I will not say it has been an easy transition to News Publisher. Staying focused on spiritual things is difficult when my focus is on the things of world much of the time. Listening to other news sources, listening to my community, listening to heartaches and struggles, it’s a bit overwhelming at times.
So, with that being said, as I sat in church yesterday and the Spirit was just pouring the blessings down upon me as I listened to the Word of God being taught and preached, I thought about conversations I’d had with God recently. They were random to say the least. I have an ongoing daily conversation with the Lord that is filled with apologies for my failures, goofy prayers over food like “please Lord, let something in this candy bar be nutritious for my body,” and “God, Lucky Charms has 9 essential vitamins and minerals in it, so surely eating it twice a day and sometimes three for meals isn’t bad, and please don’t let the marshmallows kill me.” This is not my finest hour as a child of God or a writer. But it’s what’s on my heart today.
I wonder if the Apostle Paul had a Lucky Charms kind of day when he was making tents? I’m doubting it. Listen to the wisdom in his words to the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 2:12-14
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. ¶ Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The Apostle Paul was God’s News Reporter. He was tasked with the job of listening to the world and discovering their issues, then listening to God for the wisdom of life, and then relaying that message in a manner that could be applied by the people. And that became the Good News that we are gifted today by the Holy Spirit of God through His Bible.
So the reason I speak about the transition to publisher as not being easy, is because I have a rough time shutting out the world and allowing the Spirit to speak to me. I really don’t understand how the unsaved keep their sanity when I struggle with it as a child of God who has my very own 24 hour a day Counselor, Keeper and Friend.
Freely Given Facts
I promised myself and God that when I began www.Ridgeviewnews.com, I would publish only the truth. If it was opinion I would label it as such and I would stand accountable to God for it all. Paul’s words reminded me that the Spirit that is in me is not of this world, and the things that I have been “freely given,” are not received by those who don’t know Christ. There is a discernment that is accessible to every child of God that when we receive information, the Holy Spirit will alert us with what we need to do with that information. But our conversations with God have to be about more than candy bars and lucky charms.
Right now I have a very serious issue with a family member in another country. I have a hard time following news about this country and caring what happens to it’s people. And then I hear the Spirit of God say “look at this group of people in that country. They belong to me, and they care.” And that causes me to care.
I get frustrated with the people in my community because it seems there are many who have their heads stuck in the sand and have no idea of what’s going on around us, and the Spirit reminds me that “Satan is after them, and he has many of them on a line and hook destined for Hell unless a child of God reminds them that they need Christ.” And then God reminds me of the blessed place I’m in that teaches and preaches the gospel and it’s a fact that I am privileged to hear. That wisdom prevents me from falling to the worlds devices. Yes I get side tracked on Lucky Charms and candy bars but the gift that Christ left us of His Holy Spirit is such an amazing valuable possession. It prevents me from falling to the wiles of the Devil that would have me going out into the world unprepared for the wickedness that would destroy the peace in my heart. Another fact that we have as children of God. Peace. And that my friend with the craziness going on in this is worth more than anything this world has to offer. Satan cannot touch it unless we allow him to. Glory! Thank You Jesus for the Spirit of God that keeps me sane!