When Getting Weary!

It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Corinthians 11:15-30 NIV

In a moment of weakness today, I fell short of being compassionate and forgiving in my thought life because I’m weary.

I’m weary of the unending corruption we see revealed in the news on the part of elected officials. I’m weary of the self-righteous pseudo-christians who are nothing but hypocrites. I’m weary of people disrespecting others demonstrating their bigotry and hatred on a daily basis. I’m weary of the intolerance shown towards by many who think they’re the only ones who have a right to an opinion. I’m weary of people defending the #WHidiot because there is no defense for him. He is a lying, cheating, fraudulent con artist who has manipulated the GOP into going along with his buffoonery and the Russian hacking. I’m weary of his “posturing” running his mouth like babbling brook. I’m weary of his rhetoric which could end all life as we know trying to be something he’s not. Yes, I’m weary, but so was Paul and since he never gave up, neither will I.

I may resort to being “silent” on a matter for a few days, but it won’t stop me from airing my views in other venues. America cannot allow the idiot in the White House to continue with his “agenda” that may include engaging in a war we won’t win. We didn’t win in Korea before and we won’t now.

Of course, Russia has no problem with the US engaging the maniac in N. Korea for once it is established that we’ve used up resources fighting in that corner, Russia will just sneak in the back door left open by the idiot and then we’ll all be screwed.

The more I see the complacency demonstrated by those who support the idiot, the more I’m determined that I’m going to do something about it. And the first step may just be–giving him a run for his money in 2020. Not only will I make a presidential run; I’ll encourage anyone who has more to offer Americans than this idiot–to run as well–rhetorically and literally so he’ll know–we are sick and tired of being weary with him in the White House.

So, when we get weary, it’s a good time to refresh and get ready to fight back–even more determined than ever to make a difference. 

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Is This You?

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:2-7 NIV

This letter to the church at Ephesus was also written for the benefit of 21st Century Believers as were the other six letters. Why? God loves us so much that He is unwilling to allow any of us to fall by the wayside. It was true then and it is true now. However, have we lost the love we had for Him when we first believed?

Do you remember when–your eyes were first opened and your heart was receptive to the love of God and His Word ministered to your soul? Do you remember how you wanted to share with everyone you met–the enlightening experience you had so all would know it, too? Do you remember the light of love that shone so brightly people knew something great had happened to you?

Does the light of God’s love still shine brightly and people know who we are without telling them? Or has the darkness–the dark deeds of the enemy distracted us and caused us to allow fear to reign in our spirits and we’ve closed our hearts to hearing God because of what we see in others?

Every once in a while, when we feel ourselves getting weary of the nonsense that perpetuates the atmosphere, we need to take time to reflect upon how we first loved and then muster enough of that love–to energize us so we can keep going.

If you’re like me–you’ve stopped watching the news because it is so disheartening and if we allow all the negativity to embed itself in our spirit, we’ll start looking like the walking dead–still here, but wandering–trying to determine which way to go.

We know we cannot encourage anyone to practice a faith in anything or anyone other than God. This is what the Nicolaitans did–encouraged people to worship idols and false doctrine which included sexual immorality.  When people worship money and people above God, we have allowed the enemy to reign. We must remember God’s love for us and know that nothing we do–unless we turn from Him–can cause Him to abandon us. He promised He would never leave us alone.

This is why it is important for us to stay in The Word and to keep our spiritual ears open and our hearts receptive to hearing from God. We must not allow others to influence us to do anything in opposition to God’s Word and that includes all that we must consider on a daily basis. The Word must lead us–all the way through our journey on this side of heaven–not people.

The reason we should not follow people is because people are imperfect, fallible beings and if they are not following the precepts outlined in The Word, they are not worthy of our time and attention. Therefore, we must seek The Lord and His wisdom, only!

Now, is this you? Are you following people more than God? If so, step back and take a good look at where this may lead you and know–God’s love for us never changes, but we often get tired and weary and lose sight of our first love for Him.