November 22, 2008

• It’s a Miracle!

  OMG! I can’t believe it! I’m back people! I’m really back! The daggone pc is finally fixed! I’ve got my online service up and running! Halleluia! I think I’ve been in the dark with this situation since about June, so it really feels nice to be able to do this from home as opposed to the library.

  The pc had picked up a bunch of virus’s and worms…don’t ask me how, but I seriously think it’s attributed to Limewire. Just having that system and its components on my computer, seriously messed things up. I didn’t download here. I downloaded at the library on my thumb drive. The McAffee would catch the worms and so forth before I downloaded anything from the thumb, but I think the damage was done the day I just accepted the Limewire system in the first place.

  I’ve also noted that many of the alleged “free” software offered on Limewire has backdoor trackers, worms, and adware attached. So really, it’s not even worth it to deal with anything from that site.

  So lil big man and I are sitting here, listening to Christmas music on the radio, while I work.

  What have I been up to in my absence? Too much to go into here, but I have been learning a lot of new things. It amazes me sometimes, the things God allows into our lives just so we can learn and draw closer to Him. Sometimes it’s the worse thing (in our minds) we can imagine, but God has a purpose in allowing it all. Please note, I said allowing it, not bringing it nor causing it…as in when He allowed Satan to come into His courts to challenge Him about Job; and subsequently allowed Satan to have Job with a catch. He allowed Satan to “touch” Job, but not to kill him.

  I went to look up the word “touch” because oftentimes, people don’t recognize when they’ve been touched, whether by the enemy, or by God. Some people don’t recognize when God has allowed a “touch” in their lives such as Job received. In addition, there are so many ways to apply that word “touch,” that I thought I’d put some definitions here to help our collective understanding. Here’s dictionary.com’s definition(s):

  1.	to put the hand, finger, etc., on or into contact with (something) to feel it: He touched the iron cautiously.

  2.	to come into contact with and perceive (something), as the hand or the like does.

  3.	to bring (the hand, finger, etc., or something held) into contact with something: She touched a match to the papers.

  4.	to give a slight tap or pat to with the hand, finger, etc.; strike or hit gently or lightly.

  5.	to come into or be in contact with.

  6.	Geometry. (of a line or surface) to be tangent to.

  7.	to be adjacent to or border on.

  8.	to come up to; reach; attain.

  9.	to attain equality with; compare with (usually used with a negative): a style that cannot touch that of Shakespeare.

  10.	to mark by strokes of the brush, pencil, or the like.

  11.	to mark or relieve slightly, as with color: a gray dress touched with blue.

  12.	to stop at (a place), as a ship: The ship touched shore several times during the cruise.

  13.	to treat or affect in some way by contact.

  14.	to affect as if by contact; tinge; imbue.

  15.	to affect with some feeling or emotion, esp. tenderness, pity, gratitude, etc.: Their sufferings touched his heart.

  16.	to handle, use, or have to do with in any way (usually used with a negative): She can’t touch the money until she’s 21.

  17.	to eat or drink; consume; taste (usually used with a negative): He won’t touch another drink.

  18.	to lay hands on, often in a violent manner: Don’t you touch this child!

  19.	to deal with or treat in speech or writing.

  20.	to refer or allude to.

  21.	to pertain or relate to: a critic in all matters touching the kitchen.

  22.	to be a matter of importance to; make a difference to; affect: This grave decision touches all of us.

  23.	Metallurgy. to stamp (metal) as being of standard purity.

  24.	Slang. to apply to for money, or succeed in getting money from: He touched me for five dollars.

  25.	Slang. to steal from.

  26.	Archaic. a. to strike the strings, keys, etc., of (a musical instrument) so as to cause it to sound. b. to play or perform (an air, notes, etc.) on a musical instrument.

  –verb (used without object)

  27.	to place the hand, finger, etc., on or in contact with something.

  28.	to come into or be in contact.

  29.	to make a stop or a short call at a place, as a ship or those on board (usually fol. by at).

  –noun

  30.	the act or state of touching; state or fact of being touched.

  31.	that sense by which anything material is perceived by means of physical contact.

  32.	the quality of something touched that imparts a sensation: an object with a slimy touch.

  33.	a coming into or being in contact.

  34.	mental or moral perception, sensitivity, or understanding: He has a marvelous touch in dealing with people.

  35.	ability, skill, or dexterity; knack: to lose one’s touch.

  36.	Fencing. the contact of the point of a foil or épée or the point or edge of the blade of a saber with a specified portion of the opponent’s body, counting one point for the scorer.

  37.	close communication, agreement, sympathy, or the like: to be out of touch with reality; Let’s keep in touch.

  38.	a slight stroke or blow.

  39.	a slight attack, as of illness or disease: a touch of rheumatism.

  40.	a slight added action or effort in doing or completing any piece of work: to provide the finishing touches.

  41.	manner of execution in artistic work.

  42.	the act or manner of touching or fingering a keyboard instrument.

  43.	the mode of action of the keys of an instrument, as of a piano or typewriter.

  44.	Change Ringing. a partial series of changes on a peal of bells.

  45.	a stroke or dash, as with a brush, pencil, or pen.

  46.	a detail in any artistic work.

  47.	a slight amount of some quality, attribute, etc.: a touch of sarcasm in his voice.

