[aageneral] America Growing Cold

(The ministry of a he goat is to cleanse the sanctuary. Daniel 8:8-14)

America Growing Cold

And because iniquity shall abound,
the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:12

In America, everyone wants our money. The government taxes business and
industry, then tax that money again, via stockholder profits. They also tax
our labor income, then tax whatever money we have left (the second time) as we
make purchases.

In addition, the government continues to annually tax for real estate,
automobiles, and other big ticket items purchased. So, the same money gets
taxed upon 'from several times to life', besides state and local taxes. Then,
if we sell the taxable item for profit, we may have to pay taxes on that
profit, too.

And if that wasn't enough, government further taxes whomever they determine to
penalize; from big industry all the way down to the individual smoker. Plus,
penalty may be charged for whomever does not pay taxes in advance, like if
government pre-determines your quarterly income could prove to exceed annual
expectation.

Though we might not complain except taxed money is spent without logic. For
example: it is given to other countries, when we have homeless, too. It pays
for wars intended to protect life and it pays for abortions to end life.

Additional taxes are taken for Social Security, which is suppose to be given
back in our retirement years; except the government spent that money, too.
And, instead of replacing what they stole, they're trying to figure out how to
get out of their commitment.

If America is not your native country, you're likely to receive more financial
assistance here than if you're American and, if you're really in need, you may
have to get a divorce before assistance is given. We're also expected to
support people too lazy to work. And, if that wasn't enough, government gave
thousands of our jobs to Mexico.

Churches remind us of our duty to support them and we can still do that, even
though God already promises provisions in exchange for walking in faith.
Only, it doesn't stop there. TV ministries are known for saying God can't
bless or heal, or much of anything else until we give to them, too; that being
above our tithe. Only, Biblical mandate is for ministries to be supported by
the church. And while some might argue they are appealing to the universal
church, God never told us to be asking others for our needs, only Him. Yet,
their presentation is so compelling that money is sent, often later to
discover such ministries were fraudulent.

That isn't to say but what all ministries might actually accomplish some good.
But, when the church does not support its laborers (leading servants to
mission fields like the internet and those ministries blossom with no
financial backing), it seems evident the remainder missed God's best.

Then, there's varied poor relief programs where companies keep as much as 95%
of donations and only 5% actually gets to the starving children. In addition,
most of our government's 'foreign aid efforts' have been confiscated, wherein
intended parties didn't receive the food and supplies sent, and remaining
countries only like us to the extent it serves to their benefit.

On a more local level, in addition to donating our used items for the benefit
of those less fortunate (for which these ministries usually sell, to the poor,
what we donated for free), groups collect food, at thanksgiving, to give to
those already on food stamps. Yet, these often eat better than the rest.
And, if you happen to live in a nicer neighborhood, those looking for handouts
knock on your door first.

And there's always Christmas, with bell ringers you have to walk passed, in
order to enter stores; their mere presence guilting you for having been
blessed enough to afford entry while offering the unspoken promise of relief
'when you fill their collection buckets'. However, this is one of the groups
that sold our previous donations to the poor. Luke 16:8

But also, throughout the remaining year, any of several organizations may
summons you to purchase their overpriced non-need items for a greater good ...
and, if you have children in school and don't buy or help sell for their
cause, you're deemed a bad parent, in addition to being a chintzy neighbor or
disgruntled co-worker ... leaving you only two options: 1.) to look good in
front of your peers or 2.) to forget about wise money management.

Religious activists rally support for their endeavor to stand against all that
ails. However, in paying close attention, it becomes evident their methods
often contradict their claim to righteousness; withholding pertinent
information to the point of slanderous accusation at the expense of
stockholders (sometimes the named company only being a target to convince
smaller corporations to fear them; the end thought to justify the means), and,
while professing themselves to be Christians, they promote warring instead of
accountability. 2 Chron. 7:14

When crossing foreign soil, particularly in tourist areas (where they know
you're coming) ... beggars (disguised as vendors) seem to come out of the
closet, all at once; bombarding you to the point of annoyance, if not
aggravation. And by this time, using one's sword comes to mind (wherever it
happens to land), as the righteous have no need to beg. Psalm 37:25

However, there seems to be no place to hide, as one can't even open their
inbox; most of such requests not even being true ministries. And, if they ask
you to come to their country to share your ministry with them, their plan may
either be to rob you upon arrival or they want you to see their plight (to
guilt you into offering financial assistance). Also, many prayer requests,
via the computer (for which we sobbed, prayed, and sometimes sent relief),
turned out to be hoaxes.

As a whole, and rightly so, we have just about had it with people jerking our
heart strings and or unloading condemnation for our not having given enough
.. and, as a result, cries for help go unheard. If unknown senders e-mails.
haven't already been designated for the delete file, e-mail gets deleted from
the moment the reader realizes it's another request, advertisement, or bogus
offer that involves money.

Yet, because it is our heart to help the needy (many, via the net, also being
low income, fixed income, and disabled), people still try to help by visiting
sites where a company will further support 'special named causes' with every
designated click ... until they realize, when we do, we are taking funds that
rightfully belong to stockholders.

So, we give up and respond that we already gave at the office. But, in
reality, we're still giving at home ... to our own grown family, often lacking
in spiritual maturity because they were never allowed to experience blessings
that come as a result of accountability or to thereby discover all needs are
met when looking higher.

We have given so far beyond reason that, from pure exhaustion, we finally look
to consider our failing bodies and depleting bank accounts, only to realize
our shoulders are not big enough to be their God. How could there be any
question but what America cares? Only, there is no end of all the people.
Did we take it upon ourselves to be God or interfere when God was trying to do
a greater work? 1 Cor. 5:5 Did we become an embarrassment to the testament of
God (our only true provider and theirs) by thinking He couldn't accomplish it
without us? Romans 1:18-24

The only way left to protect our heart from growing cold is to revert to what
we know to do; what we would have been doing all along (had we not entrusted
our calling to others) and what we should have trusted God for (concerning the
rest) in the first place, our Biblical mandate. Matthew 7:13 And, being that
the giver receives the greater blessing, why would we want to send our
donation to middlemen?

When God places a burden upon our heart, He is calling us; our part then being
to report for duty. When we have two coats and see another without, we share
one of ours. When the solution is not so obvious, we seek God for further
instruction. Perhaps 'within our testimony' is just the word of hope needed,
we happen to have the necessary tool of information, or are somehow otherwise
being called upon to be their friend.

And, when need isn't met the way hoped or expected, we hold their hand and
remind them our hope isn't to be in people because God gets jealous, too. He
causes people to fail so He can have that special place in our heart. Then,
we reassure them that God can be trusted and, by our own testimony, we 'know'
He always answers in time. Thus, we watch for God to answer, together, and He
always does; giving God back His rightful place (in our heart and theirs).

Then, the next time someone comes at you as if you owe them, remind them you
are following your Biblical mandate for their blessing and they need to be
following theirs. James 1:5

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:30

© 2005 by Joyce C. Lock
http://www.angelslight.org/joycepoem.html
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.

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