Morning Cuppas With Glenys

I have the mind of Christ

Quite a few years ago I had a friend who was a big help in me becoming a woman of a calm and quiet spirit.

She was a few years older than I and was a widow who was previously married to a pastor.

We often had her come for a meal and we would talk about all kinds of things. To me she was my spiritual mother.

Being the wife of a sick husband, her own husband's health prior to his passing was similar to both Chris and mine: severe heart failure. It was very comforting to talk to her knowing that we walked a similar path.

We loved talking about the LORD and how to draw close to Him especially during trials. It was just so easy to not only talk, but to learn.

About this time, there was a lot of talk of strange goings on with UFO's being a very common discussion- but this was the time when this sort of thing implied that to believe in them may indicate some type of mental illness. But of course today, there are so many credible sightings etc that one now takes it as almost normal.

Trying to work out why my friend was not confused or agitated about these types of occurences, I asked her how does she cope with questions of UFO's and alien abductions and so on.

She replied that she believes they are fallen angels and not aliens and that this will be more prevalent as Jesus' return for us in the Rapture is very close. These sightings will be used to explain the millions of people who have suddenly disappeared. Aliens abducted them they will say.

I asked how does she not be effected by it all and she replied, "I see it as a distraction from doing God's work, Dear!"

That really got me thinking... and I believe it is meant to distract us from fulfilling our calling, if at all possible.

This gave me a certain peace and also ties in with what the scripture says about taking every thought into the captivity of Christ! Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; -2 Corinthians 10:5

If the evil one can get us quiver in fright and never pray or witness or serve, then he has won and has destroyed our peace. You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

The first battle ground is in the mind. If he can confuse that, he has rendered us useless for service to the King of Kings.

I chose to remember that we do not have the spirit of fear but of a sound mind. I intend to keep it that way- for as His daughter who loves and serves Him, I have the mind of Christ.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 2:16

Don't let fear ruin your peace!

So the world has become a scary place with UFO's and "aliens" (fallen angels) and mysterious fogs and rumours of wars and new diseases.

We live on the cusp of World War 3 and often we despair as we watch news of existing wars and devastation.

I won't lie- sometimes I become afraid. I know we are in the end days and we wait for deliverence by the Rapture. We are more than ready to be with Jesus.

I admit that I have too much time to think and I am morbidly attracted to the News and updates on prophecy playing out in front of our eyes.

That comes at a price though. It robs me of my peace! I mean, often I find myself confused by world events and back tracks and I don't know what to believe.

It is then that I have to take my thoughts into the captivity of Christ. If what I am seeing or reading does not agree with scripture, then I reject it. If one believes as I do, that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, then it is imperative that one brings any doubts or fear to Christ in prayer.

Many are looking for the Anti-Christ and although there are quite a few who meet the criteria for that role, he will not manifest himself until after that which restrains him is gone. That is us with the Holy Spirit within us and until the Rapture has taken place, he is still restrained.

I am looking not for him, but for Christ. Personally, it won't matter to me who is he.. I know Who I follow and believe in.

If we have faith in Christ Who gave His life for us and Who will keep us eternally and carry us until He comes, then there's no reason to fret and worry. We are kept and secure.

God has told us what to expect in these end days and if we continue to pray and keep close to Him, fear will not get a hold of us and ruin our peace.

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

He did all things well

I was watching a video this morning about the miracle of Jesus healing the bleeding woman.

As always, I marvelled at the woman's faith and identified with her desperation as she begged for a cure. And as always with Jesus, she was healed and comforted and assured that she was loved and no longer unclean.

Mulling over the scene, I wondered if she had any fears when her normal courses returned. Was she still healed? Was the blood going to stop? And I imagined that each day of her period would be fraught with anxiety as she waited for it to complete its natural course.

Really, she would only be human to detest her monthlies recommencing, taking her back to 12 years of bleeding that made her unclean and an outcast. Surely, she would relive it each time.

I think this woman of faith would have asked herself questions but inevitably would have decided that this was only now the 'way of women' and that the flow would soon abate as in the natural course of events.

Her journey of faith did not end at her healing, but would rekindle every month and cause her to joyfully relive her encounter with Jesus her Healer, remembering that He did all things well.

And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22

But by the grace of God go I

As you probably know, I suffer from a myriad of health issues from life threatening to annoying. Each day is a constant struggle to keep my home and look after Chris and myself and our little white cat, Xena.

