Today, as I approach my keyboard, my emotions are somewhat mixed. The Lord has been giving piece by piece messages that are like a healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand. I will try to explain.

This past weekend, our nation once again celebrated the freedoms that we have enjoyed for 249 years. This freedom did not come for free! An enormous sacrifice was made. A price was paid. Countless lives were lost in battles, through disease, and while prisoners of war. Again, freedom is not free!

Our nation has enjoyed privileges and prosperity that are rarely found elsewhere. God has, no doubt, had His hand on America from its foundation. Our forefathers built this nation on Godly principles. But as we have turned from His ways to our ways, “The American Way” (more is better, climbing the ladder, keeping up with the Joneses, my children will have more than I did, etc.) there has been an erosion of morals, character, liberty, and justice in our nation that is destroying us from the inside out.

By believing “The American Way” is better than God’s way, we got caught up in this never-ending pursuit of “more is better”. As we dedicate our time, energy, and money in pursuit of these material things, we become idol worshippers (anything that we place before God). Fathers (if there is one in the household) and Mothers (if she hasn’t left yet) are exhausted with the never-ending demands at work, and weekends are spent trying to catch up on bills, yard, and household duties.

The pressure grows even greater as inflation, taxes, and everyday cost of living soar to all-time highs. The children are left with their “devices” on their own, babysitters, or grandparents who are trying to “parent” rather than the joy of being Grandparents. Church, who has time for Church?  Our families become more fractured and dysfunctional, and the American Dream is becoming more like the American Nightmare. Sad scenario, I know. But I believe most of you know exactly what I’m talking about.

This began by making the same choices as in the Garden of Eden. We believed that God was holding back “good” from us, so we must “reach out and grab it” for ourselves! Is this where that saying came from?

The Garden of Eden is where it began with the first family that God created, Adam and Eve. This was the first fractured relationship with God in their battle of good against evil. Just read in Genesis (beginning or origin), where the Lord told Adam not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve was deceived by the evil one. He convinced her that God was withholding “something good” from her (notice the enemy’s first temptation was food, hmm). Adam was with her, and instead of protecting her, he was in direct disobedience to God. Eve “reached out and grabbed it,” and Adam ate the fruit with her. This is why the Word tells us that sin came to mankind through Adam’s disobedience.

I was telling of this in my poem “Nothing New Under the Sun”. Here are a few verses…

There’s nothing new under the sun

In the Garden of Eden, where sin had begun.

Eve blamed the serpent, and Adam blamed Eve

When she listened to the lies, Eve was deceived.

Adam was told by God, but chose to disobey

Mankind has done the same, to this very day.

Disobedience and blaming, what misery they bring.

Does this sound familiar in our lives today? By believing God was withholding something “good” from them, they made the worst choice in the history of mankind! Thank God He gave the way back to our relationship with Him, healing balm…

But God made the way to bring us back to Him

Forgiven and restored, a new life to begin.

So think of the choices made in the Garden

And obey the Father, through His Son, receive His pardon.

AGAIN, FREEDOM ISN’T FOR FREE! Jesus made the greatest sacrifice and paid the ultimate price for our freedom from the enemy and our way back to the Father. This is more of the healing balm I spoke of in the closing of my poem. It says…

Although in this world, nothing is new under the sun

Trust in our Father to complete the work He’s begun

By living outside the Garden, EVERYTHING is new under His Son!

As I sat down to write, I had no intentions of writing about this topic. But this is the direction it has taken, so I believe it needs to be said. To see the pitfalls, deception, and tactics of the enemy is a great place to start (in the beginning). We also know that we were given the ability to “choose” obedience or disobedience and the consequences thereof.

 I have spent two days writing about this, and again, it became obvious it was long, too long for one blog. As I began, I stated that,” The Lord has been giving piece by piece messages that are like a healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand”. Therefore, I do hope you will join me for the next piece of the message with its healing balm.

Up next is a look at our Government and Educational System.

It is getting late here in Northwest Arkansas. I will say goodnight, and God bless you,

Reba