Unemployed in America

Millions are out of work, yet what impact does job loss truly have? One loses a job and if able, finds another- Simple. My friends, this is not the case anymore. Now those who would have had no trouble finding employment only a few short years ago are mailing off hundreds of resumes- all to no avail. The jobs have dried up. The job market in America is now drier than the Sahara.

If you go to Unemployedworkers.org , you can read the stories of Americans caught in the cycle of unemployment. You can read for yourself what tolls these people's recent job losses are taking on their personal lives. These people are in desperate straights, yet all we hear from our current Administration is how glorious this economic recovery has become!
It does not trouble me to say that this recovery is a jobless farce! Sure, Wall Street may be gaining momentum, but the job markets are not. Corporate America seems only concerned with the power they yield to outsource American jobs. While we hear of terms used by the those in the current Administration and Greenspan such as "competitive job markets" and "sustained growth", these terms mean nothing when people are going without food to eat and a roof over their heads. Those who are turning a blind eye fail to realize that the jobless in America are in the worst kind of mire and sinking deeper in it as each jobless day passes.

After observing the blindness of those in power in the United States, one must raise the hard questions to those in power. Do they realize the extent of the problem? Do they know but are openly unconcerned? Honestly I feel as though they could care less.

Looking after their own profit is number one to these people.

Big tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans is now more important than keeping the jobless Americans out of homeless shelters. It's not right, nor is it Godly.

God speaks to us through his word over and over again about the poor.

Remember what Jesus said? "To those in that day I shall say, When you've done it to the least of these, my brethren, you've done it unto me".

So let's take a look at how our own Government, those in charge of our rules and laws, are caring for the poor, and those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

1. The rapid outsourcing of American jobs overseas.

In order for big business and corporations to pay less wages to their workers, they are now moving entire factories overseas where workers there will do the jobs for a fraction of what American workers got before.

Friends, those in our current administration could do something about this outsourcing if they had a mind to. Those in power cater to those who lobby them for what is in their own best interests. Make no mistake, Who controls the House, Senate and Congress?

2. Tax cuts for the Wealthy

Our President says this strategy will help "boost our economy". What it all boils down to (our president points out) is that the (wealthiest of Americans) will have more of their money to invest, and that these investments will result in creating more small businesses, big businesses, etc. So just what are they investing in? See number 1 above because I can assure you that the majority of big business is only catering to their own interests! Sure, they are rich enough to keep these jobs here in the States, but the way they see it, (from their greedy point of view) why not make MORE PROFIT at the expense of the American worker!

It doesn't help boost the job market here, it doesn't help create jobs here!

3. The latest unemployment benefits extension

Yes, I watched this myself. A Republican Senator of Oklahoma attempted to oppose the extensions to those receiving unemployment benefits. But Senator Ted Kennedy of Mass debated in favor of giving the extensions.

I heard Kennedy say that this money was money that the workers had paid in and they were entitled to it ( I agree) but the Republican Senator from Oklahoma responded no. His reasoning?

But of course, "The economy is growing and there is no need".

The Rich and Their Disregard for the needs of others

The financial miseries coming upon many we can read about in the scriptures:

In James 5, chapters 1-6 we read of a judgment decreed upon greedy rich men.

1. Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

2. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

3. Your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. you have heaped treasure together for the last days.

4. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of saboath.

5. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

6. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he does not resist you.

What to do?

What will it take before laws are passed to stop this insanity and blatant disregard for the rights of workers in America? It seems as if those who are in charge of passing laws and regulations here in America are not going to change things unless they experience the hardship of unemployment themselves. The very hardships they are helping to further heap on the backs of American citizens.

Workers rights have never been so completely stripped away.

I will always say that prayer is the single most important thing you can do. Pray that the Lord would give justice to those who are in need and find themselves at the mercy of a very dry job market.

Compassion is so rare in these days we live in. It is a very sad thing to wake up one day and find that you have no job. You have a family to support, medical bills, food is scarce and you don't know where to turn.

There is one thing I can tell you for sure, and this comes from experience. Know your source in these last days. Who is your source?

God should be your number one source. It is he who can take care of you when men have utterly failed you.

When they care less about you, he cares more about you. He sees the struggles and turmoil, worries of all of those who have lost their jobs and have no place to turn and are wondering if they will have a place to lay their head by the end of the day.

I would advise all of you to pay attention to what your State Reps are up to. Even if you are not given to observing political goings on, try to catch C-Span debates occasionally.

Find out what your elected Reps stand for. Are they standing up for and passing laws for the people or for political agendas that serve their party?

And please, keep praying for everyone. Ask God to forgive this Nation of it's disregard for the poor, greed and pride.

A Warning

Dear Friends, If you have read the update on what has kept me from writing, you will know that I had been ill during much of 2003.

This illness saw me in the hospital and even after my release, it took much longer that I had thought for me to get my strength back. Many months actually. But I am better now. My thanks to all of you who have kept me in your prayers during this time.

But now I have something that I must share with you, so read on.

