Hello to you today. How are you? My morning has been going kind of rough. I found out what our government decided to do regarding gun legislation. I’m just really sad and disappointed. In the absence of God there is fear. So many proclaiming and praising with Bibles in one hand and a gun in the other. I don’t understand. The seemingly “sane” with a moment of passion and the right “tool” can do something they can’t take back. You can change or reverse the course of words….not so with bullets. Bullets rob first responders and others of something most precious….time. My mother took her life with a gun….there was no time to try and save her.

In processing my feelings, I remembered something from living in Alvarado Texas.

My dog Spot and I were walking in the newer neighborhood next to us, Stonegate. All the sudden we were approached by two very large, aggressive dogs. I quickly picked up Spot and was screaming for help. Seemingly, out of thin air, was Chris and he was carrying a really big stick and had a powerful voice. He scared the dogs away. He didn’t have a gun and attempt to shoot the dogs….he had a big stick and commanding presence. My husband and I got to talk to him a few times after that. He was and remains a hero to me. A viscous dog ordinance was passed after what happened by our city council.

To comfort myself I turned to the God of my understanding and read his powerful message for these times and people like me who desire a much different world than what we are living in:

Matthew 5New International Version

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes^(A)

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.^(B)
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.^(C)
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.^(D)
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.^(E)
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.^(F)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,^(G)
    for they will see God.^(H)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,^(I)
    for they will be called children of God.^(J)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,^(K)
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.^(L)

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you,^(M)persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.^{(N) 12} Rejoice and be glad,^(O) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(P)

I found an interesting article from Psychology Today yesterday about the subject of where hate comes from. I hope you will read it and if it resonates with you, that you will pass it on:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/nurturing-self-compassion/201703/the-psychology-hate?amp

“Acts of hate are attempts to distract one-
self from feelings such as helplessness,
powerlessness, injustice, inadequacy and
shame. Hate is grounded in some sense of
perceived threat. It is an attitude that can
give rise to hostility and aggression toward
individuals or groups. Like much of anger, it
is a reaction to and distraction from some
form of inner pain. The individual con-
sumed by hate may believe that the only
way to regain some sense of power over
his or her pain is to preemptively strike out
at others. In this context, each moment of
hate is a temporary reprieve from inner suffering. “

https://youtu.be/NKD1pJfqJNc – God won’t build it for you – Bishop TD Jakes and Pastor Steven Furtick – Elevation