Does anyone else get deeply disturbed? Like way down deep? I mean in a rip your heart out, I just don’t know what to do about it, kind of way? Maybe about something in your own life? Maybe something happening to someone else? Deeply disturbed by something you see, you hear, or read? Maybe something in your town, your State, your Country, your World?
I rarely take things off the farm, but today is the day.
I think these days we are all coming across things that are deeply disturbing and we either feel helpless, hopeless, or we simply just don’t care enough. All three are tough spots. Helplessness leaves us throwing our hands up in exasperation and taking no action for change. Hopelessness has us wringing our hands and rendering us incapacitated due to our woeing. And we flash our talk to the hand when we’re apathetic and indifferent. I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve been in all three places.
Right now, I’m deeply disturbed, and I refuse to have any of those three attitudes today. You see my disturbance is from something I read in the news. Now, let me be straight up, today’s news is not news. We have become like every other country in that the “news” is manipulated, gyrated around, spun and handed to us on a stick, just like cotton candy. You know how yummy that is at the fair. So big, so beautiful, it draws you in. You buy it, you eat it, and then you feel gross. That’s what the news does for me. So enticing, so clickable — I take the bait, interesting while I’m ingesting it and then wait, what?!?!?!? When the sugar wears off, when I stop and think for a minute, I see that mostly what I just ingested was just a lot of someone else’s opinion, with very little truth and substance whipped with a lot of hot air. You may not feel that same way. I’m not pointing to anyone else but me.
News is important to us. Opinion should not be. Therefore, we need to be responsible adults and vet what we hear. We need to use multiple sources to verify, check for accuracy. So, what I’m about to say, I checked and evaluated. You need to do the same.
Planned Parenthood of Great Rivers of St. Louis previously posted on their website:
“Here we come Chicago! Our mobile health clinic will be in the West Loop with @ChiAbortionFund & @TheWienerCircle Aug 19-20, providing FREE vasectomies & medication abortion, EC [Emergency contraception] will also be available for free without an appointment,”
They also posted:
Thank you for your interest in getting care with Planned Parenthood’s mobile health clinic. Currently, all free vasectomy and medication abortion appointments are filled.
Deeply Disturbed! Deeply Disgusted! Actually, Deep Anguish!
Although not specifically sponsored by the DNC as reported by conservative outlets, Planned Parenthood has staked its claim to that party and mobilized near their convention site.
After this lengthy introduction, you are probably saying I’m on the wrong website, I should be on bethlemaster.com – Practicing the Presence of God, and hearing an encouraging message that will build me up, make me smile, and help me to bebop through your day. First of all, you’re on the right website. Second, I pray you will be encouraged.
Let me be absolutely clear here – I am in no way disparaging anyone who has been deceived and chosen the path of abortion, we’ve all been deceived. I offer unconditional love, support, encouragement and prayers. In fact, you may contact me if you need any of those things. You can check me out, I’m not just espousing support, I’m committed to showing it, even in my imperfect way. As you read on, I want you to understand that I don’t judge or condemn anyone, that’s definitely not my place. We all carry baggage, just different stuff in it. There is only one judge and I’ll be standing in front of Him too!
While I stand in despair over the state of our Country, crying out for help to the only one who can help us, He reminds me of exactly who He is, exactly who I serve…
I serve a God who is Sovereign, in complete control.
I serve a Great God.
I serve a God who is all-powerful.
I serve a God who doesn’t play politics – He came to serve people.
I serve a God of compassion.
I serve a God made who us with a brain and expects us to use it.
I serve a God of forgiveness. He forgives and He forgets.
I serve a God who refuses to shame us.
I serve a God who’s only goal is to love us, and us to love Him.
I serve a God who demands obedience. What parent doesn’t? It’s for our protection.
I serve a God who heals.
I serve a God who values children, those wanted and unwanted.
I serve a God who is ever-present.
I serve a God who can mend a broken heart.
I serve a God who expects us to pray for our enemies.
I serve a God who is merciful and grace-filled.
I serve a God who sent His only child to this earth to die for me – to save me – because I can’t save myself.
I serve a God who cares passionately for the least and the lost.
I serve a God who is able to do more than I think or can even imagine.
I serve a God who can part a sea and allow my escape.
I serve a God who expects me to mirror Him in this world.
I serve a God who is Truth.
As I see all the happenings, from abortions, to displays of inflatable IUDs (never thought I’d say that on my website), to anti-Israel protests, to police clashes, to screaming, yelling, anti-this-anti-that, pro-this-pro-that, terror, people hurting people, rioting, wearing girl parts on their heads, humorously dressing as an abortion pill, gender confusion, homelessness, addiction, the fractures of our society go on and on, I’m comforted to know that I serve a Sovereign God, who is in control of all things because we obviously are not. And if that is who I serve, I must stand against all things He stands against. I must stand against all things that disrespect Him. I must go against all things that fly in the face of exactly who He is, in exactly all the ways He would do it.
As I process the deep disturbance in my mind and the deep agony I feel, I am reminded that I serve God, not man. I need to take my despair over what’s happening in my Country to Him. I cannot fix the looming problems of our Country but He can and I pray that He will – from the top down.
I’m just not sure why we can’t see just how much we need Him. I’m just not sure why we aren’t running to Him. It was what our forefathers did and what they expected us to do. I’m not pointing fingers to one party or another – there’s certainly enough blame to go around. The DNC mentions “God” once in their platform and the RNC mentions “God” 100% more –twice! Read them. It’s time we call our Nation, our people(us), back to the starting point. We need to call our politicians (we put them in power) back to the beginning of all of creation – in the beginning was God.
So, as much as I want to go rogue and shout back at the degeneration of our values, our morals, our God, I’m also reminded that I am His image-bearer. My handling of my deep disturbance must be honorable because I serve an Honorable God. I will speak and act when He tells me to, with words that He tells me to, in the way He tells me to. And when it looks like wickedness and sin and evil will prevail and overtake us, I will remind myself of the God I serve, and I will stand on His promises.
Be silent, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.
The Lord Almighty is here among us;
The God of Israel is our fortress.
Psalm 47:10-11
Amen!!