Who shall I believe?

"I appreciate honesty more than anything. If you tell me what it is up front, you gave me the option to take it or leave it. I respect that!!" ~Robert Dawson

September 29, 2018

Miss Dottie's ramblin' thoughts on a damp Saturday in September:

One of the things I value most is honesty and truth. I came across this statement by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I read it once, twice, maybe even ten times digesting each sentence. 

"A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, and he ends up  losing respect for himself and for others. When he has no respect for anyone, he can no longer love, and, in order to divert himself, having no love in him, he yields to his impulses, indulges in the lowest forms of pleasure, and behaves in the end like an animal. And it all comes from lying~ lying to others and to yourself."

~Fyodor Dostoevsky

When I was a little girl, I stole some Blue Waltz Perfume from the local Ben Franklin store. My conscience hurt so badly that I had to tell my mother what I'd done. She took me by the hand and we walked to the store to return the perfume and to confess my deed. To this day, I remember taking it, where I hid it, confessing to my mother, and the trip to the store. Funny thing though, it didn't matter that the lady at the store gave me a hug and called me a big girl for returning the perfume, I still felt so awful.

Fast forward to today... The moment I do something less than honest, my conscience goes into high alert. There is something inside me that brings me to my knees. I think that's good ... the not so good part is that I have expected other people to be as honest. That, my Readers, has caused me deep despair and grief when I have found out that what was told was simply a way to my heart and a way to prey upon my vulnerable side.

In John 8:31-32, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." So often, we only quote the last part of what He said ... "the truth will set you free" forgetting the first part "if you hold to my teaching." Hmmm...  What does Jesus teach? If you don't know what He's about and what He taught, truth may be variable depending on our own human thoughts and experiences.

Do I depend on my own ideas of truth? Who do I listen to? Do I pick and choose?  Sometimes God's ways do not make sense to me. Isaiah 55:9 says, "My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." God possesses infinite knowledge and perfect wisdom. He is eternal, Almighty, and all knowing. He sees the end from the beginning and is totally aware of the final outcome of ALL THINGS.

I don't know about you but sometimes I crater and cry out in pain.
Me: "Help me!"
God: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye on you." ~Psalm 32:8
Me: "How're you going to do that and how about right now??!!"
God: "When the time is right and it's best for you."
Me: "I'm going under."
God: "Then swim!"
Me: "If I sink will you throw me a life jacket?"
God: "I already did."

You may be laughing but my conversations with God can get pretty detailed. 

Today is a new day, a day to celebrate every single good person walking on this Earth. A day to raise holy hands and pray for wisdom and guidance. Yesterday, someone called me an ideologist. Maybe so.. I believe one by one each man and woman CAN make a difference

Let me end with this for today...

For you Christians reading my blog, you will remember the story told in John 8:7-11 regarding a woman accused of adultery: "So when they continued asking Him, He raised himself up and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.' And again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who head it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, 'Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said to her, 'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.'"

Dear Lord, let us join hands in praying for our nation and the people who reside in it. Grant our President, his staff, family, and those in power wisdom and judgment as they set the bar for either bringing us together in peace or dividing us by seemingly righteous hate. Forgive us for all the times we've judged others for what we do ourselves. Uncover lies and liars giving us clarity. Move mightily amongst your people giving us backbones to follow YOUR WILL and YOUR WAYS! In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Peace be still.

The Cycle of...

September 4, 2018

Dear Readers,

My purpose in blogging has been to share my journey of life and the love I have for my Savior. It's also been to get people to think, to communicate, and to step back and hit the logic button. Have I accomplished that? Sometimes. My blogs have traveled across the globe and some of the comments are in languages I cannot read nor understand. They may be cussing me out or praising me, no matter.

Going to tackle a controversial topic today. Last night, on the way home from a meeting, I tuned in to listen to a radio talk show on the cycle of a democracy. I love love love history, and anytime someone talks history, my ears perk up and they have my utmost attention. First thing I want to assure you, this blog is NOT about one political party or another.

Anyway, the name of the Scottish philosopher Alexander Tytler was mentioned. My ears really zoned in because I also REALLY love philosophy. I believe that history ALWAYS repeats itself and why we don't recognize the stages, I don't know... I guess because we are too stupid to "get it."

