Shifting Sand

 

I don't think I understood what Yahusha meant when he spoke of shifting sand till I stood on the beach ankle deep in the water at Galveston Island. (Matthew 7:24-27) As the waves came in and out the sand beneath my feet washed away. I live in Oklahoma,  you just don't get the same washing away of the sand at a lake beach. 

That feeling of sand washing away beneath my feet is a perfect description of how I have felt as Yah is  opening my eyes to all the inaccurate teachings I have received.  The holidays based in paganism, the mixed traditions, how Bible canons came to be, why some books are considered Scriptures and others not, and why politics sometimes determined the canon, and it goes on. There were moments I wondered if anything I had been taught was true. That's where you find your secure foundation: Yahusha,  him crucified and resurrected.  Everything else was viewed with new eyes, weighed and either kept or discarded. 

That sand washing away beneath my feet feeling has been reoccurring, only this time I'm learning the truth about my country. We haven't always been the good guys, as a matter of fact, we've been the bad guys.  The USA is the biggest user and purveyor of child sex trafficking,  drugs, and pornography. Our government has played both sides in most conflicts around the world,  because of our involvement more civilians die, and they are considered acceptable collateral damage.  The truth is very dark, and has been hidden quite well. But once again,  my feet must stay firmly planted on the Rock, Yahusha my Redeemer, him crucified and resurrected, that doesn't change.  

During the first Trump presidency I began to pray that all the corruption be revealed. And slowly it has. It's ugly to see, but we must in order to correct it. In the revealing, we can also see who and not just what. Lines are more clear between good and evil. Choosing good and turning this counrty around is not going to be easy, and that's why few will do the work and many will complain.  Yet, here's the hard truth. This country must confess and repent, turn from our wicked ways that our land may be healed. Will our leader speak for us? Will he confess and repent to the Creator and the world on our behalf? Yah is faithful,  seems to me if Mr. Trump would humble himself and our country in this manner, Yah would begin healing this country. 

Just my two cents, 

Still a work in progress 

Teresa

Susan, a Trans Person

 

Forty years ago I met a trans person. This was a man living as a woman. I was 20 years old and very naive. I was asked to house sit/baby sit for a husband- wife truck driving team. The husband was bringing the semi truck back to Oklahoma from a trip to Canada where he had been training a person to drive big trucks. This driver-in-training would be staying at the house with me and the children while mom and dad made a haul to Texas. 

I might have been told that the driver-in-training was a woman, I don't remember.  But I don't recall being concerned about this stranger. So mom and dad pull out for their Texas haul, leaving me with this person. By all appearances,  this person seemed like a woman. I'll call her Susan, I don't remember the actual name. Not very pretty, horrible pock marked facial skin, (things I noticed as a judgemental 20 year old), but she was nice.  We had a lot of time to talk and get to know each other.  I remember getting this "guy" vibe from her. Kinda flirty, very attentive, masculine. Boy was I confused.  At first I thought maybe this lady was a lesbian. I had never met a lesbian, but I was trying to excuse the strange vibe I was getting.  

One day we went to the track together to run a few miles.  That's when Susan took off the oversized shirt she always wore and ran ahead of me.  At that moment I saw the reality about Susan. She had a perfect male form. Wide shoulders, narrow hips, Susan didn't move like a woman, now I'm really confused. Trans people were a rarity back then. You might see one on a sensational TV program, but not in real life in central Oklahoma.  My demeanor must have changed because Susan addressed the elephant in the room that evening back at the house. I learned that Susan was a man who was married to a woman back in Canada.  He had not had any surgery yet, but was taking hormones and had some sort of hair removal proceedure. Susan just wanted to blend into society. He wanted to not draw attention to himself, just to be able to walk through life accepted as the persona he was putting out there. Frankly I think he could for the most part. He could go to a ladies room and not be noticed. This person was not demanding others say or do anything.  

Funny, the mom in the trucker duo was jealous of Susan. She demanded she go along on the trip back to Canada to return Susan to his home. I bet she figured it out during that long trip. Susan is still to this day my understanding of a legit trans person. All of the in your face demands of pronouns and bathroom rights seems to me to be something else. Attention seeking, me, me, me, screaming fits...pretty counterproductive in my opinion, but fitting in and blending onto society is not the goal with the current population of trans people.  I have wondered from time to time throughout the years about Susan. Did he get surgery? How did his wife deal with it? But I also prayed Susan be healed of what was driving him to live as a woman, and be redeemed to His creator. 

I realize this post may anger some, I'm just sharing my experience.  So please forgive me if you are offended.  That's not my goal. Just trying to figure it out just like everyone else. 

A work in progress 

Teresa

Atta Girl

 

Don't you just love those pats on the back? The little affirmations that confirm to you that you are exactly where you're supposed to be, doing what you're supposed to be doing. These things are so encouraging.  Especially since the enemy can be actively discouraging. 

I do love those moments when Yah gives me a sign that I'm on the right path, like the lady approaching me at Walmart to expess her pleasue to my boldness on social media, my son and his wife telling me they are doing their best to eat clean, my granddaughter singing praises to Yah from the backseat of the car, and so many more. But the key is to be secure in your walk when there are no affirmations, when times are difficult.  Makes me think of Job when his friends were talking to him. They were convinced Job had brought judgements against himself, the tragedies he was experiencing were proof of that. Job knew, however,  that he was living out the instructions of Yah. He was living righteously.  The tragedies were not brought on because he earned them, life has tragedies. Tragedies test us. Job was to hold fast to Yah through them.  Unfortunately Job lost sight of that and questioned Yah. This had to be such a dark place for Job. Yet Yah is faithful and restored him. 

Deuteronomy 12:1-3 directly tells us Yah will test us, test our love for Him. And how do we show we love Him? Deuteronomy 11:1, 1 John 5:3, John 14:15, and many more tell us that obedience to Yah's instructions is how we show our love for Him. His Word is a lamp unto our feet, lighting the way. Even when it seems like there is darkness all around, you have His light. Do not venture to the left or the right, follow the light, even if you're the only one.  

Job's story is an extreme example.  Most of us won't experience testing to that degree, yet we will be tested. But, if like Job, we are careful to carry out the instructions for living our loving Father gave us, then we know we're in right standing with Yah, guided by His Holy Spirit, and Yahusha is faithful to intercede for us when we fall short. Press ahead, run the race, eye on the prize...atta girl, you got this! 

A work in progress 

Teresa