We have had some pretty days in our neck of the woods, bit of rain, but nothing to ‘dampen’ our spirits.  Right now I am looking at a nice blue sky, a slight breeze, comfortable temperatures and the hummingbirds feeding at the feeders.

Little Gold Finches are chirping away as they attack the sunflowers, Carla leaves up, for their food.  Quail chicks are all grown up and walking around in the garden with their parents and on the back hill side, feeding and getting ready for winter.  Other birds are letting us know that they too are thankful for the blessings of these fall days.

Took a quick trip to Gresham, yesterday, lots of rain, sometimes buckets coming down all at once on the car.  But, managed to dodge the real deluges when we were going to the store from the parking lot, sky just closed up for a few minutes.  She has been getting ornaments for the kids, their spouses and grandkids from Hallmark for well over 35 years now.

We used to get them at Neva’s here in The Dalles, but the store closed several years ago, so we go to Gresham for her annual trek.  She matches them as best she can to the personality or the ‘likes’ of each person, and really enjoys doing it.

Me, I went along for the ride, picked up a couple of items from another store, and enjoyed an hour long chat with my brother-in-law as I waited for Carla’s arrival.  One of the few good things about modern technology is the cell-phone; sometimes.

Speaking of technology, my internet was down for quite a while, then e-mail was hit and miss, seems it is okay now.  So, here is another one of my thoughts of the day, from my readings and meditations.

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Ephesians 6:11-14  KJV  “ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

Most Christians understand this message, very well.

American Christians have been seeing the battle going on throughout the world for centuries and now, more than ever, we are experiencing it within the borders of our own country.

While we have not reached the high persecution, prosecution and terrorism of many of our brethren, if things do not change we will see and experience it soon enough here; indeed some already are.

Satan has stirred up deep seated anger and feelings of helplessness in all walks of people.  The so-called leaders are feeding the fuel of hatred and desire to destroy anyone that disagrees with them, more and more.

It is almost impossible to tell if anyone truly wants to try and reach out to the other side to find common ground.

Satan wants people to see this as a physical, not a spiritual battle.  He wants people to focus on what they see and not try to understand what he is doing with the spiritual souls of all involved.

As Christians, we must start focusing on those spiritual issues, we need to pray for those that are suffering, yes, but we also need to stand fast against satan’s minions that are stirring up the people against God and His Word.

Too many of us, and I put myself at the top of the list, are arguing about the results, not the causes of the events occurring in our country. 

We are not treating them as they should be treated, a spiritual war that needs spiritual weapons to fight it.

Prayer, is one of those weapons: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,”

But so is watchfulness, seeing what is happening and taking action so our Christian brethren and other victims of satan’s wiles can be protected:  “and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

But there is that subject of prayer, what should we be praying for, besides strength and guidance for ourselves and other Christians?

Do we pray for America to go back the way it used to be?

I would say, no.  While we had/have many wonderful things going for us in this country, we also have had many things we should be ashamed of, particularly as Christians.

Slavery, of course is an issue, but once that was addressed, the majority of people, Christians included, still treated (and many still do) the Black People and other ethnic groups as second class citizens.

We have treated the Indians as second class citizens from day one.  The poisoning of over 750 citizens in the City of The Dalles is pointed out as the first bio-terrorism in the United States.  In the modern era that is correct, and those citizens weren’t the only ones who suffered, they were just the only ones that went for medical assistance, we have no idea how many chose to weather it through at home, successfully.

However, it really isn’t the first act of biological terrorism in the United States.  Our own government sent soldiers into Indian villages with clothes and bedding contaminated with small pox and other diseases fatal to the Indians and caused many deaths, not just illness.

Then, of course, greed, not only corporate but personal greed has cause millions of people to be deprived of the ability to make an honest living or live a life free from fear.  We have become a country where ‘must have’ has taken over the needs and the supposed need has become having the finest television, car, clothes and other items conditioning us to forget that these are ‘wants’ not needs.

And these are just a few of the many things that have and are being done to people in our country. 

Things that take our minds, hearth and spirit off of God.

I really don’t think that the VAST majority of our fellow countrymen wish to go back to any of these ‘past lives.’

One of the things we have to be very careful about, as Christians, is the anger we allow to stir up in our hearts as we see the destruction of the things of God that we hold very dear.  The destruction of the historical things that made this country great AS WELL as things we need to remember occurred and use that knowledge to improve our nation.

We need to pray.

Mathew 5:44  KJV  “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

I was reminded, again, this week that during my time trying to hold the Rajneesh accountable to Oregon law, I never once, NOT ONE TIME prayed for them.

Not once.

That is not a comfortable thing, for me, as a follower of Christ, as a man who wants to believe he is living the best he can for Christ, to admit. 

Not once.

These people used our system, attacked our citizens, poisoned people, almost killing some; planned to kill some, planned to manipulate the ballot box, tried to disrupt and eventually control Wasco County government – they were by definition enemies, people that hated us, who despitefully used us and persecuted us.

And Jesus said, pray for them. 

FOR, not against. 

The way I read that verse is to pray for them.  Pray for their souls.  Pray they understand who Jesus the Christ is and what He has and is doing for them as individuals.

Pray that they come to their senses and accept the only One true God; accept the gift of eternal life that He gives to all who come to Him through His Son.

Yes, pray that God will take control of the situation and protect us, but remembering that these are people being manipulated by other people who are being manipulated by the antithesis of God, satan himself.

They have turned their minds and their souls over to satan and allowed him to use them for his purposes; and while it may also appear to be to their own benefit, the end result is always destruction of the soul.

Not once did I pray for them.

Everyone that reads this believes they have a person that fits the description:  “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”

So, when was the last time you prayed FOR your ‘enemies’ whomever, perceived or real, and where ever they are?

I didn’t say it would be easy.  Being a follower of Christ, to the best of our ability, never has been.

But, He didn’t say, IF you feel like it, IF you want to, only IF you are over it, He said ‘PRAY FOR THEM.’  Period.

Later, Art (-: