Hard QUESTION

Hard Question: Why?
by Nina B.

I am really struggling with whether, (there's a word I don't use too often), or not to publish this post.

I know the answer to the question before I even set it to pen. Some of you will agree, many will not and have other opinions. For me there is only one that makes any sense and that is the lack of knowledge and love of Jesus.

People simply do not know JESUS.

Period.

People don't care to know Jesus and accept Him as God and Savior. Surely, people know about Him, but "submit" to Him?, like the Pastor said this morning - sadly, many would rather, (I use this word often), die a thousand deaths before saying Jesus is Lord.

I asked a passerby to take the pics for me.

I had such J O Y today! - Sunday, the 16th day in the year of our Lord 2018. The weather, (I check this out on an app nearly every morning). I walked to church arriving 40  minutes after I stepped foot outside my door. I chose to wear my teal colored cotton dress. It has a delicate print that is subtle. The neckline is close around my neck as are the sleeveless arms about my shoulders. The length is slightly below my knee, but swoops down a tad lower in the back. The cut is lightly fitted about my bustline and flairs from my waist, but the bottomline is I WAS DRESSED VERY MODESTLY, especially with my black cardigan sweater, so my arms were covered. I did wear flat sandals - Roman style, but just about my ankle.

See this is the struggle - I feel the problem must have been  with how I was dressed! However, I am not of the mind I need to be completely covered from head to toe. I am an American born, Black female. I look a tad younger than most women my age, but .... God has chosen to bless my genes with a youthful appearance.

I know this is taking a longer than normal set-up but PLEASE stick with me - because you may have an opinion that you may want to post at the end....

Some of you know I work and live and attend a church that are all ethnically diverse. I teach children that come from all over the globe. There are at least ten different people groups represented in my classroom every period. I can walk out of my door and stroll around my neighborhood and hear multiple different languages being spoken. And at church - there are so many different people represented that come together to worship Jesus Christ as Savior - it can only be compared to as a foretaste of Heaven - it's a very beautiful thing.

Early on in my employment, I learned what was respectful to different cultures. Far be it from me to be disrespectful to any culture - for this reason I rarely look an unknown male in the eye and often address the female - particularly during parent/teacher conferences. I know I do not have to do this but, I choose to do so, to show respect.

As the Bible teaches me to live at peace with all - this is my goal.

I know many of you are thinking - "Nina! Wake up! and see the roses dying! The world ain't a pretty place...  It's full of a whole lot of ugly..."

I know this folks - all to well... You know I do... Have you forgotten my posting from July 2016? The infamy day?....



This afternoon after church I decided to sit and draw samples for my sixth graders - I'm teaching perspective and composition. I sat by the lake in the shade and enjoyed the cool breeze and calm of the day. I had purchased a bag of raw almonds and had a spinach smoothie so I was good to go...

I worked for about 4 hours.... (Remember these are samples).

When I decided to leave, I walked very slowly back to my place. I should have sat on a blanket and not directly on those concrete blocks. I was achy, but I knew home, and my bean soup was waiting for me...

I decided to walk along the bike/jogging area because there wouldn't be sand and I would be out of the way of most people. The city has done a splendid job of widening the bike path, to include a third path for walkers and joggers. Kudos to the city of Chicago.

As I walked I simply thanked God for the blessing of such a beautiful day. I wasn't too hot, nor chilly. It was near perfect...




Then the storm came...



An older man, (60-70). Not American - but Middle-eastern yelled at me and called me an "ass hole!"

I was as shocked as some of you are, at the fact that I wrote it here.

I stopped in my tracks.... as he and his group continued to walk pass me. I turned. He had also stopped and looked back at me - and then continued walking. I wish I could say, I had a witty comeback. I wish I could tell you, I blessed him. I wish I could say, I at least yelled, 'Jesus loves you too...'

I was already walking on the line

There was plenty of room. - no bikers

I was almost in tears actually... Perhaps I was supposed to walk in the dirt, while his group of three men walk on the path.

Then it hit me...satan comes to rob you of your J O Y !

So, NO you DON'T satan!!!
Not this day!

satan, (I refuse to capitalize anything dealing with that wily snake...), has tried recently to steal my JOY. Just Friday when I was feeling JOY-FILLED I decided to walk literally the extra mile and got off at Loyola - two young women, wearing head coverings - I presume students; pushed me with their shoulders as I and only one other passenger attempted to exit the train. It was crazy. They were like linebackers with the ball. I wasn't trying to leap from a moving train and they in turn weren't attempting to leap on... But they just had to p u s h through me as if I weren't there.

And another time as I walked in the evening pass a mosque. Two young men were outside. One spat at me....

Then there was the young Black man who looked me in the face as I walked pass him and said directly at me, "You look fucked up!"

Lord, Jesus!

SIGH!

....And God pushes me out of my comfort zone into this mess... WHY?

My niece says I need to get a car!
I think that's avoiding the issue.

Flashback: God took my car away in July 2017 when He allowed the van driver to hit me from behind and totaled my car... and had me get out among the world... And until God drops a small car at my door... I know am supposed to be engaged in the battle - car or no car.

Does God want me to scream back at the world -"Jesus SAVES! JESUS LOVES!" ?

Probably.

QUESTIONS

At first I thought this all happened because I was Black, then I got to thinking - No... it's because I'm female...

Then ...

LIGHTBULB!

Folks so need Jesus!

These days are like the days of Noah.

Mankind is doing whatever they think to do... and they are depraved - indifferent to human life.

CHURCH, are you out there?

Last year I was out of sorts, because I often felt like I was in a moral vacuum - a space devoid of what is right, because no one seemed to be saying STOP - THIS IS ALL WRONG! The standard is God's Word! is what we should be measuring life by... But the church seemed to be in hiding... No one seems to be saying much... only "...what's wrong?... there's nothing wrong... see there is only good..."

Well, it's another year... and it's not better - it's worse. It really is. This is not a joke. The demons are around every corner. They are seeking to kill, steal, shatter hopes and dreams, wreck havoc and chaos and take as many to hell with them as possible...

Church since you know this is the case - WHY are we standing shocked... at my words?

I know you're out there - God does too - you are warriors  NOW!

Pray for me...
I'll pray for you


"they"/the enemies of God, are emboldened - because "they" know their time is near and their numbers are small, so "they" are looking for you...

But have NO FEAR! 
the name of
JESUS
makes him fail...


Soli Deo Gloria
Nina

Ephesians 6:10-20
The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.