This is a dark topic today Napoleon. I would be a gibbering idiot if I subjected myself to watching hours of evil. I recently read a book which dealt with a serial killer in Cleveland in the 1930’s. He was called the butcher for obvious reasons. I skipped over the gory parts because I simply can’t handle that stuff. It leaves me depressed and despondent.
The human mind can be fragile- I know mine could be, which is why I trust God to protect me from unimaginable forces of evil. And I’m better off keeping my focus here…
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
It is a dark topic, and you are right, evil is always ugly. I think that is why the world is in one of it's darkest/ugliest periods right now - the ignorance of demons. Once a society throws God out and becomes non-believing, demons have free-reign because of course society is not going to believe in demons as well. Jesus did three things constantly while here on earth: 1) cured people; 2) taught about faith and belief: 3) expelled demons. Jesus knew about the power of demons. But he also knew His power was more - if you believe in Him and have faith, you are protected from the demons of this world.
Yes it is. Someday I'm going to write a post about God's judgment and how mercy and repentance factor in. We will all have a final judgment. What will that be like? I can only guess since God's ways are not ours.
I’m thankful that’s Gods ways are not ours because He is a merciful and loving God. He is also a God of Justice. I am only full of awesome thankfulness when I think of that because he promises that we believers will stand before Him clothed in the blood of Christ, the Robe of Righteousness which covers our sins and through which we have forgiveness. It’s why robes are worn in the church, a symbolism that I love, I’m so thankful that Jesus died to take away our sins, He took our punishment, that by believing in Him we might have eternal life!
We cannot know for sure, but I think that is a wonderful exercise for everyone to envision. For me I see it as a happy moment of smiling and arms wide open. I think because I see it this way, I am less afraid. I like go to sleep feeling that way. The whole, "now I lay me down to sleep" prayer... my girls always had a squeezy lamb or stuffed toy that said that prayer
My mother always made us say that prayer every night. The part "if I should die before I wake" always scared me as a child. I didn't want to die. I didn't want anyone to die. But I can see now how that prayer kept me God-focused and not human focused throughout my life. We are all going to die, knowing that actually helps us to live better lives. We've lost that view now - trying not to die has made us not live.
The full prayer tells the whole story, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep; See me safely through the night, And wake me with the morning's light."
Death is an inevitable part of life. I felt this prayer as a reminder of the gift of life each and every day and to feel secure that if one was to meet their maker, to rest well in the belief they lived their day how they should have in the eyes of the Lord.
Luke 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Panzram is truly an enigma. It's true his upbringing was horrible but many people have worse upbringings and never become serial killers. That's where I believe demons step in. On the other hand I have a fleeting ounce of respect for him that he owned up to how evil he was to the end. He was evil to the core and was never hypocritical about it.
So much different from our current crop of covid serial killers.
This is a dark topic today Napoleon. I would be a gibbering idiot if I subjected myself to watching hours of evil. I recently read a book which dealt with a serial killer in Cleveland in the 1930’s. He was called the butcher for obvious reasons. I skipped over the gory parts because I simply can’t handle that stuff. It leaves me depressed and despondent.
The human mind can be fragile- I know mine could be, which is why I trust God to protect me from unimaginable forces of evil. And I’m better off keeping my focus here…
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 NIV
It is a dark topic, and you are right, evil is always ugly. I think that is why the world is in one of it's darkest/ugliest periods right now - the ignorance of demons. Once a society throws God out and becomes non-believing, demons have free-reign because of course society is not going to believe in demons as well. Jesus did three things constantly while here on earth: 1) cured people; 2) taught about faith and belief: 3) expelled demons. Jesus knew about the power of demons. But he also knew His power was more - if you believe in Him and have faith, you are protected from the demons of this world.
Mercy is for believers. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am praying for all.
Yes it is. Someday I'm going to write a post about God's judgment and how mercy and repentance factor in. We will all have a final judgment. What will that be like? I can only guess since God's ways are not ours.
I’m thankful that’s Gods ways are not ours because He is a merciful and loving God. He is also a God of Justice. I am only full of awesome thankfulness when I think of that because he promises that we believers will stand before Him clothed in the blood of Christ, the Robe of Righteousness which covers our sins and through which we have forgiveness. It’s why robes are worn in the church, a symbolism that I love, I’m so thankful that Jesus died to take away our sins, He took our punishment, that by believing in Him we might have eternal life!
Amen
We cannot know for sure, but I think that is a wonderful exercise for everyone to envision. For me I see it as a happy moment of smiling and arms wide open. I think because I see it this way, I am less afraid. I like go to sleep feeling that way. The whole, "now I lay me down to sleep" prayer... my girls always had a squeezy lamb or stuffed toy that said that prayer
My mother always made us say that prayer every night. The part "if I should die before I wake" always scared me as a child. I didn't want to die. I didn't want anyone to die. But I can see now how that prayer kept me God-focused and not human focused throughout my life. We are all going to die, knowing that actually helps us to live better lives. We've lost that view now - trying not to die has made us not live.
The full prayer tells the whole story, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep; See me safely through the night, And wake me with the morning's light."
Death is an inevitable part of life. I felt this prayer as a reminder of the gift of life each and every day and to feel secure that if one was to meet their maker, to rest well in the belief they lived their day how they should have in the eyes of the Lord.
Luke 14:27 - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Panzram is truly an enigma. It's true his upbringing was horrible but many people have worse upbringings and never become serial killers. That's where I believe demons step in. On the other hand I have a fleeting ounce of respect for him that he owned up to how evil he was to the end. He was evil to the core and was never hypocritical about it.
So much different from our current crop of covid serial killers.