Recently, I read an article about chronically ill bloggers who use the internet to feed their latent Munchausen's disease The writer who obviously is not suffering an invisible chronic illness, concludes- falsely that we are feeding a desire for attention and sympathy.

This writer had no medical expertise and spoke with the confidence and freedom of a healthy person who knows nothing of the pain every day brings to us who aren't so blessed. It made me both angry and sad.

Anyone who manages to carry on a relatively "normal" life, sacrificing their comfort to serve and love those closest to them, know that the only thing we really desire is compassion. We rarely take delight in our symptoms, in fact the majority of us try very hard to appear as a healthy person in spite of being in pain and discomfort.

Goodness knows, we suffer so much with people judging us unkindly and this simply serves to push us further into depression and loneliness. Especially when our illness is invisible, like fibromyalgia.

Many of us chronically ill people are housebound for the most part, and therefore we feel a certain amount of loneliness and disjointment from society. We simply want to be respected and allowed to simply exist without the stigma of mental disease in the form of Munchausen's.

We bloggers of chronic illness do so because we know the feeling of disenfranchisement in a social sense. We are stripped of our right to live in peace and freedom from bullying ignorant people.

Writing for those who suffer like we do helps us to reach out to people who would understand the psychological insulation and the sting of being misjudged and categorised as a malingering attention seeker.

Whilst it is true that we have the LORD to love us unconditionally, it nevertheless hurts us that people are so cruel and instrumental in adding ridiculous labels to us that demoralise us even further.

Chronic illness and pain is a horrid way to live and those who cast stones at us would do well to thank God that they aren't so afflicted. God has not chosen them to walk the lonely path of chronic illness and they also would do well to remember "but by the grace of God, go I"

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2

That none should perish

I was looking at this link today So many people are turning to Christ all around the world. It is so amazing to know that these people are now eternally safe from any harm that the world can inflict on them.

Truthfully, I am overwhemed that even at this late hour, the Age of Grace is still here. To be honest, I feel a tad guilty.

"Why?" you ask. Because I am so longing to be with Jesus myself, and am praying for the Rapture to be soon, that I have overlooked those who are not as yet, saved.

Jesus commanded all Christians to go and make disciples and that includes everyone regardless of ethnicity, colour or creed. Regardless of how much they have sinned, each person is loved and wanted as God's Children and co-heirs with Christ.

In my pleading for Jesus to come and take us to be with Him, I am in effect hastening the end of the Age of Grace. After which those who are left behind will suffer terribly and will be martyred for their new belief in Christ.

Prior to being saved, we are all on the road to Hell. God, not wanting anyone to perish sent His only begotten Son, Jesus to shed His Blood for us and all He requires of us is to believe that He is God's Son, died and shed His Blood in our place and rose again on the third day.

Any man or woman- any- is welcome to come to Him and not go to Hell. But we can only come through Jesus- because only His sinless Blood could atone for our sins. There's only forgiveness by the Blood.

My selfishness forgot that Jesus longs to bring many more to Christ before the Rapture and I have been remiss in not speaking enough of it. Now is the Day of Salvation... that none should perish.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 1:25

When I bow...

America is undergoing severe trials at the moment and a lot of it revolves around racism. Apparently, they are being exhorted to bow their knee to the coloured population and beg forgiveness for being white.

Whilst the majority of African-American people do not want this and just want to live peacefully with all men, especially white, there are those who are being whipped up into a frenzy and now require it.

Today here in Australia, we are seeing mass rallies protesting "Black Lives Matter" responding to aboriginal deaths in custody, and like in America, it is being contrived by certain people to have political gain and is driven on a false pretext that will eventually end in anarchy.

The spirit of Lawlessness is alive and well and multiplying. The mob mentality is rife. It is what is to be expected and was prophesied to come before the Rapture and second coming of the LORD.

The tone of racism is that we who are white should be ashamed and we should bow to the person of colour in an attitude of repentance and solidarity. It assumes that God has made a mistake in creating the human race in different skin hues and that is insulting to our Creator to say the least.

To require that we bow before another human negates our worth and minimises the beauty of humanity who were created in God's image. Our colour is not our worth: we are all worthy of respect from all races and were created equal in God's sight.