  48.	a slight quantity or degree: a touch of salt.

  49.	a distinguishing characteristic or trait: the touch of the master.

  50.	quality or kind in general.

  51.	an act of testing something.

  52.	something that serves as a test; touchstone.

  53.	Slang. a. the act of approaching someone for money as a gift or a loan. b. the obtaining of money in this manner. c. the money obtained. d. a person considered from the standpoint of the relative ease with which he or she will lend money: I can always hit him for ten—he’s an easy touch.

  54.	Slang. theft.

  55.	Metallurgy. a. an official mark put upon precious metal after testing to indicate its purity. b. a die, stamp, or the like for impressing such a mark. c. an identifying mark impressed on pewter by its maker.

  56.	Soccer. the area outside the touchlines.

  57.	Rugby. either of the touchlines or the area outside of the touchlines.

  —Verb phrases

  58.	touch down, (of an airplane) to come into contact with the ground; land.

  59.	touch off, a. to represent or characterize precisely. b. to cause to ignite or explode. c. to give rise to; initiate: This incident will touch off another crisis.

  60.	touch on or upon, a. to mention a subject briefly or casually; treat of in passing: In his lecture he touched on the major aspects of the controversy. b. to come close to; approach. c. to relate or pertain to.

  61.	touch up, a. to make minor changes or improvements in the appearance of. b. to modify or improve (a painting, photograph, etc.) by adding small strokes or making slight changes. c. to rouse by or as if by striking: This should touch up your memory.

  —Idioms

  62.	put the touch on, Informal. to try to borrow money from: Willie put the touch on me for another ten last night.

  63.	touch base with. base 1 (def. 36).

  The reason I thought this was relevant, is that many of us, myself included, don’t understand the reasons why certain things and events happen in our lives, particularly if it is a situation or experience that we (or others) could perceive as negative.

  Seeing as how we all seem to be caught up in the ultimate battle between God and Satan; and considering that we have to choose sides in this invisible battle in the spiritual realm, sometimes the lines get blurred, and it can be hard and confusing to see where you are.

  For instance, in the case of Job, all these negative situations began to be reported to him. His flocks and herds (his livelihood) were attacked and destroyed, then he lost his family ( his children were killed), and then he himself, was attacked in his body with physical ailments.

  All of these uncomfortable (to say the least) situations were happening to God’s guy, and you gotta think that this guy was saying to himself, “What did I do wrong?” and “Why is this happening?” and “God, where are you when I need you?”

  On top of his own mind playing him, Job also had to deal with his friends dogging him into the ground; telling him what a worthless piece of crap he was, (some friends!) and that God was punishing him for his imperfections and shortcomings (sins). Even his wife…the one person on this earth who is supposed to love and support him the most; turned on him, telling him basically, that God had deserted him, and that his best option was to curse God and die.

  That’s a whole lot of oppression, which leads one to depression and crazy thoughts most of the time. Personally, the last six months have been extremely stressful, grievious, and painful because of a situation I’m dealing with. When I say painful, it even got physically painful, not just mentally via stress. But you know, God made an incredible piece of artwork/machinery when He created mankind. Our bodies are so adaptable.

  It took me a few weeks…about a month or so to figure out that although the situation I’m in is not conducive to my walk with God on the one hand…it is part of His purpose and plan for me. I never hid from Him on this. I was/am ashamed of the situation, but at the same time, I know that it will come to its own end in its own time…when God’s purpose has been fulfilled, and I have come to the level of understanding this experience is supposed to teach me. (I hope that made sense)

  I was so grieved, like I said earlier, that when some other unexpected situations arose…not going in what I considered a positive light, or the way I would have it based on my own expectations; I imediately assumed that these perceived negative events/situations were the result of my misalignment with God.

  So I figured that God had lifted His hand off me, and I was no longer entitled to His blessings. Wrong!

  The thing is…when we are deepest in the fog…that’s the point in which God is looking to see if we are still clinging to His hand. When we stop trying to see ahead, because we can’t…when we give up using our natural senses, and just let Him guide us…we will always find our way out of the dark place and back into the light.

  You see, the church often preaches, teaches and lectures on “obedience.” It’s like the catch phrase of the church, and I’ve come to think that its part of their set “programming.” I’ve tried all my life to break out of programming, because I can’t hear God as long as that preset programming is in the way.

  God calls us to walk in faith, not in obedience. We can’t possibly do the obedience thing…despite the “obedience is better than sacrifice,” scripture. We just aren’t built to handle that. Check Genesis…the clay was formed from a damaged and subsequently rebuilt/restored earth. We are damaged…and we aren’t capable of obedience all the time.  That’s why this walk, and this life is about the faith we have, because without that…we’d never make it through all the times when we fail to be obedient. We’d never stick with it…and with Him. Without faith, we’d have no reason to hope at all.

  This life is not about what we earn or what we deserve. It is only about what we believe and receive. That is the ability in us that God is watching for, because in this life…there are too many distractions, and too many traps out there to trip us, hurt us, and destroy us. Our saving grace comes via our faith…and our ability to hold on to that faith no matter what. It is our faith that draws us, that keeps us honest with God, and close to God at all times. Peace and blessings.

  • 10:42 pm
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