If you're a history nut like me, you know that the average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been around 200 years. In our own country, why did so many folks come from England in the Great Migration ... they were escaping England's tyrannical rule regarding religion that's why. Why is this important to me? My own gggggg grandfather, John Hall came to this country during the Great Migration (Winthrop Fleet) in 1630. Moving forward.. Why was the Revolutionary War fought (another gggg+ grandfather, Captain Nathaniel Hall, fought in that war) and America established by our forefathers? Hopefully, y'all studied that in American History.

Alexander Tytler, way back in the late 1700's, wrote about the cycle of a democratic society beginning with bondage. Why bondage? Well, being in bondage causes people to turn to God and turning to God gives us courage to fight for freedom and on and on (follow the arrows in the diagram).

As you follow the arrows, think about what's transpired in our own country and see if you can think of examples.

After you think of examples, put these stages in your memorex, otherwise known as your brain, and let's move on..

I write a blogette entitled Life in Seidler Dogdom. Today's was on getting out the vote for Finnegan Ezekiel (my Malchon). Finn promised we'd have the biggest and best dog park in the country with FREE treats if people would just vote for him. Funny? Maybe so BUT that's what's happening in our country. Candidates promise more and more benefits from the nation's coffers ~ government gets bigger, we want more free stuff, and we become dependent.

Now, I know that money doesn't grow on trees so where's that money going to come from to waive student debt, raising minimum wage, lift up the inner cities, pay for abortions, free college, free medical care/housing/clothes for illegal aliens and on and on and on. The appetite to be compassionate and not hurt anyone's feelings has become insatiable. Emotions have taken over and, often times, common sense has gone out the window.

It is amazing to me how a candidate can run for office with the promise that he or she will make things right ~ IF VOTED INTO OFFICE. Uh huh... The most convincing orator who can present the most heartfelt case wins. Add in the media in our country ... they report what people want to hear. Videos are posted of idyllic family life and we swoon. Never mind what's really going on in the country. Hypocrisy reigns. Think about that for awhile (and add that to your memorex).

The United States of America, having been founded 240+ years ago, has surpassed the average age of history's great democracies. Today we are $20+ trillion in debt have over $100+ trillion in unfunded liabilities. Google if you don't believe me but I promise you, we are well on our way to collapse. Look back at the stages of a democracy and tell me where you think we are. I think we're somewhere between apathy and dependence on big government.

In 1958 US Senator John F Kennedy of Massachusetts wrote a book entitled A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS. It's one of my favorite books. My family immigrated from England in 1630 and from Norway in the 1800's. It was true then as it is now. Men, women, and children came to America in search of a better life. However, they came in the right way, learned English, and became devoted to our country. I loved to listen to my Norwegian Grandmother Maggie talk about how proud her parents were to be Americans. She taught her children to speak proper English and to value the American way. I come from a long line of patriots.

After doing mega research on the Deep State (covers both political parties, folks), I became a Patriot, an Independent. Unless we halt this binge of selfishness, apathy, and hate we're headed down a vicious cycle to bondage. If you're wondering if I would be willing to fight like Captain Nathaniel Hall did in the Revolutionary War, you bet I would. I was raised to be a peace loving, nation loving gentile lady capable of waging war to protect my freedoms given me in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights. At this point in history, trees and animals have more rights than our unborn, disabled, veterans, and elderly. What do you value? Status, your paycheck, your job, your home, your faith, your family, friends, pets?? Do you help others or think the government should offer more entitlements? Free is NEVER free ~ with each entitlement comes a cost to someone. The Revolutionary War was fueled by taxation ... the Colonists were in bondage to Great Britain.

As a Christ follower, I know that God is in control. He knows the past, present, and future. I also know that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

It is my hope that everyone who reads this blog will bathe our country in prayer and that the deceivers would be brought to justice. Let us come together and fight for our country and all that is honorable and good.

As I press the publish button, I cry out... My God, my God, do not forsake your people. Restore an atmosphere of respect as those in places of influence embrace differing opinions and at the same time honor the laws of the land. Protect and guide those in office to make wise decisions. May our land wave the flag proudly. Amen

Always in Christ's love,

Miss Dottie

PS "We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution." ~Abraham Lincoln