In as much as God considered all humanity equal, Christ died for ALL men. We are His children and He has no favourites.

It will be a wonderful- no, glorious Day when we gather together in front of the Throne of God. We will all kneel before Him- black, brown, red, yellow, white toned Saints unified and bought by the Blood of Christ. Before that great and glorious Day comes, we would do well to love each other and bow to no man.

I won't say I am sorry for being white any more than I would if I was born coloured- and when I bow, it will be adoration, worship and awe to Jesus Who loves all His many hued children equally.

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." Romans 14:11

As a child

In these trouble filled days, we may find it difficult to keep the faith. The earth is filled with turmoil and it is easy to become anxious.

We may sometimes think that we would love to be living in an easier world where we can revert to the more simple days of our childhood. Yet, we know that is impossible.

We parents and grandparents try to guard our children's minds and we do all in our power to give them a carefree childhood.

We pray for them and guard our home against our children seeing and hearing all the doom and gloom of wars and troubles on the news. It is no mean task.

Just as us reverting to becoming children is impossible, we must nevertheless take care of our own anxieties and take actions to increase our faith.

We must remember that this is all playing out just as we were told.. it is difficult living through this, but what else did we expect for the "end days"? We have been warned.

In as much as we have been warned about the end days as the Age of Grace comes to an end, so we have been encouraged to not fear and to live life as usual until Jesus comes for His Church.

We must accept that God is still in control and He loves us. In fact, He is a Father to us and longs to give us peace. It is important that we stay close to Him, especially if we find anxiety has come to lodge with us.

We must cling to Jesus and remember His promises to us.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

With Jesus at the helm, we must surrender our fears and renew our thoughts.

God is our Father and Jesus is our Saviour so we can take Them at Their word. God is not a liar.

He says that we are not to worry and as we take God at His Word, we can become children again- not childish, but child like, confident in our Father and LORD'S loving protection.

Let us lean on Jesus's love and come to Him with our fears and struggles. Not trying to work things out for ourselves, but simply having the same faith that we once had in years past.

May we lay down each night in peace and commit ourselves afresh to Him. Trusting. Peaceful. Content. As a child.

"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me". —Matthew 18:3-5

An oasis of calm

As you know, we have recently moved. I love this new house more than all the others we have lived in.

We only have one room now that is a work in progress, but the main move is done and dusted. We couldn't be happier..

I have only recently discovered what Hygge means and this new home provides lots of that...

Home's an oasis of calm in a world that's not. It is meant to be a peacable place, a sure dwelling and a quiet resting place. Peace. Safety. Nurture. Comfort.

I would love to show you our new home, so come in- the kettle's on- let me show you through and then have a cuppa with me!

And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; Isaiah 32:18

Damned if you do, damned if you don't

I do not advocate smacking for every tiny infringement that a child makes, and as an abused child, I definitely can see where corporal punishment on a regular basis could lead to raising a nervous child who lacks self-confidence and who exhibits a fearful demeanour.

However, I do believe in the scriptures which admonish us to not spare the rod and ruin the child... and in practice, I have found an occasional but controlled smack over the seat of the pants, does no harm. In fact, it gives children boundaries. And perversely, it makes children feel loved because of it.

I remember a few years ago, my daughter and I went clothes shopping. Her 3 year old son ran amok in Target, knocking clothes off racks and running into people. We tried to restrain him, but he just continued wreaking havoc. People were giving us disgusted looks. Finally, in desperation, my daughter gave her son a quick and controlled smack over his bottom which brought him immediately into line.

Alas, she was confronted with angry looks and tut tuts from fellow shoppers for smacking him! Almost in tears, she remarked loudly enough for them to hear that she was damned if she did, and damned if she didn't smack him to bring him into line.

Sometimes a smack over the 'seat of learning' works really well... but it is now a sad thing to be afraid to do it for fear of being reported to authorities. I feel sorry for young mums today...they are living in a world which mostly has turned its back on godly wisdom. We are paying the price by bringing up children who rule us....

© Glenys Robyn Hicks

As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. Isaiah 3:12

The Gift sent for you!

Merry Christmas to all... may you accept the greatest Gift- the gift of salvation through Jesus' Blood shed for you for your pardon.

Coming as a Babe, He will return as the Victorious King... be ready. Get saved. Today is the day to receive the greatest Gift- eternal life...

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 1:25

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7