtown shopping, new suburban shopping centers unfolded.

Builders became rampant with new housing tracts. Our economy expanded vibrantly.

Thus, occurred the hundred years "from liberty to abundance.

"Unfortunately, during the years of the Vietnam War to the end of the century, we witnessed a time which might be identified as "from abundance to complacency.

"Now, every day, either your local nightly TV news or the New York Times describe how bad things are, but with no positive balance.

"Just not much we can do," according to that commentator or that news reader.

After 231 years of history, are we now in the time, "from complacency to apathy?"

Is it just a matter of a few short years until we continue "from apathy to dependence,"

and a few more "from dependence back to bondage.

"With only a few months left before the primaries, every voter should ponder this historical possibility.

*this article was written in Dec. of 2007.... interesting huh??? in light of right now, Oct. 2008*

below is this military man's admonition from almost a year ago!

Be very careful for whom you vote.

Burton F. Anderson, a U.S. Marine veteran of the Korean War, has lived in California for about 50 years. He has a background in aerospace industry

Finally, another thing that tweaked the edge of my waking hours...

Moses... (my Shiloh friend is currently preparing manna on this subject for her guests :)

Remember when the Hebrew people built the golden calf?

Moses was on the mountain receiving the mandates for their new life in a promised land.

They were in unfamiliar territory with a leader who was (temporarily) out of sight.

They decided that the bondage they were under in Egypt was much better than the promises that they'd seen (with their physical eyes).

They decided that it was much easier to have someone else make all the decisions for them than to chance the real deal.

They decided that the lie of what was familiar, was better than the TRUTH of what was unfamiliar.

I think we all live in a reality of our own choice......whether it is the Truth or not, really doesn't matter to us... we each choose what we believe to be "truth".... (am I speaking relativism?)

BUT!

There is a TRUTH that is non-negotiable, and it really makes no difference as to our belief in it or not. It is because IT IS! (sound familiar? can't you just see Charlton Heston bent before the burning bush?) "I AM that I AM!!!!"

GOD IS GOD

there is NO compromise,

There is a timeline set by His own hand, and it will be accomplished according to His design.

Does that mean you and I are His puppets?

Certainly not! We are His sons!

and there are promises available and given to those of us who love Him.

I believe the scriptures tell me that the points on the line can be moved for a bit more time (but for his "mercy" it would have all been finished), but those points come in successive rhythm, and there is an end.

I believe there are signs available to eyes that see... just like Simeon and Anna who waited by the temple... they knew who the Christ was as Mary and Joseph brought him to the temple.

They knew because they understood the signs.

sooooo

Today, I am thinking to myself... "Carla, what an awesome time to be alive. Could we truly be the generation that will see the Lord come again? Will you be attentive and will you hear? Redemption is a beautiful thing!"

Thank You Father for Your never changing existence.... Thank You for Truth that is beyond our choice... Thank You Lord for this time, this season, and this place... and Jesus, Father... give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and senses available to every nuance of YOUR Presence.

I think I'm ready for today!!!! I feel a Hosanna inside!!!!!

*a personal musing on* Communication and Miscommunication... Love

Don't know if this will make sense to anyone but me, but since there are only a few who read this blog... here goes...

Do you ever find yourself speaking a "language" that is truly not your own?

No, I'm not talking about "speaking in tongues" although I suppose that could be one such way of doing this... I am speaking of something far less noble.

For example...

I am not a sarcastic person, and yet there are people/friends/family members in my life who regularly engage in this form of "humor" (questionable to me!!)

When I am with them, it seems that I start speaking their language... sarcasm comes from out my mouth and escapes despite my attempts at its restraint. (I am not really good at it)

I really don't like sarcasm, but something in me says... that's the way they do it, so you should do it like that when you talk to them.

I have people in my life who are great "pretenders"... like I love to pretend with KG that she's Lucy and we can walk right into Narnia... or that the little boys can be High King Peter and Caspian wielding swords and dispatching the enemy righteously and swiftly... but that is good pretending... there is another kind that is important in maintaining the "status quo"...

because if you don't... who knows what might happen....

the "truth" might be more than the system can bear.