Since January of this year, I have had something heavy on my heart. I believe at this time I am led to write down what I truly take as being a warning to our Nation.

This warning may seem strange and totally out of character for me, but even though it's a first, I feel I must. I believe that there will be an attack of some sort in the United States and I believe that this will happen very soon. I feel it is at hand. I also believe that this will be on a much grander scale than that of September 11, 2001. To say much more than this is beyond me. I feel there will be great chaos.

Friends, all I can honestly say is that I feel strongly that God has spoken this to my heart. We have been told repeatedly by the Administration in this nation that we are "safer" since Iraq is free of the previous Regime of Saddam Hussein. I do not believe we are safer, in fact, I feel we are more vulnerable now than we were before the war with Iraq started. Now, there is only one more thing I want to add As soon as it looked as though we would be going to war in Iraq, I was very ill at ease. The invasion and occupation of Iraq by our own military.

Much has been done since this war in Iraq, this war has taken it's toll and cost much, and I am not talking monetarily.

It has cost innocent people their lives- not only our people's lives, but the lives of those in Iraq, and that is not a light thing with God. He cares for all of us. It is my opinion that this war that we have undertaken is an unjust one and there will be an accounting in the end for doing so. We were not attacked by Iraq. Our president knew this. We all knew this. We all know it now.

America, I believe will see sorrow and lamentations. I did not want to write this and fought it in my spirit, but I felt so compelled to in the end, there was no choice. The very best thing I can encourage every person to do is to pray like you never have before. Trust in God and lean not to your own understanding, Allow the light of his truth - His word, his scriptures, to be shed abroad in your own heart. I can tell you that we all must listen to him and fully place our trust and care in his hands. Especially in these last days.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is The Comforter that Jesus told us about in the Bible.
KJV John 14:
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Note: In this 17th verse, we are told so much about the Holy Spirit by Jesus. We are told that

1. He IS the Spirit of TRUTH.

2. The World cannot receive him because they do not recognize him, nor do they know him.

3.We are told that WE know him and he dwells (lives) inside of us, and shall be in us.

Now, let's go on to verse 18:
18 I will not leave you comfort less: I will come to you.

How could it be possible that Jesus, whom they would crucify on the cross for the sins of mankind would come to us?

The way in which Jesus would be able to come to us would be through the Holy Spirit *The Comforter*
The Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus and will show us all things that pertain/concern us from the Father God...
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Note:There is a spiritual realm and there is a natural realm. Depending on where we are in our relationship with God, sometimes it would seem that God is truly speaking to our Spirits (not audibly usually) but instead it is that "Still small voice" that I know has come from God the Holy Spirit.

The Comforter will cause us to remember what Jesus has said to us through his word:
John 14
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The Holy Spirit also will show us things to come.
John 16:
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
The Holy Spirit reveals things...
Ephesians 3:5
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Note: Through his Spirit, we know what he has said to us through his word. The Word of God is the primary source of knowledge from God. His word is truth and life. This is why it is so important not to place credence on what other's say if it runs contrary to the Word, even if they are those in authority in the church, but we must study God's word, go to the source so to speak.

We are sealed with the Holy Spirit when we become born again.

The Holy Spirit will tell us of Jesus and will always point to Jesus and not to himself, as in to be glorified, etc. because the Holy Spirit is the Very Spirit of Jesus!:
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
John 15:
Jesus said this about the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit:
John 14:
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Note: How would Jesus and his Father come to you and make their home with you? They are in Heaven.

But they can, they come in the form of the Holy Spirit and the way that they can and do live Inside of your hearts is by and through the Holy Spirit.

If I do not go, the Spirit will not come
Jesus said that if he did not go away, (Go to be with our Father) the Comforter would not come...
John 16:
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
He will guide us into ALL truth...
John 16:
.12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
After we are born again, we are SEALED with the Spirit
Ephesians
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Attributes of the Holy Spirit:
We see that we can grieve the Holy Spirit:

Ephesians 4:
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

How can we receive the Holy Spirit?
Luke 11:
13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Much more in depth about this question later)

The Holy Spirit and Daniel in the Old Testament

Do you know that it was the Holy Spirit that revealed to Daniel what Nebuchadnezzar's dream was along with the interpretation? If the Holy Spirit had not showed this to Daniel, him and the rest of the wise men in Babylon would have been put to death because the decree had already been made by the King!
Daniel 2:5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
But what happened later?
Daniel prayed:

15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.

So the Holy Spirit gave insight to Daniel both about the Dream and the interpretation of the King's dream.
24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.

There are so many instances in which the Holy Spirit has revealed
knowledge and wisdom to people. And he will reveal the things of God to us just as he did to Daniel if we are dedicated to him and if we will listen.

The War abroad and the War at home

January 26, 2003
Our troops and possibly some or many National guard units (Who we routinely rely on to stay here on our soil to protect and serve us in war time) are being sent off to the Gulf. This is disturbing. Now it would not disturb me if it were more clear to me what we are supposedly going to be fighting for.
Yes, I am aware of what we've been told by our Government as well as the media, democrats, republicans, partisan, by-partisan, the list could go and on. But the one million dollar question is only this:

Does Iraq have weapons of mass destruction that they are going to use on us Americans? What immediate threat do they pose to us?

Are we to believe what our President tells us, the U.N Inspectors or both?

We cannot believe both, because they are not in agreement on this in the first place.

We are to WAIT according to the UN. Wait that is until the inspectors can have more time. But our President seems as though waiting is not an option.

The Oil Question

I have heard references to oil as many of you surely have. On MSNBC or another national cable news network, I listened to a comment made that referred to the "substantial oil revenues we would have to regulate" once we had removed Hussein from power, etc. Not a direct quote here folks, but I'm sure you get my meaning about oil revenues.

I do not want our men and women leaving us and risking their lives if oil is in ANY way the reason our Government is seeking to change this Regime. They are desiring to change Iraq's regime, however, who are we to choose WHO is in power in a foreign country? Especially at the cost of untold thousands of lives of our own Americans. If we knew the answers to the questions, I could feel differently, but right now, it seems that our Government wants to only change their regime and control their OIL, And that is just not acceptable to me.

The Question of Osama

I am open minded. I agree Hussein is not ok and has caused atrocities to happen to his own people, but ask yourself this: What happened to Osama B. Ladin? Hussein did NOT cause the terror attacks of 9/11/01 nor did he have any hand in it. At least we have not been told that. With the exception of being told on news networks that perhaps Iraq is harboring al-quaeda members. And if we want proof of that? Just forget it.

Yet Osama Bin Ladin is spoken of VERY rarely by our Government and media anymore. Isn't this strange? Why isn't our Govt going after him with all their might just as President Bush vowed to do in the days following the tragedy.

This makes absolutely no sense at all, to put on hold the OBL matter, but our President does not wish to speak of Osama B Ladin, nor does the majority of our media. Does nobody care?

And what about the families left behind, the family and friends of those who lost loved ones? How must they feel when all they are bombarded with day after day in the news is the war with Iraq?

Something is not right here. Bush wants Regime change, but I say that we Must get our hands on OBL and his co-horts and utilize all of our military might for this!

The Axis Made Them Forget

IMHO, The "Axis of Evil" took much of the focus off of 9/11 and Bin Ladin. This was a Switch-O-Change-O. The question is why.

I could go on about this, tell you more of my personal insights and guestimate on it all day long, but I will not, moving right along.

The War At Home

I want to speak of the problems here at home. Record unemployment is high and growing every day. Wall Street is NOT doing well and I can only imagine what it's like for those who are out of work. The formerly financially fit are now relying on visits to soup kitchens and homeless shelters.

In my own opinion, I believe our chief focus should not only be on catching Osama B Ladin, but on helping our own who have been devastated because of this current economic catastrophe! The sympathizers for this tragedy are desperately needed.

We have our eyes closed tightly- (some do and others do not), but that does NOT make it go away. It really does no good for those who are out of work, out of food and the desperate in America trapped in this stale economic state.

Please pray for those who are trapped in financial difficulties and don't know what to do. Pray as well for those who are in fear for what may be coming upon this country as well as other countries around the globe.

I have to tell you that I do not feel positive about this impending face-off with Hussein. I do not feel like it will be "quick" as we have heard it so often put to us by our news media. In the past I would agree. But not anymore. The reason? We have gotten too sure and too full of ourselves. That is the epitome of pride, and pride comes before a fall. I only pray that it does not happen. America has done many good things for other countries. But doing "good" is not about touting that goodness, rather it is about doing it in such a way that God is pleased with our good toward others. We do not do good expecting that we will get paid back for that good. And remember the Bible passage in which a foolish nation is described? "It will not come nigh us" : and : "We will never taste of sorrow"

For all of you

Don't you lose hope. God is still our source.

A personal perspective on me and financial difficulties in the past:

One time my own husband lost his job ( I was NOT working) we solely relied on his income coming in. This happened within a week of him receiving Jesus Christ as his Lord! I had already been saved early on in my life. What a test for him right out of the starting gate :)

He was in his mid twenties, I, in my early twenties, we had two small children.

God was who we turned to, my husband did his best to look for a job very quickly and God did the rest.

In less than 4 days he had a job and God gave us resources to get a home- not a fancy home, but God never promised us such either.

But that was in the early 90's. Things were somewhat different then and there were more jobs than now just in my personal opinion. But God changes not. There is no way he changes. The economy may change, WE will go through good times and bad, but he remains the same throughout eternity. What a comforting thought.

I know if my husband had not found a job, God would have done whatever it took for us to receive food, shelter and clothes on our back. We may not have really loved the conditions we would have to live under, but nonetheless, we would have been taken care of. Food, Shelter and Clothing, Those are the necessities according to the Word.

I do so pray that our President will re-think his decision to go to war with Iraq.

I personally feel as though we will go, or if we do not, something else will happen with Korea. Only God knows these things for sure.

May we all pray for the President as well as those whom he looks to for council.