It's like... When you are in Mexico, your price is in pesos, or in Europe, in Euros etc... you can't buy things unless it is converted to the "coin" of the country in which you are doing business. Somehow, I think in my mind, there are those people which whom I communicate who must be responded to in the coin that they give... even if it is an unfamiliar mode of payment for me. Since it is not my normal mode... I could "pay" too much or too little.... depending on the place it is presented. Am I making any sense here to anyone besides me?

It would seem that this happens most when we are confronted with people who really don't know us, or can't see us... people who already have us in a box that fits neatly into their circumstance, and if we begin to speak another language,

(or do something out of their image for us)

it is disconcerting and messes up the status quo.

I think this happens more than we know... I think this happened even in Jesus' day

(and I/you AM NOT JESUS)

so why shouldn't I be exposed to the same pressure of trying to fit a round peg

into a square hole? The scriptures say...

"a prophet is not known in his home town" (or something to that effect).

People couldn't see Jesus for who he truly was because they'd watched him grow up... they knew His family... they might have even been His own brothers and sisters who needed Him to stay just the older brother who slept in the same house, ate the same food, shared the same memories (to a point)... but then.... as He became something outside of them, they no longer could "see" Him...(I wonder, did they WANT to SEE Him?)

He spoke a language they didn't recognize...

He wasn't Who they thought He was.... sooooooo

it was easier to reject him and, at one point, assume and tell others He must be a little daft.

He spoke another "language"....

and they choose not to listen because it was unfamiliar and different.

In our own biology... the cells of our body are great at outcasting the germs that try to invade the cell... if they don't have the correct password, or if they speak the "unfamiliar"... the cell quickly disposes of them and voila... we don't get the bad cold, or the flu, or the infection... whatever. This is a good thing right????

Our immune system, when functioning properly is terrific at search and destroy the unfamiliar.

I wonder... do we do that to people?

Is that always a good thing? When is it bad?

I am called to be in the world even though I am not of it.... Jesus came to dwell in flesh just so that He could identify with His own creation.... He chose to speak our language so that He could teach us His.... LOVE

I find the pie-chart above very interesting..... I wonder if it is true for the majority of people? Maybe that is why "body language" specialists are so good at reading the politicians on the

Fox News channel.

And yet.... for me... words seem to be a much bigger part of my "pie"!

Why is it that most people I know can just let words roll away, and for me, they are boulders that crush my heart... or just as readily... they are eagle's wings that take me high and away?

Words carry great weight with me.... they are not casual.

Gary Smalley has a book "Love Languages" in which are described 5 ways of communicating love. His premise is that we all speak one of these languages primarily and the others in greater or lesser degree. I KNOW my primary language is "words". Do you know yours?

Today... as I listen (well... right now, I am choosing to NO LONGER LISTEN, to the news) about economics, politics, the state of the world... the words I hear are just too much to bear. I feel like the battering that has been taking place on both sides of the fence has left me (and others) victimized by their blatant disregard... people's lack of vision (ability to really see).... and people's manipulation of ANYTHING to get to the top of the

"Caterpillar pillar"!

(a great old book if you've never read it).

Today... I feel totally undefended, I feel totally vulnerable, and completely exposed.... and I think I may be feeling some things that are just reflections of those around me

(I will tend to do that on occasion).....

If you asked me what do I want, or what do I expect... I think I'd say to you...

By the ones to whom I give permission (that means I trust them)....I want to be seen...... I want to be known..... I want to be loved and received for who I've been created to be, not what the world or any other created being wants me to be.

Sometime I think the Thumper Rule is just pretty good for me...

"if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"

But then there is the dilemma.... what do we do with all those words left unspoken???

Lord give me eyes to see and ears to hear, and let me know how to speak the language You give me into the ears that are willing to hear, and let mine hear first. Let me love as You love not as the world does. Let me not give in the same tarnished coin that I might get... let me give from the abundance of a son, not hoarding as is the case of an orphan. Lord forgive us here in the US... as we are in such a privileged nation and yet we bicker, bite and complain about our lack, when I know, we truly have no idea of our providence. Forgive ME Father... for my silly concerns in light of the true plans You have for this explosive time in history. Teach me the universal language that Your Word says is You... Love... and let me rest in this vulnerable state knowing that it is You Who covers me with the wings of a protective parent. Hear my heart Lord, and help me be what You want me to be in this crazy time of our history on this earth. You are good Father, and I know You see me. Thank YOU from the depths of me.